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Phil in Paris · #1 11-19-2004, 02:00 AM

Downtown Sioux Falls' nightlife used to be known for kids, cars and loud music. Then in July of last year, a loitering law and an anti-cruising ordinance went into effect, forcing cruisers off the loop. And downtown nightlife got a lot more quiet. Now the noise is starting to slowly return. And the possibility of a new centrally located event center could make it even louder. Are downtown businesses ready? In tonight's Eye on KELOLAND, Anna Peters finds out.

Ask any downtown business owner, and they'll tell you the loop is long gone and so is most of the trouble. For years, stores complained about the garbage and the damage left behind by the nighttime crowds. Now on a warm summer night, you'll find families eating outside and adults enjoying an end of the day drink. The new crowd has prompted some downtown stores to extend their summertime hours.

"Just this past summer, we stayed open Mondays through Fridays until 8 pm and just had great business all week long," says Nancy Larsen with Ten Thousand Villages.

And next summer, things are expected to pick up.

"You're going to hopefully see some horse carriage rides. You're going to see some strolling musicians. You're going to see people eating and dining outside," says Dan Statema with Downtown Sioux Falls.

If a task force votes to put a new event center here -- in place of the old Zip Feed Mill -- and the city council agrees, in five years the east side of downtown could have an entirely new look and an entirely new nighttime atmosphere.

"Eventually we'll have pedestrian bridges across the river so there is parking on both sides and people can walk to events and maybe stop at a restaurant and a coffee house or a bistro," says Linda Barker.

The city's event center task force has been studying possible locations for months. Members have also looked at the impact of similar facilities in other cities like Omaha, Nebraska, St. Paul, Minnesota and Sioux City, Iowa.

"I've just recently been in Madison, Wisconsin. They have a new performing arts center there. They have the hockey arena there. And their night life and their restaurants and coffee houses and activities is just really exciting," says Barker.

And that's exactly how downtown business owners and managers feel about the possibility of an event center down the street.

"I don't think you could find anybody downtown who is currently here, running a business who would say they would rather not have the event center," says Statema.

"I just see growth. I just see people coming to the core of the city who maybe have never been here before for different events. And, while they're here walking around and taking in dining and shopping downtown. I mean, I see no negatives to it at all," says Larsen.

At this point there is no fear the loopers will return... no matter what shows the event center brings.

"I don't see that there could be a wrong show. I think any event again that draws people to the downtown area is going to be a plus for all of us downtown," says Larsen.

"I don't think you're going to see loopers, or people just driving around. That has no economic benefit to the community other than maybe pushing up gas sales," says Statema.

But those who work downtown say the social and economic benefits of a downtown event center would be countless, and that one building could bring new life to the heart of Sioux Falls.

After the task force votes on the event center, it will go to the city council, then it could be up for a city-wide vote. If everything goes well it could be up and running in five to six years.

Anna Peters
© 2004 KELOLAND TV. All Rights Reserved.

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