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This is sad, and pathetic. “I want to activate the space. Anyone with a proposal that can be financed by outside assets, not by the city — we are willing to listen.” I don't think you are willing to listen. The owner of the Waterfront offered to rent the entire building. He would have "activated" every square foot. He had his own assets with which to fund the remodeling needed for his ideas. He even offered to maintain the building … but I guess that wasn't good enough. 25 people lost their job. Many local musicians lost a great venue to share their talents and work on their craft. Thousands of locals lost their favorite patio and downtown space … a space to hang out before or after a Lugnuts game, a space to unwind after a long work day, or just a place to sit and relax by the river. As stated above, the Waterfront paid 36% of what was needed to keep it open; a dance hall will never bring in that kind of revenue. A waterpark would take so much in infrastructure modifications that the cost/benefit just wouldn't be worth it. A roller rink sounds good, but it's not 1981. As for traditional city markets, the Alan Neighborhood Center has the 'lock' on that, and is doing a fantastic job. I'm bitter. I'm bitter because a good friend of mine was publicly raked over the coals by your paper, and by people at the city. I'm bitter because I'm one of those musicians who lost my favorite venue, one that I played at weekly for over eight years. I'm also dismayed at how poorly this was handled. Whatever goes in there, if anything … it will never be the Waterfront Bar and Grill, and that's too bad.