Just imagine the extent to which New Albany’s starch-loving obstructionists are reeling this morning as the Courier-Journal reports that there is verifiable private investment downtown that can be traced directly to the much vilified Scribner Place redevelopment project.South Side Inn to serve again; Downtown New Albany landmark gets update, by Dick Kaukas (Courier-Journal).
In recent weeks, a lot of work has been done to refurbish the downtown New Albany landmark under its new owners, C.W. Thomas and Brent Bagshaw …
… Thomas and Bagshaw, both of Henryville, are friends and production workers at Essroc Cement in Speed. They said they bought the business for about $40,000 and will spend about $100,000 to whip it into shape for an anticipated October reopening.
They said one of the reasons they decided to take on the effort was the traffic expected to be generated by Scribner Place, the combined YMCA and municipal aquatic center being built nearby for about $23 million. Scribner Place is expected to open in the fall of 2008.
That’s delicious (CHORTLE) irony, isn’t it?
Now that a return to regular portions of Friday fish and fixings finally is in the offing, the city’s $165,000 yearly investment in Scribner Place is looking even more reasonable than it was before, although Caesar's might yet conclude that $20 million can buy lots of Dom Perignon and caviar.
For our further edification, reporter Kaukas continues:
Across Main Street at Schmitt Furniture, President Louis Schmitt said he hopes (restaurant manager Kenny) Lynch is right.
"We're excited about any business that is willing to invest in downtown," Schmitt said, adding that the furniture store attracted business for the restaurant and "it was also a nice draw for us."
It's wonderful that Mr. Schmitt can see the importance of investment, and with a revitalized South Side packing them in, and the gleaming new Scribner Place project just across Main Street, perhaps it’s time for Schmitt Furniture to do its part and AT LONG LAST RESTORE THE BOARDED UP WINDOWS ON ITS BUILDING.
How about it, Mr. Schmitt?
Maybe South Side Inn would be interested in have NABC brews served there? They could call it the South Side Greasy Ale...it just kinda slides down easy...can also double as gravy...oh wait...that's Tommy's! Seriously though, it's good to see someone reopen the South Side. Even though the food has never been all that great, it's a landmark, and a good get-together type place to have downtown. Maybe the new owners will have some better cooks and new recipes. NABC would be a nice addition also.
ReplyDeleteHas Develop New Albany offered to work with the Schmitt's to open those windows? I can hardly think of any improvement downtown that would be more impressive than the Schmitt building shining out in it's original skin. If it's about energy conservation, there are ways to have windows and energy conservation.
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