To the editor:

I read that some candidates for City Council are in agreement on tearing down deteriorating buildings, including the Warden Plaza. Decades ago, the City Council and city officials concentrated their attention on big box stores and the mall, turning their backs on downtown Fort Dodge. Now Sears, Penneys, and Younkers are gone, along with the mall.

The main streets in Algona, Humboldt, Webster City, Boone and Storm Lake are bustling downtown business districts. How did Fort Dodge get it so wrong? Now they are again being shortsighted and complacent with the current state of affairs. Without the Warden Plaza, downtown will never be a vibrant business district. Even now, main street is deserted except for a few cars at the Boston Centre and the courthouse.

Imagine a renovated Warden Plaza with hundreds of occupants. Adults only. Thirty years and older. Working class, professionals, retired and seniors. All paying renters. No government subsidies. Build a parking garage across the street to the south with a skywalk to the Warden, as most occupants will have vehicles. Services on the main floor could have a fine dining restaurant comparable to an Anver’s or Tony’s. Shops on the north side. The mezzanine can consist of professional services such as medical, dental, law and accounting offices, a travel agency and the warden rental office.

The city is already in the housing business so this will not be out of their realm. This influx of residents in the heart of downtown will spur entrepreneur businesses. Downtown will need women’s stores like Lillian’s, men’s stores like Model Clothing, cafes and restaurants like Constantines or Zakeers, and a jewelry store with an in-store jeweler and more.

A tax referendum could pay for this, along with grants. Most of the expense would be new windows, electrical panels and wiring, heating plant, new elevators, updated fire sprinkler system and parking garage. To help defer costs, companies, groups and individuals can volunteer to adopt an apartment, using their expertise to do clean up, painting, flooring and such, taking pride in being part of restoring downtown.

Would I vote for a $45 million new jail? No. Not with the Federal Building still for sale at $100,000 (less than the cost of one school bus) with fire damages, but the third and fourth floor would need remodeling anyway for jails.

Would I vote for a $30 or $40 million tax referendum for the renovation of the Warden Plaza? Even though I am retired and on a fixed income, I would vote yes. I would probably get tagged by the mobile radar vehicle racing to the voting precinct. With this tax, I can see a big return on my money with the progress and results saving downtown. Revenue will increase, adding more money to the city coffers, possibly giving a tax break in the future.

The question is how do we get the city on board? They had $12 million to rescue the new sports pavilion, money for River’s Edge Discovery Center and walking trails. Seems their priorities are not on downtown. Granted work on store fronts has been done.

Return the Warden Plaza to the crown jewel it once was and downtown will fall into line. If you build it they will come. The it is the Warden Plaza. The they are new businesses and customer traffic.

Barry Walsh

Fort Dodge