REWIND: "Entrepreneurs: Forget those forgivable loans. In New Albany, cicada cycles determine infrastructure upgrades."

THIS sidewalk has been repaired. "Cicadian" rhythms, folks. 

This paean to municipal economic dishevelment is from June 30, 2014, and while the view of the sidewalk (above) has changed, nothing else has. During the next two weeks, culminating on November 3, you can do something about it.

---

Here's what the Jeffersonville officials say: Another forgivable loan, another new indie food & drink business in downtown Jeffersonville.

Here is what the Louisville officials say: Metro loans $700k to local businesses: Feast BBQ, Peerless Distilling, Germantown Mill, and a new crepe shop

Here is what New Albany officials say (not necessarily in chronological order).

1. Don't you know anyone at Develop New Albany? It's our economic development arm.

2. No, wait. Don't you know Mike Kopp? HE'S our economic development arm.

3. Hold it ... you know the Horseshoe Foundation, right? That's it ... they're our economic development arm. They have all the money. See if you can get some of it. We're not having any luck.

4. On second thought, we DO have an economic development plan to help independent small businesses, but first, if you're a potential industrial park occupant, please step over to the VIP Rewards-Class Enfluffment Line.

5. Okay, here it is: New Albany's economic development plan for independent small business.

First, you invest your own money in the business. Then, to show you we care, we'll consider repairing a sidewalk we haven't touched since the Eisenhower years, but only if John Rosenbarger hasn't already used the money for a politically motivated neighborhood deforestation project, or bike lanes to nowhere, or bump outs at the wheelchair crossing.

What's more, while we're aware that complete streets would constitute city-wide, non-partisan assistance of a sort (you bet we're going to read Speck's book by the time his study comes back), we're going to take our sweet time thinking about it, because in political terms, we're frozen in the headlights of cars driven by Democratic grandees, and so we'll do nothing about the street grid until we absolutely, positively must -- and then it probably will be too late, but you'll be used to the cut-through, bridge-evasion traffic by then.

Meanwhile, we'll spend millions on the industrial park (them's REAL jobs, son ... are you sure you're in the right line?) and an aquatic center, all of it linked together by streets dangerous to drivers, pedestrians and cyclists alike. Just wait until you hear the new city hall idea.

You're going to love it. After all, NA is where you should be. Says so right there on the ad.

As for YOUR Finnish reindeer taco bar idea, wouldn't you much rather come here to New Albany, than accept those bogus monetary handouts from Jeffersonville and Louisville? The way we see it, using all of your own resources while we look on approvingly and provide moral support makes you a better entrepreneur.

Thanks for coming to New Albany. We're very happy to help.

(Psst, did you squeeze anything out of Jerry Finn yet?)

Entrepreneurs: Forget those forgivable loans. In New Albany, cicada cycles determine infrastructure upgrades.

Here's what the Jeffersonville officials say: Another forgivable loan, another new indie food & drink business in downtown Jeffersonville.

Here is what the Louisville officials say: Metro loans $700k to local businesses: Feast BBQ, Peerless Distilling, Germantown Mill, and a new crepe shop

Here is what New Albany officials say (not necessarily in chronological order).

1. Don't you know anyone at Develop New Albany? It's our economic development arm.

2. No, wait. Don't you know Mike Kopp? HE'S our economic development arm.

3. Hold it ... you know the Horseshoe Foundation, right? That's it ... they're our economic development arm. They have all the money. See if you can get some of it. We're not having any luck.

4. On second thought, we DO have an economic development plan to help independent small businesses, but first, if you're a potential industrial park occupant, please step over to the VIP Rewards-Class Enfluffment Line.

5. Okay, here it is: New Albany's economic development plan for independent small business.

First, you invest your own money in the business. Then, to show you we care, we'll consider repairing a sidewalk we haven't touched since the Eisenhower years, but only if John Rosenbarger hasn't already used the money for a politically motivated neighborhood deforestation project, or bike lanes to nowhere, or bump outs at the wheelchair crossing.

What's more, while we're aware that complete streets would constitute city-wide, non-partisan assistance of a sort (you bet we're going to read Speck's book by the time his study comes back), we're going to take our sweet time thinking about it, because in political terms, we're frozen in the headlights of cars driven by Democratic grandees, and so we'll do nothing about the street grid until we absolutely, positively must -- and then it probably will be too late, but you'll be used to the cut-through, bridge-evasion traffic by then.

Meanwhile, we'll spend millions on the industrial park (them's REAL jobs, son ... are you sure you're in the right line?) and an aquatic center, all of it linked together by streets dangerous to drivers, pedestrians and cyclists alike. Just wait until you hear the new city hall idea.

You're going to love it. After all, NA is where you should be. Says so right there on the ad.

As for YOUR Finnish reindeer taco bar idea, wouldn't you much rather come here to New Albany, than accept those bogus monetary handouts from Jeffersonville and Louisville? The way we see it, using all of your own resources while we look on approvingly and provide moral support makes you a better entrepreneur.

Thanks for coming to New Albany. We're very happy to help.

(Psst, did you squeeze anything out of Jerry Finn yet?)

Big Four + Big Four = Evidence ... of a plan in Jeffersonville.

Best wishes to Matt (Irish Exit) McMahan on the opening of Big Four Burgers + Beer in Jeffersonville. I know this is a big project for Matt, and as the newspaper headline indicates, his restaurant is the first of several "centered around Big Four Bridge."

Let's hope that the city of New Albany's economic development director is reading.

Previously we've noted the importance of the potential importance of the Big Four's pedestrian and bicycle access for Jeffersonville, which has always seemed to lack redevelopment focus. The bridge provides this focus, which places a rather considerable spotlight directly on revitalization-through-walkability issues -- and to the city's credit, the opportunity is being grabbed with both hands.

That's the first red flag waving in New Albany's general, plan-less direction.

Others are revealed in excerpts below. I've asked before: What is New Albany doing to incentivize investment downtown?

Anyone? Bueller?

Note two things Jeffersonville does that New Albany does not: Forgivable loans, and 10K facade grants ... although, in fairness, once we were prepared to give away a multi-million dollar parking garage. Just imagine if money like that were put to use as fertilizer for MULTIPLE revtalization projects? It almost makes me wish I could swim.

Burgers + Beer + open in Jeffersonville: First of the restaurants centered around Big Four Bridge opens, by Braden Lammers (Paywall Picayune)

The finishing touches are wrapping up, and at 11 a.m. today the Big Four is set to open.

No, it’s not the pedestrian and bicycle bridge nearby that lends its name to the space, but a restaurant called Big Four Burgers + Beer. Like the aforementioned Big Four Bridge, Big Four Burgers + Beer was behind schedule on its hopeful opening date, but only by two months, not a year behind schedule like the Ohio River span.

And after months of hard work, Matt McMahan, who developed the concept, said he is excited to open the restaurant in historic downtown Jeffersonville because there is nothing else like it in the area.
Additional seating will be available outdoors in the spring with another 40 seats on patios on both the first and second floors of the building. A third level of the 8,000-square-foot space, which was formerly Third Base Tavern, will be reserved for private parties.

To transform the former tavern into a restaurant space with exposed brick, dark hardwood floors and mason jar light fixtures, McMahan said it cost upwards of $100,000. The city of Jeffersonville helped to defer some of those costs as the restaurant received a $50,000 forgivable loan from the Redevelopment Commission and a $10,000 Jeffersonville Main Street facade grant.

Perhaps he's talking about free sidewalks.

Occasionally one spies a sentence that is completely confusing. First, the sensible part:

Jeffersonville Redevelopment Commission considers forgivable loan program, by David A. Mann (N and T)

JEFFERSONVILLE — A proposed program that would offer new restaurants the incentive to locate in Jeffersonville through forgivable loans got some consideration Wednesday night by members of the Jeffersonville Redevelopment Commission.

Then the weird part:

“Everybody was totally for the program,” said James Lake, a current commission member who also served on the board last year.

He said such programs have worked to stimulate business in New Albany.

I'm not sure of which Lake speaks. Is he thinking about the Horseshoe Foundation's revolving loan program? But it isn't just for restaurants, and it is not forgivable.

I'm not sure what he means. Is Paul Wheatley reading?