A better Monona

If anyone is still out there to read this, there is still one more thing I want to say:

During the candidates forum I was asked: What could be done to attract families to Monona? I declined to answer, both because of the short time allowed and because I didn't think it was an appropriate part of the debate. I did say that there were many things that could be done. Here is my list - I don't take credit for these ideas, and I don't know how practical each is or how they might be implemented. But this is just a starting point for the discussion:


1) Market - design a brochure touting the city, distribute to:
Real estate agents, UW employement relocation services,
Major employer HR departments ...
Host annual tours/events for realtors & relocation services

2) Improve Housing stock:
Homeowners' TIF
loan programs for remodeling
expedited/relaxed building permits
Remodeled home tour
Subsidize professional architecture/design consulting with homeowners in some way.
Devise a tech program around design/architecture with the high school that focuses on home remodels. (something MGSD could do)
Establish a database of contractors that includes information on customer satisfaction.

3) Pick a spring flowering tree variety appropriate to our climate and encourage homeowners to plant it in their front yards, and integrate it into the Monona drive reconstruction landscaping- so that we become known as the city with the beautiful spring display
4) Improve the streets, improve the streets, improve the streets
5) Add sidewalks
6) Improve Code enforcement to prevent unsightly properties from detracting from the value of neighboring houses. (Don't let yokels like me leave old windows from the remodel leaning on the outside of the garage for a year!)
7) Establish bike/walking corridors that make better use of our parks and give better access to commercial areas.
8) Establish a Dog park as a destination, perhaps in Maywood park
9) Establish a unified design based on unique architectural elements for new development on Monona drive and in commercial districts.
10) Clean up the beaches - add sand and remove organic debris to make these attractive places for kids to swim. This means containing our stormwater outfall - perhaps by re-establishing small wetlands in some areas that border the lake.
11) Improve lake access/useability - establish kayak/canoe racks in lakefront parks - expanding access to the marina in stonebridge park - perhaps a public marina in the development at Lottes or Tonyawatha park.
12) Discourage the conversion of owner-occupied homes to rental properties.
13) The reconstructon of Monona drive leads to all kinds of possibilities for redevelopment. I would love to have a "downtown" area in town that is a destination for people from throughout the county - how can we encourage this?


What do YOU think?