VIEWPOINT | Smithfield move a test of patience, trust, transparency for all of Sioux Falls
Guest column by Jordan Deffenbaugh, community organizer
Smithfield’s relocation opens 120 acres in the heart of Sioux Falls, with existing infrastructure, river access and proximity to downtown. This creates the largest urban redevelopment opportunity in Sioux Falls history. The question is how to approach it with the care that such a generational decision demands.
Mayor Paul TenHaken spoke at Monday’s press conference of “moving at the speed of trust” regarding this development. For years, I, too, have used this phrase in organizing work — with the Whittier neighborhood, with houseless neighbors, and in bringing together disparate groups. People cannot work together until trust is established first.
