How do we become a 'nice downtown'?
There is an article in The Atlantic called, "Nice Downtowns: How Did They Get That Way?"
It says: "The down phase includes hollowing-out and pawn-shop-dominated decay. Then there is spotty and tentative improvement. Finally, if all goes well, full-scale health through a combination of stores, restaurants, theaters, downtown condos, and all the other elements of a region that attracts commercial and human activity through most hours of the day."
This sounds like what the Grove needs and the trajectory that it is on now. Luckily we are not at the point of pawn-shop dominated decay, but we are at the point of spotty and tentative improvement. But we are at a standstill.
We can have all of the things mentioned from new stores, restaurants and theaters, well, one theater in particular, the Coconut Grove Playhouse.
Last week, the County Commission made some sort of decision, but it could be years before anything is done with the playhouse.
As for the stores and restaurants, it would be nice to see more movement and activity. We're still waiting for Harry's Pizzeria and Panther Coffee to open, but what about all the empty spaces that just sit there rotting like the Playhouse. Will it take nine years to fill those with new businesses?
We need businesses to rent out what we have empty now. We need a destination business or two. The rumor is that CocoWalk has sold, or it has not sold yet, but it is being sold and that the center area where Starbucks and Tervis Tumbler are will be knocked down, opening the space up and on and on. I have heard about H&M coming to CocoWalk. That is a start. A great start. Someone asked me the other day what I thought about H&M as if it was up to them to decide on whether they come to the Grove or not, of course I said it was a perfect fit for CocoWalk. This person does have pull, so who knows.
The Atlantic article received a lot of buzz, they published a second part: "More on Nice Downtowns: Do they just happen? Or are they made?"
It says: "The down phase includes hollowing-out and pawn-shop-dominated decay. Then there is spotty and tentative improvement. Finally, if all goes well, full-scale health through a combination of stores, restaurants, theaters, downtown condos, and all the other elements of a region that attracts commercial and human activity through most hours of the day."
This sounds like what the Grove needs and the trajectory that it is on now. Luckily we are not at the point of pawn-shop dominated decay, but we are at the point of spotty and tentative improvement. But we are at a standstill.
We can have all of the things mentioned from new stores, restaurants and theaters, well, one theater in particular, the Coconut Grove Playhouse.
Last week, the County Commission made some sort of decision, but it could be years before anything is done with the playhouse.
As for the stores and restaurants, it would be nice to see more movement and activity. We're still waiting for Harry's Pizzeria and Panther Coffee to open, but what about all the empty spaces that just sit there rotting like the Playhouse. Will it take nine years to fill those with new businesses?
We need businesses to rent out what we have empty now. We need a destination business or two. The rumor is that CocoWalk has sold, or it has not sold yet, but it is being sold and that the center area where Starbucks and Tervis Tumbler are will be knocked down, opening the space up and on and on. I have heard about H&M coming to CocoWalk. That is a start. A great start. Someone asked me the other day what I thought about H&M as if it was up to them to decide on whether they come to the Grove or not, of course I said it was a perfect fit for CocoWalk. This person does have pull, so who knows.
The Atlantic article received a lot of buzz, they published a second part: "More on Nice Downtowns: Do they just happen? Or are they made?"
posted by Tom Falco at 5:00 AM
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7 Comments:
To start with try to retain good tenants and unique businesses like Bombay Darbar, to begin with rarely do I see Bombay Darbar being marketed by the BID when it is THE highest rated restaurant in Coconut Grove, the problem is that the owner does not care about politics in town and wants to only run a great business. Now in order to expand he has chosen to move to the back streets because one of the Commissioner's friends and supporters was given the space Darbar wanted to expand to. He is not a member of the Family and Friends program and that is not how you should build a downtown.
To think that the Commissioner of our district is that underhanded is something that I think all residents of Cocont Grove should challenge. I for one will be contacting the Commissioner's office to see if this is a true statement. What a shame if so.
Local commissioner Sarnoff just approved a massive LED billboard in his district. 60 stories. The 24/7 ads will be visible for up to 25 miles, meaning Grove residents who face north and northeast will be able to see Sarnoff's billboards for the next 60 years.
@9:07
To think that you're so gullible and fatuous that you would believe rumor and innuendo is what I find a shame.
@3:58
So according to you, the commissioner "approved" a 600 foot high billboard? Did you ever think to hit the preview button before posting your comment, because it is too ridiculous to be believed.
I didn't know commissioners could veto or approve billboards in their district. Interesting power the charter gives them.
its actualy 50 stories and is already being built in china and should be instald by end of the year.so he is actualy right
Need a destination business? 2 words Trader Joe's
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