Lundgren sets a new record for timely PDD posts. You are ON IT!

Muaahaha Muhahaa hahaaa

Thank you to everyone who supported this project.  There is no question that the public's passion for this building made a difference with councilors.

This is a investment in downtown, in the arts, and in historic preservation.  It's also an endorsement of the importance of creating and supporting a vibrant arts and entertainment district in Duluth.  

The effort is just beginning - Paul is absolutely right, there is much work ahead of us.  Are you willing to help out?  Are you willing to volunteer your time?  Are you willing to make a financial donation?  

If so, please send an e-mail to savethenorshor at gmail dot com.  Let us know what you are able and willing to do to help out.

Thanks again.  Please do your part to make sure this is a huge success story for Duluth!

I can't wait to see the marquis lights working again.

Good job, Don, in presenting your case before the city council. It'll be nice to spruce up that building. It always looks so sad and neglected when I walk by it.

This was an irresponsible use of taxpayer dollars in the midst of one of the worst economic downturns in decades.  Going forth with this without an environmental assessment is a joke and a slap to the face of the taxpayers who contributed to the DEDA bankroll.  It's amazing how local politicians, including Ness, can find the willpower to make difficult decisions like this, but can't find a solution to keep parks and community centers open, which will benefit the people who we should be looking our for the most... the kids.  To call that strip of downtown an "Arts Center" is also laughable.  Since when did a couple buildings constitute an arts center or a regional one at that.  Good luck getting bonding for that.

"Environmental assessment"??? Listen Knee-Jerks, I haven't heard anything come from you guys that isn't anything but teabagger regurgitation. It was foul the first time someone spewed it. Go back and listen to right-wing talk radio for fresher talking points.

Didn't Mayor Ness talk about various assessments being done a few years ago when Zeppa was looking into buying the building? I feel like those opposing the sale are claiming we don't know the condition in which the building is, when assessments were conducted not that long ago. As for the Temple Opera Bldg, other than the fact I can't get heat in winter often -- it seems to be in very good condition. Oneida's pretty good at making sure the building is maintained.

Dear Mayor Ness,

I really want to open a large production brewery in Duluth but I need $500,000. This brewery will support tourism by bringing high quality ale/lagers to the Northland and reduce fuel use by limiting the amount of beer that is imported from other areas of the country. I figured since Duluth is in the business of providing money for the private sector I might as well ask. I figure this isn't too big of a request considering that DEDA just payed 2.6 mil for the NorShor and gave Guiliani $500,000 so that he could build a hotel. I even have a business plan, unlike some of these ideas.

I really want to think that this purchase is a good idea.  PDDers please talk me off a cliff and address this: The city has tried to "go into business" before and failed: the aquarium, tech village, Imax theater, etc.  Why will this work now and will it generate enough revenue to sustain itself? Respect.

Wildgoose, I know that.  But has the mold been addressed in those five years?  Doubtful.

Why would the city take money from the Canal Park Tax Increment to fund something that will have no effect on businesses on the other side of the highway? Here's what I see will happen: The city will lolligag for months or years trying to find a way to make the theatre profittable eventually to no avail. Then, once the economy is on the upswing, a private investor will swoop in and buy it at a lower(appraised) price than the city bought it for just so they can get it off their books. The investor will make a mint and the city will look foolish for jumping out of the airplane before securing their parachute. Well played Rod and Tim, well played.

It doesn't matter if an assessment was done in 2005.   It doesn't take long for things to deteriorate and grow.  Besides, this isn't just a drop in the bucket when it comes to money, it's $2.6 million and an environmental assessment was the least the city could have done.  They seem so concerned about how many is being spent all over the place that it is pretty irresponsible to just throw millions of dollars at a building that was last assessed five years ago and could have many more millions in liabilities.  

And Paul, I know that there are many organizations that would use the theater and there are already groups down there promoting the arts, but to put in the Zinema and then renovate one building hardly constitutes a regional arts center.  

And Claire, faith and optimism is what brought us the aquarium or in other words, a money hole.

Heck, if it would help, I'd volunteer my time again to work there. I'll be honest and admit I was scared of the potential buying of the Norshor by the city all those years ago. Afraid of what it would become. Perhaps another Tourist Shop, not that Duluth doesn't need the revenue, but I didn't want to see my second home turned into a hot spot for hot-headed college kids ie Grandmas. I'll suck it up and agree anything is better than what it is now. I've been dreaming of the day I could take my 5year old into that building and show her how amazing it is. Now some day I may! Here's hoping the Council will keep the city and it's fine folks in touch and involved with their plans! Trish*~

So, let met get this straight.  People are against the idea because of past business problems in the area or magical Duluthian inventions (i.e. aquarium) that have minimal success?  They're worried about spending some paltry tax money to fix a building; have to invest interest into something that could be very profitable?  Look.  Duluth has made a bunch of blunders in the past, maybe, but so has every other city.

Do you want to become Dubuque, IA, or Madison, WI?  Revamping areas of import in Duluth is not only important to future growth, but also for historical integrity.  Dubuque tries to do both, but fails in housing, and pretty much still has its small separated secondary schools (still love the town, btw, not very good microbrew, though).

Madison excels mostly because of really good city planning (their circles around the capital move traffic pretty seamlessly).

Sorry you guys, I'm an optimist on this one, and most definitely not because of the majority vote.

Interesting story in Denver.  There's a street we'd joke about named "Colfax".  I'd really prefer Superior St. to make its best attempt to avoid that condemnation even though I like strip clubs (yeah, I'm a little bit of a perv, lol, get over it).

That may sound a little bit like hyperbole, but that's the way I see it.

It's not that I don't think this is a good idea, but after the aquarium and with the current financial straits the city is in, it only makes sense to know fully what the city is getting into.  You would be hard pressed to make a case that the aquarium has been a success considering the money the city has to dump into it every year just to keep it afloat.  What happens if in the five years since the last assessment, there turns out to be millions in additional repairs needed that developed over the course of the last five years?  There goes the cost savings for the skywalk.  And $2.6 million is not "paltry tax money."

I am tending toward  agreeing with Rob. These people had the opportunity to present their arguments before the city council last night and they didn't. It's a done deal, let's all get on board and make Duluth the great city a lot of us are convinced it is becoming. 

BTW, I always, always get lost on that roundabout around the capital in Madison. I think I'm doing something wrong there, Huitz.

Get on board is what people were saying in the runup to the creation of the aquarium.  That worked out well and the economy is in much worse shape this time around.  What's so wrong with having a skeptical eye and being good tenant's of the public's money?

Ha, me too, Claire.  But I was always on foot or bicycle, so it wasn't hard.

For those not in the know, and why it's confusing for newcomers in a vehicle (me included); the capitol is a square on the diagonal, meaning with eight roads coming off of it and one corner pointing north.  One you can't drive down legally (State St. because it's pedestrian only for civilians)

It's two concentric squares of traffic moving counter-clockwise so that it's easier to turn to the right when approaching the capitol (yeah, I know, I spelled it wrong earlier).  Roads and parking radiate out from the corners and bisections of the sides, eight in total.  Also, it's confusing because a few of the exterior roads run clockwise.  Sorry for the noise, but just thought I would warn others.

In any case, it was easier for me to drive there than if I was a newcomer to Duluth's downtown area even though the setup is similar on a large scale.

Total hijack of thread; my apologies.

Hey Huitz, thanks for the information, I'll let you know how it goes next time I visit MadTown.

OK, back to the discussion du jour.

Good news and great job to all involved. I 'll put my money where my mouth is; where can I make a donation to the new Norshor?

One of many reasons the Aquarium and Tech Center were wastes of money is that they are designed for out of town tourists and businesses and not so much for the people of the Duluth community. "Build it and they will come" attitudes do not work without proper planning and market research.  They built it, people came (once) and they are not coming back. I see the Norshor as Duluth's premier venue for diverse live music and performing arts benefiting all downtown businesses with from increased traffic. Not to mention tax revenue for other much needed projects and programs. Look at it as the community's living room or parlor. It is for "us" and not the mythical "tourist dollar".  If we take ownership and pride in it as our own, others will join in. Look at the positive buzz and pride over the new Twins stadium.

A recent article in the New York Times on Minneapolis's Northeast Neighborhood renaissance credits art galleries, music stores and restaurants as creating a cultural and economical boom even during "times like these". http://travel.nytimes.com/2010/04/25/travel/25surfacing.html

I spoke to someone close to the theater in Fargo who saw the whole arc of their theater renovation and its positive impact. There are many parallels to the Norshor, reaffirming my optimism.

As a longtime former patron of the Norshor, I spent plenty of money on entertainment and drinks but have never set foot in it once it became the House of Skank and look forward to its new future. I raise my pint to all who worked hard to make this happen, took a risk and envisioned a better downtown. For those who hate the idea of a city owned theater, there are plenty of shitty bars in which to spend your time and money.

It's fun to risk other people's money!

Well said, Swan. Thank you. I too look forward to a revived and renovated NorShor Theater and also look forward to the continuation of our downtown revival.

Swan, thanks for pointing out that great article in the NY Times. My friend, Adu Gindy, has an art studio in that neighborhood in NE Mpls, it's an artists's building in an old school. It's become quite a scene there, with lots of artists doing their work, and publishers have moved into the old brewery nearby. A book distribution company just moved there a year or two ago. All this activity has helped the restaurants and other businesses in that area. In fact, there's going to be a huge Art-a-Whirl in that neighborhood in 2 weeks. If Minneapolis can do something so cool, anchored by the Anchor and the 331 Club, Duluth can too.

The zoo failed because not enough people want to see the animals.

The aquarium failed because not enough people want to see fish.

The DEDA arrangement to rent the NorthWest hangar to Cirrus failed because not enough people wanted to buy airplanes.

My marriage failed because she was a bitch.

It's fun to blame others!

Al...I don't do this often, but the wife and I just laughed really, really hard at that.

"City and university of Minnesota Duluth officcials are close to a deal that would build a $14 million complex in Duluth's Old Downtown to house Soft Center Duluth, a campus that would link worldwide computer firms with local information technology students." -- DNT 02.20.98

"UMD is the key player in the effort, and will move a substantial presence to the new downtown location [utilizing 15,000-20,000 square feet and will include a Tweed Museum satellite]." -- DNT 02.24.98

"The center would be designed to put local IT students alongside real-world professionals." -- DNT 03.08.98

Suck it.