Dave Piehl wrote:
WM: There is an assumption that this mini-revival is a permanent fixture. I think that assumption doesn't hold up to scrutiny. Many of the businesses are micro-businesses which plays to a particular group of immigrants. They are a stepping stone. Once they grow, the spaces they now have on Lake St. will not be enough. As this group assimilates, there is no guarantee that they will continue to cluster on Lake St. Their land connection, their home place is far away. In a generation, they will be fluent in English (children grown) so that they will not necessarily choose to live here. Or to stay here as businesses.First, I want to reiterate that using the "revitalization" of Lake St as justification for increased freeway access contains the inherent assumption that Lake St is not vital.
Incubator and micro-businesses cannot, over the long haul, strengthen Lake St. to produce the kind of taxes we need to generate. If we're going to do this project, we want the positive effects to last at least 20 years. A large percentage of micro- and incubator businesses have not yet passed the five year mark. If taxes are raised suddenly to where we would want them to be, every business goes down. They're too small to bear that burden.
If we juice the engine with bigger businesses with a history of success in this type of half-and-half environment (with easy truck access now that goods trains do not run in the 29th St. corridor anymore).
Not that many of these incubator and micro businesses are particularly interested in serving the general public at this point. Other than food products (in restaurant form or grocery form) may be all of the goods on offer I'm likely to need in all these businesses. These businesses are intent on playing to their choir, which is totally OK. However, I still have to leave the area for many of the things I need to buy--virtually all the things I need to buy. I really don't want to be pushed out of my neighborhood. I would like to be able to buy locally.
I also don't think that retail is the only game in town. Businesses who create, package, develop, whatever, should also be part of the mix. Businesses with wages, not pittances.
If Lake St. is to thrive, we need more than charm.
WM: Then it's very interesting that among all of the new businesses on Lake St. East of the bridge, there may be a handful of businesses owned and operated by African Americans, the largest single minority group in this area.. If increased access will bring more people to the area, then that makes it a regional destination as opposed to a local designation. Once there is regional traffic, then the area becomes more attractive to chains and franchises typical of regional destinations. The competition from said businesses will create economic conditions whereby many local businesses will be priced out of the market by rent increases. It's true that Lake St could use investment, but I'd like to see the money go to support existing businesses rather than for a massive public works project of dubious value that will ultimately force out many of the purported beneficiaries.
WizardMarks, Central __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now. http://mailplus.yahoo.com _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
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