By james art 
Simplified: In a heated public meeting on Monday night, residents returned against the city’s plans to rent and then surround themselves, free parking in the neighborhood with the house of the hospitality of Bishop Dudley. But in addition to fears about the efficiency of a $ 70,000 fence in determining crime, talks on Monday evening also revealed key details about how the proposed agreement appeared and why, if approved, it has the potential to win the batch owner: Catholic Diocese of Sioux Falls.
Backup. How did we get here?
All this rose to the public consciousness a few weeks ago, when the City Council of SIU Falls expelled a proposal to conclude a five-year lease agreement with Catholic housing “St. Joseph”-the diocese of the diocese.
Why does it matter
- The initial conversations began between the city and the Catholic dwellings “St. Joseph” started from shared wish to deal with the large number of police calls to the parking lot. Planning Director Jeff Ekhof said one of the first ideas was the city to buy the property, but the diocese was not ready to sell.
- It’s partly because, as Eckhof notes, they know The property “will become more price” As the new development continues to move east of the city center – including the potential area of the river south of the shelter.
- Chancellor Tad Pals also said the diocese wants to keep the batch, although the lease will give the city first to decrease if the batch and/or house of Bishop Dudley is ever sold – something that Pals said he could not see to happen anytime soon, but it is “Always an opportunity.”
- He also told Sioux Falls Simplified after the Monday meeting that he also Does not the diocese pay to pay to place a fence around the parking lot.
“In a nutshell, we are non -profit,” Pals said. “Putting a fence does not actually have part of our mission.”
- Municipal councilor Rich Mercury also noted that he “loves if the Catholic Diocese will build the fence tomorrow”, but seeing that he is gone, he said the city has no “no choice” But take some action to reduce crime at this place.
“They have more leverage than us,” Mercury said.
So what exactly are the wins for the diocese?
Well, if the City Council is moving forward with this leasing and a subsequent plan for building a fence, there are wins on several fronts:
- First, the diocese should not be paid to a $ 70,000 fence account around his property.
- Second, the diocese (including the staff at the house of Bishop Dudley’s hospitality) would no longer have to constantly impose calls for destructive or criminal behavior The property, as the police department can handle it directly if the city is a lessee, said police chief John Tum.
- This is a particularly great benefit to Bishop Dudley employees who spend hours raising garbage every day in this parking lot.
“When we talk about garbage, we’re talking about queen size beds,” said Madeline Shields, CEO of the shelter. Shields added that she was also worried about the safety of her employees, given the number of people gathering in this parking lot.
- And third, in case the diocese eventually wants to sell the batch and/or move the shelter they have I received a potentially interested buyer In the city – not to mention the extraction of benefits if the values of the land rise over the next decade.
When you ask him Why does the diocese not just sell free parking right now, Pals replied:
“Who will buy it? We didn’t have any inquiry.”
Does the city also win?
It depends on the way you determine “win”.
For the few dozens of people who were at the meeting on Monday Calling a more compassionate approach to interact with uncommon or more determined space with trees, shade, etc., leasing and fence will probably not feel like a victory.
For the police station, The fence will probably be a profit if it is effective for retaining people outside private property.
For the city as a whole, Leasing can be a profit by saving money that they would otherwise spend on 2,700 police, fire and emergency conversations in this parking lot for one year.
“If I put an amount in a dollar, it’s stunning,” Chef Trump told Sioux Falls forgiven.
And for future urban leaders, The presence of a first immersion of a large property essentially on the other side of the street from a new congress center in the city center (if voters approve it) can provide both wins and challenges, as the city seems to help help people, that do not move forward.
So, is this in the Riverline area?
said Eckoff No.
From the point of view of urban planning, home conversations at affordable prices, addressing chronic homelessness and more. Dates much longer than all conversations about a new congress center, he added.
“(The proximity of the Riverline area) is an easy story of the story,” said Eckhof, adding that he could see why people would think this leasing was connected. “But no matter that, this is a problem we are looking at and has been fighting for a long time.”
What happens after that?
The City Council is expected to make a final decision on the leasing contract during the regular meeting on Tuesday.
Advisor David Baranko said he plans to ask the city to bring more suggestions Related to the free batch of starting a conversation of “deliberate, positive ideas that help disadvantaged people and demonstrate our commitment to change.”