Is it me or am I seeing some hustle bustle in the downtown lately. The streets seemed to be filled with business friendly patrons and thats a good sign! I have also gotten some of the old complaints about parking spaces in the downtown again.
Our new business development director stated it well when Beth said "this is a good problem to have" and implying that lots of cars are better than no cars and I would have to agree.
On Valentines day, my wife and I were looking for a place to dine and driving downtown we found that the resteraunts were packed. Steak house...packed Sabitino's packed and there was something going on at the Adams Opera House because cars were in every spot there was. None to be found. And then last night.. I wanted to take my wife out to eat and then to a 8 oclock movie. Again everything in the downtown was packed. Ahh but I found a spot when someone just left and into the steak house we went.
"Dinner for two" the host asked
"yes" we replied
"whats the wait time" we asked
"about 1 hour to 1 1/2 hours" she said.
Just my luck, we would never make the movies and so off we went
Twice now I have tried to eat in the downtown and twice turned away. A little upset but then I stopped to look at people walking, shopping and using the downtown.
At this pace, we should see more businesses wanting to come in and thats a wonderful thing!
This folks is how the downtown will cahnge for the better.
Let the market do its thing! And its nice to see some positive economic vibes don't you agree.
After all I'm sick and tired about reading all the negative news!
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11 comments:
I think that the old firehouse has a lot of potential. Remember when it first opened? It was always packed, everyone had to test the new spot out. Too bad the food and management was horrible. Maybe we'll get someone who has a little experience in the business to snatch the place up and turn it into a gem. I would hate to see that fine piece of real estate into office space.
Brian,
I keep hearing that there is not enough parking in Derry. I got hold of the parking study done by the Community Development Finance Authority a few years ago on behalf of the Mainstreet group before they went out of business. This study seems to suggest that Derry has a lot more parking than people realize. The problem is that the town never followed through on its recommendations. I will forward this study to you.
Derry's parking fallacy is just that....a fallacy.
It is best summed up in the old saying "old habits die hard."
It is those same long timers that have had their property values driven up by progress that expect virtual valet service.
If you shop downtown, simply adapt to the times of day when demand for parking is not as great.
Don't forget with growth sometimes comes inconvenience. Remember that when you look at your homes cost basis.
I believe part of the problem is that these days people expect to be able to find a parking spot right in front of where they want to shop/dine, etc. They are not willing to park a few blocks away and walk. If they don't see a parking spot right at the curb in front of the restaurant/store they want to patronize - they just move on and go to a strip mall or a restaurant with its own parking lot - that I believe will be the challenge of downtown establishments - people might actually have to walk a block or two from their car!
SECURITY
Another Downtown issue I see is there are always street lights out. Sometimes for weeks at a time. I have also noticed this in the municipal parking lots.
People want to feel secure enough to walk that block or two... having these barely lit lots doesn't help.
Something else that doesn't help is all of the people loitering on the sidewalks, smoking and joking, if you will.
We also need a larger police presence in the downtown, at least on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights when most people go out at night. Let's face it, it's not the nicest and safest part of Derry. Every other major town/city with a successful vibrant downtown always has a noticable police force present. Sometimes they are on horses, bicycles, or even on a simple foot patrol. It wouldn't hurt to have an officer walk up and down broadway during these peak times. They could enforce parking regulations, loitering laws, and even provide valuable public relations all while making the community feel safe to walk around and enjoy what Derry has to offer.
That Friendship Center place is a blight on the downtown that has to go. I really think that while that place may be helping the people that go there - it is not helping the downtown at all.
We chose to move to Derry specifically because it had a real walking downtown with historical character. That is such an asset that cannot be fabricated by developers.
Whenever I hear complaints about the parking I am baffled. I always see at least three spots within a block of my destination. It is a real testimonial to the "growing" Americans who cannot be bothered to walk a block for lunch or dinner or anything.
The only valid complaint I know of is the issue of snow removal. I think Derry should have parking bans overnight downtown like other cities do so that the snow can be properly removed and a person can park a car and get to the sidewalk without any heroic measures or additional climbing gear needed.
d3
i agree if there was a police presence people would be more inclined to shop/walk around down there. i have 3 young children and don't walk around down there later in the evening when everyone is hanging out o the sidewalks. i would love to take the kids for a dinner or even browse the stores but don't feel comfortable.
I also feel that people nowadays don't want to walk a block or so, but i believe if you bring in restaurants and stores that people love they will frequent those places. we need to get quality restaurants and shops in those vacant storefronts. too bad starbucks is opening in Londonderry....
Parking's never been a problem for me. Maybe I need to park a small distance away, but I'm never more than a 30 second walk from my destination.
Finding a table at Mary Ann's on Sundays around noon? Fuhgedabowtit!
Anon 9:09 you are absolutely correct with your comments about the friendship center.
It give many pause, when you see alledged grown-ups milling about out front at all hours smoking up a storm.
Though I have never heard of any trouble developing out front, it sure does not look like a crowd that is a stranger to it.
Could it be possible that "Downtown" moved sometime in the 1960's and all of you missed the news? Crystal Avenue/Manchester Road is our new Downtown now, just as it moved once before to Broadway with the coming of the railroad. Where people go to shop and eat defines "downtown" to me.
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