Feedback Responses (1-20)
Message 1: I LIKE the "eclectic" feel of the downtown corridor. My husband and I moved our young family here after spending 10 years in suburban St. Louis where we watched all of the "cookie cutter" downtown development that went on in our community and surrounding ones. Marion feels like a small town with its own personality and I want it to stay that way.Submitted by: Anonymous
Message 2: Thank you for everything you are doing. Please keep us posted on how we can help!
Submitted by: C.M.
Message 3: We will stop using the "corridor" altogether if plan "D" is accepted and construction begins. There are plenty of routes to and from Rockwell (where I work) that do not include going down the new corridor. We will also use those other routes to shop OUTSIDE of Marion if plan "D" is enacted.
Submitted by: J.G.
Message 4: I think its a dumb idea. I agree that the time is not right with the unemployment rate up and the economy bad. Just leave things alone. There are a lot more projects that need attention in Marion.
Submitted by: D.J.
Message 5: I have lived in Marion for most of my life only recently moving to a nearby rural address. I graduated from Linn Mar and my Mother and Brother both live in Marion so I feel I have a vested interest in the town.
I have watched the feuding about the current proposals with interest and feel there is a simple solution that everyone has overlooked.
Make 7th Avenue a one way street going towards CR and make the new and improved 6th Avenue one way going away from CR. This would allow existing businesses continued access to their current customers and give the city plenty of room for walk ways, parking and even new ventures on the new and improved 6th Avenue.
The businesses between 6th and 7th Avenues may have to modify the accesses to their properties to allow easy access from the new 6th Avenue but I am sure that could easily be handled.
6th and 7th Avenues could split at stoplight intersection by Thomas Park and rejoin at either 31st or 35th Streets. This would extend the New Downtown Marion by several blocks in both directions. I admit the the people on 6th Ave near Thomas Park would be adversely affected because of the substantial increase of traffic. But these people could probably sell their properties for more than they are currently worth because of that same amount of traffic. Some of these homes would make stunning B&B's or Antique shops, others could be torn down for construction of new businesses.
Thank You for taking the time to listen.
Submitted by: D.S.
Message 6: Marion can use a good deal of cleaning up. There is no charm to having Scrap iron and auto salvage leaving its grime on the streets. The businesses in the long run will do much better after developing a safe, comfortable and attractive shopping area. Thank-you for providing the feedback path.
Submitted by: P.B.
Message 7: 7th Ave is the only way that a lot of people who want to shop or visit in Marion know their way around Marion. Closing 7th Ave to through traffic means a lot of people will stop shopping in Marion or even wanting to get a job here. It would be nice to get 6th Ave in better shape to those who know their way around Marion but do not shut 7th Ave down to through traffic.
Submitted by: Anonymous
Message 8: I think 7th ave is Marion. It's the main street. I can't think of one day that I have not driven on it. The businesses have been there for years. It's just another reason for people to move to Cedar Rapids. Not like the Marion Police can't handle that one there own. But Marion is just changing too much and running people out of town. We like our little town and the people in it and the businesses. We want to keep our town the way it is.
Submitted by: N.
Message 9: I visited the 7th Avenue Dairy Queen the other day and had to walk out due to the LIES on the petition. The proposed plans DO NOT close 7th Avenue they create an alternative through the community. Yes, maybe in 20 years 7th will go away but it is not immediate and what do we need to save on 7th Avenue. Houses that haven't been maintained since the day they were built, used car lots, a junk yard, a scrap yard, vacant land that would benefit from a new street. I'm upset that this site has taken to misleading the public to a great community project that will in the end generate more than the 150,000 a year that the properties effected generate in tax dollars. Look beyond yourselves and look to the greater good of a community of 32,000 people and not just the 15-20 affected property owners. I will no longer due business with anyone circulating the petition or placing signs on their properties so long as these lies continue and I will make sure my friends understand why I'm doning it and why they should to. DO NOTHING is a terrible option.
Hope you publish my feedback but not holding expecting it.
Submitted by: Anonymous
Message 10: Another brilliant plan brought to us by the city officials who tore down the old Railroad Depot and put up a hideous blue strip mall. Kudos, you saved the roof. Not exactly known for your visionary planning, are you?
Perhaps the money could be better spent on infrastructure...the roads are deteriorating...people had sewer backup (again) last week...and apparently 'all the pumps were out'...where? in the Linn Mar di$trict?
I am sure those homeowners would suggest 'flushing' your grandiose plans.
Flooding again, trail at Indian Creek devastated..the watershed upstream should be addressed. Build a lake instead of a roundabout.
Meanwhile, properties sit vacant/boarded up and condemned with 12" tall grass...trash in yards, slum landlords, pitbulls ...deteriorating neighborhoods...and 7th Avenue in Marion has become the 'Boulevard of Used Car Lots'.
Draft new or revise ordinances, keep the old neighborhoods healthy and vibrant. Otherwise, no one is going to enjoy living in Marion.
Submitted by: G.H.
Message 11: You need to be a lot more clear on your information. I read NOTHING that said 7th Ave would be closed to through traffic, that is very misleading. 7th Ave would stay business Hwy 151 through town. What the city wants is to open a second path through town, to open up more possibilities for additional businesses. Those of us who use the businesses on 7th Ave would continue that! Are our 7th Ave businesses really that afraid of competition? If those businesses are treating your customers fairly, they shouldn't be. We need to grow as a city, NOT stay as we are, or we will lose many great opportunities! More businesses means more Tax money coming into the town and MORE JOBS!
Submitted by: Anonymous
Message 12: I've tried reading both sides of this. Where does it say the city is raising taxes? Looks like a great opportunity to have lower taxes for all of us long-term? We need to look big picture here. Sorry...there just aren't any big retails businesses that would be impacted here
. Submitted by: Anonymous
Message 13: Traffic in Marion is not that bad. Are we really considering hurting our local businesses just so we can save 5 minutes of commuting? If the authorities of Marion get this wrong there will be a lot of upset citizens.
. Submitted by: M.F.
Message 14: 7th avenue is the main street through marion, how would it bennefit to close it? I use that road everyday. and what would marion be without the cultural district. i think closing the street would be horrible for the city. marion may as well be swollowed up and considered part of cedar rapids if you close down 7th avenue.
. Submitted by: S.S..
Message 15: I'm sure the City Council has good intentions, the bottleneck in downtown Marion is horrible, but I do not wish to change the route through our town. Two lanes, a turning lane and less stoplights are a thought. With all the smart people out there somebody should be able to think of a better idea than the a major re-route and the tax increase.
. Submitted by: Anonymous
Message 16: Yes traffic at times is heavy on 7th Ave., but roundabouts are NOT the answer. Making 6th Ave. all the way to 35th Street is NOT the answer.
Downtown Marion needs more parking so that 7th Ave. can once again have two lanes both ways between 10th Street & 12th Street.
If the Marion council wanted to make 7th Ave "prettier" with no electrical poles why didn't they say something to Alliant Engery a couple of years ago when they were replacing all the poles.
We need to keep the business on 7th Ave. They are Marion. They are why people from out of town stop. If the people from the area don't want to drive down 7th Ave they will take 8th Ave or 5th Ave.
I would also like some sign to put in front of our business on 35th Street showing our support for our "neighbors" on 7th Ave. Also some for our yard on Northview Dr.
Thank you for all that you are doing to "KEEP OUR TOWN."
. Submitted by: D.T.
Message 18: I read the 4 proposals and although proposal a would do nothing I feel that either proposal a or b would be the most beneficial to Marion residents and businesses. C or d would only harm the downtown businesses. Downtown Marion is wonderful and should be worked on to keep it and make it better.
Submitted by: K.
Message 19: I own a business in the downtown area of Marion. From what I see, nothing in our downtown has changed since I moved here years ago. We have some remarkable buildings, culture and shops that comprise a defining feel to this community. I would not want to loose that. Our community needs to grow, adapt and change though. I attended the proposal meetings, twice. From what I am seeing, we need this. Many of the houses along 7th avenue are broken, in need of repair. As for some of the buildings present, steel sheds do not promote growth but place us at an industrial look. I do not want to loose those businesses myself. They deserve a fair shake as they have shaped this community also. If 6th avenue is built up, a new line of businesses will emerge. 7 Avenue needs to be maintained also as not to jeopardize the businesses already intact. There are no clear answers. What needs to happen is the expansion of our downtown towards 35th street. We have this tremendous opportunity to further its growth, create new business, and place our quick growing community in the spotlight. Do not turn away from this. Allow 6th avenue to be built, create trails, maintain 7th avenue, invite other business to join us and see what happens. I believe the outcome will be better than hoped for.
Submitted by: D.D.
Message 20: I can't see that there is that much traffic through Marion on 7th Avenue that would have to be diverted. The only times it's really busy is during festivals, and most of those people are from out of the city. Plus, there are all those neat businesses on 7th Avenue. I would hate to see them go out of business due to a different routing of traffic. The government tried to do that outside of Fairfax a couple of years ago and the people got up in arms and turned it down. Otherwise Fairfax, Walford, and the Amanas would have downsized to almost nothing. We can't let that happen to Marion! Marion is a great community to live in and trust me, I've lived all over these United States. Marion is small enough to offer many diverse types of businesses and yet big enough to have all the amenities necessary for someone to live in the area. Please, please don't take away the great ambience of living in Marion.
Submitted by: F.J.
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