Downtown Revitalization: Tallahassee

[CityLife]

There is a lot more to Tennessee St. than just the "Strip", which is what everyone calls the spot near Bullwinkles, Yianni's, etc.  Other than that, the only other big hangouts on the street are Momo's, AJ's, and LiquorLoft/Proof. All of those locations are replaceable. In fact all three are in horrible spots, with major parking issues. Heck I'm shocked AJ's hasn't collapsed yet. Really, there as many popular hangouts on Pensacola St. with Gordo's, Mellow Mushroom, and Po Boys anyways. As demographics, student housing, and investment keep shifting, it will be very easy for the owner's of these popular places to move to Gaines St. The CrepeVine is a popular place that used to be on Pensacola and just opened on Gaines.

Ever been to Railroad Square Art Park? I don't know how it is now, but when I was in grad school out there from 08-09, I thought their First Friday event was way better than Artwalk. There are already some cool spots in that area like Fermentation Lounge, All Saints Cafe, and probably a lot of other new ones I don't even know about. Basically the All Saints, Railroad Square, Gaines/Railroad area has become the artsy, alternative scene in Tally already. Once College Town opens, that stretch of Gaines will be a more upscale geared towards young professionals and mainstream students. It will be interesting to see what happens in between.

http://railroadsquare.us/

http://fermentationlounge.com/

[thelakelander]

Railroad Square was fairly artsy when I was there.  At the time, there was an art shop that was pretty popular with my design studio.  I can see all of that becoming more connected and seamless with the Gaines Street and greenway projects.

[Tacachale]

There's more on West Tennessee than just the stretch around Bullwinkle's. Further west there's Momo's and a hookah joint we used to go to; there's the bowling alley and I believe several other bars and restaurants spread around there. Don't quote me on it but I think all that stuff is before you get out to the student apartments on and around Ocala. I'd tend to agree that the Gaines project looks like it will be a much safer and better planned environment, but again, I just don't see West Tennessee Street going away any time soon.

We were referring to the "Tennessee Strip".  There is a lot of strip development west of FSU's campus but that's not considered the "Strip."  That's just a typical auto oriented commercial corridor, in similar fashion to North Monroe Street, Apalachee Parkway, and Thomasville Road near I-10.  The "Strip" is specifically a cluster of bars and clubs between Dewey and Copeland Streets.  Personally, I don't think it will take much for Gaines Street to overtake it in prominence once the streetscape is complete.

Ah, I see. Yeah, I could definitely see "The Strip" being overtaken in time; I just don't see the whole corridor going away any time soon, at least not to the point that it would open up major projects like road diets or a streetcar such as were mentioned in some of the posts.

At any rate, I'm hoping to get back out there for a long weekend this spring. A good friend of mine just moved out there, and I want to take my wife to Mission San Luis, which, incredibly, I've never gotten around to seeing. I'll be sure to check out the progress on Gaines Street. It's been a while since I was out that way.

The Mission is pretty cool.  You'll enjoy it.

I've been meaning to get out to it ever since I took Dr. Shafer's Florida history class at UNF like 6 years ago, but every time I've been out to Tally either it's closed, or I run out of time. It's high time for a dedicated trip.

[CityLife]

Railroad Square was fairly artsy when I was there.  At the time, there was an art shop that was pretty popular with my design studio.  I can see all of that becoming more connected and seamless with the Gaines Street and greenway projects.

Yea that area and Gaines have been the alternative scene in Tally for a little while, but things have really taken off since I was first in Tally in the early 00's. The Cow Haus used to be a good music venue there, The Warehouse has always been popular for poetry/literature readings and things like that, and Railroad Square has been around for a bit, but there was barely any connectivity between those type of spots in the past. Now there is some true synergy happening and momentum. Whatever happens in that area, I hope that there is always an edgy and unique artsy area of the corridor.