Trouble in Downtown?

[thelakelander]

I don't know what all other cities do, but I do know that every city grapples with competing suburbs that offer free parking and I do know that other cities have just as much white flight as Jacksonville, but they still manage to get the majority of their companies to be downtown.

What to do is quite simple to me.  You have to bit the bullet, stop blowing hot air and actually invest in downtown with public/private projects that make urban living worth living.  You know, the stuff like mass transit, active parks, better schools, etc.  You may even have to give up property for free and tax breaks to land a major company, housing development or educational facility to anchor your DT.  You also have to cluster your investment to immediately create pedestrian synergy around it and the surrounding area.  Invest in things that breed life and activity and then some companies may not mind paying more on parking to be in the center of it all.  On the other hand, if we keep blowing hot air and trying to sell people on a polished turd, the race out of DT will continue.

I'm entirely too lazy to do the research, but isn't this sort of what happened in Atlanta?  People flocked out of the downtown 'core' only to build up Buckhead, and now, 20 years later they are still trying to get people/businesses back into the city.

I haven't been to Atlanta in a year, but it seems like people are flocking back to that city's downtown & Midtown with no problem.  Projects like the new aquarium and Atlantic Station have been really popular additions.

[tufsu1]

Stephen...people will pay for percieved value. Businesses fail due to poorly percieved value. If the value is there people will pay whatever you ask. I mean someone gets $21 from you for a haircut. I could pay John Combs $11 and $10 parking and still be even with you.

So are you under the impression that Addeco and Tree of Life, failed?

I'd like to add to Stephan's comment - Of these 'failed' businesses, how many re-opened in another part of town with success?  Not that anyone would know, but it adds another dimension to the fact that maybe they just 'relocated.'

Well actually there are a number of them.  Consider for a moment the fact that Jonathan Insetta is closing his Chew restaurant.  Is he a 'failure'?  Doesnt sit to well with his Orsay restaurant or his proposed new construction in Five Points.

Based on his crowds at lunch, Insetta isn't exactly 'failing' downtown!

[tufsu1]

I think it is clear that Chew has tried to expand downtown, so let's not consider it closed just yet

[tufsu1]

correct...I have never stated that all businesses that close downtown have a "flawed business plan"...in some instances, that has been the case...but clearly there have been successful retaiol businesses downtown...such as Burrito Gallery, Dos Gatos, several Landing establishments, etc.

[simms3]

I don't know what all other cities do, but I do know that every city grapples with competing suburbs that offer free parking and I do know that other cities have just as much white flight as Jacksonville, but they still manage to get the majority of their companies to be downtown.

What to do is quite simple to me.  You have to bit the bullet, stop blowing hot air and actually invest in downtown with public/private projects that make urban living worth living.  You know, the stuff like mass transit, active parks, better schools, etc.  You may even have to give up property for free and tax breaks to land a major company, housing development or educational facility to anchor your DT.  You also have to cluster your investment to immediately create pedestrian synergy around it and the surrounding area.  Invest in things that breed life and activity and then some companies may not mind paying more on parking to be in the center of it all.  On the other hand, if we keep blowing hot air and trying to sell people on a polished turd, the race out of DT will continue.

I'm entirely too lazy to do the research, but isn't this sort of what happened in Atlanta?  People flocked out of the downtown 'core' only to build up Buckhead, and now, 20 years later they are still trying to get people/businesses back into the city.

I haven't been to Atlanta in a year, but it seems like people are flocking back to that city's downtown & Midtown with no problem.  Projects like the new aquarium and Atlantic Station have been really popular additions.

Correct.  I live in Midtown along with about 50,000 other young professionals/students (this in my zip code of 30309 and my old zip code of 30308).  Downtown is surging.  Georgia State is one of the most urban and unique campuses in any city and they have created a thriving 24/7 environment in downtown.  Their "Greek" housing is a new rowhouse project and they have built lots of new buildings and acquired others in order to bring as many of their 35,000 students to live downtown as possible.  Add to that the Aquarium, World of Coke, Peachtree Center, CNN Center, all the Merchandise/Fashion/Gift Marts, the stadiums being right there, Centennial Olympic Park (a better park than most cities have anywhere), new condos, the new W Hotel & Residences downtown (recently foreclosed though), and the list goes on.

Midtown West is booming big time as well.  Really all of the surrounding areas are being built up in the same fashion as Charlotte, except with a more modern look.  Atlanta is so large it has like 5 CBDs, Buckhead being one, but Buckhead is becoming more walkable and is kind of its own city.  I just got back from a bar in Buckhead.  Oh and downtown has received 80% of its funding for a trolley/streetcar line to go from MLK Memorial on Edgewood all the way to CNN Center near the Aquarium/World of Coke/future AA Museum/future College Football Hall of Fame/Centennial.  That will really do wonders.  Eventually it will tie in to a North-South line and hopefully the Beltline.

I agree Lakelander, we just need to bite the bullet and invest more.  We have improved our local roads enough to last at least another 5-8 years so let's quit funding new roads and put that money to better use.  Also, in good times I think we could sell more muni bonds, but it does not currently look like that will be possible.  Plus the city does not want to risk its credit (already shaky right now, as are most cities).  Funding will be the issue.  Unfortunately the timing isn't the best to really invest downtown, but we can at least start.

By the way, one will often encounter traffic on a Thursday-Saturday night heading into Midtown/Downtown Atlanta because everyone from around the metro comes here either to the Fox or to an event or to any number of restaurants, bars, and clubs.  Luckily I can walk.  The Eagles just played a big show in Piedmont Park last weekend and of course I am down the street so the thousands of fans who took MARTA and walked a couple blocks to the park resulted in the streets being closed and traffic backing up out of sight.  It's the place to be.  Charlotte felt the same way on a smaller scale.  Everyone wants to be Uptown there.

Like I said, our budget is going to take a hit no matter what we do because this economy stinks, but we should increase our tax abatement zone/enterprise zone from downtown to a 3 mile radius.  We should also deregulate zoning/land use plans for that 3 mile radius to encourage any and all development to come in, whether it is good or bad.  We just need a critical mass around downtown and in our core.  Once we get that ball rolling then we can phase back in normal taxation and regulations and just stick to the typical CIDs.