Feedback Responses (101-120)
Message 101: I see so many people criticizing the aesthetics of the businesses on 7th avenue, "Used car lots" "blue strip mall" etc. These are our employers! We are not Michigan Avenue and we don't have Tiffany & Co or Macys, but that is the reality of a small town!But it's not just offensive to criticize the aesthetics of the people who provide jobs, it's also just plain stupid. Moving streets will not bring in employers with huge budgets for pretty store fronts. How do you expect to still be able to buy used cars if you get rid of your used car lots? That is the reality of our local economy, and by throwing money at making it look better you're just wasting our tax dollars putting lipstick on a pig.
Submitted by: C.M.
Message 102: The City has posted on the website: www.cityofmarion.org that the Zoning Committee will be holding a public hearing at City Hall on 10/6/09 at 6 in the evening. Hope those in favor of the plan will show up and share there opinions of the project as well.
Submitted by: Anonymous
Message 103: I'm curious to know if any landowners along 7th avenue ever thought about redeveloping their land for something better than what they had? God bless the guy who tore down Coast to Coast and the Sinclair station! I'd like to see him buy up the rest of it!
Submitted by: J.C.
Message 104: For starters none of the city's current plans involve closing 7th Ave, just splitting the traffic between 6th and 7th, making both equally desireable to travel on. I see it as making 7th ave businesses MORE accessable (easier parking, and less congestion so I can actually look at the 7th ave stores instead of worrying about the crush of traffic
Submitted by: K.
Message 105: I have read the comments made and I have a couple of comments of my own. 1. Marion Iron. Marion is not the only SMALL TOWN in the United States that has a recycling place. If you don't like it stop buying stuff that ends up there. Don't forget who owned it before it became Marion Iron and all the things that the Kats brothers GAVE to the CITY of MARION. Besides there are alot of Marion business that buy your scrap metal from Marion Iron. Not to mention the business outside of Marion.
2. I went to one of the meetings in July and the plan that I saw DID have 7th Ave being closed. I think it was somewhere between 15th & 20th Street
3. I have taken a few days at different times to watch the traffic on 7th Ave. For the most part the only times it is real busy is between about 7:30 AM to 8:30 AM & aging around 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM. That was Monday tru Friday. The rest of the time it is not bad sometimes even slow. The only problem it the bottle neck wher cars go from two lanes to one lane for two blocks. Great idea that one was!!!! Also traffic is busy when Linn-Mar has something going on. Some of this will probably be gone when 29th Ave. is a thru street. But then we will need to fix up 29th Ave from Hwy 13 to 44th Street.
4. When I was at the meeting in July the people from Omaha kept telling us how great round abouts were in Kalamazoo,Mi. Kalamazoo, Mi. is slightly different than Marion, Ia. Look it up and you will see what I mean.
5. Roundabouts. The only people that I have ever talked to that like roundabouts are the high paid engineers that design them. Ask them how many of them actually have them in THEIR neighborhoods or drive thru one everyday??
6. Downtown parking or the lack of. That is what we need more than anything. If the council truly wants to change things downtown Marion why are they not looking at parking lots in the downtown area. Right now there is the old Jiffy Lub. Take the building out and will have a little extra parking. Not much but more than there is now. Why didn't they look into buying the car lot at 7th Ave. & 13th Street? Again take down the building and make a parking lot. By doing so we would have one more parking lot & one less car dealer trying to make a living. If ESCO can find lots to make into parking lots why can't the Marion council.
I am not opposed to change on 7th Ave, but I am opposed to what the council "THINKS" Marion needs. I feel that the council is once again railroading the citizens of Marion into doing things THEIR way. The citizens of Marion should vote on what THEY want done & the council should accept that & NO REVOTES if it doesn't turnout the way the council wants.
Submitted by: D.
Message 106: Anybody ever been to Clinton while driving on Hwy 30? Parts of the "corridor" sure remind me of that. Run-down houses, shabby left-over commercial/industrial buildings. They're in the middle of rerouting some of their streets and dressing the place up a bit. They're taking the attitude of being a river town of the glory days rather than the rundown ghost town of "ecclectic" pass-thru to Chicago. The City of Marion is just trying to be proactive and create some type of glory since we lost the railroad. I'd hate to be left behind by Clinton and be left to call ourselves "ecclectic".
Submitted by: J.M.
Message 107: Please provide a map for the different options being considered. Thank you!
Submitted by: T.E.
Message 108: Looking at the plan D, true it is not perfect, has some real positive things that it sounds like people are warming up to. Extending 22nd and 27th streets through and building at least part of 6th avenue. That is light years of agreement ahead of where marionproject.com started! We may not agree on roundabouts or where certain intersections are but we are standing on the same ground. Lets keep everyone involved so no one misses the train!
Submitted by: J.T.
Message 109: So many misunderstandings or deliberate mistruths here, its almost hard to know where to start. "closed to through traffic" is such a vague term, and borderline dihonest given the current proposal. The proposed 'closing' of 7th Ave is a one to two block stretch of the road as it comes together with the new 6th, and then a roundabout with a turn off to the rest of 7th Ave. I know many, MANY people signed this petition under false pretenses, and to use your 3,000 number as some sort of show of support isn't honest in my opinion. Secondly, your push on taxes. Marion's residential property taxes are already ridiculously high for a city of our size. I am sure we can agree to that? Marion needs to improve its sewers and roadways. I am sure we can agree to that too? Cities have a few options on how they are able to raise funds for infrastructure and operational needs.. sales tax and property tax. Right now Marion is far behind the curve when it comes to per-capita sales tax revenue. We make in the ballpark of 8500 per capita, whereas Linn Co as a whole is in the ballpark of 17000 per capita. That is HALF. Given those facts, this plan makes sense. We need money to improve, our sales tax income is bleak, and our residential property taxes are high. This plan will increase commmercial property available (by adding new commerical areas to the tax rolls), raise commercial property taxes (by raising assessed value) in the redevelopment area, and increase our share of sales tax (by selling more goods in this expanded commercial district). We need more money from somewhere. If it isnt found in commercial property tax and sales tax, it WILL come in the form of increase residential property tax. Take your pick. Now, as far as businesses impacted, I certainly feel for those owners and operators. It is never easy to make these types of decisions. But this decision is made for all 33,000 of us, not just those affected. Let's use some intellectual honesty here folks, and stop trying to get support through doom and gloom fear mongering. Thanks.
Submitted by: J.L.
Message 110: Oh-ho, we've got trouble! Right here in our little city! Trouble with a capital T and that rhymes with D, and that stands for DEVELOPERS! Now WHY in the world do I get the feeling that our sweet town is being shystered by some big out-of-town jaspers, here to tell about fine, fancy things Marion didn't realize it needed, until they showed up to whisper sweet nothings in the ears of the city council. And now, all of sudden, we need roundabouts and traffic reroutes. Oh, and our city will be made pedestrian-friendly, too. Funny, but I honestly don't see all that many people walking downtown now as it is, except for the skater kids that hang out in the park. But oh yes, the city council has listened to these modern-day Professor Harold Hills that have shown up with their pretty pretty maps and big ol' promises, while they choose to ignore the majority of the citizens who are AGAINST this idiotic plan. I've been a resident of Marion all 39 years of my life, and never have I seen such a silly plan. But hey, if the council and the developers don't mind killing the city off, then by all means, go for it. Not only will you lose businesses, but you'll also lose citizens. And somewhere there is a travelling salesman who is shouting: But they don't know the territory! And how TRUE that really is. The out-of-town developers don't know our small town, nor does it appear they want to. They just want to unload their ideas, get this plan pushed through, and then move on to the next poor little town. And we'll be the ones stuck with the mess left over. I'm surprised that in an election year, no one has reminded the city council that they can very easily be voted out. But that's just MY two cents.
Submitted by: K.F.
Message 111: Wow! What we could really stand to low are people like those that made comment 110 and who have lived in this community their whole life yet STILL don't recognize if we don't do something significant, we will die. Our property taxes will go up and businesses will leave if can't create a new and inviting business climate. And does anyone realize that our city property tax levy has actually decreased in recent years? Talk to your school board if you're upset about increasing property taxes. They do it without batting an eye.Besides, this is a plan that if you really have one once of understanding about how cities are funded, you would recognize we HAVE TO move forward with a bold plan
Submitted by: J.D.
Message 112: I have lived in Marion for all 58 years of my life. I have seen good times and bad for this city. After seeing the lack of respect the council had for the citizens that showed up at the meeting this week, I'm afraid I am seeing the worst yet. It is obvious to me and should be the rest of Marion that these people are simply trying to build their own legacies. This project will never bring big business or tax revenues. The council has simply been fed a pipe dream from Omaha and will make us pay for it in the end.
After reviewing some of the posts it is also obvious that this site and it's intentions have struck a nerve with some of the council. Only someone with their reputation on the line would write some of the ridiculous posts supporting this plan.
The city has paid enough money to this out of town con artist and he should be send packing along with the entire council and Mayor. None of these people have listened to the people they represent.
This may have passed through this egotistical group, but remember, what is done can be un-done by the newly elected officials once we get a chance to oust this egotistical group. In fact I have the time, money and the influence to run myself for election just to kill this foolish spending. This money should be spent on our children's schools or other improvements that would enrich their lives, not on a silly notion that only feeds a hand full of peoples ego.
Submitted by: J.F.
Message 113: I can't believe that anyone would buy into the BS that the city council is trying to foist off onto the citizens of Marion. I think they should explore REPAVING 7th Ave. (perhaps widen it to include a left turn lane). I also think we ought to disclose who owns the wonderful property on 6th Avenue that they are trying to develop...who's going to be making a tidy little profit on this deal? Sure won't be the citizens of Marion. By the way, I've lived here 40 out of my 47 years of life and I really do love my City! I just don't want see Marion trashed.
Submitted by: T.M.
Message 114: Widening 7th Ave at all (which will be required if current traffic trends continue) would mean buying out and demolishing more properties than this proposed plan. At least get your facts straight before you open your mouth. This conspiracy theory 'con artist' talk is just a bunch of malarky, and y'all should be ashamed of yourselves. Why dont you actually take time to consider facts instead of using your emotions.
Submitted by: J.L.
Message 115: I am a reasonable person and like to get the facts from both sides before I make a decision, but to be honest this site is obvliously biased. Frankly, there is not enough information provided that is not opinion (saying business would be forced to close down is opinion). Maybe they will be and maybe they won't. I would like to seee the data from other similar areas that have done the same to determine what is likely to happen. That being said, I don't know enough on this issue to support it one way or the other, but how is Marion supposed to grow if there is no re-development? Ultimately, businesses are forced to adapt to many issues, and the fact that people might lose jobs is not balanced against the fact that jobs would also be created. Please provide more facts and links to actual data or better yet, the proposals themselves so that Marion can be educated, not fed opinion from one side of the debate.
Submitted by: R.
Message 116: What ever happened to taking care of what we have? This is not Iowa City and we do not need a Ped Mall. What ever happened to a little patience during rush hour, which is the only time 7th Avenue seems to be congested? Leave Seventh Avenue as it is and take care of other more pressing problems in this city.
Submitted by: LN.
Message 117: Again, facts should be considered before the jaw is engaged. A 'ped mall' is not part of this plan, nor has it ever been a part of this plan. I am beginning to wonder if more than half of those opposed to the proposed plan even know what the proposed plan is?
Submitted by: J.L.
Message 118: It's interesting to read this site as people continue to comment. It's clear that many are very willing to comment but not very willing to listen, look stuff up or ask questions to the people knowledgable enough to actually make true statements (City Staff and Olsson Associates). Nowhere in the plan is there a Ped Mall. The idea is to make it more ped-friendly. Opinions are great, just not when they're based on half-truths, falsities, and exagerations
Submitted by: C.J.
Message 119: It is nice to see that there are some educated people posting on the site. As far as the questions go at the beginning of the feedback page what a joke. No I don't want to pay higher taxes. If the city doesn't make some kind of a move to better this city we are going to be paying higher taxes anyway. Have any of you seen the price tag on the new football stadium? Hmm wonder where that is going to come from. As far as 7th Avenue goes something needs to be done. It is a huge eye sore. From the scrapyard that pukes filth onto 7th Avenue to all of the used car lots. 7th Avenue makes this town look like a town that lost all of its business when the plants closed down. Maybe just maybe if some of the current business owners along 7th Avenue cared about 7th Avenue and the city in which they do business and is providing them a lucrative lifestyle, they would be doing something more than whining and complaining. How about improving your business store fronts so that we don't have to look at a faded red and white building that is only open for 8 - 9 months a year. Or all of the other unattractive metal buildings and run down houses that line 7th Avenue. Maybe some of you business owners need to lead by example and take a little more pride in the city and your business. How about working with the city to find a better way. If you would all put your heads together and work this out like civilized human beings maybe another idea would come forth. Maybe even a better idea. The business owners do not want to see anything done but something needs to be done. You guys are forward thinkers which is why you have a successful business. How about using that attitude for the betterment of the city and not just filling people with lies and half truths. Who knows maybe your businesses would flourish even more. Thank you Marion resident that would like to see this town finally do something than just being satisfied as a bedroom community.
Submitted by: Anonymous
Message 120: To add to Comment 119, if more businesses along 7th avenue would've have tried to improve their properties like Subway, KFC, Burger King, and the bank, and the utilities and access weren't such a mess, option "b" might have been considered more heavily with 27th and 22nd streets extended through. Also, the businesses noted above have adequate quantities of well-spaced street access when compared with certain other properties that are run-down and have 80 foot wide driveways.
Submitted by: L.
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