Advertisement But coincidence, correlation or causation — the self-important side of me is tempted to take credit.
Less than a month after the Tribune probed into the prolonged saga of the so-called Mobil Oil site, City Hall started the ball rolling.
It started with an editor asking the question, “what’s happening with Mobil Oil?”
At the time — nothing.
But since that fateful day, the city has initiated condemnation proceedings against a neighboring piece of property and released funds to “dress it up” until the acreage is eventually redeveloped.
The waterfront land has long been the battlefront of competing interests and priorities, bogged down by both successful and unfulfilled threats of condemnation.
The Patros property on the Black River is the last slice City Hall wants to get its hands on before moving forward with a full-scale redevelopment project.
And 25 days ago, the city’s Redevelopment Authority initiated condemnation proceedings for that long-sought-after land.
But until development sprouts up, the city’s at least going to give passersby something prettier to look at than overgrown lawns.
The city’s Redevelop-ment Authority last week approved up to $5,000 for minimal landscaping.
“I don’t want to spend $40,000, but do something modest so we can show we care,” Planning Director Larry Kirch told the authority.
Frustration goes overboard
I understand people are very passionate about Bliss Road. For most that passion has evolved in to frustration. And apparently for some, aggression.
About 20 flashing barricades have been strewn off the bluff, making them very dangerous and virtually impossible to retrieve from the steep embankments.
This type of vandalism is particularly unsafe, endangering both pedestrians and bicyclists.
“People are at risk if they’re on that road,” said Tony Hutchens, assistant director of public works. “There’s four or five spots along the pavement that a person or bicycle could easily be injured, particularly at night.”
Samantha Marcus can be reached at (608) 791-8220 or smarcus@lacrossetribune.com.
