And the Kitchen Sink

The Press-Citizen has this article on the new requirements facing the proposed fake rainforest in Coralville. An interesting excerpt:

Herwig likened the project to the St. Louis Arch, saying projects of that scope are hard to pull off.

It's an interesting comparison, given the Arch apparently attracts 4.1 million visitors per year. However: 1) the cost of building the arch was only 13 million dollars as opposed to our $180 million; 2) the feds kicked in 75% of that figure; 3) It only costs $8 for an adult to go to the top of the arch; and 4) of course, St. Louis is a little bigger than Coralville: St. Louis' population estimate in 2001 was 339,211 and St. Louis County had a population estimate of 1,015,417 residents in 2001. If St. Louis and St. Louis County were to merge, St. Louis would become the nation's 6th most populous city according to the U.S. Census statistics. It has a Six Flags and everything. So maybe it could be a bit more of a tourist destination?

NOTE: to anyone who noticed my brief mental meltdown when I posted Random Mentality stuff here while working on this article - when I've got 12 Explorer windows open to various legal research topics, not to mention three emails, your calendar, Access, two Word documents, I suppose that's what you get. I am normally multitasking queen, but sometimes I get my wires crossed. Sorry!!