Ever since construction began on Apple Valley’s “downtown revitalization”, I have argued that the Apple Valley Central Village project is nothing more than a lame attempt at wasting money, creating unnecessary and dangerous traffic patterns and detracting attention from the national chain hell that exists at Cedar and 42.
Now, I don’t want anyone to think that anyone on the Apple Valley’s Planning Commission or City Council is disagreeing with me publicly but they sure are trying to push hard to make certain that their pointless pet project succeeds much like Burnsville’s Heart of the City revitalization has.
In this article over at the MNSun, Ed Kearney, president of the Apple Valley Chamber of Commerce indirectly agrees with me that the Legacy Park, 153rd/Galaxie, Apple Valley Central Village non-sense isn’t the real downtown but instead Cedar/42 is (emphasis mine):
Q: That brings us to the planned implementation of bus rapid transit on the Cedar Avenue corridor. The Chamber has been very active in discussions with Dakota County, the lead agency on the project. What is at stake for businesses?
A: In 1971, Apple Valley decided to have a central downtown in its comprehensive plan. I understand there are 70,000 cars a day now that cross through [the intersection of] Cedar Avenue and County Road 42. The businesses here agree that something needs to be done about traffic. The county came in last year and proposed two scenarios creating freeways through town. Our position is – and the city agrees with the Chamber – we just spent 37 years building a downtown, we’re not going to let a freeway come in and make that disappear.
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March 16th, 2008 at 9:57 am
Bill at least your Mayor knows where Apple Valley’s “Heart of the City” is located…….. and that is where the heart of commerce resides…. This is where Burnsville’s heart of the city should also be…. along 42… NO our chamber of commerce run city hall decided to created a psydo heart of the city. First they created a giant TIF district where we wouldn’t see any city taxes or School District #191 taxes for up to 30 years. then they decided to add a 100% govenment housing area and another combination section 8 and 100% govenment housing area with NO taxes being generated at all. Then this lame council decided to make the Convention Center/ Preforming Arts Center a public rather than a private venture. Taking more land off the tax rolls. The last straw was building another public parking ramp in the “Heart of the Ghost City” when we all ready have a 111 stall non used park and ride lot….taking even more land off the tax rolls. HELP!!!!!
March 16th, 2008 at 11:54 am
Will,
Actually it’s the President of the Chamber of Commerce, not the mayor. The mayor and the rest of the City Council want to make believe that the “downtown” is Apple Valley Central Village and not Cedar/42.
I agree with everything else you said.
March 16th, 2008 at 2:05 pm
Thanks Bill for the enlightenment . That does make a big difference. Does your mayor have a condo in the Valley Central Village ? Our mayor along with her newley appointed planning commission member have financial investments in our “heart of the city” which could be construed as a conflict of intrest because of their votes in favor of the art center/ convention center.
March 16th, 2008 at 3:05 pm
Will,
You know, I’m not sure if they have any financial motivation to develop the Apple Valley Central Village but it sure would be interesting to find out.
It is truly unfortunate that the Burnsville Heart of the City bullshit is continuing to move forward partialy because of the greed of your Council members.