Main Street STT revitalization plans on track

I will defer to your judgement based on 40 years of experience here... Shall I hold my breath?

Does the Revitalization Plan close Main Street to vehicles? The artist's conception is void of taxis and other autos.

That has always been the plan, to transform it into a pedestrian area. There will be taxi drop off and pick up stations at either end. I don't recall the plan for commercial vehicles but that was also addressed and accommodated.

In the past, the taxi associations have fought "tooth and nail" against a downtown pedestrian mall and water taxis. Senators listened because they've been a big voting bloc. It's taken considerable time, effort, planning, determination and fortitude to have come this far.

It would be wonderful to have downtown transformed in a safe, vibrant place after dark for businesses, locals and tourists to enjoy.

They need decent housing in town to make it work, and I don't see where they can put decent housing in town that can hold families. And there's nowhere to park now, so need more parking. They can't build high rises with parking garages. People today aren't willing to walk but just a few feet so everything has to be very convenient.

They need decent housing in town to make it work, and I don't see where they can put decent housing in town that can hold families.

Why? :S

Because you have to have residents in an area to support the businesses. If you look at any revitalized urban area, new residents moving in, usually because of affordable housing close to convenient services, revitalized the area and created and supported businesses in those urban centers. If you're reading Bobby deJongh's series in Daily News, it's easier to get the picture. I saw it happen so many times in the States.

This is not the "revitalization of an urban area" in the typical sense of old warehouses which have been left abandoned and decaying in once-healthy industrial areas. It's not that typical "gentrification" at all. It's a beautification project above all, designed to be attractive to both visitors and locals and relieve the constant clutter which has been a bane for so long. There is no call for having "residents (newly housed in the area) ... to support the businesses".

Even if they had housing available would you move there? My choice on where to live had little to do with businesses nearby and was about proximity to work, safety, and quiet. Hipster loft style living that you see in the states isn't going to "save" here. Most of the cool industrial places are vacant now in Michigan because the 20 something's have aged, married and had kids and now need more space with outdoor areas. This is always going to be a touristy spot first and foremost. A population under 50k with a median income under $35k isn't able to support that many businesses. A spruced up pedestrian only area would be nice, but I think everyone knows isn't the only answer.

Yes, I would move to town. I agree, beautification alone won't save the downtown area. I'm still not sure what they're hoping to achieve with the plan other than get federal funds for yet another project that benefits a select few.

Yes, I would move to town. I agree, beautification alone won't save the downtown area. I'm still not sure what they're hoping to achieve with the plan other than get federal funds for yet another project that benefits a select few.

Well you certainly have a very different "take" on the project than I think is embraced by the majority.