The (forced) announcement today, where the mayor announced NO questions from NON press. I guess we can’t ask how you are spending our money.
The depot will remain under the poorly proposed plan
While nothing has been signed yet, the redline of the project was completed on Monday. The environmental study revealed that low levels of petroleum and lead were found at the site and 6†of brownfield will have to be removed before doing any development in the area. We will also have to put a security fence around the project while it is being prepared for development.
Where I see no value in the project is that two major RR lines will still remain downtown, which I assume will become even more busy. One of them crosses Cliff Avenue, and frankly is a pain in the ass as it is. I also don’t see the value in buying land to prepare an old RR yard for developers to buy. Then there is the relocation costs associated that we are basically giving to the RR. They are the ones moving, it shouldn’t be on the backs of taxpayers to help them with the move. While the developers will be required to do their own environmental study at the time of purchase, I still think all along this should have been a private matter between the RR and the developers. While the Feds did have to be involved, our city government should have kept its nose out a deal that is just going to cost us more money in the long run and not really solve the problems with train traffic downtown. According to the Mayor, it sounds like it is just going to be another park. Big whoop. How about cleaning up the park just 2 blocks away to the North?
The mayor, of course had to bring up the naysayers and how this project is bigger than the Events Center (thank God we are only building a fence and not siding a building). I find his ‘naysayer’ comment a bit hypocritical. I remember Huether being the biggest naysayer about this project when we were debating whether or not to build a Events Center downtown. I truly think that really put a hiccup in the process.
The city council will only approve this through a resolution on August 4th. No real discussion, no public input, no debate.
While I am happy that the tracks will be moved out of this area, this project is nothing more then another handout to the already super rich developers in our city AND it does nothing to end rail traffic downtown. Huether, Johnson, Daschle and Thune, thanks for nothing, but more federal debt. Ironic how Huether makes fun of Washington, but gladly takes money from them. He did it after the ice storm, and now with the RR relocation project.
Click to enlarge below graphic of press release;
Dear sir,
You are very ignorant in your assessment of this project. It will allow Sioux Falls residents to enjoy the beauty of downtown without harassment from noisy trains and will allow local artisans to develop boutiques and other artistic shops in the area. As an artist, you should appreciate the fact the area will become more beautiful and inspire others to call Sioux Falls and downtown home. I pray to my higher power that your negative rhetoric will stop.
“It will allow Sioux Falls residents to enjoy the beauty of downtown without harassment from noisy trains . . .”
Did you watch the press conference? I have been following this project since Munson announced it several years ago. The trains will still be running downtown, and still making noise. As I pointed out, it may even increase traffic to the remaining tracks.
“will allow local artisans to develop boutiques and other artistic shops in the area.”
Yes, many developers will be coming out rosy on this deal.
It seems the ignorance is all in your ballpark, and it pains me that someone like you doesn’t see this obvious ruse on the taxpayers.
No negativity here, just laying out the facts.
In fact, I fully supported this project when first announced by Munson, but quickly changed my mind when it was coming very obvious that the trains WILL NOT be moving out of downtown completely. The traffic backups will remain, the whistles will still blow, and the potential for train/car accidents will still be of critical concern. Just look at the above map.
You hate progress in Sioux Falls. The trains will be out of a beautiful area of Sioux Falls. So what if it costs taxpayers money? You probably live in low income part of town and are broke so it won’t cost you much more anyway. Plans for a public buyout of John Morrell’s are next.
Man, you really are a dumbass. Did you look at the above map. The old P.O.S. depot will remain with 2 tracks running parallel to the proposed site. Nothing changes except we are removing the staging tracks. The trains and noise are going nowhere.
I regret the generous tips I left for you while you worked at Touch of Europe. You have as big of a mouth as the fat guy who sat at the bar all the time down there.
James Willhelmsen obviously has not followed this project for the past 11 years.
Two out of the five railroad tracks have always been slated to remain as is.
He sounds like a well-informed guy!!
He might benefit from reading southdacola more often!!!
Investing and developing here for a few small shops is a tremendous waste. It will be nice with fewer tracks that ruin your cars suspendion. That’s it.
I’m suspicious. There’s desperation looking for Huether awarded noncompetitive bid contracts. His term is closing. Thank God. How is this profitable urban renewal?
Pick me, I’ll take the 40 million looking busy moving dirt around and selling off steel salvage. After a few years, it’s still a vacant parcel reserved for vagrant habitation.
LOL, I regret accepting your tips 🙁
Well, at least they are saving the old BNSF Depot. My father worked there for 36 years…. 😉
So what if it costs taxpayers money? You probably live in low income part of town and are broke so it won’t cost you much more anyway.
And herein lies the problem. Another project where the 10 percenters snub their noses at the other 90 percent. Scott was close to right. James, you are an ARROGANT dumbass.
I think it is funny how the mayor thinks this project is ‘significant’.
It does NOTHING to eliminate train traffic downtown. The main reason I supported this project when Munson dragged it out because ‘I thought’ it would eliminate the annoying traffic. All this is is a handout to SF developers once again. The mayor would think that is significant.
Not much it can be used for. The railroad (included acreage) is still 100′ right of way so it’s strips either side. Relocated utilities will be more easement that can’t be built on. Street access is another 50′ (both sides of the railroad). What’s left could be added to adjoining independent owned lots but there’s nothing left to build on that’s a 25′ setback from frontage.
The mayor portrays this as a big political win. Realistically, it’s still a bunch of polluted lowland not even suitable for even overnight transients.
The raiload has deviously transfered responsibility and liability to the city without having to fund returning it to a natural setting. Smart move. Huether says it’s another events center type win. Works for now but wait till 2020 when it’ll cost 50 million for environmental cleanup, can’t be built on, and remains untaxable real estate. Make this guy governor just get him away from here.
The only parcel with value is the inset rectangle on the east side of 8th & Railroad Center. Coincidentally, the mayor’s wife has real estate interest here.
I may be arrogant, but I’m not a dumbass. I’ve made big money in Sioux Falls with smart business decisions. And yes, the city helps us developers. We create jobs and tax revenue and the council and Huether knows it. You can cry all you want, but we’ve won and will continue to win. HAHA!
Well Jim, I appreciate your honesty even if you are an arrogant dumbass. Can’t wait to hang out at the newly developed European Town Square in two years and CONTINUE to listen to the trains drive by on the two remaining tracks adjacent to the property. Choo! Choo!
The trains have little to do with it. It’s about making money. Something you and most of the people who read this blog don’t have. I have cars that probably cost more than your home and I spend more on landscaping than you make.
This and other blogs are news that’s not free speech in the media. The city has no accepted public record. Blogs are valuable history for when there’s prosecution for public funds fraud. Facebook is recognized legal evidence when there’s no formal record. Blogs can also be accepted. Mr.Willhelmsen, you could be named as codefendant when there’s a federal investigation. Not a good idea to associate yourself with the mayor and crooked insiders.
I believe the city has to put up barrier fencing along the tracks so the purged good people or the persona nongrata people shoved east to weber won’t have an easy path to come down town. Mmm will probably have gun turrets installed in case civil disobedience crops up here. The have and have nots is quickly becoming apparent that people like Jim expects to be protected because he and the lofty people with lofts are better than us all Another a clown Wait til Pettigrew Heights is torn into. More blight coming to a neighborhood near you.
I’m not a dumbass. I’ve made big money in Sioux Falls with smart business decisions.
Smart business decisions? I doubt you know how to wipe your ass without a roll of subsidized, TIFidized toilet paper. Does that make you the donald trump of Sioux Falls? In your own mind….DUMBASS.
and yet, after spending millions of dollars, some of the poorest areas of sioux falls will still be on the other side of the railroad tracks. i was down at the hilton garden this spring, and you cannot get in the elevator without a room card. i was remarking to the person in the elevator with me, how i’d never seen that before. she said it was a nice hotel, but she thought it was built in a seedy part of town. this project only moves the “seediness” out about a block. and the poor will still walk down 8th street to get to the banquet and bishop dudley house. maybe diamond jim can sell one of his cars that cost more than my house to fix that problem, since the city helps him so much.
James Willhelmsen on 07.22.15 at 12:14 pm
Dear sir,
You are very ignorant in your assessment of this project. It will allow Sioux Falls residents to enjoy the beauty of downtown without harassment from noisy trains….
James Willhelmsen on 07.22.15 at 2:27 pm
The trains will be out of a beautiful area of Sioux Falls….
James Willhelmsen on 07.23.15 at 1:42 pm
The trains have little to do with it….
Would someone please tell me who this guy is so I can make sure I never patronize any of his businesses!!