Sounds like a proposal that should be made to the city council.
Meanwhile, when events do go downtown they complain about access and parking and limited space. That is why Automania moved to Brandon of all places – and the organizers have already stated they planning on keeping it there because it worked so much better than downtown.
So the question must be asked – will people actually come downtown even if you give them a reason, or is there still something else holding them back?
Kind of an apples and hand grenades comparison as Okoboji has been known as the “Newport or “Martha’s Vineyard” of Iowa for decades whereas Sioux Falls has finally put forth the effort to revitalize it’s riverfront in the last few years and as of now it’s still not marketed properly as a tourist destination.
Also, SF is on the list as a potential site for a Levitt Pavilion and it’s the kind of project that would make a ton of sense to create the draw similar to the Okoboji music scene. Their foundation kicks in a good % of the initial costs to build, but the caveat it you need to host a certain number of free events a year in return.
Beyond that, we’ve started the Greenway but there’s a long way to go to finish it. Things like a Levitt or finishing Phases 3-5 will cost money and amounts of money that the “Hell no!” crowd will naturally choke on and most likely start petition drives to stop or at least scale back to the cost of a new Hyundai. I also hope the City is selective and sets a certain level for scope and design of what goes in the old Rail property, even if it means we sit on those properties a few years until the right project(s) come along. Anything we can do to make the area more of a “family” draw will definitely help.
@ L3wis, agreed but that ship has sailed. If we wanted to go big and do something unprecedented & game changing, the City could partner with the County, the Chinese and the Sweetmans and strike a deal to move Morrell’s out (maybe right by Brandon ;)) and move the Fairgrounds into their old site next to the Falls, but again that would cost more than a new Hyundai.
Actually – quite a bit. They are called PARKING RAMPS. It still is amazing to me that people will go to Minneapolis, plop their car in a parking ramp, pay $20, and walk 10 blocks for their destination, but here in SF? – oh no, we can’t do that. If we can’t have front row parking, our lazy arses just don’t go and yet again, no matter what ramp you are in – your destination is probably no more than 4 blocks. This is fine with me as our family attends events all the time DT and we park in the 1st level of the Shriver ramp and walk 1/2 block to Phillips Ave. And around the River Greenway – there is the Cherapa lot, the Kilian lot, the Johnstone Supply lot, and yet, the Wells Fargo lot and ramp that are 1 block from the Greenway. Mind the fact you can ride your bike right up to the event. Ughhhhhhh
Wow, I like the positive responses. Karma you raise a great point about the walking. If the Downtown merchants actually promoted themselves and kept open hours during the events, they would find a willing shopping public. Quit complaining merchants about no parking for your ‘customers’ when an event gives you a chance to make new customers.
Attendees by and large did not complain about a twenty minute wait to leave the grounds after being so well entertained. Why not encourage them to use the empty parking ramps by using the SAM buses to move people. Rent a vehicle ramp spot and get a free ride on bus? Make Phillip Ave a pedestrian avenue during big events. Leave the east west routes open so people can drive in and out of area. Can you image food carts and carney events along Phillips to entertain? Hot Harley Nights and others could tie into the concert site.
BTW, why do we need to wait for an out of town “Levitt Pavilion” operation to do this? I hear so many on this site and others always complaining about the city this the city that. We need to get the city and special organizations / companies to own and control everything. Why?
I am just asking. This does not have to be a multimillion dollar extravaganza to make it work for all. I think the less polished this is the more people will want to be involved.
@ GP The land where the Levitt would & should go is City owned and it’s reuse from a scrapyard to part of our signature park is by far the best use IMHO.
I’m sure the City of Okoboji has had high $$ offers for that space you took in the concert right next to the lake as land down there is fetching hundreds of $$ per square foot, but sometimes you need to look past the balance sheet and simply do the right thing.
I asked Jamison yesterday why the city decided to eliminate the flat lot next to the Pavilion? That is 70 parking spots that diners use every weekend. I know that Dunham plans to build a Condo there, but I think it is kinda silly we are eliminating that lot, if anything we should expand it after the Sushi Masa building is taken down.
Has anybody discussed putting a fully enclosed skyway over the river from the yet unbuilt hotel to the new richers’ stripmall at eastbank? I find it hard to believe gondola rides are going to suffice to move all those visiting moneybags in the winter-time. Or maybe make a snowmobile rental stand at the spray-park, just like the old paddleboats on Covell Lake. What’s a new hotel with no skyway? Lame, that’s what.
Arnold’s Park was saved from the wrecking ball many years ago. It and surrounding land was donated as a foundation to keep it alive. They have had to be creative to keep the property going. It appears they have succeeded.
Okoboji has been known as the “Newport or “Martha’s Vineyard†of Iowa for decades whereas Sioux Falls has finally put forth the effort to revitalize it’s riverfront
Kind of a reach Sy. In recent weeks I have taken my lab for walks along the greenway. Once, I brought along a training dummy for Polly to retrieve. Threw it out, she only sniffed the water, turned around as if to say “do I have too?” After a little prodding, she finally went to retrieve it. Only problem is, for the next two days she had the drizzling shits. Keep in mind this is one of the most polluted rivers in the country. IT AIN’T OKOBOJI.
My dog will never swim in that skunk hole again.
Oh….BTW Sy, congrats on your appointment. Hoping you don’t treat tifs like candy on Halloween.
Yeah, anytime SodaPop takes a dip in the ‘Big Poo’ I have to hose him off when we get home. Then he goes and rolls around in the backyard dirt pile, then I have to hose him off again, then towel him down. It’s a process. He never drinks the water, which I find funny, because the fellar licks his own butt and balls all the time. Very telling.
Just think if we would have built the EC DT?
Good post. Okoboji is really not that far away, once you make it to Grand Falls Casino.
Sounds like a proposal that should be made to the city council.
Meanwhile, when events do go downtown they complain about access and parking and limited space. That is why Automania moved to Brandon of all places – and the organizers have already stated they planning on keeping it there because it worked so much better than downtown.
So the question must be asked – will people actually come downtown even if you give them a reason, or is there still something else holding them back?
How many parking spots are there if you go from Falls Park to the downtown, including the on street neighborhood parking?
Kind of an apples and hand grenades comparison as Okoboji has been known as the “Newport or “Martha’s Vineyard” of Iowa for decades whereas Sioux Falls has finally put forth the effort to revitalize it’s riverfront in the last few years and as of now it’s still not marketed properly as a tourist destination.
Also, SF is on the list as a potential site for a Levitt Pavilion and it’s the kind of project that would make a ton of sense to create the draw similar to the Okoboji music scene. Their foundation kicks in a good % of the initial costs to build, but the caveat it you need to host a certain number of free events a year in return.
Beyond that, we’ve started the Greenway but there’s a long way to go to finish it. Things like a Levitt or finishing Phases 3-5 will cost money and amounts of money that the “Hell no!” crowd will naturally choke on and most likely start petition drives to stop or at least scale back to the cost of a new Hyundai. I also hope the City is selective and sets a certain level for scope and design of what goes in the old Rail property, even if it means we sit on those properties a few years until the right project(s) come along. Anything we can do to make the area more of a “family” draw will definitely help.
@ L3wis, agreed but that ship has sailed. If we wanted to go big and do something unprecedented & game changing, the City could partner with the County, the Chinese and the Sweetmans and strike a deal to move Morrell’s out (maybe right by Brandon ;)) and move the Fairgrounds into their old site next to the Falls, but again that would cost more than a new Hyundai.
Actually – quite a bit. They are called PARKING RAMPS. It still is amazing to me that people will go to Minneapolis, plop their car in a parking ramp, pay $20, and walk 10 blocks for their destination, but here in SF? – oh no, we can’t do that. If we can’t have front row parking, our lazy arses just don’t go and yet again, no matter what ramp you are in – your destination is probably no more than 4 blocks. This is fine with me as our family attends events all the time DT and we park in the 1st level of the Shriver ramp and walk 1/2 block to Phillips Ave. And around the River Greenway – there is the Cherapa lot, the Kilian lot, the Johnstone Supply lot, and yet, the Wells Fargo lot and ramp that are 1 block from the Greenway. Mind the fact you can ride your bike right up to the event. Ughhhhhhh
Wow, I like the positive responses. Karma you raise a great point about the walking. If the Downtown merchants actually promoted themselves and kept open hours during the events, they would find a willing shopping public. Quit complaining merchants about no parking for your ‘customers’ when an event gives you a chance to make new customers.
Attendees by and large did not complain about a twenty minute wait to leave the grounds after being so well entertained. Why not encourage them to use the empty parking ramps by using the SAM buses to move people. Rent a vehicle ramp spot and get a free ride on bus? Make Phillip Ave a pedestrian avenue during big events. Leave the east west routes open so people can drive in and out of area. Can you image food carts and carney events along Phillips to entertain? Hot Harley Nights and others could tie into the concert site.
BTW, why do we need to wait for an out of town “Levitt Pavilion” operation to do this? I hear so many on this site and others always complaining about the city this the city that. We need to get the city and special organizations / companies to own and control everything. Why?
I am just asking. This does not have to be a multimillion dollar extravaganza to make it work for all. I think the less polished this is the more people will want to be involved.
@ GP The land where the Levitt would & should go is City owned and it’s reuse from a scrapyard to part of our signature park is by far the best use IMHO.
I’m sure the City of Okoboji has had high $$ offers for that space you took in the concert right next to the lake as land down there is fetching hundreds of $$ per square foot, but sometimes you need to look past the balance sheet and simply do the right thing.
Info on Levitt for those interested:
http://siouxfallsbusinessjournal.argusleader.com/article/20120222/BJNEWS03/302220020/Effort-could-bring-outdoor-pavilion-downtown
I asked Jamison yesterday why the city decided to eliminate the flat lot next to the Pavilion? That is 70 parking spots that diners use every weekend. I know that Dunham plans to build a Condo there, but I think it is kinda silly we are eliminating that lot, if anything we should expand it after the Sushi Masa building is taken down.
Has anybody discussed putting a fully enclosed skyway over the river from the yet unbuilt hotel to the new richers’ stripmall at eastbank? I find it hard to believe gondola rides are going to suffice to move all those visiting moneybags in the winter-time. Or maybe make a snowmobile rental stand at the spray-park, just like the old paddleboats on Covell Lake. What’s a new hotel with no skyway? Lame, that’s what.
Sy, I have been waiting to hear what the progress is on this proposal but have not heard a thing.
Arnold’s Park was saved from the wrecking ball many years ago. It and surrounding land was donated as a foundation to keep it alive. They have had to be creative to keep the property going. It appears they have succeeded.
Okoboji has been known as the “Newport or “Martha’s Vineyard†of Iowa for decades whereas Sioux Falls has finally put forth the effort to revitalize it’s riverfront
Kind of a reach Sy. In recent weeks I have taken my lab for walks along the greenway. Once, I brought along a training dummy for Polly to retrieve. Threw it out, she only sniffed the water, turned around as if to say “do I have too?” After a little prodding, she finally went to retrieve it. Only problem is, for the next two days she had the drizzling shits. Keep in mind this is one of the most polluted rivers in the country. IT AIN’T OKOBOJI.
My dog will never swim in that skunk hole again.
Oh….BTW Sy, congrats on your appointment. Hoping you don’t treat tifs like candy on Halloween.
Thanks Poly, it should be interesting. And yes, I still owe you that cool one…maybe we can get to Monks and try some homebrew? 🙂
Thanks, Poly. Once again a comment has brought me to tears in laughter with the visual.
Careful Poly – making your dog swim in the Big Sioux might raise the attention of the ASPCA.
Yeah, anytime SodaPop takes a dip in the ‘Big Poo’ I have to hose him off when we get home. Then he goes and rolls around in the backyard dirt pile, then I have to hose him off again, then towel him down. It’s a process. He never drinks the water, which I find funny, because the fellar licks his own butt and balls all the time. Very telling.
San Antonio my ass.
Monks? Sounds like a plan. BTW…does corn go well with hassenfeffer?
Cornhuskers. 56
Jackrabbits. 3
Another early season sacwificial wabbit for the Boys from Lincoln to munch on.