Deploy the bad puns: Franklin and Oak Creek reconsider Boomgaard

Now Boomgaard is talk radio fodder for Sykes and Belling - no surprise.

It's not just the NAME that's messed up. I'm certain lots more will be revealed about the faulty process in days ahead...

From FranklinNow.com:

Panel considers lowering the boom on Boomgaard

27th Street committee reviewing district's name

By JULIE BECKER
jbecker@cninow.com

Posted: May 14, 2008

At least one city official admits the cities of Oak Creek and Franklin might have made a mistake in selecting the name Boomgaard District for the South 27th Street corridor.

"The idea I have is, you should never do anything knee-jerk, because knee-jerk never gets you any place you really want to go," Oak Creek Mayor Richard Bolender told the 27th Street Steering Committee on May 13. "It just postpones failure, generally."

Bolender said he "never was nuts" about the name, but supported it to help move the project forward.

Reacting to public criticism, Bolender and Franklin Mayor Thomas Taylor referred the name back to the committee. The committee decided at its meeting to suspend the naming and logo development for the corridor while gathering more public input, particularly from the surrounding business community.

More input needed

"I just think we need to do our due diligence, think about it, think about the process," said Ted Grintjes, committee chairman. "I think that shouldn't come from us; that should come from the public."

Bolender suggested allowing Franklin and Oak Creek residents to participate in a naming process if the committee decides to scrap Boomgaard.

So far, the two communities have spent about $9,800 on naming and logo development work with the Zizzo Group Advertising and Public Relations - about 47 percent of what was budgeted for the task.

Zizzo Group, with help from the steering committee and city officials in each community, chose the name "boomgaard" - Dutch for "orchard" - to represent the economy of the area dating back to the early 19th century and to pay tribute to some of the early settlers.

However, the name has sparked backlash from community members who say any name that must be explained probably won't convey a good message to potential developers.

No need to rush

Grintjes was hesitant to provide a deadline for a decision on the name, but suggested the committee give itself at least 120 days.

"If it takes 60 or 90 or 120 days, what's the difference, as long as the entire project goes forward," Bolender said. "I don't think we should stop the project or tie the progress of the project to a name."

There are plenty of other issues for the committee to tackle, said Doug Seymour, Oak Creek's Community Development director. They include development of marketing materials and collaboration with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation on designs related to 27th Street and the Interstate 94 North-South corridor project.

 

Julie Becker can be reached at (262) 446-6606.

Next step

WHAT: 27th Street Steering Committee meeting

WHEN: noon Thursday, June 12

WHERE: Oak Creek City Hall, 8640 S. Howell Ave.