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The
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I am use to it being
closed, so opening it for a short period of time is not something that
would make a difference to me either way.
I moved to Collinsville 9 years ago from Owasso. I have watched as this
City has grown and matured, it is no longer the town north of Owasso.
I will admit that I was surprised how the old Fire Station, now the new
City Hall turned out, it is just beautiful. I really think the Plaza that
is planned will only be a further asset to our growing community and will
only add to our downtown area.
I realize keeping 12th street closed is a drastic change, its not really
a hardship, just a change. I for one am excited about the Plaza, it is
just one more building block for the enhancement of our Community.
Sincerely -- Susie (3/28/2006) |
No I don't think
it should be blocked off. Who knows when they're going to start this project.
I hate that I have to go up a street and then back to 12th street every
time I want to go the the library. Plus, it'd be nice to give access to
the fire trucks and ambulance. I know a few fire fighters and they aren't
too happy about that street
being blocked.
Is the money for this project coming from the TEA-21 or is it coming from
our tax dollars? Unfortunately I
could not make the meeting either, right now the times and dates of the
Commission meetings make it nearly
impossible for me to attend. I tried calling Comm. Rogers on 3 occasions
(2 by phone and 1 in person) but
I keep missing him. Bad timing on my part.
This seems like a misappropriation of much-needed funds, ESPECIALLY if
the funding is coming out of city accounts. What a waste! Not only does
it block a much needed traffic/emergency route, but I think having one
little section of a north-south street blocked is unattractive and a misuse
of city property. This was
better used for access between Broadway and Main and for parking for the
new City Hall and the west side of the "new" Main Street. I
don't understand why we need a new City Plaza anyways. Vision 2025 is
building us a beautiful modern city park. It has already built us a new
City Hall and Emergency Services Building. Why not save the City Plaza
money or use it to advertise for commerical/industrial growth? -- Chris
(3/28/2006) |
| I think it is a good
idea to keep the street closed, I just wish it looked better now. I saw
the city taking out bricks today, what are they doing? I think the plaza
is a great idea. If they are going to keep the street closed, I wish they
would come up with a better way to mark the street closed. I think the
cones and Closed Sign are not attractive. It makes the whole building
look like it is still under construction. -- Jeanie (3/28/2006) |
| I think the street
should open back up to the public, until they decide to start construction.
Myself I feel like that the money could be spent elsewhere to improve
the city. We didn’t have a plaza before and no one complained about
wanting one. Whatever happened to the walking trail in the park, they
laid gravel down and that was it, it wasn’t never maintained and
now it lies under a layer of grass. I say open it up and let the people
vote on if a plaza should be built in that location. -- Tim (3/28/2006) |
Since the street
has been closed for so long, because of the restoration of the fire house
into the city hall, I have been use to it. I believe that a Plaza would
be a great idea for the city, especially next to the City Hall, I have
seen several city halls that have a Plaza or park area next to them, plus
it makes the city look good I think. -- Daniel (3/29/2006)
| April 17th
Update: I am updating my answer to the 12th Street closure,
I saw that next to my comment to have (Yes?) But I will correct
my answer... "12th Street is a through street, going all the
way to Old US 169 (5th Street) which goes on to German Corner and
all the way to 86th Street in Owasso (where it becomes Garnett).
I do not agree with the street closure because it being a through
street, people north of Main Street cannot directly connect with
the rest of the city now, they either have to go to 11th or to 13th,
or even down to 5th Street to get on Old 169 or US 169. 12th street
should not have been closed for a plaza, that actually isnt needed."
-- Daniel |
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| I would like to express
my opinion on the 12th street closing. I prefer to have the street open
if you are going to the pharmacy it is much more convenient having the
street open. Also when going to City Hall and if you park in front it
is much easier to get in and out. I have been told that the parking for
paying your bills inside is very confusing. -- Lisa (3/29/2006) |
| The answer would
definately be NO !!! I do not agree with it being closed prior to constuction
or for that matter ever. I am very agry at the fact that they will be
closing a major city street. There are plenty of other areas that would
be suitable for a "plaza". They say that one person objected
at the public hearing. How about puting this for a city vote. I feel they
would be surprised at how many people think this is not a good idea. Knowing
that though, is probably why it was just decided in the commisioner meeting
and not asked for publicly. However, I think this is a waste of city and
state money. Our city is usually a great place to live and needs improvement
in many areas and this is not very effective and efficient way to spend
our tax dollars or money. Doing the work downtown is great; fixing the
buildings, sidewalks and new lights. A plaza in the middle of the street
is stupid. This money could be used to help at the park if they want a
place for the public to sit and enjoy, not to sit and look at traffic
and a street. I'm just speaking for myself and family, but as "public"
we weren't aware of any public hearing about this proposal. - From several
12th street residents (3/29/2006) |
I just read your
post on your website regarding the closing of 12th St. While it's probably
to late to do anything now (I noticed they've cemented in permanent posts),
I just wanted to say that don't like the idea of closing the street -
plaza or no.
First, I think the plaza will be a waste of money. I will be surprised,
make that shocked, if it is used nearly as much as city officials believe
it will be. Our downtown does not have the foot traffic of a large city.
A plaza such as the Main Mall in Tulsa makes more sense because of the
amount of people walking from building to building to parking lots.
Second, it takes away parking for city hall. The elimination of
the drive-thru (another move I don't understand, but that's a whole other
problem) means you have to park now to go in and pay your bill, thus creating
a need for more parking spaces than before. And if I have observed the
situation correctly, there are fewer parking spaces now behind city hall
since its completion and the completion of the new fire department.
Third, it takes away a semi-major route through town. A lot of
people still turn off of old 169 on south 12th St to come into town. And
shooting straight across to Broadway will no longer be an option. During
my work day, I try to combine errands into one trip, meaning that I go
from one location to another before returning to work. Frequently, taking
12th St from Main to Broadway is the shortest and easiest route on at
least one leg of the trip.
Fourth, a closed street always seems to attract people who think
they can park anywhere they want to. Case in point: Just this morning,
I had business at City Hall. When I turned south onto 12th St from Broadway,
I saw a pickup parked diagonally in the middle of the street right in
front of the alley. The pickup was turned off and the driver was visiting
with a pedestrian. I pulled in to the other lane to get around him, parked
and went inside for about 15 minutes. When I came back out, he was still
there. I'm sure he thought that since it was a closed street, he wouldn't
be in anyone's way. But I would bet that I was not the only one that had
to go around him.
That's my 2 cents. -- Bart (3/31/2006) |
| Stupid idea - basically
permanently closing only through road that passes through middle of town.
It appears it will also handicap access to city services. Lastly the town
had the work done for the city hall including parking - now the parking
will be inaccessible or difficult to get to. -- C.W. (4/1/2006) |
| If
there is controversy over blocking the street, it is probably because
drivers in C'ville just don't like to stop. Red lights, stop signs, mean
nothing to local drivers. At least here is one place that drivers won't
speed through. Besides, it is an improvement. More good things have happened
in Collinsville in the last four years than the previous forty years.
-- No name given (4/5/2006) |
| [I
want to take exception to the notion in the 4/5 email above that Collinsville
is somehow a safer place with access to a stop light removed. Driving
between work & my home I would pass thru the intersection of 12th
& Main (if I could) a minimum of 14 times a week (7 days x2 ... yes,
I work Sat & Sunday) and often many times more than that each week.
The high school is usually my 2nd most traveled to location each week.
I am an alley dweller as I don't park in front of my business, so as I
pulled out of the alley onto 12th Street I used to have a choice of going
to Main with a stop light and a safe right turn to head west. Now my only
choice is a left turn onto Broadway with no stop sign for east-west traffic.
Also, my alternate route to/from home with 12th & Main blocked is
often 13th & Main ... try pulling across Main there when the Baptist
Church is in session or a funeral is being held.] -- Ted Wright 4/5/2006 |
| I am firmly opposed
to blocking off 12th street! It is a main passage out of town. If there
is so much money floating around why don't they fixed the rest of the
streets in this town? The roads here are a notch above gravel roads. Why
would anyone want to invest in a home or business in a town that does
not maintain it's streets? Another question is who is going to frequent
this plaza? No one sits on main street now, except for the gentlemen in
front of the gun/butcher shop. So who is this plaza for? Is there a petition
that can be signed to see how the people of Collinsville feel about this?
-- Andrea (A Voter) 4/13/2006 |
| I wanted to add a
comment, if it isn't too late about the 12th Street Closure issue. I have
lived in Collinsville all my life. Although I no longer live actually
in the city limits, I do still reside in Collinsville. I have an autistic
son, who; as those of you that are aware of autistic symtoms, screams
everytime we come into town to go to grandma's house now because of the
closure of the street. We have always traveled the same route, which included
going through main street. And I also have family members that live on
the north side of 12th Street that do not like having to go around to
get home. Hey, it may not be too far but...GAS IS TOO EXPENSIVE!!!!!!!!!
Botttom line, I think it looks tacky. I love this town, it has a magnet
that just keeps pulling you in. But what kinds of people are we letting
run our city, that can't even figure out that you don't put permanent
"stakes" in the middle of one of the most major intersections
in the city?!-- S.J. (4/26/2006) |
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[I'll
keep adding comments for awhile longer ... if you wish to weigh in on
this subject] -- Ted 4/17
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