cewoodford wrote on Sep 8, 2008 3:29 PM:
" Well lets hope some city leaders read these posts and actually listen to their bosses..the voters and taxpayers of Winona. Eminent Domain probably won't work so well on this property( which Im sure "city planners" are well aware of) Mr McNally not only has a desire/plan to do with his property as he see's fit, he's also a succesful developer with assets to fend off a government seizure of his property.. "
PerfectStranger wrote on Sep 8, 2008 1:42 PM:
" The space between Tri Mac and Winona Boiler is narrow, and not very deep. Property lines are off-set to Washington Street. Trucks that deliver materials to Tri Mac must drive around back - right past the proposed new building. The Water Dept. property is absolutely in the way - no direct river access, and no real view. That and lumberyard noise and traffic all day - I wouldn't want to live there, and I can't see the GRSF or anyone else having much interest in so limited a space. Where will people park? But hey, id it's 100% private investment - and as long as that doesn't change - why not? "
The Donald wrote on Sep 8, 2008 12:32 PM:
" On the other side of the Boiler Co is a large warehouse that as far as I can tell is only used to store junk. If all combined, it could be the site of a pretty neat development. Because the waterworks building and storage yard kind of limits river views, Tri-mac and its lumber shed area along with the defunct Ramers would be a better location. But I've been here long enough to realize that Winona lacks the mover and shaker synergy to make something of our downtown riverfront. "
xfs-123 wrote on Sep 8, 2008 12:24 PM:
" ce- this IS a gift and our "leaders" are far too stupid to see it. One-track and narrow are the mindsets of these "visionaries" who are now sold on a dumb-ass arena and nothing else.
So none of the other businesses lining our shores in the downtown area qualify as industrial with housing nearly across the street from them??? Ridiculous! "
J.D. wrote on Sep 8, 2008 11:54 AM:
" The reason the City isn't backing this is because they didn't think of it. They can't pull their heads out of their arses long enough to breathe let alone think up a great development idea like this with spending a fortune on hiring someone to do a feasibility study.
Sorenson, Miller and the rest of them should seriously think twice about this. Winona Boiler and a condo development can exist in the same area, look at the foundary's in the East End within a block of housing. What's the big deal?
I wonder if the City just wants the Tri-Mac property and will take it by emminant domain if McNally decides not to sell and by allowing this project, they can't use their power to force businesses to move. "
cewoodford wrote on Sep 8, 2008 11:04 AM:
" Oh...and did I mention...with this project, there hasnt been one DIME of TIF $$$'s asked for by the developer( and certainly, after seeing the qualifications for recieving it in East Burns Valley, this property WOULD QUALIFY)... "
cewoodford wrote on Sep 8, 2008 11:01 AM:
" Whomever makes mix development on the waterfront out to be a blight is not properly informed. What is stooopid is that the city isnt seeing this as an opportunity...an opportunity to get Winona's waterfront developed for purposes other than industrial..and an opportunity to get another good Winona company in the easte end industrial park...seriously...this is a NO-BRAINER... Eric Sorenson should be taking out the owner of the Boiler co to lunch today to see what it will take to get him to move to the east end. This is literally a GIFT to Winona citizens and the downtown revitalization movement. "
xfs-123 wrote on Sep 8, 2008 11:01 AM:
" They draw up a plans and then have no guts or vision to follow thru with them. So when was the mistake made, in planning or execution of our big plan? The city is run by idiots and we must alos never interfere with Shakespeare or WSU basketball. The stupid arena will cost the people of Winona in more ways than one, and it will do so for eternity. Now there is a waste of valuable real estate that we are already paying for. "
Bubba wrote on Sep 8, 2008 10:37 AM:
" If he wants to build it, let him. The presence of Winona Boiler imposes more of a problem for the new development than the other way around. This type of development is decades overdue. Mixing types of building is far from the blight it's made out to be. "
cewoodford wrote on Sep 8, 2008 10:05 AM:
" Again...the VERY NEXT STEP should be to sit down with the boiler co and see what it would take for them to move to our semi-vacant industrial park. Obviously if he's adding a 3rd shift things are going well and he may be open to a move. I guess you'd have to ask to find out. "
cewoodford wrote on Sep 8, 2008 10:02 AM:
" And if the REAL treson this is being snubbed is because of the Shakspeare Basketball Arena, then Winona taxpayers should be told upfront, directly, and right now. No more beating around the bush with this property. Mr. Mcnally is a well regarded and finacially sound developer, this should be an absolute no-brainer....unless the city planners are on a hidden agenda to build a basketball arena( disguised as a multi use arts center for funding purposes)that will be a heavy weight on the financial neck of Winona taxpayers for generations to come. "
cewoodford wrote on Sep 8, 2008 9:57 AM:
" So...that being said, WHY arent Winona planners working to help Mr McNallys project get through? He hasn't asked for a dime from Winona to fund his personal project(ala Applewood pointe), he's improving Winonas'waterfront( which is WAAAAY OVEREDUE), He's increasing the taxbase, and to top it off, you have anopther very good prospect for a tenant out in the semi vacant east end industrial park.. What kind of planning is being done here? This is a no-brainer.....the next step should be figuring out what the boiler co. wants to make it attractive for them to move. "
cewoodford wrote on Sep 8, 2008 9:51 AM:
" I thought they were encouraging mixed use development? Why don't they incentivize the Boiler co. to move to the very vacant industrial park in the east end? This would allow Mr MCNally to move forward with his non-taxpayer subsidized project, it would allow a greater tax revenue for the property, and finally, it allows the current boiler co. property to be used for mixed use? Having our valuable riverfront property tied up in industrial zoning( when it doesnt use the river) is ludicrous when you consider what the city spent to develop that east end industrial park. Obvioulsy, a residential/retail corridor on the riverfront would do more for Winonans quality of life....not to mention tax base. "
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