This is something that Oshkosh has needed for a long time. Universal Studios has brought Hollywood to Oshkosh, Wisconsin. It is definitely a positive thing not only for Oshkosh but specifically downtown.
I took some time last night to tour downtown and take some pictures. It is amazing how the movie company has transformed our downtown back to the 1930's era. Talk about an investment for a few minutes of the "silver screen". Fortunately, it is their investment and not ours as Universal is paying the tab. The details are incredible and I recommend that if you have a few minutes, take a walk through downtown and look in the windows. It is really a sight.
I got my first look on Friday as I passed the airport on my way home. Unfortunately, my schedule didn't allow for me to stop. It was neat to see that tri-motor and the vintage squad cars lined up for the scene that ended up being filmed late at night through till morning. It would have been my only chance to see filming in person because my schedule just doesn't allow for it.
I did see where some people are complaining about the movie. I guess some would have a valid argument because it may cause some inconvenience to a select few that may live or work in proximity to downtown and have to tolerate the crowds or closed streets. I would like to say to those people, please be patient. This is good for Oshkosh as a whole and perhaps if we are good hosts, they will return in the future.
I guess it really pays to have a historic downtown.
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15 comments:
And just think, if you and others like you had it your way, no money would be spent rehabilitating and redeveloping the downtown area. I hope this helps you realize the importance of making investments in our city.
newoshkosh
Congratulations newoshkosh, you’ve made the most ridiculous statement I’ve ever seen on a blog. Let me point something out, and then you can take your foot out of your mouth.
You said. “And just think, if you and others like you had it your way, no money would be spent rehabilitating and redeveloping the downtown area. I hope this helps you realize the importance of making investments in our city.
And just what has the city council’s “investment” gotten us over the past 5-10 years? Oh yea, a bankrupt 100 block, a bankrupt hotel, a failing amphitheater, a bankrupt convention center (that were spending millions more rehabbing) and an UGLY sundial. This sounds like money VERY WELL spent. Gee, with this kind of track record, maybe if we spend millions more we can get some more failed or bankrupt projects. Oh wait, I just thought of another one. The failed Five Rivers project, and most likely the soon to be failed Access project.
Now look at what Universal Studios did in a matter of a couple weeks for a few measly dollars!!! And the kicker is, the stuff they put up isn't supposed to last but a few weeks!! AND they covered up the sundial because it's so hideous!
Now newoshkosh, what has made our downtown look good.........the millions of dollars spent in the last 5-10 years, or the last two weeks or Universal Studio's temporary aesthetics?
Let’s recap.
Oshkosh city council in the last 5-10 years: millions of dollars spent and several failed projects.
Universal Studios: A few weeks and a few dollars and EVERYONE is in awe.
It looks like Universal Studios knows something most of the council and other idiots running this city don’t. I think it would be wise for the council to have the Universal Studios folk to sit down and teach our community development department a thing or two. THAT would be a good “investment” for Oshkosh!
Now newoshkosh, please remove your shoe from your mouth. Wise up my friend!
10:33
You forgot to mention that it’s actually embarrassing for this movie to be shot in Oshkosh. The Universal Studio scouts got their marching orders to go out and look for a city that looks like 1934. Think about that. Go back in your history books and look at the financial climate that gripped the early 1930’s in the United States. It was the depression. So, Universal Studios need a place that still looks like it did during the depression. Now, what does that say about the money spent in the past few years downtown? Millions spent and it still looks like the depression.
How do you suggest that the City FORCE property owners to improve their storefronts to look as though they are from the 30's? I'd really like to know.
Property owners have the right to improve their property in whatever style they like, even if it is something others object to. These same property owners have a reponsibility to their neighbors to keep their property clean and well maintained. The later responsibility is one that some have unfortunately neglected. Hopefully the new look downtown will inspire some tasteful improvements. I hope that we all continue to invest in our downtown.
I like the sundial and I think that it safe to assume that Universal Studios covered it up because it is not of the 30's period.
WOW 10:33
RIGHT ON TARGET!
When will the Civic leaders of this community realize how much money they have flushed down the antiquated sewers?
Its funny, when an analysis was done by the Northwestern on the money spent by the city on downtown and the rising property tax values and revenue, it was that the effort was worth it. Not everything attempted has worked, but the city has come out ahead. This is not really debated.
The 100 Block is 100 percent full. Every unit is currently occupied. Took some time and some new ownership, but things appear okay.
Leach brought close to 45,000 people to downtown Oshkosh in 2007. I did not think that we still debated the success of the Leach to businesses in Oshkosh.
It is a really distorted view that some people have of what has largely been successful, at least in terms of revenue for the city and for business.
We have the lowest taxes and per capita spending for a city or school district our size, and we have been able to do some positive investment.
Not to rain on the parade but the 100 block has been consistantly deliquent in PAYING the taxes over the last several years. I believe that Park Plaza was delinquent as well and with the bankruptcy proceedings, I don't think that the city will see any of the balance due.
I am not a tax lawyer or expert in the field. I am making presumptions based on what I have read previously.
And, we need to remember that the City of Oshkosh used to own the property beneath the Park Plaza Hotel, but lost it in the bankruptcy. The City also lost it's shirt with payments that were owed by the crooks that owned the hotel.
The downtown is a JOKE!!
Wrong, Kent. The city is not out the money when it comes to delinquent taxes. You should know better.
As far as the negative posts, I am astounded. Looking for a downtown that looks like 1934? They like the old buildings. Beyond that, how do you get 1934? Universal Studios spent upwards of half a million dollars in this city preparing for the movie shoot. 80% of thw workers here were local. How is that bad? Do you say the same thing to Columbus, and Milwaukee, and Chicago, where they are shooting other parts for this film? It's also unfair to list the 5 Rivers and Akcess attempts here. The city did not lose any money on those.
I agree that the 100 block is doing OK. The store fronts are empty, but that might have as much to do with the economy as anything. The apartments are full. The guy who built them is a crook, but come on, would you really rather go back to the way it looked before it was improved? I wouldn't.
I also agree that the Leach is a success. It's a beautiful park and Waterfest alone is enough to call the theater a success. Anything more than that is icing on the cake.
I think many of the issues facing us today are because of the economy, and not decisions that our leaders have or have not made. So many of you want this to be a snap-your-fingers overnight success, and there is no way that could possibly happen.
I, for one, proclaim the downtown happenings a success.
Well anonymous, I couldn't disagree more with some (or all) of your comments.
By saying that Five Rivers and the Akcess Group not costing money, you need to pay attention. Between these two ventures, the city has spent HUNDREDS of thousands on the "due diligence" involved with these types of proposals. Make no mistake, we (the taxpayers) are not done paying either as the TIF is coming due on that property. Perhaps starting the clock a couple of years ago wasn't such a good idea after all. Heaven forbid that I say that I told you so.
The 100 block is not the "beautiful building" that people say that it is. Yes, it may be occupied, but there are at least a half dozen facads missing from each side of the building. The maintenance has not be kept up and I doubt that the new owners will be real ambituous with spending money on it for a while.
The Park Plaza owes thousands in back taxes that were forgiven in the bankruptcy. The city (or county, either way it is our money) will never see the money owed from that.
The Leach, although very attractive have $600k bathrooms that were not bid out. Do you know what is in front of those bathrooms? Yes, you got it, porta potties. The exact thing that was mentioned by the council that should be avoided by spending such a large sum.
Yes, Oshkosh got some notoriety from the filming of Public Enemies. It is wonderful that Universal selected us for their film and I hope others will follow. I need to point out that although the movie was filmed here, the major cast and crew stayed elsewhere rather than in Oshkosh. Does that seem a bit odd to anyone else? Don't you think that they could have found equal accomodations here? Perhaps not. And that is a shame in itself.
Oshkosh needs to find a way forward. That doesn't mean that we need to spend a fortune doing it. After all, as the saying goes, "work smart, not hard".
Kent: Don't bother telling the truth. It gets in the way of some peoples' fantasies of downtown!
If these idiots can't see that the money spent downtown is a waste of money perhaps they should visit Doroth and Toto. Hell, I think there WITH Dorothy and Toto now!
Oshkosh is the lowest per capita spending city of its size in Wisconsin. Maybe if we invested as much as Neenah and Appleton in our city it would be in better shape.
If we did the same KIND of projects as Neenah we would be in better shape!
The majority of the Neenah projects are the result of private sector investment. Wealthy individuals who wanted to contribute to their hometown and locate their headquarters there. Oshkosh has had plenty of generous contributions, but not of the business or economic development sort. That is a bigger difference than anything.
Not true. Please present facts which show all the projects in the last 5 years and which ones have been privately funded. As a resident of Neenah I can tell you this is not true. Many have had private contributions but to say the majority have been privately funded is completely inaccurate.
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