We received the following press release from the good people who run the Sundowner Motel. A more apt headline for this post would be "ANOTHER ONE HITS THE DUST". Closing of the Sundowner Motel along with King's, Departure of the South West District Health Department will leave people giving directions the only option but to use vacant buildings as landmarks for directions downtown. Mayor Nancolas and thirteen years of his leadership are not turning things around in our downtown despite speeches and press releases to the contrary. Caldwell is the county seat of Canyon County and the Mayor and City Council lack the political will to make downtown Caldwell the county civic center nor are they following the Comprehensive Plan for Caldwell calling for government offices to be located in downtown.
We have witnessed the Job Service Building locating in Sky Ranch Business Park, County License Offices move to Graye Lane, SW District Health move to Karcher Road. Caldwell will eventually be a series of stop lights that will interfere with people trying to get to I-84.
Caldwell East Urban Renewal Agency has failed our downtown core and chose to spend the bulk of urban renewal funds on just about everything but our downtown core. Downtown property owners have to feel like they have been stiffed in this deal.
Here is the abbreviated press release for the Sundowner Motel:
On May 2, 2010 Sundowner Inc. ceased operating the Sundowner Motel in Caldwell Idaho. The difficult decision was made by the board of directors after 48 years of business in downtown Caldwell
Formerly the site of the McNeel Lumber Company, the Sundowner Motel is an example of the American Dream come true. A young Bob Bushnell moved from lumber-yard clerk to owner of the property, and among other business ventures, converted the property to a motel in 1962. Bob had a vision of the downtown that integrated Indian creek into the architecture of the building, and was proud to be one of the first business to feature the creek as a part of our community.
The Motel has played host to many visitors to downtown Caldwell including dignitaries, athletic teams, world-class cowboys, a professional banjo club, County Fair and 4H contestants. Even the dog known as “Lassie” took advantage of our pet-friendly hospitality! Of all of our guests, we are most proud that we provided a clean, comfortable, and affordable place for guests visiting family, professionals conducting business in our community, and some of the interesting people we’ve met who were “just passing through” that chose to stay a night or two downtown with us.
The Sundowner Motel has been a fixture in the community and a champion for the spirit of a thriving downtown.
We’ve turned off our large “MOTEL” sign – but we are excited to continue with our corporate operations in the community. If you would like to be informed of our future sales of furniture and assets, please sign up for our mailing list by emailing sale@sundownerinc.com with the word “subscribe” in the subject line.
I agree that loosing any kind of business is bad but the this business was and eye sore itself.
ReplyDeleteAnother example of our civic leaders making decisions based not on what is best for the community. But what is most profitable for a few. I hope we have some qualified people run for these offices in the next election. If not we will continue to see our local communities wither .
ReplyDeleteMaybe it was an eye sore because there was no reason for anyone to stay in downtown Caldwell, thus generating no income for the property. Would you take an extra $500 thousand or so you had lying around and remodel a motel in a community that has no other tourism short of a stop for gas and a hamburger one block off the interstate off ramp?
ReplyDeletePerhaps it is an eyesore becaue of a tax burdon placed on the property to fund creek uncovering, a YMCA, a 15 million dollar community college, and numerous parks and ball fields, all of which generate zero dollars back to the community.
What is really frustrating is watching Caldwell dying from lack of community interest. Citizen apathy has been just as guilty as poor leadership with Caldwell's continued demise as a vibrant city of the valley.
ReplyDeleteElected leaders failed to take advantage of the last 12 years of unprecedented growth and have a plan in place to guide growth and have any real standards as a community. What we got was what we deserved from a planning point of view.
Planning and standards to achieve the plan that are more than "suggestions". Developers who came to town and had a virtual free for all with what they were allowed to build and left behind a mess of sprawl and poor planning for those of us who live here to clean up.
The Mayor and City Councilors we all elected can proudly stand up front and center and take the credit for what has happened to our city. Voters/citizens who allowed this to happen are equally to blame.
AMEN Paul!!!
ReplyDeleteThose who voted for these "Jokers" are the ones to blame for the slow death of Caldwell. The sad thing is there is only 1 person on the council that has a real grasp on what the city needs and he will probably not run for reelection due to being frustrated with the other coucil members.
Paul I don't know if you have looked into it lately but there are at least 4 lawsuits agaist the city right now with more maybe pending. What are these "leaders" doing with our money? We need to recall them. What can we do to start this?
Will the last business out of downtown Caldwell please turn off the lights.
ReplyDeleteNo need to turn out the lights, it's been in the dark for a long long time.
ReplyDeleteSo the task that lies ahead of the informed citizens of Caldwell is 'What will the catalyst be for change in Caldwell.' How do the un- or mis-informed become aware of the fact that the well has run dry in Caldwell? The very plan that was inmplimented to correct the course of downtown Caldwell by eliminating blithe has become the very same plan that is crushing this community into a blithe full wasteland.
ReplyDeleteTo those paying double the taxes on thier property taxes vs last year, the writing is on the wall. There is no demand for tenants in the downtown district due to no services or foot traffic, the property values have plummeted to the point that it makes no business sense to throw good money at bad money by renovation of the buildings, and the shear number of vacant buildings has obliverated the resale market.
And yet, at the end of the day, Caldwell's voters continue to drink the Nancolas kool aid and either can't see past the mis information or simply don't care. The milk and cookies, great day for Caldwell speech continues to keep the current administration in office, all the while promises of a new day in Caldwell plan o the month tactics have absolutely zero financial backing to support the effort, thus making even the most well thought out concepts doomed to fail.
What will it take? Your guess is as good as mine.
The house blend coffee is pretty good at Tenth and Chicago.
ReplyDelete