Speaking of ‘Tifilicious’ while our city council is drooling over another ridiculous $94 million dollar tax rebate slush fund to dangle carrots at Asian investors, while we have gotten the shaft on the Midco Aquatic Center windows (still waiting to hear the final on that) and the failed HVAC at the City Center (haven’t heard a peep about that either) or the $26 million dollar bunker ramp to nowhere with a foundation that could hold an aircraft carrier (still no clue how that lawsuit is going either) we have another ‘Tifilicious’ project kind of just flopping in the wind; Sioux Steel project.
As we learned last year due to Covid, the project was delayed and had to be revamped. Understandable. My suspicion is if this project ever does get going again, it will be mostly apartments since Covid has kind of made office space and hotels not a very good investment. But I am wondering 1) why the original TIF hasn’t been rescinded (especially with the South Korean Egg Roll factory TIF on the horizon) and what’s going on with it?
Usually if construction projects are going to break ground in late spring or early summer, the deal is done by February, but we have not heard a peep. I think if the city council doesn’t hear the revamped plans by Feb 1st they need to rescind the original TIF immediately. I have a feeling we won’t see any groundbreaking in 2021 for this project. Maybe they should look into building a Canadian frozen burrito factory on the land, that’s a sure fire way to get a TIF!
Recently, a WSJ article claimed that 19 to 36% of all business travel will never return after covid. Given that, I would think that the Sioux Steel project and the Bunker Ramp “someday project” are indeed in question:
https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-covid-pandemic-could-cut-business-travel-by-36permanently-11606830490?mod=hp_lead_pos10
Looks like it is still in limbo;
https://www.argusleader.com/story/news/business-journal/2021/01/29/downtown-sioux-steel-project-inches-forward-manufacturing-wraps-up-relocation/4296983001/
The Sioux Steel factory is a classic example of a light factory setting from the early days of the 20th century. It should be preserved. It looks like something one would put on their HO train set layout. Instead of preserving history with this project, however, we are building empty hotel rooms.
Here is a video link of my walk around Seney Island … as I walk, I am showing people the actual path of the “West Channel” which Sioux Steel and Lloyd Companies both claim they have no idea where it is .. Keep in mind, the West Channel was turned into a City Land Fill beween 1902-1920, they filled in the northern entrance with BOULDERS (still visible today); and the southern end with Dirt/Fill. Then with all the sewage, waste, garbage, aluminum, metal waste – the channel was later filled in by 1930. Amazingly – the Channel is marked by the Water-Sewer Line that goes around the fence line. I wrote an excellent ‘story’ of Seney Island’s history between 1862-1930 for anyone that wants a copy.
My Video Tour – “walk around the island” https://www.facebook.com/mike.zsales/videos/120047116434513/
The one spot you can stand on the actual island where your can claim your great-great grandparents once did is on the eastern side of Sioux Steel along the banks, I show this during the final 15 minutes of video link above.
How many of you want to stop this project and help petition to SAVE THE ISLAND ??
Mike Zitterich
zitterich76@gmail.com
Maybe Marjorie Taylor Greene’s space laser could bring back Seney Island. Is that what the Arcs are for?
Speaking of Marjorie, I would like to nominate her to be the next guest speaker at the Law Enforcement Appreciation Dinner. She’s just the meat they are looking for.