Saturday, January 17, 2009
Highway 30
Community leaders in Carroll are currently considering expanding US highway 30 to four lanes through all of Carroll county. This would leave the secton of 30 in Greene county as one of the few stretches not expanded. Carroll feels that this improvement is necessary. How do residents of Greene county feel? Why are we behind on this?
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17 comments:
Rick, I am glad you finally brought this up. If you ask me, the people in charge of the highways, etc. in Greene county would probably just as soon tear out new 30 and make everyone drive the Lincoln Highway instead. That would force all drivers to pass through the downtown business district that does not exist. Think about it, if you drive through Jefferson on old 30 or new 30, you can't even buy a hamburger! That sucks, and I'm surprised that no one has noticed that yet. Well, maybe they have and they like it that way.
John: I've had many good meals at the Lincolnway Grill. Despite Rick and other's reviews, I'm sure hamburgers are always available.
The US 30 widening should not happen in Greene County. Traffic counts do not justify the expense. Of course, the IDOT is currently widening Highway 20 in Webster and Sac Counties where the traffic count is even lower.
I have thought for a long time that Jefferson's future as anything but a bedroom community hinged on developing the land along US Highway 30. Granted, traffic flow is not high, but it is the highest in the county.
Jefferson should acquire the land around the intersection of highway 4 and highway 30. Community leaders should get in touch with developers and do whatever it takes to build in this location.
Perhaps a truck stop, farm supply store, nice restaurant, or whatever draws people from nearby counties.
Other communities in Iowa that have been blessed with less-than-desirable locations have been able to make this work.
Federal money is almost certainly available for the expansion of this highway. The alternative seems to me to be merely allowing the town to wither on the vine.
Forget about downtown. Downtown is only visited by locals, which in the future will hardly be enough traffic to keep it viable.
On my last visit to Jefferson, I was actually told by locals that the Lincolnway Grill was "too far out of the way"!?!?
It took us about 90 seconds to get there from downtown.
Rick: The big difference (well one anyway) between you and the people you were talking to is that you had access to a car that was capable of getting you there.
Another downside is there's somebody down there guarding the place with a tank. One wrong move and kaboom.
It is actually a very old tank from WWI without a bottom between the tracks. All you have to do is roll a cherry bomb underneath and it will explode right on their nuts. Just ask Steve Bosshart.
I spoke with some one yesterday from Jefferson who thought that adding a five-star restaurant downtown would be a good move for the community.
Now, I have to say that a five-star restaurant is normally a great addition to any community, but the fact that they want it downtown is very telling.
It tells me that the restaurant would be for themselves, and not for anyone outside of their community. This is a recipe for failure, and has been tried repeatedly by Jefferson. Put the damn thing along highway 30 where it will be supported at least somewhat by out-of-town traffic.
I think in all of Iowa there are only a few 3 star restaurants and no 4 or 5 star restaurants (Mobil Restaurant Guide).
The people that can afford or choose to eat at a 3 star restaurant will go to Des Moines to do so. The upper crust in Jefferson, ones that can afford to eat at a 3 star restaurant, will not eat at such a restaurant in Jefferson because the possibility of dining in the same room with a blue-collar family from Jefferson showing up for a wedding rehearsal once every couple of years.
The funny thing here is that some of the upper crust are nothing more than grain/pig farmers that have taken millions from the government welfare system called the crop subsidy program.
You can put a nice restaurant out on New 30, but this is rural Iowa. There will not be enough people to support a fine restaurant from Jefferson or people driving through.
As far as supporting a four lane expansion to highway 30, I don't think the taxpayers of Jefferson will agree to pay 1 penny for it. This town lives from government hand-outs and will only support the highway expansion if someone else pays for it.
Anonymous, I agree with just about your entire post, although I would point out that Mr. D's along highway 30 in Glidden has been open for generations. So has the Pin Oaks in rural Carroll County.
The Redwood operated for generations along highway 30 in Greene County, and actually if you travel highway 30 throughout Iowa you find nearly every community of Jefferson's size has such a restaurant currently open.
I'm sure these are not top-notch restaurants based on your standards, but that is not important. What is important is that these restaurants are open, functioning, and bringing money into the community.
Rick Bland said: "I'm sure these are not top-notch restaurants based on your standards, but that is not important."
It wasn't MY standard, it was your standard. You said, "I spoke with some one yesterday from Jefferson who thought that adding a five-star restaurant downtown would be a good move for the community."
Now you confuse possibly 1 star supper club type restaurants with fine dining establishments. Perhaps someone should build a restaurant on Highway 30, it just won't be a 3 to 5 star restaurant. The "haves" from Jefferson will always go to Des Moines for fine dining. It's been that way for decades now.
It would interesting to see the results of a survey from Jefferson residents about the possibility of opening a new restaurant on Hwy 30 or downtown. I suspect Jefferson folks wouldn't be overly enthusiastic. "How does one compete with Mr. Ds in Glidden?" or "We only eat out once a year, so going to Des Moines isn't a bother." Jefferson is like an old man dying from cancer. It doesn't have the appetite for economic growth. It's just going to hang on as long as it can, slowly withering to nothing.
Nice try, but these are not my standards. You claim that there are only "a few three star restaurants in all of Iowa and no four or five star restaurants". The guide you refer to only rates some, not all restaurants.
At no point do I make that standard a criterion. The phrase "five-star restaurant" was used by an anonymous person in a conversation with me.
There is absolutely no reason for a five star restaurant in that area. However, the fact that virtually all other communities of Jefferson's size can make a go of a decent, local restaurant, tells me that it should not be ruled out.
If Jefferson won't support such a business, then we need to examine what makes Jefferson less viable than other Iowa communities.
By the way, we are not "confusing supper clubs with fine dining establishments". We are proposing supper club-type restaurants because that is what the market will bear in this area.
First off, I am not the anonymous poster speaking about 3 and 5 star restaurants...but I do agree with most of his posts. Jefferson would NOT be able to support a 1 star restaurant. Which, by the way, would be a very nice place to eat.
So, just keep in mind, when you are discussing restaurants, the rating system is for the highest quality restaurants. If it were just based upon if people liked the food or not...McDonalds would easily be rated 5 Stars (although I would rate Burger King 5 stars and give McDonalds a 4 star rating...but that's another thread entirely).
So, in short, it's best to drop the concept of 5,4,3,2,or 1 stars when discussing the restaurants in Jefferson.
Anonymous2
Finally, an Anonymous poster that understands the benefits of numbering themselves.
Now, who was Anonymous1? lol
I found out last night that both The Pizza Ranch and The Lincoln Way Grill have both closed.
It's too bad that two of Jefferson's eateries have closed recently. I wonder if it was the weakening economy and/or other factors that led to their closings? And, I wonder, during these troubled economic times, how many other Jefferson businesses are teetering toward closing their doors for good.
anonymous 7.02b service pack 3
All of them except the bars, the funeral homes, Fareway, and the SuperWalmart in Carroll.
Anoymous 8.3w/3.8upgrade
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