Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
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4 MARCH 26 - APRIL 1, 2014 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM Every city needs a downtown. It's the character of the locality — especially in these times when the past four decades have turned our entire nation into one huge homogenized "Stepford" community. My goodness, everything looks the same. The skylines have all become redundant with silhouettes of McDonald's golden arches, Cinema 15 marquees, box stores like Walmart, BJ's, Sam's and Bed Bath and Beyond all dominating the landscape. Well, at least you won't go hungry. Look around. You've so many choices: Golden Corral, Waffle House, Olive Garden, Moe's, Chili's, Ihop, etc. Every time I drive down Skibo Road, I hear Aretha Franklin singing in my head: "Chain, chain, chains, chains of fools." Who wouldn't want to get away to someplace different? While I'm on singers, Petula Clark had it right in the early '60s. Downtown: "When you're alone and life is making you lonely you can always go, Downtown. When you've got worries all the noise and the hurry seems to help, I know. Downtown." Well, she made a believer out of me, but I'm living in Cumberland County and it's taking a painfully long time for our downtown community to take root. No doubt it will be successful if it ever comes to fruition. Yes, I know. For those of us who love this community, it is extremely painful to watch. For dozens, it has been financially devastating. But, you would think with time and pain and a countless number of consultant recommendations we would be further along. Well, at the risk of stating the obvious, I would like to offer up my Trifecta for Fayetteville's Success. Yes, here are the three things I feel would replace the lost momentum for developing our Historic Downtown as a preferred destination point in this community and region. The three things I refer to are actually structures and businesses in their own right. But, statistically placed they would create the foundation for growth, economic development and quality of life. These are: 1. HOTEL. It doesn't matter if it is a Marriott, Fairfield Inn or Hampton Inn. Our guests need somewhere to stay for Heaven's sake. If you don't want them at the mall, don't make them stay at the mall. Even the people coming to visit the Crown Coliseum would stay downtown because of the convenience and nightlife. 2. PERFORMING ARTS CENTER. Yes, wouldn't it be wonderful if people could visit downtown, shop, enjoy a relaxed casual dinner then attend a cultural event all in the same evening? They wouldn't even have to go home. (See #1). In order for this to happen, the entire arts community will have to rethink the fortification of their silos. And, my favorite, 3. A BASEBALL STADIUM. Yes, a "come one-come all" sports complex that any minor-league team would be proud of. Put it right smack dab downtown. Name it the Fayetteville- Cumberland County "Babe Ruth" Memorial Stadium. Anchor it with the Babe Ruth Museum and a few small novelty shops and have John Meroski of the Fayetteville Convention and Visitors Bureau work his marketing magic and you would literally suck people off I-95 into downtown Fayetteville. Why? Because now they have something to see and do. And, they have someplace to stay. What is so hard about this? Let's do it! Look at the 300 Block of Hay St. Look at Ralph Huff's Park View development across from the Airborne and Special Operations Museum — simply beautiful and extremely reflective of what we want our community to be. However, we cannot expect Ralph Huff to rebuild our city all by himself. We don't just need a plan, we need an action plan. We have the talent in this community and we have the leadership. It's time for the City of Fayetteville and the County of Cumberland to set some real priorities for future growth and prosperity. Everyone needs to think differently and act differently. We need to become committed and aggressive toward these goals. "High tide floats all boats." Every successful community has a strong city center. Positive, aggressive cooperation will get us there. Shall we begin? Thanks for reading the Up & Coming Weekly. P.S. The Prince Charles Hotel has got to go!!!!! Downtown Fayetteville's Trifecta for Success: One Man's Opinion by BILL BOWMAN STAFF INSIDE PUBLISHER'S PEN PUBLISHER Bill Bowman Bill@upandcomingweekly.com ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Janice Burton editor@upandcomingweekly.com OPERATIONS OFFICER Jerred Sanders accounting@upandcomingweekly.com EDITOR Stephanie Crider stephanie@upandcomingweekly.com ART DIRECTOR Alicia Miller art@upandcomingweekly.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS D.G. Martin, Pitt Dickey, Margaret Dickson, John Hood, Erinn Crider, Shanessa Fenner, Heather Griffiths DISTRIBUTION MANAGER/ OFFICE COORDINATOR Laurel Handforth laurel@upandcomingweekly.com MARKETING/SALES Cynthia Spears cynthia@upandcomingweekly.com Linda McAlister Brown linda@upandcomingweekly.com Kristy Sykes kristy@upandcomingweekly.com Beverly Pone beverlypone@upandcomingweekly.com ––––––––––– Up & Coming Weekly www.upandcomingweekly.com 208 Rowan Street P.O. Box 53461 Fayetteville, NC 28305 PHONE: (910) 484-6200 FAX: (910) 484-9218 Up & Coming Weekly is a "Quality of Life" publication with local features, news and infor- mation on what's happening in and around the Fayetteville/Cumberland County community. Up & Coming Weekly is published weekly on Wednesdays. Up & Coming Weekly welcomes manuscripts, photographs and artwork for publication consideration, but assumes no responsibility for them. We cannot accept responsibility for the return of unsolicited manuscripts or material. Opinions expressed by contributors do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher. The publisher reserves the right to edit or reject copy submitted for publication. Up & Coming Weekly is free of charge and distributed at indoor and outdoor locations throughout Fayetteville, Fort Bragg, Pope Air Force Base, Hope Mills and Spring Lake. Readers are limited to one copy per per- son. Subscriptions can be purchased for $30 for six months or $60 for 12 months, delivered weekly by first class mail. ©2007 by F&B Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction or use of editorial or advertisements without permission is strictly prohibited. High 57° Low 42° Mostly Sunny 7 Forecast available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Monday March 31 Tuesday April 1 High 68° Low 52° Rain 24 / Thursday March 27 High 65° Low 44° Light Rain High 61° Low 44° Sunny High 64º Low 42º Partly Cloudy Friday March 28 Saturday March 29 Sunday March 30 Fayetteville's Weather Forecast Call 910.354.1679 High 66º Low 44º Partly Cloudy BILL BOWMAN, Publisher, Up & Coming Weekly. COMMENTS? Bill@ upandcomingweekly.com. 910.484.6200. Calendar............................................ 12 Concert.Connection......................... 16 TV...................................................... 17 Movie................................................ 17. Free.Wheelin'.Feelin'........................ 18 Horoscopes/Advice.Goddess.......... 19 Classifieds......................................... 20. Games............................................... 22 The development of Person Street is bringing growth to downtown, but there is more to be done.