Downtown Cedar Rapids (Des Moines, Ankeny: how much, income, tax)

[wallststud]

I'm back with another question. The development or shall I say the Lack of development in the downtown district. How can this be improved? I personally think its ironic no one ever really questions how tax money is being spent. Not on a dramatic level at least. Seems as though most people just pay the tax and relax. With respect to the downtown district. Shouldn't the city spend more on infrastructure and the development of new attractions to downtown. This could include street scape, the introduction of technology, maintaining a great library and other great educational venues. They can seriously plan for future development. Actively try to attract new businesses and entertainment. Maybe even really do some of the things that are the fifteen in 5 plan. The city clams it doesn't have the money. However the city is able to spend 60% of its budget on public safety most going to the police and next the fire department. I mean, do we really need to spend over 24 million to police officers that are more consumed with giving traffic violations to people with a blown out licenses plate light. I understand the importance of these departments however cedar rapids is not that dangerous of a place that this kind of spending is needed. These cops are ineffective in their jobs; they address the wrong issue. Many of these officers run the streets as though they are God Kings bending the law at their whelm; disrespectful, unhelpful... Let me get back on track before I completely lose it . Long story shot is the money is there. How can Cedar Rapids help save it's downtown??

[capitalcityguy]

I think a big challenge CR has for their downtown is overcoming the order/smells from some of the manufacturing plants located too close to downtown (e.g...Quaker).

[zz4guy]

Originally Posted by capitalcityguy

I think a big challenge CR has for their downtown is overcoming the order/smells from some of the manufacturing plants located too close to downtown (e.g...Quaker).

You can't be serious? Relocate the largest cereal mill in the country so that the stinky smells dont offend the locals who go drinking on Saturday night?

If you can't take the smell of a city that actually makes something you should keep driving east (or west).

[Steve_W]

Omaha has a Kellog's plant and it smells pretty damn good if you ask me. Some days it smells like s*it for some reason though...almost like they are over cooking the stuff.

I agree having an industrial downtown isn't very attractive for private invesment. If I was planning to locate my business I would definitely take into account whether the downtown is old, dingy and stinky.

[capitalcityguy]

Originally Posted by zz4guy

You can't be serious? Relocate the largest cereal mill in the country so that the stinky smells dont offend the locals who go drinking on Saturday night?

If you can't take the smell of a city that actually makes something you should keep driving east (or west).

What are you talking about??? The question was asked (not by you BTW) why downtown redevelopment was lacking in CR and I threw out a possible reason. Where did I say anything about relocating "the largest cereal mill"??

[WoodwardGirl]

I thought the article in the Gazette today about focusing on the downtown riverfront was positive. It's something that actually could be done as well as something that should be done. How we can get that going when we can't afford to keep the library open (let alone fix the building it in so it doesn't leak all the time) is something else again.

The city manager said that we have less income than other cities of the same size throughout the country. <jumping up and down and shouting> I still want to know exactly why that is, how much money THEY have, and how they spend it compared to how we spend ours! <calming down> Is that so much to ask? If other cities are moving forward and we're not, I'd like to identify the differences.

[DSMGuy]

One thing they could cut out is that police helicopter that flies around 24/7. I was there a few years ago and couldn't believe it. I've lived in cities 10X as big as CR and they didn't have a police chopper flying around all day and night. Talk about a waste of $$. I can't believe people would put up with that.

[metro223]

The gross industry downtown is a big killer i'll agree. It makes a lot of non-locals considering that area run the other way and go to Des Moines instead... oh yep, like me

[WoodwardGirl]

Originally Posted by DSMGuy

One thing they could cut out is that police helicopter that flies around 24/7. I was there a few years ago and couldn't believe it. I've lived in cities 10X as big as CR and they didn't have a police chopper flying around all day and night. Talk about a waste of $$. I can't believe people would put up with that.

The police department helicopters were eliminated in 2006.

[El Rhino]

Cedar Rapids had a ghetto bird? Strange.


Speaking of the smell of industry, I like the Tone's spices plant in Ankeny. It smells lovely.