Speaking of relics of an older city, I was driving through Stadium Village
(now that there�s no stadium, maybe it should be called �Arena Village�, but
old habits die hard) and saw Harvard Market East and then Erica Fish Medical
Bookstore. That reminded me of the �old days� when students went to
Perrine's for their books. Perrines is no more, but Erica Fish presses on.
And it seems to me like it has always been there. Just how old IS Erica Fish
Medical Bookstore? Maybe I should call them and ask. But it made me think
about businesses that seem to sail right through massive changes. Consider
that The Bridge Cafe is gone, even though my mother remembered it in the
30�s. Gray�s Drug is gone. But The Wash Tub continues, Al� Breakfast
continues, Vescio�s continues. What is the secret? I think family-owned
makes some difference. And having a proprietor who can�t imagine being in
some other business matters. The Brothers Deli vanished when the older
generation just felt it was too old. And it reappeared when a member of the
new generation decided the Twin Cities needed The Brothers again. Cecil�s
in HIghland Park is a family affair and never went through that sequence.
Maybe that�s another secret. The oens that survive seem never to get that
�gotta grow� bug. There�s ONE Al�s, ONE Erica Fish, ONE Kong�s, etc.
Issue: Population change
Low-income vacancy rates do not directly address population change.
"Affordable" means nothing if you just lost your job and found a replacement
not available. Doesn't really mean you move out of town, but it may mean
moving in with relatives or doubling (tripling?) up with someone else.
Percent of poverty income ASSUMES income. In cases of layoffs, there may be
no income at all. Or it may be a matter of spending savings, which isn't
considered in determining affordable rental rates.
________________________________________
Jim Mork
Cooper Neighborhood
Longfellow Community
Minneapolis, a great city getting greater (much to the disgruntlement of a
few)
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