|
|
| Post Number: 11
|
danbelshan 
Group: Members
Posts: 263
Joined: Aug. 2003
|
 |
Posted on: Jan. 30 2004,6:54 pm |
|
   |
I posted this last May. I still think this idea is worth looking at (County Historical Research Museum, City Library at one site) If you don't like the cap and tractor idea don't let it stop you from the joint facility idea. I was just throwing out ideas for debate.
The former WalMart is for sale now so this could be an opportunity. With over 80,000 square feet it has ample room for Public Library, County historical research records, children's library, historical displays, storage, expansion and more. It could help traffic at the mall, would have plenty of parking and ample room inside for seating, is all on one floor (modern technology could handle children's noise level), handicapped accessible, and is located in one of the most if not THE most densely populated areas of the county.
The old KMart building in Austin was turned into a wonderful corporate office for Hormel. The technology they used could be implemented to turn the old WalMart into a very useable, versatile, attractive building inside. There would be plenty of room for green space outside.
I had asked Walmart representitives in Bentonville to give us the property earlier . If we would go to them as a county/city/public joint effort and convinced them to give it, or even set a very low cost they could be our next Andrew Carnegie. It doesn't cost anything to try.
If we'd get it for free or a reasonable cost, this site beats every other site location unless a lake view is the most important criteria, and as an added bonus would help mall traffic and eliminate another abandoned building in Albert Lea.
Library Ideas Posted 5/1/03 http://www.freeborncounty.com/
Option 1
Two years ago I presented to the City of Albert Lea and County an idea of buying the soon to be vacant WalMart Building and putting County and City offices at that site making a Government Center. Sort of one stop shopping. Who knows, we may have been able to share some city/county staff.
This has already been done in a struggling strip mall in Blue Earth MN with the FSA office moving in. The traffic revived the mall with banking, insurance, coffee shop, barber and they even had to add on to rent more space. I felt this could be done on a larger scale at our Skyline Mall. The traffic created by a Government Center would help the rest of the Mall, and there would be plenty of parking. Instead we will spend $40,000,000.00 downtown and may watch the Skyline Mall struggle.
Option 2 (second brainstorm idea)
This winter I mentioned "How about moving the City Library to the Skyline WalMart Building." The County could also put the research library and archives of the County Museum on that site. The building could also also house displays for which the museum needs more room.
Since we are so ag-related let's put some restored tractors and ag equipment on loan from local collectors at the site. Then let's accept the world's largest cap collection from a gentlman at Frost MN. He is looking for a place to display his over 50,000 caps. We now have a reason for folks to get off the Interstate to look at The World's Largest Cap Collection. Next let's line up National Antique Tractor meets, Toy Collector Shows, Tractorcade Drives (I've heard one is coming to our area this summer) and when people come to town we can have antique tractors sitting all over town to welcome them like the Snoopy/Peanuts statues in the Twin Cities, etc.
In closing, what we could be
Future News AP
Albert Lea MN AP June,2006
Albert Lea, home of four national antique tractor shows and swap meets and home of the largest farm toy show in the upper Midwest again draws more than 25,000 people a day to one of three three-day events this summer, topping the attendance at this year's winter show. After JenSales,one of the USA's largest tractor manual dealers, and Carlyle Greibrok, with his huge scale toy collection teamed up with the CVB to promote bus tours, over 200 bus tours came to the Ag Mall in Albert Lea, where they viewed the World's Largest Cap Collection and shopped the many theme stores at the mall and downtown. Be sure to reserve your room for the next Tractorcade, which ends up at the superb Freeborn County Fairgrounds to kick off Fair Week, held the first week in August with great nationally known grandstand entertainment. 500 tractors are already registered for the 60 mile ride, and rooms within 30 miles of town are getting booked fast.
--------------
Go to danbelshan.com for my newsletters.
Go to Dan Belshan on facebook to get the latest.
|
 |
|
|
| Post Number: 12
|
Montyman
Group: Members
Posts: 421
Joined: Dec. 2003
|
|
Posted on: Jan. 30 2004,11:02 pm |
|
 |
Do you think that County and City goverment can work together on a joint Library, etc. Dan?
I think it's a good idea.
What happens to the old spaces, though...and do we really need a new library?
--------------
Ignorant men raise questions that wise men answered a thousand years ago. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
|
|
|
|
| Post Number: 13
|
danbelshan
Group: Members
Posts: 263
Joined: Aug. 2003
|
|
Posted on: Jan. 31 2004,1:51 am |
|
|
Montyman, it's not a question of can the County/City work together, it's our duty to do so for the benefit of the taxpayers. The County kicks in over $180,000 toward the library operation yearly and does not have a representive on the library board.
Do we need a new city library? The City is the entity which judges that and makes the decision. If the City is going to build one, spend 5.6 million on 26,000 square feet, ( $215 per square foot). I hope we would be asked if any joint needs could be addressed.
I have proposed a joint committee on sharing resources. We've been trying to line up a meeting of the City/County since November, and are still trying. If the City chooses to build a new library and there is a chance to share space with County Historical Archives, etc I think we should at least look at it. I've been shown the Hormel corporate offices and saw what could be done with that type of building. I hope that at least we run the numbers and have it discussed in the community lest we make the same mistake that happened when a joint jail/judicial study was nixxed by our board and we didn't even look at sharing costs and facilities with Mower County.
In my opinion if you want unbiased information it must come from someone with no vested interest or future rewards from one option over another.
--------------
Go to danbelshan.com for my newsletters.
Go to Dan Belshan on facebook to get the latest.
|
|
|
|
| Post Number: 14
|
guest
Unregistered
|
|
Posted on: Jan. 31 2004,9:49 am |
|
|
I don't know enough about where to locate it, but Maddog, this prime property that you are talking about, anyone try to buy it? It's a nice location, but I don't recall lots of offers on it....
I have heard lots of people say it would be great for a coffee shop or hotel, but have never seen anyone with the $$$$ step up.
|
|
|
|
| Post Number: 15
|
MADDOG
Group: Moderator
Posts: 7821
Joined: Aug. 2003
|
|
Posted on: Jan. 31 2004,10:13 am |
|
|
LOL, guest. To have someone buy the property, we would probably need some new business or even a developer to buy it. Do we see Pam getting that done, NOT.
The Farmers Market does use it in better weather. Remember, it was the city that asked them to relocate there in the first place.
--------------
Actually my wife is especially happy when my google check arrives each month. Thanks to douchbags like you, I get paid just for getting you worked up. -Liberal
|
|
|
|
| Post Number: 16
|
guest
Unregistered
|
|
Posted on: Jan. 31 2004,10:56 am |
|
|
LOL at yourself....you are the one that posted the prime property and getting on the tax roles not me. There may be lots of good reasons to not go there, you posted one that does not stand up. What color is the sky in your world?
|
|
|
|
| Post Number: 17
|
Liberal
Group: Moderator
Posts: 11451
Joined: Aug. 2003
|
|
Posted on: Jan. 31 2004,11:20 am |
|
|
Does anyone know the history of that land? When and how the city aquired it? Has the city ever tried to sell it or has anyone ever offered to buy it?
--------------
The people are masters of both Congress and courts, not to overthrow the Constitution, but to overthrow the men who pervert it!
|
|
|
|
| Post Number: 18
|
MADDOG
Group: Moderator
Posts: 7821
Joined: Aug. 2003
|
|
Posted on: Jan. 31 2004,11:32 am |
|
|
Right now guest, the color of my sky is slightly white.  What I meant is the city could sell the land to someone that wanted to develop it and receive property tax from it.
--------------
Actually my wife is especially happy when my google check arrives each month. Thanks to douchbags like you, I get paid just for getting you worked up. -Liberal
|
|
|
|
| Post Number: 19
|
minnow
Group: Members
Posts: 2243
Joined: Aug. 2003
|
|
Posted on: Jan. 31 2004,12:01 pm |
|
|
It should be a massive senior campus with a tram to the hospital. Several high rise buildings should span the area between the lakes. A perfect senior campus with almost every apartment having a dynamite water view. A Walgreens could fit very well into this picture.
|
|
|
|
| Post Number: 20
|
Montyman
Group: Members
Posts: 421
Joined: Dec. 2003
|
|
Posted on: Jan. 31 2004,2:09 pm |
|
|
That land had Town Club lanes, some houses, and Sanders Drug on it.
Remember the Kar Klub?
That was there too.
I think ALHRA acquired it and made it into a parking lot.
--------------
Ignorant men raise questions that wise men answered a thousand years ago. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
