I was looking at a map of Sioux Falls recently at a Districting meeting and I thought, I’m pretty close to living in the very center of Sioux Falls. I’m probably off by a few blocks due to the lopsided nature of the city’s boundaries. I guess when I bought my house 14 years ago I did tell the realtor I wanted to live in Central Sioux Falls. He must have taken me literally.
What’s needed is a limited access east-west thorofare. There’s right-of-way from I-29 along 12th then the abandoned railroad then 26th to I-229. The 26th interchange is scheduled for a cloverleaf. Look at a map. It’s obvious. Somebody tell Cotter.
Suddenly, downtown becomes readily accessible and easy for visitors to find. Can’t get credit for bonds? Make it a private toll road like for Dulles area of Virginia. Private can build for half the cost of city corruption.
There’s more. Short dogleg streets from the new thorofare to the 3 hospitals, Denny Dome, golf courses, and Aquatics Center. Real estate values along and either side would appreciate. The vacant store fronts along Minnesota Ave. would be occupied and in demand.