Sinclair Site Should be Green Space

There's been some talk around town this week about what to do with the Sinclair site.

Rick Smith's story on the statusof the now-demolished meat packing plant prompted some thinking about its future. We've got 30-plus acres of land along the Cedar River. There's been some ambitious talk of development, perhaps residential, commercial or both.

I went out and took a look at the site with Pat McDonald, a mechanical, electrical and building supervisor with the city. Two things struck me.

First, there's still a lot of cleanup left to do, even though the demolition contract is completed. Second, it's a much larger space in person than it looks on a map. I can see how city leaders get visions of projects dancing in their heads.

But as I stood there, three words came to mind: Green, floodable and responsible.

Maybe I'm some big tree-hugging job-killer, but I think this entire site should be permanent green space - parkland, ball fields, whatever you can do in wide open spaces. The city's proposed flood protection plan puts a levee through roughly the middle of the site. I think the levee should go further inland, if possible, so that all or much of the site is on its wet Cedar River side.

Having seen what the river can do, and knowing what our climate is now capable of doing, I think it would be a mistake to build residences or businesses here.

It's one thing to seek flood protection for long-developed areas hit by an unthinkable, now possible, flood. You simply can't clear out every neighborhood in this city that flooded. Our sense of history and community, and economic realities, won't allow it.

But you can leave the Sinclair site clear and green. It's really the responsible thing to do.

There's still room for development in the nearby New Bohemia neighborhood, where restaurants, CSPS, a year-round market and other great ventures are in place or planned. Protecting that historic neighborhood and encouraging development there makes sense.

But the Sinclair site should be floodable. That would send a clear signal that local leaders have learned the painful land-use lessons of the 2008 flood and will commit to the kind of watershed management measures that can help mitigate future deluges. Green space would hold water and give the river more room during flood events. And if comprehensive flood protection ever happens, more room at Sinclair might lessen the impact of the city's flood walls and levees downstream.

Oh, and the site would make a really great park, a green gem in the center of a recovered city. There might even be trees to hug.

Comments: (319) 398-8452; todd.dorman@sourcemedia.net