MASON CITY — Steven J. Van Steenhuyse, Development Services Director for the City of Mason City, will address the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) Board at their regular meeting in Des Moines on July 20, to update them on the City’s “River City Renaissance” Reinvestment District project. This project includes a Courtyard by Marriott Hotel that will be developed by G8 Development, a California developer who has roots in Northern Iowa. In February, 2018, the IEDA Board approved the River City Renaissance project, contingent on G8 securing financing for the project.
“On Wednesday night, the City received confirmation that G8 Development has a financing commitment,” said Mr. Van Steenhuyse. “It was received too late to be included on the IEDA Board’s July 20 meeting agenda as an action item, but the River City Renaissance project is still on the agenda as an update item. I will be advising the Board that a loan confirmation has been received. We expect that the Board will formally release the financing contingency at their August 17 meeting.”
With IEDA Board release of the hotel financing contingency, the overall River City Renaissance project can move forward. The Courtyard by Marriott Hotel will be connected by a skywalk to the Music Man Square, located across from the hotel site on South Delaware Avenue, south of Southbridge Mall. The Music Man Square, which contains small conference rooms, music practice spaces and the Meredith Willson Museum Collection, will be renovated to accommodate larger conferences, meetings and receptions of up to 600 patrons.
The project also includes renovations to Southbridge Mall, with the former J. C. Penney space converted to a Multi-Use Arena that will accommodate 2,400 for hockey and sporting events, and up to 3,200 for concerts. The north entrance to the Mall would be renovated into an indoor/outdoor Performing Arts Pavilion, providing an intimate concert space within the Mall or outside on the Federal Avenue Plaza.
“We are thrilled that the pieces are falling into place so that construction can begin,” Van Steenhuyse said. “The River City Renaissance project will transform our downtown into a premier entertainment and conference location for the region and draw thousands of new visitors to our area.”
Why should us…the taxpayers of Mason City be forced to finance something that is by no means a direct benefit to the majority of us or even something we are even remotely interested in? What about our wishes? We already have an ice arena at the fairgrounds…. is it not good enough for the few or small elite group that would use it (at taxpayers expense)?
There was a public vote on this project and it passed by an overwhelmingly majority of the people that voted. Something like 75% of the voting public past the measure.
Smoke and mirrors! The original agenda ( the one that was voted on and approved) has been MODIFIED and CHANGED how many times since? The citizens of Mason City have been lied to and deceived too many times to count! You must also be someone with your hand in the cookie jar!
no, I just like hockey
Then pay for it yourself.
^^I pay taxes just like everyone else, so In a way I am paying for it
They’re just trying to MMCGA.
Mayor, city counsel, chamber of commerce, you should all hide your heads in shame and resign for the screwing, lies and deceit you are giving the taxpayers and citizens of M.C. Have you NO conscience? Or heart for the people you “supposedly” represent? It’s ALL about you and your personal “get rich” schemes isn’t it! Sad but true even Helen Kellar and Stevie Wonder can see what direction and outcome will be in this clusterf**k you’ve all brought to the people of Mason City! Do the right thing for the people who elected you and STOP looking to line your own fu@#ing pockets. Step aside and allow someone with a heart and conscience to lead and do great things for us….cuz you all certainly aren’t capable!
It’s certainly visible in how well our great leaders have done so far…look around the mall and city…. and remember what once was! All the best qualities of our city are gone thanks to our FINE leaders turning this town into a ghost town. A skating rink and hotel are going to turn it around? ya right! Lol The only improvements they have made over the years is their personal bank accounts!
How did the city leaders get into office? Did they just placed them selves there? The answer would be you, the people of Mason city voted these people into office. Also you, the people of Mason city voted for the measure to support the Renaissance project. I would say the only people to blame would be you, the people of Mason City.
They got into office by lies and deceit! Even some of the smartess of people have been fooled by well educated crooks and theives!
These guys have been lying and deceiving for years and you people keep reelecting them! Bill was mayor years ago and suck then but you guys reelected. He was a lousy council men before you guys putting back in the Mayor’s chair John Jaworski, was a meager councilman at best years ago and you guys reelected him this year. John Lee is on his second term. I’d like to know who the smart people are that are getting fooled because obviously they don’t catch on very fast, keep reelecting the same guys.
We all know “who” is going to get rich from all this……
We are selling out. Tired of paying a tax bill to the rich and elite while getting screwed as a Mason City taxpayer. No more!
In all serious, this IS NOT the project the people of mason city voted on, I think that when it changed another vote should have been taken. Just another hosing, but the beginning hosing, there will be more
How many more checks will or has Bill Schickel leaned on city staff to write out to God Know Who that we don’t know about at this time? He has the track record of doing this. Someone needs to watch him and others like a hawk.
If this is not the project We voted for then what was the project we voted for?
Where have you been?…..you obviously haven’t been paying attention to what the initial sales pitch was that started this clusterf**k! Do your research and educate YOURSELF!
Believe me, I know the answer! By your comment I am not sure you know what you were talking about. I think you have proved it because you can’t tell me what the original plan was that we voted for.
And you can? Or are you digging for worms as always?
Why do you continue to challenge others for answers if you have them all? Why don’t you show the taxpayers and citizens just how brilliant you are instead of looking to others for answers? It’s obvious you don’t have a clue or haven’t lived here long enough to KNOW the answers or truth!
Maybe your the mall owner who is way behind in his taxes? Have the back taxes been paid yet Mr.No It All? BY THE “TITLED” OWNER?
^The correct word would usage for that statement be you’re not your & no I am not the mall owner.
Let the circus begin
The bank will get hosed when they go into bankruptcy. All the principles “doing the project” make their money up front doing the deal. In 10 years or so it will all fall into the losers column.
Bend over citizen’s!
Slick Willy (Bill Suckle) and his band of thieves (Robin,John,and loyal thugs) will now proceed with continuing to line their bank accounts on you the taxpayers! Wake up taxpayers….the fu#$ing is about to get worse! Or take up hockey or figure skating to get your monies worth!
Time to start making the under the table pay outs .
I’m not certain what to think about this latest news. I will hold off making any decisions until we hear from Peter Children. He seems to be the only one in town that knows whats going on. Its time for another one of his hard hitting articles anyway. Thanks!
a Multi-Use Arena that will accommodate 2,400 for hockey and sporting events. just where are you going to find 2400 hokey fans ?? or 3,200 for concerts. and if that’s a big IF do just where are they going to stay and for sure where are they going to park their vehicles?? Oh ya that’s right in the big “ramp” that will have to be built with more monies. What a joke
This is great news! Let the construction begin.
You must be in the “elite” group that will profit or receive a large “kickback” in all this? Just saying…….
Nope, just one of the majority of the voters that voted yes for this project. As you know it passed by 74% of the people that cared enough to vote.
Another member of the Slick Pickle/ Robbery Anderson gang for sure! Lol
Nope, just one of the majority of the voters that voted yes for this project. As you know it passed by 74% of the people that cared enough to vote.
This project is going to be a huge failure. They have these plans for the JC Penny Space and outside, but what about the soon to be empty Younkers space? I would like to know if the idiots behind this thought Younkers would be a thriving business to make part of this plan? Bon Ton sure screwed that up for the developers! HA-HA
What about all these other stores leaving the mall? I was at the mall a few weeks ago and it’s a disaster. If the citizens can’t support the already existing businesses in this area, what makes them think that the citizens will want anything to do with this arena and “intimate concert space.”
Think of the businesses that have already closed in the mall, JCP, Trade Home, Hallmark, Cookies, Subway, Book World, Coffee Shops, Fred Meyers, Eye Clinic. Outside in the Plaza Iowa Cell Phones & Repair left, In Home Gallery and Gifts closed. Bookery space is still available after how many years since they shut that down.
With this new developments and “intimate spaces” they will most likely raise rent rates and you’ll see 2 things happen. Existing businesses will leave/close and or relocate and it will make new business not to come to town.
I would like to see the citizens of Mason City step up and put a stop to this plan.Tax payers will be responsible for this, it’s time to shut this down.
Agreed. The problem is the Chamber of Commerce. They are the ones promoting this disaster. Goofy Robin is behind most of it.