by John H. Fischer on March 31st, 2009
Not long ago, Dino had a post here about a small victory for local skateboarders when a proposal to further limit skateboarding in the downtown was killed in committee by the committee’s chair. Last week I had the opportunity to attend a meeting where many of the participants saw this not as a small victory, but as a significant loss. And in the interest of fair and balanced reporting, I thought it prudent to look at the issue from their point of view.
The meeting was the Public Safety Meeting of Wausau Main Street. Being a property owner/manager in the “Main Street” area, I have made an effort to be at least marginally active.
The Main Street program, which represents downtown Wausau on both sides of the river (yes, downtown extends to the West Side), has a very good working relationship with the Wausau Police Department. One of the Wausau PD officers who I personally think really does a good job, Officer Max LaPorte, is the liaison between the PD and the downtown business owners.
Based on the Public Safety meeting that I attended, it was through these meetings that a proposal to further curb (pun intended) skateboarding in the downtown came about. The reason being the elements that skateboarders brought to downtown. The element is described as loitering juveniles who are rude, use profanity, litter and therefore discourage paying customers from visiting downtown businesses. In addition, in practicing their “street skills,” they cause damage to curbs, railings, planters, benches, etc. The damage to the downtown benches actually warranted a discussion that maybe the benches shouldn’t even be put downtown until the three summer CSOs (Community Service Officers) were on patrol in the downtown.
As I did with the pool issue, it is probably only fair that I make my position clear, as I don’t want people to assume that I come in with no bias whatsoever. I will admit that I have witnessed juveniles in groups “hanging out” and it can, at times, be intimidating. Also, the property that I own on the West Side has low rails protecting the sidewalk from the parking lot (or vice versa) and the painting and maintenance of these rails was a 2-3 time a year project because of damage caused by skateboarders. (I was going to have stops welded every foot or so, but was informed this may lead to potential liability issues – so instead I just chose to stop keeping the rails nice and painted.)
In essence, I fully agree that the act of skateboarding has little use on the downtown sidewalks and pedestrian areas. There is no need to do tricks on public or private property. I do see the validity of skateboarding as a form of transportation, but once you get on the crowded sidewalks of downtown, at some point public safety has to come into play.
Note, that I said that skateboard-ING has little use, and did not comment on skateboard-ERS. There is a difference. Let’s face it, I can sympathize with skateboarders, as I am a landlord. And that minority of people who do this job and do it badly gives all of us a bad name. Therefore, I can understand how a minority of rude skateboarders can give all of them a bad name. However, the more I hear, and the more that I see – first hand – I have to ask myself, are the bad apples truly a minority? Even in the comments from that article here on Citizen Wausau, one skateboarder (I assume) pointed out that running from the police was all a part of the skateboarding experience.
There was a comment at the meeting last week that from year to year, it is never the same group of kids. The age of the kids stays about the same, so each year it is a new batch. That leads me to ask the question, is it because the old batch now knows the rules and respects them and the new batch simply doesn’t know? I asked about maybe communicating with those active in the sport (like Dwellers) about educating boarders about what the downtown regulations are. The response that I got from members of the group was that because Dwellers wasn’t really supportive of the current ordinance, they would not do anything to help educate people on its specifics.
Although I naturally lean more on the side of the business owners, being one myself, I do think that there has to be a happy medium. I pride myself in being a big-picture kind of guy. One of the big problems that downtown Wausau has to deal with is getting people to come downtown, to check out what the downtown has to offer. The fundamental problem with the current skateboarding policies is that many of the people that you are trying to get to come downtown are the SAME PEOPLE who you went out of your way to chase out of downtown 5, 10 or 15 years ago. “Oh sure, NOW you want us back, yeah right!”
There has to be some type of happy middle ground. There has to be some type of way where the younger generation can spend time downtown not being chased out or shown they are so obviously not welcome. At the same time, there has to be a way for the younger generation, while they are downtown, to not cause damage to public or private property or act in a manner that is detrimental to others. There has to be some type of way where each side can see the point of view of the other side and find a way to co-exist.
Because although there is a problem with some younger people being rude and littering and making life hell for local businesses, at the same time if you chase people away from downtown when they are young, it is unrealistic to expect them to return when they have matured into adult consumers.
by John H. Fischer on February 9th, 2009
Dino and I appear to be on some kind of odd similar wavelength. Such similarity is not unusual for life long friends, but we only really casually know each other and although there is mutual respect, we really have nothing in common. Nothing except our thoughts on what we wanted to write about this week.
We weren’t in perfect sync: the 400 block was not my chosen topic. Instead, I wanted to give an outsider’s thoughts on the discussion as to the work needed on Third Street downtown.
Most of you would not consider me an outsider. However, I do not own or manage property in that area that most define as downtown. I also do not spend much of my time there. The closest I come to spending quality time downtown is the occasional weekend brunch at The Mint, catching a show at the Grand, or spending way too much time at the Courthouse (they seriously need to give me an office there). However downtown matters to me. It is a piece of the pie that is the Greater Wausau Metro Area. And all of those pieces need to work together and need to succeed together. So if one piece of this pie is missing or is in need of attention, it has a pull not only on the entire city, but the entire Metro. (For me, the City of Wausau is not the whole, it is only a part of the whole.)
In a nutshell, here is the current debate. The City has determined that Third Street from Jefferson to Grant needs work. The businesses along that three block stretch of street fear that closing that street for construction will negatively impact their ability to be profitable. Hence the discussion.
The businesses of downtown have already faced difficulty. My wife, the infamous “Mrs. Rent” who works downtown, jokes with her family back in Oklahoma that when they come to visit, it is okay if they don’t learn the streets of downtown because there are always one or two important ones closed for something, and every few months, the streets that are closed change places. Those from here just find a way. But for those new to the Wausau area or not used to urbanized downtowns, it can be a quite frustrating experience. Many of these businesses have had to do the best they could dealing with the construction when the pedestrian mall was re-opened to traffic, and most recently, when the construction of the Palladian made downtown navigation challenging for many. Many of these are niche businesses that will be the first to suffer from an economic downturn. They have somehow survived a couple of years of construction, and now when they can least afford it, one more season of closed streets in front of their storefronts is on the schedule.
On the Wausau Daily Herald forum boards and article comments, people have questioned if the work is needed at all. They have questioned why the sidewalks and planters are included in the project. (This ties with Dino’s 400 block article because the south block of this project is one stretch of the 400 block, and the “final design” for that block could impact that part of this street construction project.) Someone commented about Third Street being so bad that you can use it to knock the frozen slush blocks off your car.
Being someone who doesn’t find myself downtown often, I didn’t remember what the problems with the sidewalks were, or what the planters even looked like. I drive a truck with a pretty stiff suspension. I get thrown around on 17th Avenue, but never Third Street. So, I took a walk downtown on Friday and took some pictures.
Third Street is in bad shape. Some of the worst areas are near intersections where manhole covers and storm water drains are. The sidewalks are in excellent shape, much better, in fact, than some of sidewalks I plow where if I am not paying attention, the blade on the tractor will hit the uneven surface and nearly throw me off. The planters are snow covered but are out of place with the great sidewalks. They are basically wood, made with 6×6 landscaping lumber, and are the things you would find used around a country home, not a city’s downtown with mostly stone construction.
While taking my walk, I stopped in the Main Street office and had a very brief discussion with Leah. I learned that the question isn’t if Third Street needs to be done, just does it have to be done in 2009, or can it be delayed one year, to 2010?
My thoughts: Yes it can. Although the street is in bad shape, for one more year, temporary patches can hold things together. Let us not forget the speeds that are driven on this street. The speed limit is 25, but I seldom do much more than 15, constantly stopping as people are pulling into and out of parking stalls. (As a matter of fact, a 15 mph speed limit on Third may not be a bad idea.) The sidewalks are just fine. No matter which year the street project is done, the sidewalks don’t need to be a part of it. However the planters have to go. With cosmetic fixes, they could make it one more year, but they do really look like crap.
Now as far as the improvements to the 400 Block, that is a whole other discussion, one that is far from being resolved. Maybe delaying the Third Street project one year will allow us to finally reach a consensus that, if we can’t all be happy with, we at least all can live with.
by Tom Neal on May 14th, 2008
This Friday night, Wausau’s downtown gallery night returns with a passel of businesses decked out as host galleries, exhibiting (and selling) original art, and generally treating Citizen Wausonians and neighbors to a good time. If you’ve never attended one of these gallery nights (this is the fourth year for this twice-a-year event), it’s a chance to stroll downtown, from gallery to gallery where you will be offered free delectables and drinkables.
Typically, there are free horse-drawn carriage rides, free collector wine glasses, sidewalk musicians, and just a dynamic social scene. It’s gratifying to see all those heads bobbing down the sidewalk; groups of friends congregating, wine glasses in hand, outside businesses to catch up on things; bars and restaurants packing ‘em in as gallery-goers settle in to make a night of it. And lots of art … all media … usually with the artists on hand to meet you or demonstrate their work.
The weather forecast looks pretty good so far. And, knock on wood, that’s usually the case for Exhibitour. It’s become a signature event for Wausau; a grassroots celebration of art. I’d like to applaud the 16 or so downtown businesses that are investing in this evening as host galleries … they’re footing the bill for food, refreshments, staffing and they’re dedicating time and floor space to put on a great show.
Thanks also to Wausau Area Events for their support in making it possible. I hope you’ll all make the scene downtown, enjoy art, buy art, be art.
Exhibitour takes place Friday, May 16 from 6- 8 pm. Go to wausauareaevents.org for a complete list of host galleries and accompanying “fringe” business venues.
by Citizen Wausau on January 4th, 2008
What an amazing year 2007 was. It’s brought about a a lot of change in our community, and in some ways, I myself will never be the same.
A few months ago, I was walking into my friend Forest Young’s drugstore to pick up a prescription. As I entered, I was quickly asked to leave and not touch anything. Why? Was I a loitering miscreant? No, not this time. It was because the ladies behind the counter had just been accosted by a gun-wielding burglar. (more…)
by Dino Corvino on December 4th, 2007
My lack of enthusiasm for the Christmas music is pretty well documented. I am fan of this night though, not for the music really, but because some of the cats on stage are people I call friend, and watching them play together makes me laugh with a joy of watching someone you care for, do something they love.
Plus, watching Greiner scowl, that’s fun. (more…)
by Andy Laub on November 28th, 2007
If you have eyes, you’ve probably caught a glimpse of artist Gary Baseman’s work, perhaps in the form of Teacher’s Pet, the award-winning Disney series, or maybe during a heated game of Cranium. His work definitely has a style all its own, so I’m excited to see that he’ll be making an appearance at Gallery 402 (in the mezzanine of Van Dalfsen’s) in downtown Wausau. Details as follows: (more…)
by Marcus Nelson on October 30th, 2007
You know, this is really a bit depressing.
First it was Kelly’s. Then it was Kelly’s, only this time it was the Murdochs’ venture. Then it was Kelly’s again, but back to the old owner.
Most recently it became III. My wife and I have spent many evenings there meeting with friends, listening to music or just having a quiet drink together. It’s one of the few smoke-free establishments downtown.
So you can imagine my shock today when I strolled past III on Third today. There’s paper in the window announcing a change – again. What’s happening over there?
The rumors say that two of the three co-owners were bought out by the remaining owner, but I have no way of confirming this. Hmm… interesting development though, especially since there’s a new Chinese restaurant opening next store in the former Something’s Brewing space.
Side note: do we need another Chinese food restaurant?
by Citizen Wausau on October 29th, 2007
Simply gorgeous.
by Citizen Wausau on October 22nd, 2007
Spiderman, Spiderman…
by Citizen Wausau on October 16th, 2007
The Scott Street Pub mural by Marcus Nickel.
