Pillar Awards: It's high time Develop New Albany recognized downtown businessman Todd Coleman.

Nearly every field of human endeavor has a regular prize. And nearly every prize seems to regularly go to a clearly undeserving winner. Woody Allen’s character complained in Annie Hall, “They’re always giving out awards. Best Fascist Dictator: Adolf Hitler.” If an award like that really did exist, though, they’d probably end up giving it to Mussolini.
-- Jonathan Chait, writing in The New Republic (2009)

Just to ensure the usual suspects don't willfully misread the preceding quote, kindly note that I AM NOT comparing any local person to Hitler or Mussolini, although the Market Street North Side Only Median beautification project probably would win an award for "Best Ceausescu Knockoff" in the Totalitarian Architecture Awards (they're not the Oscars, but the Ta Tas).

Rather, I'm here to file a nomination for Develop New Albany's Pillar Awards, even though I'm aware of the ironic implications, given that the Pillar Awards are almost meaningless; I don't care about them and neither does my nominee, but fair's fair and it's time the beautiful people boarded the damn train and gave some credit to people outside their narrow field of vision.

To be specific, Todd Coleman should get a Pillar Renaissance Award. He probably also should get a Pillar Foundation Award. 

I'm not going to belabor the point or get frilly about it. Just this: Todd would be a deserving winner.

Todd has owned properties downtown for decades. He has successfully run Classic Furniture downtown for just as long. He hasn't always marched in lockstep with the expectations of newcomers, but maybe -- just maybe -- Todd has been savvy enough to wait and see if other improvements are deep-rooted or ephemeral before reaching into his wallet. 

Now Todd has reached into his wallet, and he's doing work on all his properties. I don't know how many windows he has replaced on these properties. To be sure, he received money from the Horseshoe/Caesar's Foundation to facilitate this work, but I know he's also spent a pretty penny of his own. The entire facade improvement process was weighted to provide maximum assistance to Schmitt Furniture, but Todd has done more improving with less assistance in a shorter period of time.

Yes, it's true; awards like these are hokum in the main. But to repeat, fair's fair. Todd Coleman deserves recognition for his perseverance, as well as his decision to upgrade his properties. Let's hope DNA finally "gets it," if not this year (noting the "finish by" requirements), then the next.

From DNA's website:

Pillar Renaissance Award
The Pillar Renaissance Award is intended to recognize an individual, business or organization that has made a significant investment in physical improvements to the downtown and uptown areas. One to three awards will be granted in any one year.

The investment might be in renovating historic structure, building a new structure, or renovating a non-historic structure and should have been substantially completed in the previous year ending May 31st. The number of awards granted will be determined by the Directors of the award program based upon nominations received.

Pillar Horizon Award
The Pillar Horizon Award recognizes a new or emerging business or organization. Nominees should have been in downtown or uptown areas five years or less.

Pillar Foundation Award
The Pillar Foundation Award recognizes a business or organization that has proved to be a foundation to the downtown or uptown areas.

Nominees must have been in business for 10 years or more

Pillar Achievement Award
The Pillar Achievement Award recognizes an individual who has made a significant contribution to the downtown or uptown areas. The contribution may be through one significant project or through years of ongoing service.

Examples Include:​

• An individual in public service who has demonstrated commitment to the business districts.
• An individual affiliated with a business or non-profit organization who has personally contributed to the downtown or uptown areas.
• An individual who has been responsible for a specific renovation or development project.

No victory laps -- yet. Reverting NA's downtown street grid to two-way traffic is just the beginning.

Previously: Grid Control, Vol. 23: City's fuddy-duddies losing their minds as the debut for a two-way Spring Street is pegged at August 29.

No victory laps ... so much to do ... but kindly allow a rant of sorts, as posted this morning at Fb.

---

Lots of us have spent the better part of 15 years mustering abundant evidence in favor of reverting one-way streets to two-way traffic. We've cited stats and studies, and pointed to positive experiences in America and across the planet.

Time and again, we've asked opponents to show us some tangible proof for the impending catastrophe of two-way streets, and have listened as the crickets chirp in response.

Yes, you're entitled to your own opinion, though not your own facts -- and to be perfectly honest, after a decade and a half, we're bored to effing tears with your opinions.

We've done OUR jobs, and miracle of miracles, the city has produced a plan in response. It doesn't go far enough toward the ideal of pistol-whipping auto-centrism, but it's the end of the beginning, and humans (as opposed to their vehicles) have nudged back into the picture.

If two-way streets are "turning back the clock," as some suggest, then at long last I can say: "Give me that old time religion."

Just remember that if you hate two-way streets, blame the mayor and vote against him -- and if you love them, thank the grassroots activists who kept pushing in the face of NA ruling caste incomprehension. There is much work yet to be done, but this time I hope it doesn't take 15 years.

Following is an excerpt from ON THE AVENUES: Yellow lines and what comes due (September 19, 2013).

---

Dear New Albany politicians in the executive and legislative branches of government,

Hi. You know this whole two-way street conversion thing we’ve been talking about since the House of Bread was still open? Well, here’s the way it needs to work.

Do it.

Now.

You owe us.

That’s right: You owe us.

In fact, it’s all quite easy to understand, so let me help you out.

Just take every one of those “no-brainer,” “quality of life,” and “economic development” arguments made by those in favor of $20 million worth of new city parks, and grasp that these exact same arguments apply just as strongly to two-way streets, traffic calming and complete streets – at least insofar as the new cadre of independent business owners are concerned.

Remember us?

We’re the ones who actually have been investing downtown.

Then add the needs and interests of present and future inhabitants in those neighborhoods making up the city’s historic core. They’re not feeling arterial – no, not at all.

While you’re at it, take the case for Main Street’s makeover (you can keep the excessive expense, but that’s another story), and understand that the Main Street rationale (i.e., we all need nice things) applies to Elm, Market and Spring Streets, too – as much, and probably more so, because unlike Main Street, those other neighborhoods still hang in the balance. The NSP was nice … but it was mostly federal stimulus money, wasn’t it?

You see, you owe us a modern street grid, because so far, most of the heavy lifting in the historic core has been on someone else’s dime, whether from local investors, state highway pay-outs or Obama funds. 

Now, with this much needed two-way street conversion and other related measures to enhance New Albany’s prospects, it’s time at last for you to go all in and show us that you really get it, and that River Ridge envy shall not be the dominant economic development motif hereabouts.

Just remember: You owe us.

Pay us all back, all at once. Give us a street grid that facilitates revitalization, not one that actively hampers it.

Hell, if you buy the paint, we might even roll a few kegs out some afternoon and paint the stripes for you.

If you decline to act – well, we might just paint the stripes ourselves, anyway. A little civil disobedience never harmed anyone.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. We're watching.

Roger