such as Campbell Mart which has been vacant and undergoing construction for as long as I can remember..
just down the block some things have changed.
I like the newly pastel painted buildings. Although many of them are still vacant at least now they look nice and match the building across the street. You can't expect tenants living in a restored art deco spot to be greeted with abandoned run down buildings outside their expensive windows.
Down the block workers took advantage of the fine day sprucing up some shutters. Looking good.
Yup, Campbell is looking much better, at least one block of it. So, if we build/fix/repair/paint it, will they then come?
9 comments:
Restoring two-way traffic has made a huge difference, and the city should seriously consider restoring a normal traffic flow throughout the entire downtown area. Then again, just imagine how nice it could look like if the city gave every building owner $880,000 for facade renovations.
I worked in the pastel colored building from 1995 until 2004. It looks much nicer now! I'm amazed that odd little book store is still there. I hardly ever saw a customer in it.
Campbell Mart is actually NOT being renovated. I think there was a "Stop Work" order put up for code violations well over a year ago and nothing has happened since.
Yeah Chris, it's not like the schools, or fire dept or police could have used the $880,000.
I was in that bookstore once with my dad who remarked they had a lot of lesbian books.
So what's the story with the Mart? I would think that's prime real estate.
It's not $880,000 in a lump sum.
It's more like $58,670 annually for 15 years, assuming the apartments are rented (not sold) and aren't renovated into something else.
Actually it was a lump sum that was called a loan, but it will be forgiven in equal increments over a 15 year period.
Chris, you're right about the 'loan' and how it was given in a lump sum.
I have a feeling the example of this $880,000 will be used many times in the future. It was used today in The Times as a tool for a Fire Fighter's argument.
Downtown/The Market palpably feels better. There is movement and capitalism. Growth and Commerce.
my young sister-in-law and her boyfriend are moving into the Hancock this upcoming weekend.
it's a very impressive apartment especially for the rent that they'll be paying since they're not about ready to buy a home.
the city offers a mortgage assistance program to first time homebuyers.
so at least for this building, i think the $880,000 is worth it. especially if it's going to increase business for downtown merchants.
possibly lead into a cleaning of the streets to rid of crime and our city's homeless issue.
and also to appreciate a building, that i'm sure cost a heck of a lot less to renovate than the create a whole brand new construction out in the country. this is a plus for green-living and the environment.
i can understand brian wishneff's opposition to that loan... but i think it's something that is a loan that is well spent.
I tend to agree that it's money well spent. I work in the downtown area and would strongly consider moving there if I didn't already own a home.
I didn't realize it was rentals. For some reason I thought it was co-ops. I heard the rent prices on the radio this morning and they were quite reasonable. I'd love to see what the inside of the building looks like if the outside is any indication.
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