Comments on: Vision for Downtown http://hburgnews.com/2008/09/24/vision-for-downtown/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=vision-for-downtown Harrisonburg's Community News Network Mon, 26 Mar 2012 22:09:32 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Renee http://hburgnews.com/2008/09/24/vision-for-downtown/comment-page-1/#comment-51244 Renee Sat, 27 Sep 2008 16:56:38 +0000 http://hburgnews.com/?p=1373#comment-51244 Wow, really neat. Thanks! Wow, really neat. Thanks!

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]]> By: hburgnews.com » Stoltzfus’s vision of downtown http://hburgnews.com/2008/09/24/vision-for-downtown/comment-page-1/#comment-51044 hburgnews.com » Stoltzfus’s vision of downtown Fri, 26 Sep 2008 02:36:53 +0000 http://hburgnews.com/?p=1373#comment-51044 [...] this evening, architect Eugene Stoltzfus gave a presentation to local residents of his vision of what downtown Harrisonburg could become. The visual [...] [...] this evening, architect Eugene Stoltzfus gave a presentation to local residents of his vision of what downtown Harrisonburg could become. The visual [...]

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]]> By: Scott P. Rogers http://hburgnews.com/2008/09/24/vision-for-downtown/comment-page-1/#comment-50990 Scott P. Rogers Thu, 25 Sep 2008 15:47:40 +0000 http://hburgnews.com/?p=1373#comment-50990 <blockquote>Not to sound cynical, but their needs to be a huge attitude shift by the majority of owners of downtown property (or these properties need to be sold) for any of this to happen.</blockquote> I think that is a fair assessment, though I (optimistically) think that the revitalization efforts are gaining momentum, and that hopefully we are moving towards a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Tipping_Point" rel="nofollow">tipping point</a>.

Not to sound cynical, but their needs to be a huge attitude shift by the majority of owners of downtown property (or these properties need to be sold) for any of this to happen.

I think that is a fair assessment, though I (optimistically) think that the revitalization efforts are gaining momentum, and that hopefully we are moving towards a tipping point.

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]]> By: finnegan http://hburgnews.com/2008/09/24/vision-for-downtown/comment-page-1/#comment-50982 finnegan Thu, 25 Sep 2008 14:52:51 +0000 http://hburgnews.com/?p=1373#comment-50982 John is spot on. There are some businesses downtown that I don't patronize, simply because I know they're not doing anything to encourage downtown revitalization. They are "piggybacking" as John puts it. Anyone remember <a href=http://www.bres.boothbay.k12.me.us/wq/nnash/WebQuest/little_red_hen.htm rel="nofollow">the little red hen</a>? John is spot on.

There are some businesses downtown that I don’t patronize, simply because I know they’re not doing anything to encourage downtown revitalization. They are “piggybacking” as John puts it. Anyone remember the little red hen?

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]]> By: John http://hburgnews.com/2008/09/24/vision-for-downtown/comment-page-1/#comment-50979 John Thu, 25 Sep 2008 14:23:25 +0000 http://hburgnews.com/?p=1373#comment-50979 I love the concepts, but it's a pipe dream until property owners (both public and private) get on board with it. The current situation downtown indicates that they are not. If one looks around downtown they see lots property in various states of disrepair. Some have undergone (or are currently undergoing) renovation, but the majority need lots of work. Heck, look at the entire North side of Court Square -- from the 1st Pres to the corner is an embarrassment -- and some of that is city owned! What kind of example is being set by that? One Court Square isn't the only property owned by the city that is unoccupied and slowly deteriorating - they also have the old Police Dept and the warehouse behind it. Too many property owners are happy to hold on to their asset and watch them increase in value (piggy-backing on the hard work of other downtown property owners who have renovated their own buildings) regardless of whether it is an eyesore or not. And some of these very same owners are very recognizable names in town. Not to sound cynical, but their needs to be a huge attitude shift by the majority of owners of downtown property (or these properties need to be sold) for any of this to happen. I suppose the flip side is that this is one of the wonderful things about capitalism! I think Downtown Renaissance has done a wonderful job so far, but there are many owners who could have huge impacts on the rebuilding of downtown - but they aren't listening to the message. I love the concepts, but it’s a pipe dream until property owners (both public and private) get on board with it. The current situation downtown indicates that they are not.

If one looks around downtown they see lots property in various states of disrepair. Some have undergone (or are currently undergoing) renovation, but the majority need lots of work. Heck, look at the entire North side of Court Square — from the 1st Pres to the corner is an embarrassment — and some of that is city owned! What kind of example is being set by that? One Court Square isn’t the only property owned by the city that is unoccupied and slowly deteriorating – they also have the old Police Dept and the warehouse behind it.

Too many property owners are happy to hold on to their asset and watch them increase in value (piggy-backing on the hard work of other downtown property owners who have renovated their own buildings) regardless of whether it is an eyesore or not. And some of these very same owners are very recognizable names in town.

Not to sound cynical, but their needs to be a huge attitude shift by the majority of owners of downtown property (or these properties need to be sold) for any of this to happen.

I suppose the flip side is that this is one of the wonderful things about capitalism!

I think Downtown Renaissance has done a wonderful job so far, but there are many owners who could have huge impacts on the rebuilding of downtown – but they aren’t listening to the message.

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]]> By: Discover the Potential of Downtown Harrisonburg « Ask Eddie http://hburgnews.com/2008/09/24/vision-for-downtown/comment-page-1/#comment-50977 Discover the Potential of Downtown Harrisonburg « Ask Eddie Thu, 25 Sep 2008 14:22:14 +0000 http://hburgnews.com/?p=1373#comment-50977 [...] Discover the Potential of Downtown Harrisonburg Come discover the potential of downtown Harrisonburg tonight (Thursday, September 25). Eugene Stoltzfus Architects presents “The Vision for Downtown,” a visionary look toward our future. The project, commissioned by Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance, uses animated 3-D models to depict what downtown Harrisonburg of the future may look like with smart urban planning and development. View a preview of the event here. [...] [...] Discover the Potential of Downtown Harrisonburg Come discover the potential of downtown Harrisonburg tonight (Thursday, September 25). Eugene Stoltzfus Architects presents “The Vision for Downtown,” a visionary look toward our future. The project, commissioned by Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance, uses animated 3-D models to depict what downtown Harrisonburg of the future may look like with smart urban planning and development. View a preview of the event here. [...]

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]]> By: finnegan http://hburgnews.com/2008/09/24/vision-for-downtown/comment-page-1/#comment-50961 finnegan Thu, 25 Sep 2008 12:09:04 +0000 http://hburgnews.com/?p=1373#comment-50961 This is big. I hope to make it to this presentation, but it might not work out. Could this project be part of the reason why <a href="http://www.homertribune.com/article.php?aid=2740" rel="nofollow">Lane Chelsey resigned</a> as Homer City council member in Alaska, and moved here? This is big. I hope to make it to this presentation, but it might not work out.

Could this project be part of the reason why Lane Chelsey resigned as Homer City council member in Alaska, and moved here?

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]]> By: Scott P. Rogers http://hburgnews.com/2008/09/24/vision-for-downtown/comment-page-1/#comment-50951 Scott P. Rogers Thu, 25 Sep 2008 07:18:58 +0000 http://hburgnews.com/?p=1373#comment-50951 I have heard about Eugene's work for months, but had never seen the renderings or content that is now in this digital book --- WOW! Some exciting concepts for downtown Harrisonburg. I'm looking forward to the presentation! I have heard about Eugene’s work for months, but had never seen the renderings or content that is now in this digital book — WOW! Some exciting concepts for downtown Harrisonburg. I’m looking forward to the presentation!

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]]> By: Josh http://hburgnews.com/2008/09/24/vision-for-downtown/comment-page-1/#comment-50943 Josh Thu, 25 Sep 2008 04:00:11 +0000 http://hburgnews.com/?p=1373#comment-50943 Thanks for sharing the book link! 100 pages, 25 megs, well worth downloading and skimming through. Thanks for sharing the book link! 100 pages, 25 megs, well worth downloading and skimming through.

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