Economics, development, outsiders... Rolla, MO as example (St. Robert, Center: sale, homes)

[ozarksboy]

see below...

[ShadowCaver]

Taking a few posts from another thread to start their own home here...

Per posts in http://www.city-data.com/forum/sprin...th-need-4.html

Originally Posted by ozarksboy

let me tell you an anecdote that kind of illustrates your point about the need to be in favor of developing the state by encouraging immigration to Missouri.

Some years back, here in Rolla, an out-of-town company, Cracker Barrel Old Farm, wanted to build one of their beautiful chain restaurants on the edge of town near Exit 184 of I-44. The company wanted to buy Buehler Park, a neighborhood park with some huge old trees in it. A bunch of do-gooders went on a public relations rampage and also went to court. The public relations work was enough to scare off Cracker Barrel. They pulled out of negotiations and instead went 30 miles west to St. Robert. Now folks from Rolla go there all the time to eat in that beautiful facility. By having an anti-outsider and anti-development attitude, the treehuggers cost Rolla a lot of investment, taxes and jobs. All we've got is a park and some trees that cost us money to maintain.

Originally Posted by ShadowCaver

FWIW, and semi-off-topic, but to address a point made above,,, I was one of those protesting the location of the Cracker Barrel location - and from my time/knowledge of and in Rolla, the town itself, the leaders, is not very pro-development. Yes, the location [Buehler Park] was a battle, but the war was NOT against Cracker Barrel coming into town - there were other suitable sites that they could have settled,,, but not at that park - it was set aside in 1958, sold to the city for $10 for "Park purposes only and none other, and to be known as Buehler Park".

Originally Posted by ozarksboy

The town's leaders are pro-development and pro-business; they just have a clumsy way of going about it.

Have you seen the plans for Rolla West? And the cost?

I was one on the side opposing you. I favored the development of the park. If you'll recall, the plan was for the city to take the proceeds from the sale of Buehler Park and develop another park on the property where the chamber Visitor Center sits just across Kingshighway. This would have:
1. given us a bigger and better park
2. put what is essentially a roadside park for tourists right next to the Visitor Center.
The Citizens Against Virtually Everything (CAVEmen) fought this simple, commonsense compromise. The out-of-state company, feeling unwelcome and unappreciated went down the road to St. Robert where civic leaders opened their arms to development.

Rolla continues to try to develop, but without success. Part of the problem might be the atmosphere of uncertainty CAVEmen put on the place, scaring potential investors away.

It makes no sense. We want outsiders to choose our state and our community for their homes and businesses, yet when a major company finds a place to invest millions and is willing to work with the local government to reach an arrangement that addresses all concerns, we fight them and make them feel unwanted.

I'm sorry to hear you were part of that ShadowCaver.