Brent_Bobyck Posted August 30, 2005 Author Posted August 30, 2005 I don't know if a UND satelite campus would be a good idea downtown. I agree with ESPN, bars restaurants, businesses would be a better fit, IMO. Quote
Eskimos Posted August 30, 2005 Posted August 30, 2005 Plus with the base teeter tottering, I would not want to throw a bunch of money into a business downtown right now. You, perhaps would. Could pay off, could crumble. I only gamble with cards, not business. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Where do you get this stuff? Have you heard the latest news on the base? I wouldn't quite call that teeter tottering. Quote
IowaBison Posted August 30, 2005 Posted August 30, 2005 You're going supply side, I'm going demand side. Quote
Brent_Bobyck Posted August 30, 2005 Author Posted August 30, 2005 You're going supply side, I'm going demand side. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> So am I. There more people that are downtown, the more demand there will be for services and entertainment. Quote
Cratter Posted August 31, 2005 Posted August 31, 2005 I agree, but from being on the verge of "closing" to having at least one mission coming in (UAV) and probably some new tankers, it is not the dire situation that many were predicting for Grand Forks. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> You realize that by 2011 all the tankers will be gone and so will 3,000 direct jobs. Quote
BisonMav Posted August 31, 2005 Posted August 31, 2005 I like the Stillwater, MN comparison. I love downtown Stillwater. Go down and have a little picnic by the bridge, or have dinner at a restaurant overlooking it. Very nice down there with little shops and what-not. Is there much housing down there? not sure about that. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> There are some condo's right now, but there are two large complexes being build as we type. The old Prison site, Cole Youngers old home, at the end of Main, and a block on old mainstreet are the current projects. Stillwater also has busloads of people dropped off during the week as part of a tour. Just need to advertise "Historic" downtown Grand Forks and put some shops in some old buildings, to go along with the bars. Quote
PCM Posted August 31, 2005 Posted August 31, 2005 Just need to advertise "Historic" downtown Grand Forks and put some shops in some old buildings, to go along with the bars. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> That's pretty much been done. It hasn't worked. Quote
Local Boy Posted August 31, 2005 Posted August 31, 2005 I don't think the Stillwater comparison works at all. Look at the population #'s in a 45 minute radius...then look at Grand Forks. No comparison. If there were those #'s...it would already be a done deal. Quote
BisonMav Posted August 31, 2005 Posted August 31, 2005 I don't think the Stillwater comparison works at all. Look at the population #'s in a 45 minute radius...then look at Grand Forks. No comparison. If there were those #'s...it would already be a done deal. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> How many people from Winnipeg travel to Fargo or elsewhere without stopping in Grand Forks? Red Wing is over an hour from the Twin Cities. Duluth is also a ways from the cities. Quote
ScottM Posted August 31, 2005 Posted August 31, 2005 I live in a city that's been around for over 200 years or so, in one form or another, and have been watching their DT revitalization efforts, which are similar to GF's. People need an actual reason to work, live and play DT. Even before the '97 Flood people in GF were migrating their homes and businesses south and west of DT. You can build condos and apartments, but you also have to include retail development, so people don't have to drive 15 minutes for bread and beer, let alone a decent meal. Bars and restaurants are nice, but so is Applebee's. GF's leaders/residents need to decide what they want in their DT. Should it be family-oriented? Maybe an IMAX connected to a children's museum? Should it be a casino area? Maybe an entertainment-complext tied to it? Anyway you slice it, there has to commercial development that can attract similar businesses (a halo effect) and perhaps others who want to live and work in that environment. My .02 Quote
Local Boy Posted August 31, 2005 Posted August 31, 2005 I know the answer to your question. But maybe you should ask the guy from Branigans. Quote
Cratter Posted August 31, 2005 Posted August 31, 2005 Here's a news flash. The next generation of people don't care about "downtowns." They like space, they want a big yard, they want to live in the 'burbs. They want to live next to Universities, Alerus Centers, and "new" shopping centers next to new houses. That is why you see people moving south (in GF). In many (smaller) cities the downtowns will probably die, because it just doesn't mean that much to people as it use to. They didn't grow up with it as the economic center of a city. Quote
Local Boy Posted August 31, 2005 Posted August 31, 2005 Newsflash for you Mr. Cratter. You've got 15 year old info. Maybe it's still that way in G.F. But, that's not the direction that the rest of the country is going. Look up gentrification in a dictionary. People don't want to commute anymore and spend all that time away from their families (not to mention gas prices), large spread out neighborhoods with no social interaction promote screwed up kids, people don't want to pay taxes on a bigass yards anymore when there's a beautiful park one block away. The weakness of downtown is largely a function of not enough of a population base. Sad but true. Not rocket science BTW. Quote
ESPNInsider Posted August 31, 2005 Posted August 31, 2005 Newsflash for you Mr. Cratter. You've got 15 year old info. Maybe it's still that way in G.F. But, that's not the direction that the rest of the country is going. Look up gentrification in a dictionary. People don't want to commute anymore and spend all that time away from their families (not to mention gas prices), large spread out neighborhoods with no social interaction promote screwed up kids, people don't want to pay taxes on a bigass yards anymore when there's a beautiful park one block away. The weakness of downtown is largely a function of not enough of a population base. Sad but true. Not rocket science BTW. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I disagree. I'm moving to the suburbs of Phoenix next week and it seems like people don't mind the commute. People are building houses 40 miles outside of Phoenix at an astronomical rate. It seems people like these large, spread out neighborhoods just fine. Quote
SFSIOUX#1 Posted August 31, 2005 Posted August 31, 2005 Newsflash for you Mr. Cratter. You've got 15 year old info. Maybe it's still that way in G.F. But, that's not the direction that the rest of the country is going. Look up gentrification in a dictionary. People don't want to commute anymore and spend all that time away from their families (not to mention gas prices), large spread out neighborhoods with no social interaction promote screwed up kids, people don't want to pay taxes on a bigass yards anymore when there's a beautiful park one block away. The weakness of downtown is largely a function of not enough of a population base. Sad but true. Not rocket science BTW. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> How long does it take go get across the mega-city of GF, maybe 10-15 minutes tops. I will take a big house with a decent back yard any day of the week. I will spend maybe an extra $25 a month for that luxury in gas. And you speak of rocket science and messed up kids... Quote
Local Boy Posted August 31, 2005 Posted August 31, 2005 I was referring to general trends regarding gentifrication. Not absolutes. It's a big country. What's true in some markets...will not always be the case nationally. Yes, it's a short drive across the metropolis of Grand Forks but, there's other issues. Like driving when you're liquored up...it's easier to drive through a couple of neighborhoods from your local strip mall bar, rather than across town for example. Regarding the "rocket science" comment...I was referring to the lack of population in G.F. when I was referring to the inactivity downtown. Not the gentfrication issue. Where I live, the taxes on my home with a market value of 350K is a thousand bucks. In Grand Forks taxes would be 7G. If you want to live in Grand Forks AND pay the taxes, that's cool with me. Nothin' against it. To each his own. Quote
ESPNInsider Posted August 31, 2005 Posted August 31, 2005 So you are going to base where you live on how far you have to drive drunk? CLASSY Quote
Local Boy Posted August 31, 2005 Posted August 31, 2005 Not me! It's a general speculation (true BTW) why people who live on one end of town don't generally support night life on the other side of town. I can tell you have more expeiene with the internet flame thing than demographics, trends, and pop culture. That's cool...to each his own! What do you propose for downtown G.F. to get to that mythical, romantic, vision of boppin' around bar-hoppin' from spot to spot, enjoyin' this club here, that club there... Seriously...I'd like to hear it. Quote
ESPNInsider Posted August 31, 2005 Posted August 31, 2005 Not me! It's a general speculation (true BTW) why people who live on one end of town don't generally support night life on the other side of town. I can tell you have more expeiene with the internet flame thing than demographics, trends, and pop culture. That's cool...to each his own! What do you propose for downtown G.F. to get to that mythical, romantic, vision of boppin' around bar-hoppin' from spot to spot, enjoyin' this club here, that club there... Seriously...I'd like to hear it. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Have you ever heard of cabs? They started in the 1890's and are still around today. For more on cabs check THIS link. read it, learn it, know it. Thanks I'm sure you don't need to use a cab though as you were so eager to tell everyone about your $350K house Quote
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