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| From | ronald and karen sanchez <eldeluxe@mcn.net> |
| Subject | Re: All I'm sayin' |
| Date | Wed, 03 Dec 2003 16:06:31 -0800 |
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Stewart Mason wrote:
> At 05:15 PM 12/3/2003 -0500, josh chasin wrote:
> >Wal-Mart kills downtowns.
> >
> >The fact that other things kill downtowns-- economic downturn, major
> >employer leaving the area, demographic shift-- does not negate the fact that
> >Wal-Mart kills downtowns. Pointing to a downtown killed but not by Wal-Mart
> >is a little like saying lung cancer isn't deadly because this guy I know, he
> >died from Diabetes.
>
> Uh-huh. And saying that Wal-Mart kills downtowns is like saying that
> someone who was hit by a car died of lung cancer. Let's try this again and
> I'll try to make it as clear as I possibly can. Urban sprawl kills
> downtowns. Here, I'll set it off for you:
>
> Urban sprawl kills downtowns.
>
> Wal-Mart and other big-box retailers are a phenomenon related to, but
> ***distinct from***, urban sprawl. If you waved a magic wand and
> eliminated all the Wal-Marts everywhere, URBAN SPRAWL WOULD STILL EXIST.
> And downtowns would still be dead.
>
Well, that's why I live in an old part of town that has gone through a major
renovation and revival in the last ten years. While everyone was moving out of
the city and buying their little ranchette, we got in cheap. A lot of friends
did too. Now these "little old houses" are in very desirable neighborhoods, and
worth a hell of a lot more than we paid for it 20 years ago. There really isn't
any fixer uppers left, they are all fixed up....well with a few exceptions......
Our town does have a very strong historical preservation. The previous head of
that board is also a great musician, and good friend. As a result they restored
a lot of main street back to it's original look. Modern facades were removed,
and store fronts were rebuilt to match historical features. The old flop house
hotel is now a very nice office building and so on. These positive changes came
just as there was a growing trend to get rid of the old. One major space was
destroyed and replaced with an unfortunate building. Several other old houses
were torn down for parking and another whole square block removed by speculators
who thought the new hospital was going in there. Now it's an honor to be in "the
historic building.." I moved to Montana to open a restaurant. My dad bought an
old house that had become run down student housing. It turns out it was an
1800's farm house, one of the first in what became the University District. This
beautiful building was nearly torn down by the previous owner. A twin to this
house was actually burned down for fire practice, and replaced with an ugly
apartment bloc. Just this year, the mayor took a lot of shit for getting the
city to buy the Story Mansion, which had become a fraternity. Developers had
their eye on this city block lot but in the end a US senator got funds to help
buy it and save it from the condo wolves.
While all this has saved the down town, it hasn't done a thing about sprawl. As
long as people feel fine having large families, there is going to be massive
growth. I really don't know where all the new residents of Montana work. I
thought between the lack of well paying jobs and the weather, we'd be spared,
but it's happening all over the state.
Well. no matter what, I'm happy to live in a city that can survive all the
pitfalls that have claimed so many towns around the country. Ever been to San
Jose? Yeah, my hometown. In the 60's they leveled the down town, and it was
nearly 20 years before it got rebuilt. People tell me it's nice, but they don't
know what it used to be like and all the great buildings that are gone....
I still won't shop at Wal-Mart. I still try and trade with local merchants and
businesses. I try and live on the cheap rather than being an endless consumer. I
have a victory garden, and buy most of my shit at the thrift store. It's all I
can do. I feel sorry for people who have to shop at CrapCo cause they've got a
big family and crappy jobs, but that is a choice you have to make.
RS
>
> It's easy and fun to point at Wal-Mart and say it's all their fault, which
> is why it's so popular to gang up on them. But start talking about infill,
> neighborhood renewal, mixed-use zoning laws, historical preservation and
> tax credits for downtown businesses -- you know, the stuff that actually
> *combats* urban sprawl -- and people's eyes glaze over. Much like those of
> 87% of those reading this thread. It's much easier to self-rightoeusly say
> "Well, I won't shop at Wal-Mart." Good for you, Sparky. I'm sure you feel
> much better about yourself. But you have not done one goddamn thing to
> actually help fix the problem.
>
> S
-- Ronald Sanchez
Director Of A&R
Career Records
www.CareerRecords.com
The Donovan's Brain Web Site
www.Donovans-Brain.com
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