Unfortunately, as esteemed River Falls citizen Thomas R. Smith wrote, it appears construction of the new “CampusView” apartments [Campusview 320 LLC, c/o Matt Twomey, P.O. Box 439, River Falls, WI 54022] is a foregone conclusion.
This is a last-ditch effort for reason/sensibility to prevail.
Following this intro are pertinent links, and images; taken [amateurishly] by Library Sense Friends on 2010-9-20 mon.
Humanity is Hell-bent on engaging it’s hubris to it’s own downfall. This latest assault upon the Kinnickinnic watershed and UWRF environs is a salient example.
Even though the proposed apt buildings are on a bordering-property, there will be a not-insignificant negative-impact upon UWRF. Too bad, apparently, that UWRF/city doesn’t have a type of “Extra-Territorial-Zoning” that the city itself has on it’s surroundings. Ironic that UWRF espouses Forward-Thinking, Sustainability, Eco-Friendly / Green-Environment, The Wisconsin Idea, UWRF Vision And Values, and; Master-Plan. And; now; this denudation of a beautiful natural-area is upon us!
How can such an atrocity be prevented in the future?! Friends; please comment. Library Sense administration can publish extensively on this subject, perhaps build other websites, but; no time now. So; for the time-being; this post will have to suffice.
Ken Olson, and family, neighbors; (try to) prepare yourselves for the construction noise and commotion. Then; the living conditions after apt-residents (likely, many UWRF students, and, some may engage in very unsavory activity) move in. Your lives may become hellish!
Michele Thurston has well-detailed her city and neighborhood concerns, see (may be behind a pay-wall) :
● Way, way too loud: Blaring music simply drives our family away [July 2010]
● Editorial: Don’t let volume, late hours spoil the rest of the party
● My plea is for help to save our city [July 2007(previous letter on similar matters)][…discovered something far worse…Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night parties…]
● UW-RF should take responsibility for rowdy students [July 2008]
● Put limits on downtown drinking [Feb 2007][(UWRF students)…immediately expelled for citation of vandalism or destruction of property…drunks vomit on the sidewalks and bash in people’s windows…]
Furthermore, we believe society should be more like Mist Rolls-in & In My Garden; Beauty Grows, and less like Dark-alleys Souls & Burning Bridges.
Sure, the people of Campusview 320 LLC have the “legal right” to “make a living”. Perhaps a coalition could “buy-out” their interests, but; it’s probably too late.
Maybe this parcel of land is too small, and/or, perhaps if it was referred to the Kinnickinnic River Land Trust; they have plenty to do, and, unfortunately; not every prospect can be fulfilled.
River Falls’s population and construction are increasing, we should be mindful of desirable-growth.
This post, and Ken and Tom’s writings shall stand as cautionary-testaments for mankind to put checks upon it’s voracious appetite for “progress”.
As usual, LS is in fear of retaliation/reprisal for writing this. Regardless of by “accident” from whatever the source (please be understanding, surely you are; SCVRJP). Again, LS stands firmly with the constitutionally-mandated rights to freedom of expression, and; soldiers-on with as much bravery as we can muster. We also hope no one retaliates against Ken and Tom.
We could go on, expositorily at length, perhaps in an update, but; no time now. Kenneth Olson [UW-River Falls English Professor], and Tom’s writings state matters quite well.
note: River Falls Journal links may be behind a pay-wall, we’ve included these links nevertheless. Ken and Tom; it is LS’s assumption that your originally-submitted letters to the editor are co-© with the Journal. Ken, Tom, friends; leave a comment/message to LS [may take 2 weeks for us to reply to you] on this post, or our About Page if you desire further publishing [on LS or new site(s)]. And/or consider publishing also on http://www.thomasrsmithpoet.com/
• Friends can also reach LS at ** http://twitter.com/LibrarySense/ **
● sub-note: Q: Why is this info on Library Sense?
A: 1) Because; this is an instant-concern, and, no time to host it elsewhere.
2) Readers of this, Ken’s, and, Tom’s, etc articles, may, either on computers, and/or “hard-copy” be reading such at a library.
3) Library use, and all community concerns are inter-woven.
Q: URWF-related — again?!
A: Just a coincidence. This instant-concern came to the fore, initiated by a UWRF Professor/border-neighbor.
● Quick digression: UWRF-Library [“Quick Kiosks”]: Since you got the new computers a couple months ago; could you Please re-enable right-clicking on Windows Explorer![especially on folder-panes]? Also; .RTF files are still, incorrectly default-opening in Word-Viewer. They should default-open in their native-format: Wordpad [that’s the way 99% of people want to do it!!]. System Administrators: go to ~ : Control Panel → Default Programs → Set [file] Associations → .rtf → [set default] → WORDPAD.
● Links: [note: browsing is easier, especially in Firefox, to mid-click on links to open them in new tabs] Listed chronologically:
Let’s protect our remaining wildnerness [Letter]
Resident objects to apartments, city planner says zoning fits
http://topics.areavoices.com/2010/08/19/resident-objects-to-apartments-city-planner-says-zoning-fits/#comments
Notice of Complete Application for Proposed Grading
Editorial:No one asked but…
Don’t waste this emerald necklace[Ken Olson]
Apartment project bulldozes green of River Falls[ Thomas R. Smith ]
● Extra-Links: [also: see our sidebar]
Kinnickinnic River Land Trust
NRDC: The Earth’s Best Defense
Nature Conservancy
St. Croix Valley Restorative Justice Project
United Way St. Croix Valley
River Falls Public Library
River Falls, WI – The City on the Kinni
Apartment Ratings :: The leading source of apartment reviews by renters for renters.
Locate, Rate, and Share Good and Bad Neighbors Before and After You Move
●●!! Update! [hurridly-written!] : Oh-Oh!! What a mess! It’s monday, 2010-10-10, Columbus Day. Thanks; Columbus, for “discovering” America [the native-people are so “thankfull”! ;)]. And; 518 years-on; the newer-residents continue to evince their appetite for “progress” via despoliation.
Per usual, there’s a lag-time between Library Sense’s latest info, and publishing. LS just found out, and, as per Thomas R. Smith’s words; the green has been bulldozed — all of it, so close to Ken Olson’s house.
Sure, in this struggling economy, construction employment is needed. So; in this case; construction via destruction has won-out. Note to KRLT, SCVRJP, United Way St. Croix Valley,etc: as far as forestalling the above-mentioned development — it’s too late (!).
It’s ironic that, immediately east of what was a beautiful natural-area with ~ hundreds of trees, stands a memorial-tree (southwest of the amphitheater, on east-side of walk-path across from light-pole #182). Plaque: “In loving memory of Richard Insley 1984-2007 UWRF student 2002-2004”.
KRLT, Ken, Tom, friends: how and where shall memorial-trees be planted in recognition of what has, atrociously, been replaced by the impending new CampusView apartments?!
Hey, UWRF-students; probably by autumn 2011: beer-parties, etc, at the new CV-apts! [also; ~ in-spirit recognition to Michele Thurston’s writings ;)] And, especially for journalism students [staff at UWRF Student Voice, are you reading this?], and/or students of Ken Olson; consider writing of the beauty that was right behind professor Olson’s house!
Also, Mayor Don Richards is a former journalism teacher, Mr. Mayor, certainly you’re OK with River Falls citizens, UWRF-students, exercising their free-expression right to write about “Environmental Awareness”. Perhaps a former student of yours: KARE11 TV’s Boyd Huppert, shall take the opportunity to report on the “Environmental Awareness” that just got derailed behind professor Olson’s home, and the dramatic change of scenery to the west of the UWRF walking-path near the recently improved amphitheater-area.
Ken, Tom, concerned-citizens; “progress” has, again, hit us right in the face!
Well, at least on UWRF land, we still have “School Forest 1” [sign donated by the Merton Timmerman Family]. — “Managed sustainably for the education, recreation, ecological and economic benefits of the campus” “Please use the area responsibly”. Anyone want to venture a guess how much longer “School Forest 1” will last? “Sustainably”? [SF1 is to the west of the original Lab Farm (say “hi” to the horses if your arriving from the east road)]
PS. Ken, Tom, etc: let LS know if you have photos of the recent bulldozed-over area. Also; RF Journal’s Debbie Griffin, Phil,etc: photo-witness the horror, if you haven’t yet, same to UWRF-Voice.
Scratch-pad [added Oct 11, mon. — possible future incorporation in this or other posts]
Despoliation — for those still in need: consult an unabridged dictionary [what’s “unabridged”? ok, look that up too ;)] ##
RF] sustainable, “inclusive” competing-interests ##
2010-10-1 city newsletter] Mayor, AmericaInBloom.org ##
Board member of the St. Croix Valley Habitat for Humanity, Kelly Cain — + ~ of UWRF + ~ st croix valley — what other org — pending find info. ##
Trees/KRLT,etc] Timmerman (Mert, Rich …) Tostrude / old Knollwood house B and B, knollwoodofriverfalls.com Nelson French, Bruce Mann, Kim Kiiskinen[+@RFPL] arborday.org ##
Katie Chaffee [frmr RF Journal, mayor, RFPL event coordinator] unfortunately, also no chicken coops 2b allowed in RF ##
Kris Miner. jim nordgren, Caflisch … — RFPL + city council … ##
Portal Locus Profanus — View To East
Heavy-Equipment Tracks (note: These tracks go hundreds of feet deep to the south/south-east — just don’t have photos)
To North Of Ken’s Yard
View Of Ken’s Property From North
Broadway St. Viewing West
At UWRF Walk Path, View To West [poor-quality image]
Deeper View
View Of UWRF Fields To East Of Walk Path
Walk Path — View To South
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