Bain-Blog

Thursday, January 19, 2006

Riverwalk feedback

The council will vote Tuesday on the proposed riverwalk design plans. This is a huge opportunity for the city and I'm interested in hearing what questions, comments, concerns you have regarding the project. Feel free to post them here (to create dialogue) or send them to me via email. I also encourage you to share your thoughts with the other council members. The council meeting is January 24th at 6:00 p.m., 4th floor City Hall.

-Bryan

posted by Bryan L. Bain at 1/19/2006 07:51:00 AM

6 Comments:

  • I think the riverwalk is great, I hope you vote for it.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at January 20, 2006 10:39 AM  

  • I also think it is great,but I am worried about what the impact will be on our taxes in years to come. I hope that issue is addressed.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at January 20, 2006 10:48 AM  

  • Wonderful project...would give the city and it's most beautiful natural resource some charachter.

    Don P

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at January 20, 2006 11:10 PM  

  • Thank you for the comments. Anonymous #2 - I share your concern about the impact on property taxes. Don P. - I echo your comments.

    The council had a workshop with Jackson Kinney and here's what we learned. We were informed that 90% of the riverwalk is in redevelopment areas, with 75% of that in the Southshore and Marion Road areas. This is significant because it allows the city flexibility and opportunities for outside funding sources, which I strongly recommend the city pursue.

    The timeline for the riverwalk is 5-10 years, and it will be coupled with other projects and redevelopment that occurs. Even though it will not be completed at once, the overall design plan will be in place to ensure consistency.

    The funding sources will be a combination of private dollars, fundraising, grants, state and federal dollars, TIF money and the CIP budget. "Tax money" will be used in some form or another, however, it was discussed that all avenues would be explored to minimize the negative impact on individual property taxes.

    Finally, this is not the last we will hear about this project. Once an area or piece of the riverwalk proposal is ready for development, a detailed plan (specific design, costs, funding, etc.) must be approved by the Plan Commission, Parks Advisory Board and Common Council prior to work being started. I ask that there be open communication with the public to keep everyone on the same page and in the loop.

    I hope this helps provide some additional information regarding the project. Tonight's council meeting is at 6:00 p.m. and will be broadcasted live on Channel 10 and (I believe) on the new 101.9 FM - WOCT radio station.

    -Bryan

    By Blogger Bryan L. Bain, at January 24, 2006 12:39 PM  

  • I think the Riverwalk idea is great but did wonder a few things as I watched the presentation at the Council Meeting.

    1)Why was the area NW of the Wisconsin Street Bridge NOT included in the Riverwalk. Some of this area has an existing walkway (to the Senior Center on the South and thru the University to the North) but the walkways is in ROUGH shape and could use an update.

    2)Why not lay the groundwork to extend it even further north to the WIOSH trail. Its a shame that a few influential councilors in the past (90's) defeated the proposal for a bike trail on the shore north of Oshkosh Ave. But the area to the south is still largely undeveloped.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at March 01, 2006 11:49 AM  

  • Anonymous (March 01 at 11:49 a.m.)-
    I emailed your questions to Community Development Director Jackson Kinney. His response is below. Feel free to contact me if you have further questions.

    "There was no need to have the Riverwalk Plan relate to the area on the north side of the river north of the Wisconsin Street bridge, since that is already part of the WIOUWASH Trail. As I recall, when the trail was initially proposed in 93/94 (I believe those were the dates), there was a question as to whether the trail should go along the former railroad right-of-way within the Rivermill Subdivision, where it would have been situated in front of the Paine Condominiums. If that alternative had been selected, you would have had the trail running across the former railroad right-of-way for a short stretch and using the street right-of-way in other places north of Oshkosh Avenue. From a trail maintenance standpoint it was felt that utilizing the short stretch of former railroad right-of-way was less efficient than merely using Arboretum Drive and Rivermill Road in the area north of Oshkosh Avenue. Afterall, the trail in that location would not have been situated along the river."

    "On the south side of the river northwest of Ohio Street and Witzel, there is a trail that extends north to the Senior Center along a strip of land that is part of William Steiger Park. While we could put signage up to create a "trail route" that would run north of the Seniors Center in order to have people eventually connect with Oshkosh Avenue, that "trail route" would run along public street right-of-ways for all of the area north of the Senior Center. The area from the Senior Center north to Sawyer Stret and Abe Rochlin Park do not have the same redevelopment options that would afford realistic opportunities for future trail development near the river."

    "The WIOUWASH Trail north of the Wisconsin Street bridge is maintained by the City in Carl Steiger Park and by the University in the stretch that runs through the campus. In the area north of Rockwell Avenue Winnebago County is responsible for maintenance of the trail."

    "The City could certainly propose improvements to the WIOUWASH Trail north of Wisconsin Street, but I'm sure the University and County would say that should be paid by the City, and it could also open up discussions on who should then be responsible for ongoing maintenance in that area. In the areas where we have existing trails in William Steiger Park and Carl Steiger Park, it would be up to the City to decide when improvements are needed and to what level of improvement."

    -Bryan

    By Blogger Bryan L. Bain, at March 08, 2006 7:06 AM  

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