New Albany is a state of mind … but whose? Since 2004, we’ve been observing the contemporary scene in this slowly awakening old river town. If it’s true that a pre-digital stopped clock is right twice a day, when will New Albany learn to tell time?
Wednesday, January 19, 2005
NA Renewal: A new Blog weighs in
Is Louisville's Operation Brightside a model for New Albany?
Can New Albany become a "new city?"
For explanations and possible answers to these questions, and more pieces to the puzzle that is New Albany's renewal, go here:
I disagree totally with Dan. After just visiting Tampa and St.Petersburg Florida, I am quite sure that there were plenty of non believers who thought that turning around dead urban areas was a waste of time. Do yourself a favor and surf the web and see what Tampa has done with the Ybor City area or what downtown St. Petersburg is doing with theirs. This can be acheived but only if it is persued by the community and not the backwards thinking of the past..
The point is not to simply choose a program that has worked for another city and replicate it it New Albany. The point is to use the ideas that have worked in other places as inspiration for our efforts in New Albany.
One thing that the most successful efforts have in common is involvement and support of both citizens and government.
If our elected officials don't change their attitudes we can change our elected officials. It can be done.
Ed is not that far off in his thinking. NA Girl sees it as a matter of scaling it down, but Ybor City (Tampa's destination quarter)isn't any bigger than downtown and it was in much worse shape. It also was plagued by crime because it was so rundown. Letting our downtown die will yield crime and other undesirable outcomes.
What Tampa and St. Pete have over us is a plethora of wealthy folk who contributed to candidates willing to lead a renaissance. Individuals with resources were attracted to a city that actively wanted them and they were the pioneers. Once the pioneers took the risk, with a city behind them, other specialty businesses followed.
We won't be a year-round tourist destination, but that's not the traffic we would aim for. Day trippers and folks in SE Indiana who would love to stay on this side of the river and Louisville's east enders are the targets.
Let's stage a demonstration. Let's all eat at Federal Hill or Ermin's or Pigasus. Pick a week and add a bistro, and let's show tangible support for those who are there now. Make it a campaign: If you want a downtown renaissance, then on, say the third week of February, eat at Federal Hill (or takeout). Then Ermin's, then Pigasus, then Preston's, and so on. Let the media know the plan and the results. Let it be a people's referendum, but make sure everyone knows it is a call for change.
I'd like permission to mirror this thread at volunteerhoosier as background for the March 2 Public Affairs Symposium titled "Whither Downtown New Albany." May I?
I disagree totally with Dan. After just visiting Tampa and St.Petersburg Florida, I am quite sure that there were plenty of non believers who thought that turning around dead urban areas was a waste of time. Do yourself a favor and surf the web and see what Tampa has done with the Ybor City area or what downtown St. Petersburg is doing with theirs. This can be acheived but only if it is persued by the community and not the backwards thinking of the past..
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteThe point is not to simply choose a program that has worked for another city and replicate it it New Albany. The point is to use the ideas that have worked in other places as inspiration for our efforts in New Albany.
ReplyDeleteOne thing that the most successful efforts have in common is involvement and support of both citizens and government.
If our elected officials don't change their attitudes we can change our elected officials. It can be done.
Thank you na girl.
ReplyDeleteEd is not that far off in his thinking. NA Girl sees it as a matter of scaling it down, but Ybor City (Tampa's destination quarter)isn't any bigger than downtown and it was in much worse shape. It also was plagued by crime because it was so rundown. Letting our downtown die will yield crime and other undesirable outcomes.
ReplyDeleteWhat Tampa and St. Pete have over us is a plethora of wealthy folk who contributed to candidates willing to lead a renaissance. Individuals with resources were attracted to a city that actively wanted them and they were the pioneers. Once the pioneers took the risk, with a city behind them, other specialty businesses followed.
We won't be a year-round tourist destination, but that's not the traffic we would aim for. Day trippers and folks in SE Indiana who would love to stay on this side of the river and Louisville's east enders are the targets.
Let's stage a demonstration. Let's all eat at Federal Hill or Ermin's or Pigasus. Pick a week and add a bistro, and let's show tangible support for those who are there now. Make it a campaign: If you want a downtown renaissance, then on, say the third week of February, eat at Federal Hill (or takeout). Then Ermin's, then Pigasus, then Preston's, and so on. Let the media know the plan and the results. Let it be a people's referendum, but make sure everyone knows it is a call for change.
I'd like permission to mirror this thread at volunteerhoosier as background for the March 2 Public Affairs Symposium titled "Whither Downtown New Albany." May I?