Now Garner wants to build up its downtown. The town has tried to take steps to revitalize the downtown, but it has failed.
From the News and Observer article about this new “vision” for Garner:
To make this plan succeed, property owners in the Main Street and Garner Roadareas would have to agree to sell their homes to make way for new construction.
The town would likely have to invest some serious cash in hopes that the private sector would follow suit. Drivers would have to be willing to veer off busy U.S. 70 to patronize new stores and restaurants downtown.
If a desire for development in downtown existed, it would happen on its own. Now, the town will apparently try and spend the citizens’ money to buy properties, and don’t be surprised if eminent domain is used in some fashion. Economic incentives certainly would be used.
Why is there a need for a downtown when even according to the mayor, most residents don’t even know where the downtown is located?
The planners will tell us (from the article):
But towns like Garner need a downtown focal
point, said Eric Bosman, a planner with Urban Collage, an Atlanta firm
hired by the town.
“As you zoom down 70, you see
restaurants and developments that could be anywhere,” Bosman said.
“They don’t necessarily signify the heart or soul of Garner, North
Carolina.”
Why do they need a focal point? Because some out-of-state planner likes downtowns. What is the heart or soul of Garner? Maybe Applebees and Target are the heart of the town. Maybe the convenient developments and restaurants are what makes Garner desirable to its residents. Also, why does a small downtown area somehow constitute the character of a much bigger municipality?
Let’s also just get real. My “vision” tells me that people aren’t going to be clamoring to visit the charming tiny downtown of Garner, North Carolina, regardless of what is spent.
We all have “visions” of where we would like to live. This doesn’t mean we should force fellow residents to pay for our vision.
