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Fairfield's Strong Support Systems Are Well-Equipped to Handle Expansion
BY DEBBIE THOMPSON
February 1997
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The signs are everywhere. New library, new banks, new office buildings, even new hotels. Schools are expanding, companies keep advertising for more employees, and further expansion is in the plans. More families are moving in (or back), and housing is at a premium. There's even talk of a new university campus. Fairfield is growing! But is it going to work? |
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During the boom of the '60s, when Parsons College attracted an influx of well-to-do kids and high-paid faculty, that question probably didn't enter anyone's mind. Yes, there was overcrowding and the city had a hard time keeping up with the growth spurt, but everyone benefited. After all, anyone with a convertible garage or attic could make some extra income. And somebody had to put all of that money to good use. But then, Parsons went broke. The balloon had popped. The party was over.
Then came the second phase of expansion in the early '80s, when thousands converged from all over the country, in fact, from all over the world, with a utopian vision. Some fear still lingered in the minds of many after Parsons demise, so it was not surprising that people were a little nervous about this new influx. The student body was also quite different than in the Parsons days, and Fairfielders had to adjust to the cultural diversity that began to distinguish the town. True, the newcomers did talk of starting new businesses, and they certainly tried, but over the years there wasn't enough success to reassure the town.
Now, though, things are different. Many have been settled here for as long as 20 years and have developed the close friendships and liaisons that can only come with long-term settlement. Economically, too, many businesses seem to be coming of age. Finally, after years of falling down and getting up, for the past three to five these companies are not only standing securely but some are actually running with and ahead of the national pack.
According to city councilmen Ed Malloy and Richard Schneider, the city is well poised to handle the expansion. The infrastructure is strong--the water, sewer, and electricity systems are all ably prepared for growth. The only possible weakness, says Engineer John Brown, may lie with the older sewer system in the western part of town, but the City Engineer's Office is well in control of the situation. Brown also thinks that there would only be a strain on the present water supply if companies requiring high-volume water use were to be set up in Fairfield.
Library Director Jim Rubis shares their optimism. According to him, the private and public sectors of the school system are good, the recreation department has provided us with the new indoor pool, the parks are very welcoming, and the brand new library was recently opened. The city council has also been discussing other facilities such as a civic center. These all reflect economic and support systems conducive to growth.
What is more, according to Richard Schneider, it is estimated that some 1,500 people commute to Fairfield every day to work, and unemployment is at an all-time low.
Such an economic boom means more spending. In business and school construction alone, city council member Ed Malloy estimates a total expenditure of $25.2 million between 1993 and mid-1996. Further spending by consumers and builders yields more taxes to the city, which in turn should make it easier for our planners and leaders to handle some of the problems that inevitably accompany dynamic change.
According to these councilmen, the most challenging of these problems is providing adequate housing. One might well ask why there's a housing shortage, considering the past two periods of expansion. John Brown says that the city has long been wrestling with this problem and that the demand has simply continued to exceed the supply. Along with this, the obvious deterioration of many houses hasn't helped.
Rubis and others suggest that the type of housing demanded has changed. Whereas in the '60s the demand was for small apartments for single students, in the '80s many of the new residents lived on campus, in the newly developed Utopia Park, or were comfortable in small apartments in town.
Now, though, the population makeup is different, and the city is being called upon to find intelligent ways to handle the need for quality, entry-level housing for families and for senior citizen homes. Malloy and the others are confident that we will rise to the occasion. For starters, based on a housing survey conducted under the auspices of the Chamber of Commerce, the city council has approved a 32-unit retirement housing project for downtown, construction of which should start this year. As these units are occupied, more houses will become available. We should also see some upward mobility as many of the wealthy members of the community vacate their large houses in favor of personally designed homes.
Whatever the solutions turn out to be, the city is not only determined to satisfy the needs of present residents but also hopes to convert some of the 1,500 commuters to residents and is investigating different options with developers (without the city itself getting involved with the construction business).
Unfortunately, because of a change in state rules, the low-income housing opportunity enjoyed by residents of Park Place, for example, is now a thing of the past, and it will require fresh ideas to overcome the present housing shortage.
Downtown parking continues to be a challenge for residents and city administrators, but once again there is a very bright side. The businesses are happy for the added patronage of more employees on or near the square. Also, large companies like Telegroup and USA Global Link are erecting their new office buildings further out of the city, and when they relocate, more space should become available downtown.
Rubis feels that there are some problems that just never go away, referring to a newspaper article from the summer of 1956 in which the very same issue of downtown parking was addressed. Nevertheless, the council's Public Safety Committee under Ed Malloy has come up with viable recommendations for solving the problem. These include rigid enforcement of the two-hour parking limit on the square; a new police officer to patrol the downtown area, including metered parking; monthly parking permits; and the provision of off-street parking by companies renovating buildings for non-retail use.
Another small complaint is the state-run rollback system that siphons city taxes to subsidize agricultural land maintenance, but that is a bigger issue for Iowans in general to tackle. Zoning and city limits also need to be addressed, but these seem to be manageable hurdles.
Other than these few challenges, the future looks bright for Fairfield. The city has applied to the FAA for matching funds for the construction of a longer runway to accommodate larger consumer airplanes, construction of the new Highway 34 bypass (which may help alleviate downtown congestion) is still in the pipeline, and long-range planning is on the table.
Residents were encouraged to air their suggestions and views at an all-day planning session held in November at the Public Library. This meeting provided a chance for both council members and citizens in general to get "a better sense of the big picture," according to Malloy. Although no decisions were made at that time, the most salient issues affecting Fairfield were discussed, and such an exercise will facilitate timely responsiveness to the changing long-term and short-term needs of our community.
Right now it seems we are socially more equipped than ever to handle this new phase of growth. With time, we have learned more about each other and have developed a more united community. We have come to enjoy, even boast about, our cultural diversity to our out-of-town friends. Moreover, we are creating a life-supporting base for the future of our community.
How many towns with a diverse population of 10,000 can make such claims? As Mayor Rasmussen says, "It's been a very positive thing. While other small towns have been hurt by factory closings, Fairfield has been able to develop a new, service-oriented business base. The entrepreneurs the university has attracted are really to be admired because they came to a place where there were no jobs and they created jobs for themselves and also for other people. As a result, where other small towns are losing their young people to the bright lights of the big city, we have been able to keep a good number of our young people here."
Certainly the city lights will continue to draw some of us, but it's reassuring to feel that at any time we choose, there'll be something great to come home to.
