During several steering committee meetings, community focus groups and casual conversations concerning the ReNewton initiative, I hear a common theme when we talk about downtown; “What do we do about the trains?” The trains in Newton are a mixed blessing; at once vital as well as painful. Historically, the rail line has been the developing force for this community. In fact, it’s the whole reason we’re here. You can talk about the cowboy heritage or the German and Latino immigration or even the Harvey House industry, but everything is here first because of the railroad. The rail lines came through filled with cattle and sometimes, people. Then came the rebuilt roundhouse which is now just a turntable. Finally, with passengers all but gone, freight is king.
When we talk about the trains today we aren’t thinking of the benefits, we’re thinking of wait times. The only solutions people think of is flying over or under, but never about adjusting what I see as another problem. Well, in all fairness, there are two problems with the wait times: the first is not easily fixed; the schedule of the east/west freight trains passing one another in our community. The second, however, is more controllable yet something we never speak of. So, let’s wave our magic wand and make the turntable and all it’s associated BNSF train maintenance buildings move south and west away from the intersections of Main Street, Fourth Street and Plum Street. Those train activities are better suited to the industrial area on south Boyd Street.
While we discuss the nuts and bolts, please remember three things: we are designing a Wellness Community, we are designing an enlivened and pedestrian downtown core, and we are designing development along the Wellness Trail. As you probably know, Newton is scheduled to become part of the Heartland Flyer service as the rail is extended north from Oklahoma City, connecting Kansas City, Missouri to Fort Worth, Texas. As I understand it, the schedule will remain much the same as it currently is meaning westbound passengers on the Southwest Chief will get into Newton at 3:25 a.m. and eastbound passengers will arrive in Newton at 3:01 a.m. For folks that want to stop in our community to change trains we need something open, welcoming and friendly at 3:00 a.m. ”What is that,” you say?
It’s the new mixed use development that gets constructed in the vacant land left from BNSF! That’s right, a new recreation option, a coffee shop and internet lounge, a couple of shops and restaurants some urban living apartments and THE NEW BUSINESS INCUBATOR! Here’s the logic:
1. The Newton’s are already coming downtown to exercise. Those citizens that are members of the Wellness Center and those that participate in all the Recreation Center has to offer, are already coming to the downtown core. It’s no giant leap to determine that, whatever recreation activity is eventually developed in our community, the downtown core is the appropriate place to site it. It can anchor what could become a well populated, well used,mixed-use development on the scale that we’ve yet to see.
2. The Wellness Trail is located south of the tracks in the railroad park. Remember, under the Wellness Plan, all new development must associate itself with the Wellness Trail and any neighborhoods that are adjacent to pockets of wellness (open spaces, parks, recreation activities, etc.) receive a higher and more desirable Wellness Rating. This also allows residents from all over the Newton’s to access this development by walking or cycling.
3. Having a mixed use development allows activities like a coffee shop or a café to be open and available immediately to passengers of the train. These mixed uses will give downtown living a better Wellness Rating. A Recreation Center or other exercise business could offer one time membership opportunities for travelers to work out, take a shower or just sit to enjoy the free city wifi. The Heartland Flyer and the Southwest Chief currently have incompatible schedules thereby making passengers transitioning between one train and the next, spend a few hours in our downtown core. If we have business or tourist travelers spending hours and not minutes in town, let’s give them something to do.
4. It gets a large scale, commercial project on the tax rolls. The BNSF land is prime downtown core land that’s worth developing and now it sits as an industrial site in the middle of town paying little in the way of taxes. It would be a much nicer aesthetic if visitors didn’t have to see idling trains all day long. Let’s see some commercial development that bring benefit to private as well as public interests.
5. Lastly, it will enhance the downtown life experience by having a shop or dining experience or two. This development will bridge the pedestrian gap over the tracks which seem to separate north downtown from south downtown businesses. Plus, it will give the site an opportunity to provide a pedestrian bridge over the tracks making it safer for residents in the Stroll Zone.
I should say, just for clarification, I’m not taking a position one way or another concerning a YMCA coming to town. What I AM advocating is a mixed use development for downtown. AND, if the YMCA does come to town, then I would advocate developing it in this downtown area. It think it makes more overall sense.
