"A pretty cool place to live, work and play," but alas, still no Trader Joes or Chili's or Williams-Sonoma ...

A couple months back, Business First produced an editorial in support of the River View waterfront development project, otherwise known as the "We Don't Want Another Parking Garage Karaoke Night" at the Luddite Bar & Grill.

The entire piece is reprinted here, primarily so readers can join me in attempting to fathom the transition from this: "If River View gets built, downtown New Albany is going to be a pretty cool place to live, work and play."

To this: "Although we are big supporters of locally owned stores and restaurants, we can’t ignore the importance of attracting popular brands such as Trader Joe’s, The Cheesecake Factory and P.F. Chang’s to our city. To many, their presence helps elevate Louisville into the top tier of cities."

I understand that the editorial writer is using one space to make separate points about separate issues, but why does it annoy me? Is it because I'm waiting for the first person to say aloud, wow, just imagine if the commercial space in River View had a Spaghetti Factory or Old Navy!!!

Editorial
River View would boost New Albany’s transformation
Business First
Date: Friday, January 21, 2011, 6:00am EST

For those who rarely travel to the “sunny side” of metro Louisville, you’re missing out on an amazing transformation going on in downtown New Albany.

A few years ago, there weren’t a lot of reasons to go to downtown New Albany, especially after business hours. That began to change in 2008, when the Scribner Place project opened. The $23 million project included the Floyd County branch of the YMCA of Southern Indiana and a city-owned aquatic center. YMCA and city leaders realized that if they built the YMCA branch and natatorium downtown, it not only would alleviate overcrowding at the YMCA in Jeffersonville, but it also would serve as a catalyst to bring people to the city center.

In the last couple of years, numerous restaurants, bars and specialty shops have opened in New Albany. Streets that once were abandoned at night now bustle with activity.

Downtown New Albany can take another huge step forward if the New Albany City Council does the right thing and approves a $12 million bond issue to help fund Phase II of the Scribner Place project. New Albany native Jack Bobo, a trade policy adviser with the U.S. State Department and an attorney in Washington, D.C., wants to build a $42 million housing, retail and office development on the river adjacent to the YMCA.

The project, called River View, would have 30,000 square feet of office space, 30,000 square feet of retail space and 100 to 150 condominiums all built on top of a 550-space parking garage. The plan calls for removing about 600 feet of the levee, which would open up a dramatic view of the Ohio River.

Mainland Properties, Bobo’s development group, is ready to move forward if the city council approves the $12 million bond issue to pay for the bulk of the two-story garage. It is projected that the development would create $23.2 million in tax revenue and tax increment financing proceeds in its first 20 years.

Some major details remain to be worked out. The levee cut would have to be approved by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and financing would have to be secured to cover its $6 million cost.

When Bobo first proposed this dynamic downtown development, many dismissed it as nothing more than a pipe dream. But then again, many said the same thing when the YMCA was proposed.

We encourage council members to keep an open mind and seriously consider the bond request. If River View gets built, downtown New Albany is going to be a pretty cool place to live, work and play.

Trader Joe’s will be a welcome addition to retail lineup

Rightly or wrongly, cities often are branded by the trendy retailers that have stores or restaurants there. How many times have you heard Louisville shoppers enviously pining for big-name retailers with outlets in Indianapolis, Cincinnati or Nashville?

Well, Louisville soon will be able to add Trader Joe’s to the list of popular chains located here. Business First has learned that the offbeat California company will open one of its specialty grocery stores in the Shelbyville Road Plaza. Finally, you’ll be able to buy “Two Buck Chuck” without leaving town.

Although we are big supporters of locally owned stores and restaurants, we can’t ignore the importance of attracting popular brands such as Trader Joe’s, The Cheesecake Factory and P.F. Chang’s to our city. To many, their presence helps elevate Louisville into the top tier of cities.