Image: KSFY screenshot
The kickoff is from 11 AM – 1 PM at EmBe downtown Sioux Falls today (Saturday).
(I also noticed that KSFY used a photo of the kids with the mayor in the story. A reminder that this is the 2nd or 3rd resolution that the mayor has refused to sign, which delayed the FREE ridership by one week. He deserves ZERO credit for this program being implemented. ZERO!)
I found this on Steve Hildebrand’s FB page;
I bet I’ve spoken to more than 100 people about this project – all who believe it’s important and a great step forward for downtown and Sioux Falls in general.
I’ve also spoken directly to Mayor Huether about it. He’s absolutely got his heels dug in on this one and says “they will not get a TIF.” When I asked him why he was opposed to a TIF for this $29 million project with tremendous economic impact for our city, he literally stormed off in a huff. Really? Seems like when a taxpayer asks a public official to explain their position, the could do just that – without getting all uptight.
For the life of me, I can understand why Mayor Huether would oppose this important project for Sioux Falls. If you believe this project is important, please call, email or talk to Mayor Huether in person. Please also share your thoughts with members of the SF Planning Commission and the City Council. We need their support to make this project possible.
For the record, I am against this TIF, but I am bias, I don’t believe in TIF’s. Over the past two years we have had record building permits, and NO TIF’s were granted. Are they needed? Or can private enterprise roll on it’s own? Playing the Devil’s advocate, let’s say I am for TIF’s, the biggest issue with this one is it is too large. I think if they scaled it back by 75% they would have a better chance.
As for the mayor, he doesn’t play well with others, and that is becoming more evident.
I don’t think this was a mistake, I believe with all the Downtown development, they kind of want the wall to go away, but a bad way to go about it;
But the maintenance has been sparse since the last segment of artwork was installed in 2009. And time is taking its toll.
Creators of the mosaic believe vibrations caused by the demolition of the nearby River Ramp in 2012 caused many of the tiles to loosen. Ice melt and other chemicals applied to the adjacent road in winter splashes up on the mosaic and contributes to a leaching that is staining the tiles.
“Having that type of wall next to a busy street with our winters just makes it problematic,†said Sue Quanbeck Etten, director of central services for the city.
But chemical splash isn’t the only issue here. The wall sits along a triangular piece of land that the city believes is prime for redevelopment. It’s trying to gauge private interest now in building on that site. Depending on the interest, the city wants to expand the River Greenway to that side of the Big Sioux much the same as has been done next to Cherapa Place and the Hilton Garden Inn on the east side.
No surprise though, like most things public art wise in Sioux Falls they mis-manage funds to support it, and when they do get it right they fail on maintenance. I think the Statue of David jinx us years ago.
Here we go again, as a person who has worked on and off Downtown since 1993, the expansion of night time hours for non-restaurant retailers has been thrown around like a volleyball since then. Some don’t think it would work, but ironically the longest running retailer downtown, Zandbroz, has been open for nights for years, and if it was hurting business, they would have ended the night time hours years ago.
I have often said if I were a downtown retailer that sold wooden geese, boutique dresses or cheese, I would be open from 11-7 or 8 PM. I have never understood the day time hours of these businesses.
I encourage retailers to try it out for at least a summer, and I recommend 80-100% participation. It won’t work if just a couple more do it. If we want Downtown to thrive, we need to start operating it like a big city Downtown and not a Podunk Downtown. In other words more shopping and entertainment opportunities and MORE FOOD TRUCKS at night!
I had to really laugh when I read this press release on the city website about the St. Patty’s day parade tomorrow in DTSF;
Spectators and attendees are reminded that drinking alcohol on public streets and sidewalks is illegal in Sioux Falls and includes the parade and other St. Patrick’s Day events. People who are drinking alcohol in public could receive a citation with a fine of $120.
The City Ordinance that prohibits public consumption of alcohol states: It shall be unlawful for any person to drink or consume or attempt to drink or consume any distilled spirits, wines and malt beverages, as defined by state laws, in or upon any public street, alley, highway, or public sidewalk.
Good luck with enforcing that ordinance 🙂
The irony of this is that the city sells bump-out permits to restaurants downtown to sell and consume food and alcohol on public property, outside. So I guess if you are standing on the bump-outs tomorrow drinking a green beer, you will be in compliance. That will be a fun argument to have with the coppers. Just don’t point your beer at them.
l3wis