The Mall: Still Waiting for a Pulse

I took a drive around the Burnsville Center ring road this morning, and let’s just say my SUV’s suspension is still filing a formal grievance. If the city spent half as much time filling those craters as they do publishing glossy "Vision Plans," we might actually have a road worth driving on. Instead, we’ve got a panoramic view of empty asphalt and "Grand Plans" that seem to be stuck in a permanent state of "coming soon."

It’s been months since we heard the big talk about TIF districts and transforming the sea of concrete into a vibrant "Pacific Square" with apartments and green space. But look out the window: the only thing growing at the mall right now is the list of vacant storefronts and the depth of the potholes. We’re being told to wait for the future while the present is literally crumbling under our tires.

The community deserves more than just artist renderings of what could be. We need to know why the "Village Vision" is still just a daydream while our tax base sits idle. If the developers aren't going to break ground, the least the city can do is break out the asphalt patch.

Call to Action: The City Council meets this Tuesday. It’s time to ask them exactly what’s happening with the TIF district and why "redevelopment" looks an awful lot like neglect.