Feedback Responses (41-60)
Message 41: What is wrong with our mayor and everyone else on the council? Who's bright idea was this? There are other things that should be done in this city to improve the town. Let's not make it worse. Some of the streets are severely in need of repair like 12th and 13th streets north of 8th Ave. They are rough, patched up with cement and blacktop and the curbs are crumbling. The council members said in a meeting about 5 years ago that they want to save the bricks but they're an eye sore to people in these neighborhoods. USE YOUR HEADS AND PUT THE MONEY TO GOOD USE !!! Common sense would go a long way in making the right decision. Also, financially speaking, in these hard economic times, why would you want to spend so much money and raise our taxes, plus very possibly causing businesses uptown to close? Going forward with this project does not make any sense.Submitted by: Anonymous
Message 42: I don't understand what the solution really is. Are you saying that moving though traffic from HWY100 around the center of Marion with some sort of by-pass, well that is just not very smart. That's more money for some city and less money for the Marion business owners. Marion's 7th ave is no different than 1000's of town in which a traveler has to decide to take the state hwy or the National hwy. I will agree I do not like slowing down to 20mph but, I know I have options if I want to get to a location "quicker" with the 100 bypass or so call back roads. Who is complaining? Ask them one question. How fast do you want to get to "WORK"?
Submitted by: B.H.
Message 43: I live in CR and if it's anything like our City projects it would be a disaster. I like the idea of the rails to trails. I personally miss the trains through marion and the milwaukee raIlroad in general. At one time Marion was a great roundhouse and railstation. The trestle that connects the railine to CR is incredible and I would hate to see it go. I remember as a child driving under the moving trains with my parents. With the talk of passenger rail I had hoped that someone would get the idea to take it through Marion on that line again or perhaps a trolley between the 2 cities, At bare minimum turn it into a bike trail. Why destroy what made our cities great !
Submitted by: Anonymous
Message 44: Like most Marion residents, I am all for the improvement of our town. I am a born and raised Marionite and have worked in a local, popular business for 11 years while attempting to put myself through college. You may have heard of it...the Marion Maid-Rite.
Many businesses in uptown Marion rely on people passing through town; they are out shopping with their girlfriends and decide to stop for a sandwich at the Maid-Rite. Or families that are heading home with their little league team stop to get some pizza at Zoey's and then down a couple blocks for ice cream at the DQ. These are places I have gone to and loved my whole life.
If portions of 7th Ave are rerouted, the effect would be devastating for the businesses and their employees. These are people who work hard to provide for their families in these hard economic times, many making minimum wage. These are people who are putting themselves through college to better their individual situations. These are people who, for the most part, CHOOSE TO LIVE AND WORK HERE.
I think revamping some run-down businesses and homes along 7th Ave is something people are interested in. I think cleaning up 6th Ave and making good use of the railroad space for new businesses, trails, and parks.. dare I suggest some parking that isn't owned by Esco.. is something people are interested in. I think the "bottlenecking" is not a problem unless you're the self-centered jerk who's always tailgating me or running red lights.
****************here's a suggestion....LEAVE YOUR HOME A FEW MINUTES EARLIER****************
I think the money the city planners want from us for their "big city visions" should be spent on more important things... 1)fix roads from snow and ice storms we had 2 YEARS AGO, 2)revamp Thomas Park.I hear there used to be a pool there? I think, considering the recent growth of Marion, more than 1 pool may be a good idea, 3)build something for kids, pre-teens, and teens to do...right now all there is for them is to get in trouble.
Here's the thing, city planners. We are NOT a big city, and don't want to be. You should spend a little time and consider what this could do to so many people. Is it worth potentially ruining peoples lives and livelihoods to save people a little time; to make the town "more pretty". I don't think so. Keep in mind this whole thing could backfire. Do you have a "plan" for that yet?
Submitted by: Anonymous
Message 45: I believe that in light of the present economy and the hardship this would cause to many of the citizens of Marion, this project should be deferred to a later time. Everyone is hurting and this is not the time for a project of this magnitude.
Submitted by: R.B.
Message 46: I do believe Taxes are high enough....why dont we just clean the maindrag up a bit more...plus unemployment is high enough, lets not get it worse.
Submitted by: Anonymous
Message 47: (This is a duplicate of a response I submitted to the official "blog" of the Marion Corridor Project today. To be fair, I am posting it on this website as well.)
I have reviewed thoroughly this site, as well as the site sponsored by the Marion Corridor Association, (www.marionproject.com), and it appears to me that either the City Council, Mayor, or Olsson Associates is pulling the wool over the citizens of Marion's eyes.
If you review the feedback on the MCA website, it is obvious to me that communication of this project has been minimal at best.
Based on the fact that people and businesses being directly affected had not been contacted, shows little class of city officials involved in this project.
By reading Mayor Rehn's response to Gary Bolden of MCA, it appears that he is only interested in stamping his name on a project, and not representing the citizens of Marion. This type of self-indulgence will cost Marionites millions of dollars, with no guarantee of one dollar ($1) on their return.
After reading the letter posted on the MCA website from Snooks Bouska, Dairy Queen owner, I find it very curious why the City Council, that is pushing this project so hard, would ignore 1,100 people who are strongly opposed by refusing to accept their Petition.
Also by reviewing the MCA website, it is clear that Nick Bowden needs to answer questions without copying and pasteing generic answers. In the business that Olsson Associates is in, they should be better versed in the effects and ramifications that their project conceptions can cause, and they have a duty to not only the citizens of Marion, but across the United States to ensure that their clients are communicating opening and clearly. This type of project can affect the income of many families, and ultimately bankrupt the city.
If the people of Marion really want to see what their neighbors think, they should visit (www.marionproject.com), and review the Feedback, as it is obvious that as little time as that website has been in existence, it has drawn far more attention than this site.
And oh by the way, this will be posted on the MCA website as well.
P.S. It took me 30-minutes of setting up an account just to respond to the official Marion Corridor blog and facebook sites. It took me only 20 seconds to respond on this website.
Submitted by: D.W.
Message 48: Wouldn't it be cheaper to just take out some of the park along 7th Ave. and expand the park towards the railroad tracks; and then take out that first business in the strip mall on the same side of the 7th Ave. as the park and then there would be room to add another lane of traffic. With the economy how can you merit raising taxes and taking out that quantity of businesses, thus adding to the recession. If you removed parking in the downtown area you could even get 4 lanes in there with this plan. You could even tear down the old City Hall to make a parking lot to compensate for lost parking.
Submitted by: Anonymous
Message 49: Just leave it alone or make it nicer, but don't move it.
Submitted by: Anonymous
Message 50: Opposed.
Submitted by: T.W.
Message 51: Spruce up 7th Avenue, but don't close it to through traffic.
Submitted by: Anonymous
Message 52: I listened openly to those at the 7th Avenue Project Information Booth to understand the concerns they bring to plans to redevelop Marion. I am very disappointed after returning home to verify "facts" given were false. If you are going to bring valid concerns to a plan that impacts all of the community, please base those concerns on VALID FACTS. They said there was a link to www.oaplanning.com/marioncorridor on this website. FALSE. The only link to the plan was in a feedback from a citizen. Tried to promote this Save 7th Ave Marion only had from Friday to Saturday to put together their information brooth, as the plan backers had told them they were not going to have a booth. Hummm in the Cedar Rapids Gazette on Saturday there was a snippit "Plan's critics, backers to be at Swamp Fox fest" MARION — Groups for and against plans to redevelop Seventh Avenue through Marion will have information booths at the Marion Swamp Fox Festival today and Sunday. The city and the Marion Corridor Association, which is questioning the impact of the city proposal, will have booths in Marion Square Park during the annual festival today. A steering committee is scheduled to meet in a members-only session Wednesday to possibly recommend one of four variations of the redevelopment proposal. I recommend to all citizens to go to the plan website above, voice your concerns at that website, tell them what you like what you do not like and any alternate plans you would proposed. Voice your concerns based on FACTS.
Submitted by: T.T.
Message 53: There has to be another way around this idea of taking away from Seventh Ave. All of those businesses will be lost plus the tax collected from them. I am a resident of Marion, retired here and I am strongly opposed to this proposal.
Submitted by: J.B.
Message 54: Why can't I find the actual plan posted on this site? I think all of you are jumping to conclusions. I don't believe the city has ANY intentions of closing 7th Ave...the plan doesn't say that anyway. Think about your kids. Who's going to want to live in a city with such an ugly main thoroughfare. We need to invest in this area today and have a much broader long term approach to this. Seems like a great plan.
Submitted by: I.
Message 55: To all that are saying there are lies being spread by the Marion Corridor Association:
Have you asked the City how they are planning to pay for the buyouts of the businesses affected? Have you asked them how they are going to pay for the development of the road? I have - and they cannot answer it!!! If the development is supposed to cost $11 million and they are "anticipating" $4 million from local option (you know the money that was SUPPOSED to fix existing streets and sewers), that leaves $7 million unaccounted for. Where do you think they are going to get the money???
Another important thing to point out is that the City does not know the costs associated with doing anything other than Plan D! And yet, Olsson & Associates (the planners) are pushing the Advisory Committee to make a recommendation to the City Council? How can any member make an informed decision without ALL the facts?
The City said they notified all residents two years ago, but from this website, we are finding that people are just finding out about the plans now!!
C'mon City Council....listen to the people who elected you!! Slow down, take a closer look at things and look at other alternatives than closing 7th Ave!!
Submitted by: Anonymous
Message 56: I understand your concerns, but please realize something must be done about 7th Avenue traffic. It is getting very congested and dangerous. It is not possible to widen 7th Avenue to put in a center turn lane. We need to come up with some compromise. Extending 6th Avenue to 31st or 35th may be the best bet.
Submitted by: C.T.
Message 57: Marion is NOT our "little town" anymore!!! We have doubled in population since I attended high school 20 years ago. We have to get up-to-date with the times. Another area of traffic attention should be focused on 10th Street and Boysen!!! Ever driven up to the Linn-Mar area recently?
Submitted by: C.T.
Message 58: Spending money the city doesn't have seems foolish, and devasting long time businesses in Marion is unethical. The city needs to look at other options and avoid plans C and D completely at this time! Best of luck.
Submitted by: R.M.
Message 59: Opposed.
Submitted by: J.M.
Message 60: How will 120 people be unemployed? I don't think you can just say that by looking at this plan. It seems like the city wants to make sure all of the businesses impacted by the road project are taken care of. Please quite using these scare tactics. It's making you all lose credibility. Additionally, I spoke with a member of the council this past week who informed me about dollars available via LOST to help pay for this. My question is what will cost the city if we DON'T do this???? We need to invest today. If we wait, we'll all be paying higher property taxes in 5-10 more years as the corridor continues to sit vacant. You'll notice I oppose the closure of 7th Avenue to through traffic....that's because there's no where in the plan that actually proposes to close it. Please, please, please, we need something better for our children and for all of us.
Submitted by: L.G.
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