Feedback Responses (61-80)
Message 61: Isn't Hwy 100 the way to get around Marion, if you don't want to use 7th Avenue? If/when the 31st Street extension to Hwy 100 is completed, that will move the traffic off 7th Avenue. Has anyone noticed that 6th Avenue is a dirt road from 19th street to the east - how much is that going to cost to create and pave a street? 7th Avenue in "uptown Marion" has a charm that brings people to Marion. There are more advantages to leaving everything as it is than disadvantages.Submitted by: C.L.
Message 62: 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.
Message 63: In response to #55: LIES are different from not answering the question. While the city has not been straight forward with how the plan will be paid for, this is different from the MCA lying to those citizens looking for information. If you do not know something, it is better to say that than to falsify information, especially when trying to get support for your opinion.
Submitted by: R.T.
Message 64: maybe they should fix streets here instead. such as 35th street from marion village through the intersection with 7th avenue, 11th street from dr noyes office north to fairview dr.
Submitted by: R.L.
Message 65: I understand that Marion has acquired the railroad property and that they want to develop it so go with Plan B as long as 7th avenue remains as it is a 4 lane road through the town of Marion.
Submitted by: D.G.
Message 66: I have seen many homes with "Save 7th Avenue" signs in their yards. Who would I contact to get a sign? I would proudly display one in my yard. Thanks.
Submitted by: M.B.
Message 67: To the intelligent person who wrote message 33. Option D will close seventh avenue. I believe option D is the plan the city is wanting to go with. If you read the plan on the link that you put in your message it clearly states that. Apparently you need to get your facts straight before you post things!!!!
Submitted by: W.B.
Message 68: Opposed.
Submitted by: Anonymous
Message 69: #67 - Where does it say in the plan they close 7th Avenue with Option D? I must have missed it when I read the plan I must have misheard the lady working at the booth at Swamp Fox when she said that the plan does not close 7th Avenue. Lets get the facts straight. The plan does not close 7th Avenue, it does divert the traffic yes, but it doesn't close 7th Avenue. Everyone hear needs to acknowledge that FACT. Make your argument against it based on it will lower the # of cars by your used car lot, your vacant lot, your scrap iron, your salvage yard, your run-down homes every day not the myth that it closes 7th Avenue. People read the plan before you post, go to the plans website, i found it real quick by going to the city website and read it since it is not available on this site and they asks us to provide feedback on a plan that they don't provide you to review.
Submitted by: H.P.
Message 70: I agree that the city of Marion could use a little sprucing up, but I agree with other readers that the streets are a disaster. I find it funny that we keep our rickety brick streets (10th and 12th) and try to make Marion seem like a cozy, quaint town and we have a mall made of metal buildings (real historic, Marion Iron on the main street and by approving the building of an apartment complex on the corner of Boyson & 10th which the Marion police have to attend to all the time! Let's clean and fix what we have and do some cosmetic improvements that could make a huge difference and not be so costly to all of US!!!
Submitted by: S.K.
Message 71: This seems like a quick decision without much public input. I like shopping 7th Avenue. This seems unnecessary. Thru traffic can take Hwy. 100. Other options could be looked at such as One way streets. If the big box stores you are trying to attract leave later on then you have lost tax base, and the great small business will also be gone. Where will you get your taxes then? Raise them on the residents' again?
Submitted by: H.S.
Message 72: You are presenting a very negative stance and many people are not well informed about the options. Instead of just saying no to a plan, be constructive and present alternatives or modifications to presented plans. Marion Iron is moving eventually -- why not put the roundabout there around 26th street area? Then both 6th and 7th aves can be improved and make better traffic flow with more people AND also improve pedestrian safety across the corridor. The improvements will help bring more foot/bike traffic by existing businesses thus increasing potential business -- not decreasing as you think. And you talk about bad economy does not make sense -- this project will not get going for at least a couple of years and by then economy may be good. Now is the time to plan so when the chance is available, the plan can move forward. I think the signs along 7th show stubborness and unconstructive behavior on your part.
Submitted by: Anonymous
Message 73: From what I understand, the city council continues to deny that 7th Avenue will be closed. In actuality the road will not be closed as a whole, however as of September 16 (according to the most recent Plan D graph) it will be closed off from the new roundabout that will be built just off of downtown, supposedly alleviating traffic bottlenecks but having no ill effect on the businesses located just east of the roundabout, at least according to the city council propaganda. But by closing off the street to through traffic, it absolutely will affect businesses currently located on 7th Avenue. This is something anyone who has taken a class in marketing would know. But this is something the council continues to deny, even though their own literature shows that the road is cut off. Enough with government running amok....if they can't be honest about this ONE simple facet of the redevelopment plan, what else have they been hiding?
Submitted by: Anonymous
Message 74: Well, I do not currently live in Marion, but I graduated from Marion High School in 2001, I currently go to the 7th Ave Barbershop and workout at Anytime Fitness in the downtown block of Marion. 7th Ave. is the heart and soul of Marion, well known for Maidrite and Zoey's Pizzeria. I currently reside in Springville and being on the fire department, have heard the stories from our fire crews who responded for the mutual aid request from Marion when the downtown caught fire. Our guys helped save the downtown then, it would be a real shame for it to get changed now after people have put so much in to their shops and businesses.
Submitted by: B.F.
Message 75: In order for Marion to become a better city change is needed. Many of the industrial business on 7th Ave are an eye sore to the Community and should be located in an industrial park not near retail and residential areas. While improving the city will only attract new people and new business that will cover your so called property tax increase. It will also increase property value in Marion. Marion needs Change!
Submitted by: Anonymous
Message 76: If the majority of businesses were for this it just might be a good idea - but when most of them oppose it then I think you need to rethink it - beside small family businesses have a right to be in our community - and there are people who need affordable housing - so why sweep it away - why not spend the money to help the local business update their buildings and improve the conditions of the housing where people of lesser means live! who will profit from the plan? Where will all the people park when the streets are full of moving traffic - people who stop and browse through our "Up Town" businesses do so because it is convenient to park along 7th Ave. By only using adjacent streets you are virtually making a by pass through Marion.
Submitted by: F. & R. R.
Message 77: why not use the money for this to fix the streets in Marion,like blairsferry road and hwyway151 near hy-vee and there are others. Where are your priorities.
Submitted by: S.F..
Message 78: I have lived in Marion nearly all of my life and I am at a total loss for their reasoning behind a move of this magnitude at this time. Unemployment is at an all time high and you will never convince me this will not put people out of jobs. A number of the businesses that will be effected by this project are businesses that have been here , and paid into this community for many years. We have been operating our business in Marion for over thirty years, as well as raising our family here for over forty. We do not, however own the building we work from and when it is gone so will be our jobs, only three of many.
Submitted by: D.H.
Message 79: This has been amazing to watch. First the city hires and agrees to pay a firm from another state that has no vested interest in Marion’s future. Pays these clowns tens of thousands of dollars without the citizens knowledge and look what they get. This is a crazy pipe dream! What large corporation would want to settle or invest in Marion? This is great bedroom community but will never compete with the larger cities and shouldn't try. This will be a complete waste of our money. That is the tax payers money not the city councils or the mayors. How could this firm push the city around so easily? Emergency last minute meetings once the opposition catches wind of this joke? Come on Marion citizens WAKE UP! This is nothing but a group of power hungry idiots trying to leave a legacy at our expense. Not only should they all be voted out but run out of our town!
Submitted by: J.T.
Message 80: Opposed.
Submitted by: Anonymous
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