Icons or Sale: Some Conclusions After a Summer of Reporting

Rick Nagel: I figured I'd have to write the conclusion to the summer-long ".

After all, the are two very young, very inexperienced Geneva journalists, both back at college now. And even though I made the assignment, I wasn't sure they'd be able to pull off a meaningful analysis piece.

Boy, was I wrong.

Here's how we're going to take it from here. The following essays are news-analysis pieces written by and , with very little editing by me. Next week, we'll publish "first person" essays by each of the writers that talk a little less formally about the learning experience.

The tragically-aging editor, in this case, is very nearly obsolete.

Tara Knott: One Big, Blasphemous Conclusion Is That Change Is Coming to Geneva

Mention a new restaurant taking the place of or adding upscale condos to , and some will cry blasphemy.
This is our downtown, they’ll say. It’s historic. Don’t change it.

But change is inevitable, and it’s coming to downtown Geneva.

“When towns stand still and everything else around them evolves, towns go away,” said mayor Kevin Burns.

So Burns and city officials are creating the , a re-imagining of what Geneva should look like. Despite the recession, believes there’s no better time to have this discussion.

“The positive aspect of this is we can take a breath and stay focused on what we’re planning to accomplish,” Untch said. “Let’s plan now and be ready, because things will get better.”

Untch has been soliciting feedback from Geneva’s citizens at open meetings, but Burns said city staff and elected officials have to sort through it all to determine what’s realistic.

“(Some people say,) ‘We should buy that land and turn it into a park.’ Well, there’s a cost to that,” Burns said. “Are the citizens willing to absorb that cost? It’s their taxes. Some would. I would argue that some would not.”

Though it will likely take a while to finalize the master plan, Untch said he’s up to the task.

“The excitement is discovering the opportunities of how you can bring in positive change and yet at the same time retain the flavor, the character, everything that we love about the town,” Untch said. “We’ve got a downtown to be proud of. It’s a special place.”

Burns agreed, adding that change will keep downtown Geneva alive for future generations.

“We cannot rest on our laurels. The towns that do, all they do ultimately is sit around the coffee shop and say, ‘Remember when?’ ”

Garrett Lance: Hard Truth Is That Libary/City Hall "Musical Chairs" Is a Longshot

The number of properties Tara and I reported on during the “Icons for Sale” series is proof of the large number of .

Among the issues highlighted in the series, the potential “” between City Hall, the library, and the Cetron building seems most urgent because it affects so many properties.

I believe that this swap is much less likely than the Library Board and City Council sometimes let on. The library has yet to acquire two of the four parcels of . As a result, contractors have been unable to conduct an environmental site assessment, which could yield unsatisfactory results considering it’s the site of a former factory.

The library would also need to pass a referendum, which could prove quite difficult, as well.

I believe the library has . However, I think many citizens remain unconvinced.

The biggest question left unanswered by the series is how the city would utilize the library if it were to acquire the space. In the past, some residents had the idea of a occupying City Hall if it moved into the current library.

When talking to Mayor Kevin Burns and other city officials, however, they were very noncommittal as to the future use of City Hall, and the potential future use of the library.

Throughout the series, the mayor, city employees, and Library Board President Esther Barclay were consistently helpful and open to being interviewed. Unfortunately, the real estate agent for the former U.S. Bank building was rather guarded, and Regional Superintendent of Schools Douglas Johnson didn’t respond to multiple attempts at contact.

The ultimate goal of “Icons for Sale” was to look at the long-term development of Geneva. Although it’s hard to say exactly what the city will look like in 20 years, I believe it will still be a vibrant community. Geneva has a great history, but the community cannot afford to be developmentally stagnant.

After talking with community members throughout the series, I am certain that the city will continue to be successful, with a relevant and economically viable mix of shops, restaurants and community spaces.