Quote:
Originally Posted by Eric
Help me out on this one, hon. What exactly is a "shopping experience"  Is it something like what Walmart promises: And the underpaid greeter says, "Welcome to Walmart. We hope you enjoy your shopping experience. And we also have a McDonalds restaurant on site." ("McDonalds" and "restaurant" in the same sentence  Trust me guys, if you take your date to a "restaurant" where the Maitre D' is wearing a clown suit, you ain't gonna get lucky.)
And I don't think the politicians should get involved in developing a "business model." Leave that to the merchants who have more of a vested interest in it. As a socialist, I believe that governments should control things like railways, road construction and maintenance, snow removal (if you ever get any), policing, garbage pick up, power generation and distribution ... you know, the big things. The little stuff, like what kind of stores there should be downtown is best left to some body like a Chamber of Commerce, or a Downtown Business Improvement Association ... working, of course, with council. Bottom line is, a "business model" is common sense in fancy clothes.
Subtract the things Accy is never going to be. It won't ever be a major tourist destination. There is no lake front or sea front. The climate sucks. There are some nice buildings; but you ain't going to have a World Heritage Site ... well, not since the bog at the bus stop near the Forts has been demolished. Once you take away the stuff that you will never be, work with what's left. Think local. One doesn't need a degree in Urban Planning to see the obvious.
The municipal politicians should provide clean, well-maintained streets, adequate and convenient parking, a safe, well-policed environment, and tax breaks and other incentives for business ... you can't force stores to open or to stay open; but you can make the town "business friendly." And try to encourage folks to shop at home, and buy local products. |
It is clear that you do not have a woman in your life Eric......or you would know what a shopping experience is. I think you do know what I mean really... But you want me to spell it out for you.
A shopping experience is a town where there is a wide variety of different (quality)shops( not just betting offices, pound shops and charity shops) there should also be somewhere to go for food, somewhere to sit and watch the world go by.....so no, not Walmart and definitely not Mac Donald's.
The council is trying to market the town. We are designated as a 'Floral Market Town'.That name implies that there will be flowers and a market.
Yes during the summer we have some floral displays, but the market is abysmal.
I am perfectly well aware that you cannot force businesses to stay open, but you can ensure that there is an environment of support...or as you put it, make it business friendly.
As for common sense....there isn't too much of that commodity about......and anyway I would call it application of knowledge.
During the past the local politicians have taken great pleasure in scoring points off one another. If one party said it was day the other would say it was night.....and this showed in the fractured way the interests of the town were looked after.
A vast amount of money was spent by our council on resurfacing Broadway....it wasn't that long ago, and already the surface is breaking up and is badly marked and looks scruffy.(I hasten to say that this was done under the previous administration).
I really do believe that local politics should not be yoked to political parties, but should reflect the needs of the community.....then these people who are on the council would work together in harmony....and we would then perhaps, see some progress.
But I cannot see anything much changing soon, especially as when problems or issues are pointed out it is seen as being negative.
When the negative aspect of an area outweigh the positives it is very difficult to,focus on positive aspects.
These are my opinions.