Is downtown fading?

[urbanlibertarian]

It sure is a money problem. What is needed is someone who will spend the money to build "it" so that "they" will come. The big trick is to figure out what "it" is.

Less restrictions and hoops to jump through will make it cost less for a hundred someones to build a hundred "its" and they will come.

[thelakelander]

WmNussbaum, billions have been spent over the last two decades and look at where it has gotten the area.  All the money in the world doesn't matter if you can't implement things right at the pedestrian scale level.  If anything, we need to apply common sense to these situations that we continue to overcomplicate, which has resulted in tons of money and opportunities being thrown away.  I'm one of the biggest downtown advocates out there but I can't even argue with opponents when good money has been burned on foolish redevelopment strategies.

[Debbie Thompson]

If I offended you Anti-Redneck, then I certainly apologize.  The smiley was meant to convey I was laughing, because in my opinion, I do feel you have been stereo-typing certain kinds of people here. And were I more easily offended, I could have been myself.  But I try to realize this is a place to put your opinions out there.  I try to remember everyone has opinions, and that I should be open to listening to them withour taking offence at them.  However, if you feel you don't stereo-type people, and I have offended you, then I'm sorry. 

[tufsu1]

For thos who think downtown is fading and that nobody goes to the Landing, I recommend stopping by today.

[WmNussbaum]

I certainly cannot argue about the money that has been wasted - or at least spent unwisely. My pet peeve is those stupid, stupid cobblestones in the Laura Street intersections that accelerate the deterioration of my car and do nothing to attract businesses.

I suspect our age-old buddy system is also responsible. One of the buddies sold the City on buying the train station for a convention center - about as far west as you can go and still be in an area of downtown. Then the City spent money with the Shipyards [not a] Project about as far east as you can go and still be in an area of downtown. I've said it before: For a city no more populous than ours is, our "downtown" is too spread out.

The City did well in moving City Hall to the St. James Building and putting a grand library in the same location. Now, however, we can't figure out how to make that area attractive because the Plaza they face is a home for the unwashed, the village idiots, panhandlers, and other unsavory types. Kudos to Ron Chamblin and Jerry Moran for keeping their businesses there.

But I digress. Lakelander, nothing will happen in the old core city or in any other part of downtown until somebody/ies step up to the plate and spend money on something - another fine restaurant or two that stay open at night (and good lighting to make it safer to be there then), a store that attracts shoppers like the Apple store in Towncenter or even something like a Whole Foods or Fresh Market grocery. I fear that nothing like that will happen until there is a good increase in folks who live in the area. And more folks moving there may be dependent on more amenities like shopping, lighting, etc. It's the chicken/egg problem all over again.

I hope to be at the DVI meeting Monday and see what the folks in the know have to say about this. Hopefully something encouraging.

[thelakelander]

Several things are happening right now.  Riverside is booming, San Marco continues to grow and now new proposals are making their way up Main Street in Springfield.  In downtown, don't underestimate the relocation of Everbank to the AT&T Tower or the 600 apartments proposed along Riverside Avenue.  I fully expect to see several storefronts filled between the courthouse and Everbank by the end of the year.  7-Eleven (corner of Forsyth & Julia) is just the beginning.

I think we tend to overlook several places like Chomp Chomp, 1904, and Sweet Lady Blue opening up, when something like a Whole Foods or Fresh Market is viewed as the only key to success.  However, those small local places are what make an urban environment special and unique to the rest of the city.

The City did well in moving City Hall to the St. James Building and putting a grand library in the same location. Now, however, we can't figure out how to make that area attractive because the Plaza they face is a home for the unwashed, the village idiots, panhandlers, and other unsavory types. Kudos to Ron Chamblin and Jerry Moran for keeping their businesses there.

This is a situation where money has not solved the problem partially due to us ignoring the importance of pedestrian scale connectivity with major investments.  A huge cause for Hemming's problems is the conversion of former retail spaces lining the park into office space.  While the buildings are put in use 9-5 on weekdays, they effectively serve as dead zones for the park.  Long term, the city should consider adding retail back into the ground level of a few of these buildings to help generate activity in the area.  With Alvin Brown continuing to reduce the amount of people working for the city, the city should have office space it can live without.

[Anti redneck]

If I offended you Anti-Redneck, then I certainly apologize.  The smiley was meant to convey I was laughing, because in my opinion, I do feel you have been stereo-typing certain kinds of people here. And were I more easily offended, I could have been myself.  But I try to realize this is a place to put your opinions out there.  I try to remember everyone has opinions, and that I should be open to listening to them withour taking offence at them.  However, if you feel you don't stereo-type people, and I have offended you, then I'm sorry.

It's ok. It's sometimes hard to catch humor on the internet. I guess I should word my responses more closely as well. But in the end, no hard feelings.