Paralysis or Vision? Use the Abandoned Buildings Downtown. Dont Demolish.

[buckethead]

True. I did gather that before. There are differences, however.

Their decision is a market based decision, made by private investors acting in their own self interest.

In the case of the city owned by the public, with a small group or even one person being able to grant favors for personal/political gain. I wish my cynicism was unfounded.

[tufsu1]

What mall developers/managers often did was sign up anchor tenants first....they offered them the land, and the retailer constructed the building....and usually, it was then turned over to the mall owner.

Of course it should be noted that many of these mall owners are now severly cash-strapped, as retailers have closed up shop.

Not exactly the model I'd like to see a municipal government use

[buckethead]

I do see it as a useful way to get carcasses downtown.

When people are exposed to vibrant urban living, the result is invariably increased demand for space. This could most certainly serve as a catalyst to bring life to the downtown area. As I mentioned before, I did a stint at The Strand, and one of my biggest concerns was the ghost town effect. There was much beauty downtown, but it was desolate and unwelcoming.

Some businesses that attract those from the burbs, as well as some form of indigent control (as insensitive as it may sound) are vital to appealing to money spending visitors who might consider a longer stay.

Hemming Plaza is too valuable to be utilized as a homeless shelter. It will take strong leadership, supported by citizens who wish to revitalize our city.

[braeburn]

Aside from the tallest of buildings, the city looks almost "frightening" from I-95 once you get across the river. Very few strangers to our city would want to exit off I-95 into something that looks like that - those big & tall buildings do a great job of hiding the graveyard from a frontal, north facing view from the Southbank, but any other direction is deplorable.

I've spoken to several different owners, or agents of owners of these vacant buildings downtown - they are mostly all "sitting" and "waiting" for someone else to do something before they feel it's worth it to rehab or (unfortunately) knock down and rebuild. The consequence of this is numerous abandoned buildings sitting around, with the owners waiting for their neighbor buildings to "go first."

Prime example would be the Ambassador hotel in conjunction with the new courthouse. It would make a fantastic property with beautiful architecture now, but (as it were), first we need some other entity to come in and "make" it that way?? In the meantime, it's just going to sit there.

The good news is that it would probably only take a handful of these buildings to be rehabbed and put to use before a domino effect takes place, therefore spreading throughout major sections of town.

[buckethead]

This is why the original idea is such a good one, if done with fairness as well as forsight.

Reward thos willing to take the risk. Our city need New Founders!

[braeburn]

Understood. Though I don't favor the words "risk," that is the reality - it shouldn't be the case when a prospective business stakeholder considers downtown.

[tufsu1]

TUFSU1

You really don't know what you are talking about, despite how authoritative you sound. 

My Belk Family has been in this business a few generations, and this is how pedestrial traffic is created.  Without foot traffic, retail space is valueless.   This is something that mall planners and Saint John Town Center developers get that infrastructure planners don't.

so are you implying that Dillards didn't construct their building at STJC?

[hillary supporter]

 Avoid any interests in downtown. its a waste of time. Stephen, you should know this from your own experience. Those buildings are for sale in the millions. its probably all centered around the courthouse. As ive described before, i spent 3 years, 2 request for proposals to attain a dilapidated building needing 500 grand to legally walk in, and the city demanded $300,000. they found an assessor who appraised it as such. Concentrate your interests in Springfield, riverside. Those buildings will go for 100s of millions once the courthouse goes up.
Theres NO foot traffic downtown of business concern.

[untarded]

Where can we find a list of these buildings (with addresses)? 

This certainly sparks the imagination about what could be possible.

[hillary supporter]

i hear ya stephen. Im aligned with jim drapers vision, "Lets just tear it all down and make it a pasture."