On a good idea
Wow.
Kingdom of Wrongdonia, meet your new leader.
'A misguided and profligate abuse of the public trust?'
Rarely have I seen an editorial from a group of gentlemen who I respect so very much that I not only so vehemently disagree with, but I take absolute exception to. Not only does this read to be nothing more than disagreement for disagreement's sake, but it also takes wholly unnecessary cheap shots at Commissioner David Lynn who called this a 'legacy' project?
Is that so terrible? Is that so wrong? Would it not be true? If the commission could develop a ground-breaking vision of how to bring commercial development and responsible growth to our community, is that not something which would define one's legacy?
And the disagreement itself? Well, that itself is quite puzzling. Despite in the past having urged the commission to pursue smart growth policies and to find ways to think creatively about redevelopment in downtown, this editorial takes a 180 ... sort of.
It acknowledges that the incorporation of retail and commercial space in the parking deck is a good idea. However, the fact that the commissioners possessed a vision to say 'can't we do something more with this space' apparently has rankled the editorial staff.
One concern deals with parking spaces being taken up by potential residents of the residential units or by customers of the retail spaces. The latter would happen under the plan the editorial says it's OK with so I suppose that's moot, while the former would feature a minimal impact. Most recommendations still figure for 400 parking spaces out of the 375 requested by the recent study. If 100 are taken by residents of these proposed units, then 300 spaces are still available to alleviate the parking situation downtown.
What's more puzzling and frustrating about this whole episode the fact that the editorial staff has lamented about the lack of a proactive and engaged commission with regard to, say, our drought policy (an accusation that I respectfully feel is off-base). Here we have the commission working to outline a plan that encourages a unique and wholly positive vision for a downtown development that will focus on utilizing the strengths of the private sector ... and they balk for little reason other than they didn't like Lynn's attitude.
This is puzzling to me. This is disappointing to me. It comes across as petty, nit-picking and somewhat insincere. And that's a shame.
Kingdom of Wrongdonia, meet your new leader.
'A misguided and profligate abuse of the public trust?'
Rarely have I seen an editorial from a group of gentlemen who I respect so very much that I not only so vehemently disagree with, but I take absolute exception to. Not only does this read to be nothing more than disagreement for disagreement's sake, but it also takes wholly unnecessary cheap shots at Commissioner David Lynn who called this a 'legacy' project?
Is that so terrible? Is that so wrong? Would it not be true? If the commission could develop a ground-breaking vision of how to bring commercial development and responsible growth to our community, is that not something which would define one's legacy?
And the disagreement itself? Well, that itself is quite puzzling. Despite in the past having urged the commission to pursue smart growth policies and to find ways to think creatively about redevelopment in downtown, this editorial takes a 180 ... sort of.
It acknowledges that the incorporation of retail and commercial space in the parking deck is a good idea. However, the fact that the commissioners possessed a vision to say 'can't we do something more with this space' apparently has rankled the editorial staff.
One concern deals with parking spaces being taken up by potential residents of the residential units or by customers of the retail spaces. The latter would happen under the plan the editorial says it's OK with so I suppose that's moot, while the former would feature a minimal impact. Most recommendations still figure for 400 parking spaces out of the 375 requested by the recent study. If 100 are taken by residents of these proposed units, then 300 spaces are still available to alleviate the parking situation downtown.
What's more puzzling and frustrating about this whole episode the fact that the editorial staff has lamented about the lack of a proactive and engaged commission with regard to, say, our drought policy (an accusation that I respectfully feel is off-base). Here we have the commission working to outline a plan that encourages a unique and wholly positive vision for a downtown development that will focus on utilizing the strengths of the private sector ... and they balk for little reason other than they didn't like Lynn's attitude.
This is puzzling to me. This is disappointing to me. It comes across as petty, nit-picking and somewhat insincere. And that's a shame.
posted by Jmac at 9:24 AM
15 Comments:
Yep. The ABH got that one right. This is Boys and Girls Club redux.
Some of these folks--whom I also like and respect--need to get over themselves. "Legacy," indeed. How about competence.
Legacy and competence are not mutualy exclusive.
Parking downtown is not in any kind of crisis. So actually thinking about something before they start pouring the concrete is probably a good idea. No?
It seems as though the paper boys have been told to try to start a fight by any means necessary to sell some newspapers and make them appear to be somehow relevant again. I agree that its just sad.
I've got all kinds of issues with that editorial.
First, this is a GREAT idea. Athens has a fundamental stumbling block standing between it and achieving its goal of being a ped-friendly, vibrant in-town area -- the lack of a comprehensive grocery store or general-type store like a Target.
Second, the mixed-use parking deck is a successful model elsewhere, and it's thoroughly compatible with a number of recommendations that have been made in the past regarding how Athens should deal with balancing municipal needs and private needs and the ever-present need not to destroy our tax base by occupying large portions of property for tax-exempt uses.
Third, the mixed-use parking deck is a safer, more attractive, more economically effective option than a parking deck alone.
That said, Alan Reddish's comments are great caveats -- this is a great project if it can be completed for committed tenants, and it doesn't address all of the projected needs. Good for Alan, good for us. It's a good project, and it should be as well executed as it has the potential to be. Why the ABH chose to spin it as a hare=brained waste of taxpayer dollars is beyond me.
We've been disagreeing too much as of late Nicki. It's nice to be on the same page again.
And your comments about Alan Reddish are well-noted, and I concur.
Problem is, Nicki, government is uniquely unqualified to decide--not to mention dictate--that a general-type Target store ought to go in a given location.
The folks best qualified to make that sort of decision are the folks who own and operate Targets. I trust them to know more about where profits might be made than I trust, say, David Lynn. His only experience with profits, as far as I can tell, is in redistributing them.
I say again: this is Boys-Girls Club moved downtown. It's Ansonborough on Washington.
if this is the Boys and Girls Club and/or Ansonborough all over again then, hooray!
Our elected officials are once again making a correct decision based on what the majority of citizens have told them is the vision they support.
Ding! Score another one for the folks who refuse to accept the mediocre, same-old-same-old, Anywhere, USA model.
If you prefer the mundane, Oconee County is very near - just a short drive from somewhere to nowhere.
"if this is the Boys and Girls Club and/or Ansonborough all over again then, hooray!"
Yeah, just what downtown needs...another bit of "build it and they will come" commercial space a la Gameday, Overlook on Baxter, Ansonborough, etc. that sits there vacant for 2 or 3 years in a market that is already oversupplied.
Illini89
In all fairness, both Gameday and Ansonborough are seeing more success as of late. Gameday has attracted two additional retail businesses which are doing quite well, and have changed their business model to reflect more of hotel rather than condos for lease. Ansonborough is attracting additional retail business too.
Problem is, Nicki, government is uniquely unqualified to decide--not to mention dictate--that a general-type Target store ought to go in a given location.
While I have disagreement with your position on this, I will also point out that it isn't as if A-CC will take out franchising rights on a Target, but rather (if this is indeed the model they opt for and, again, we're talking hypotheticals since we're in the discussion phase of this) working to bring a retailer such as Target there.
Target would still be able to determine if a downtown location would work for them and, judging by the interest in the St. Joseph's lot and the increase in folks living in-town, one would a store like that would.
just as an aside, I recall reading in the ABH that the developer/owner of Ansonborough was telling people to shut up and mind their own business about his property because it would have been completely full many times over if he weren't being selective about what kinds of businesses he wanted in his development. That's kind of a new twist on the "let the market rule" vs. "private property rights" vs. "mind your own damn business and I'll mind mine" thing. He does not appreciate being used as the poster child for all the nay-sayers. I loved it!
Apparently, not everybody got that memo. ;-)
Al
That's what I'd say, too, if I had my dollars in the pot and disgruntled investors on my backside.
If you believe what that guy is saying, I have some bike paths on the 10 Loop I'd like to sell you.
Four things I can't resist pointing out here:
One, GameDay is filling up because they gave their new tenants sweet deals on leases.
Two, why would Target ever want ever want to come downtown after they got run off from the eastside?
Three, we all love to complain about chains such as Starbucks or the Gap downtown? What makes Target any different?
Four, the main reason we don't have a grocery store downtown is there's no place big enough to put one.
Thank you, and good night.
Blake
Um, yeah, on point four -- as I mentioned there's a highly successfuly model for this in other locations, and there's not a space for grocery currently -- this would provide it.
Perhaps, Nicki, you should open a grocery store.
If it's such a great opportunity and all.
Perhaps, anonymous, you should leave your name. If it's so important your opinion be counted and all.
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