Bob Spaulding's comments about the lack of public gathering spaces downtown really rang true for me living in the Midway area. A few locally owned stores like Gingko's and Andy's Garage provide places to get together, run into people you know, etc., but there is no area in the Midway to walk around, get a cup of coffee, do some shopping, people watching etc. The Midway shopping centers are the antithesis of space designed for these purposes. I frequently walk to Hollywood Video or bike to Target, but the second I leave one of those stores and look out onto the sea-of-parking vistas, my immediate instinct is to leave as soon as possible. Cities and even suburban areas around the country are seeing a return to retail areas, sometimes called "lifestyle centers," that offer not only shopping but are actually a destination, someplace that you might want to linger. While Grand Avenue has achieved this to some degree, it is too linear and not dense enough to really create a great place. The reasonable prices, diversity of races and incomes levels, and eclectic nature of the area attracted me to the Midway nearly 6 years ago, but a "place" to spend time, with or without the kids, would make it hard to beat.
The organization that I work for, University UNITED, is conducting a survey of people's opinions of the Midway shopping area, which you can find at www.universityunited.com <http://www.universityunited.com/> We have already gotten great feedback in the first 24 hours that it's been up, and would appreciate more. Russ Stark Hamline Midway _____________________________________________ To Join: St. Paul Issues Forum Rules Discussion Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ____________________________________________ NEW ADDRESS FOR LIST: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe, modify subscription, or get your password - visit: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/stpaul Archive Address: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/private/stpaul/
