'March Fourth' to a Brighter Day
John Austin | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 12 years, 10 months AGO
We've leaped forward to the Ides of March and no one is busier than the city of Coeur d'Alene, its urban renewal agency and the many community-minded partners looking to bring a new baseball facility to town. All three are in pursuit of the same goal: Completing Phase I of the McEuen Field project.
By voting to approve the purchase of land at Cherry Hill on 15th Street the city made its boldest statement yet about replacing the baseball facilities at McEuen. The ink had barely dried on the purchase agreement when a group stepped forward to begin fundraising to build a facility that is not only equal to what is at McEuen but decidedly better. With seating for 1,000 spectators and artificial turf the American Legion and many others can expect a facility that rivals any other in Idaho.
Meanwhile the city is moving ahead with the design and bid documents for McEuen, intending to have them ready by this summer. The city and its funding partner, LCDC, have most of the money in place to reconstruct Front Avenue into an elevated promenade with parking tucked neatly below it. With the addition of five acres of new green space the vistas from Front Avenue looking toward Tubbs Hill and the lake should be remarkable.
As with all things McEuen its opposition continues. Letters to the editor and local blogs still shout for a vote on the project and some people question spending money on a park when times are tough. Even the city council appears split on the issue with Mayor Sandi Bloem boldly casting the tie-breaking vote to move ahead.
Those in favor of the project point to the fact that the city has had McEuen Field in its sights for improvement for nearly 15 years. The original urban renewal plan called for upgrades to public spaces downtown but the city had to wait until sufficient new tax revenues were in place to fund anything. Other significant projects came along in the meantime including the library, Kroc Center and the Education Corridor.
Time is running out on LCDC's part of the funding so supporters know it is now or never if anything is to be done at McEuen Field. Helping the decision to proceed is the fact that construction costs are at their lowest level in years and financing for the project is at an all-time low.
With everything at stake supporters at the city clearly know one thing for sure. It is finally the time to fish or cut bait, even if this one fights to the very end.
John Austin is a former finance director for Kootenai County and the city of Coeur d'Alene and can be reached at john@pacni.org.
ARTICLES BY JOHN AUSTIN
McEuen: How we got here
With the initial unveiling of the new McEuen Park on Saturday, I thought I'd reflect on the remarkable, if not so easy process that got the city to this point.
Urban renewal and outside influence
My Turn
A funny thing happened to Silver Valley residents on their way to a decision on whether or not they want an Urban Renewal Agency (URA) in their county. They've heard from their neighbors to the west, including two elected officials angry over Coeur d'Alene's agency and its investment in McEuen Field.
No foolin': Urban renewal is not that complicated
I'm asked all the time why urban renewal is so hard to understand. Some claim their taxes are higher because of it while others say not so much. Critics say the money going to urban renewal agencies (URAs) would be better used for something else. And, of course, issues about McEuen Field top the list.