UPDATE: Listen to interview HERE.
Former Mayor Bucktooth & Bowlcut is at it again with his recent ‘media’ tour;
“The thing that I believe that was probably the biggest win for the city during the eight years I was so honored to serve, involved finally inking the deal with Burlington Northern (to move the railroad switchyard from 8th Street).
As I have stated in the past, this was a horribly negotiated deal. We didn’t get a majority of the trains to move out of downtown, we paid to much for the land (that the Feds probably owned to begin with) and we have yet to cut a deal with anyone. One deal fell through and another developer is offering HALF of appraised value.
This is a habit with Bowlcut that he just cannot seem to break. When something actually is a very bad deal, he says it’s the greatest thing ever. I always say, to say you are being TRUTHFUL is different than actually being TRUTHFUL.
Sounds like something from the playbook of another shameless promoter with recent notoriety: “The final key to the way I promote is bravado. I play to people’s fantasies. People may not always think big themselves, but they can still get very excited by those who do. That’s why a little hyperbole never hurts. People want to believe that something is the biggest and the greatest and the most spectacular. I call it truthful hyperbole. It’s an innocent form of exaggeration—and a very effective form of promotion.â€
It’s remarkable how the city got suckered into paying to much for the railroad toxic right of way. It’s narrow strips without enough width for development. Only government is this stupid.
I am still waiting for the high speed trains to show up out by Brandon.
Maybe Elon’s Hyperloop can save the day, however.
#IHearTheEngineAComin’
#LetsHyperToRapid!
27 Million Dollar Earmark for 10 acres
Federal Earmark, that’s us, folks!
Waiting with bated breath to hear how much Jeff Scherschligt is offering US per sq. ft.!!
I guess the city wants $14, he is offering $7.
Just remember, the RR likely did not own the land the city and feds gave $27 million for. The city attorney promised to publish the results of her quit claim deed research. We’ve never seen her expert work to verify it.
Considering cropland next to Tea Ellis road is selling at $18 a foot, this land should be snapped up for some overpriced poorly built apartments
Seriously, has anyone mentioned this unused area would be a great place to park some trains?
The city built the Aquatics Center on federal land and bought federal yards sold but not owned by Burlington Northern. Obviously, they’ve become nesters the feds should run off. I suspect they’ll soon be buying land on a distant star someone said they could name Sanford.
Why can’t we just bring the high speed trains through there instead of Brandon? We’ll build a state of the art depot for them (Don’t tear the old BN depot down though, because my Dad use to work there for 36 years.), and according to the City, the newly discovered easement doesn’t preclude a nice big new parking lot for our nice new suggested depot either…. So there you go!….
#MplsInAHour&20Minutes!
#RapidInLessThan2Hours!
#SueCitySueInLessThanAHalfHour!
#Pierre(Well, Maybe not
Pierre)HowAboutFargoInAHour@20Minutes!
They should come up with a board game about Sioux Falls, that is modeled after Monopoly, except that players try to avoid having to purchase the Railroad Redevelopment Area with them hoping to instead use their “Get Out of Jail” cards to prevent a mandatory purchase…. They could call the game, “Easement Escapement,” or “Optic Obstacles.”
Oh, and what do you think will happen sooner, the arrival of some high speed trains here in town, or an other “500 Year Flood?”
D@ily Spin is right about its narrow and lacking qualities. Perhaps, that patch of land could be used as some kind of Uber airstrip for the rich. And whenever, a plane wants to land, they could just temporarily block traffic on 8th Street (That sounds oddly familiar(?))….And also, for you doubters out there, it would work like this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58jaCJ5i9hU
There was a high speed train concept between Kansas City and St. Louis. There is existing right-of-way and a sophisticated design. I was acquainted and involved with it. It failed. It seems a high capacity oil pipeline from Canada to the Gulf took priority. It’s more important to sell our oil around the world while we pay more for our fuel by paying premium price for Middle East and Venezuela oil. Go figure.
Incidentally, North American oil sands and new finds in the southwest US is enough oil for the next hundred years. We are the new oil magnate. Saudi, the Middle East, and South America are played as important but they’re a false front for US oil prominence.