Might want to buy some property in Riverside

[rurallib]

what with the big 'n' shiny new casino, and maybe the fabulous Rain Forest (an investment not a government boondoggle) joining the already world famous future birthplace of Captain James T. Kirk, Riverside will soon be the place to be!
Hope they have TouchPlays in that casino.

[pstans]

1. Ridiculous

that they are considering Tiffin, Grinnell, Pella, and Riverside as possible sites for the rain forest. The rainforest project didn't make much sense in Coralville or Des Moines, whey would they stick it in the middle of nowhere? It is just a bad idea getting worse now.

[IA_Seth]

2. Oh i don't know...

Riverside isn't that far off from the Corridor over here (CR -IC), and the main detraction from the original plan was the call for governmental pork.

From what I am hearing (and granted, I haven't read anything about it for months), it sounds like it is planning on coming from private dollars now?

If that is the case, I think it has the potential of being a great learning tool.

What makes me you consider it a bad idea?

[pstans]

3. Mainly the government money

that could have been used for education, the budget deficit, etc.

If it is going to be privately funded then it would be a good idea if it were built in Coralville or Des Moines. A rainforest attraction would a be a tourist attraction that would attract people to the state. However, people from Illinois and Missouri won't be coming to vacation in Riverside or Grinnell for just a rainforest.

[terryg11]

7. that's the thing that bothers me

aren't they looking to whatever city to raise something like $25 million in order to get this project? How the heck can a town like Riverside get that kind of dough? One way would be for the owners of the new casino to dig deep and get some friends to throw money that way.

Personally, I dont see Riverside getting it, too far off the map and I live seven miles away.

[rurallib]

4. I think there has always been some private money involved

I think one of the major problems that Coralville has had is raising that private money. I am fairly sure the $150 mil is still part of the mix.
On another note, didn't Coralville use eminent domain to clear the spot they were planning on using. If the new eminent domain bill passes will C'ville be able to sell the land to private interests?

[pstans]

5. Yeah

There is nothing in emminent domain about cities selling land to private interests. It is all about cities buying land from citizens and paying fair market value for that.

[Debi]

6. *sigh* sell your soul but buy a house....n/t