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.
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/292263
6 APRIL 9-15, 2014 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM Sorry, Bill — but when you tell your readers that they are "uniformed,"(sic) that might occasionally get thrown right back in your own face when you "don't think things out" entirely, either — touche, perhaps. Anyway, I do agree that a (functional) hotel, a performing arts center (besides Huske Hardware) and a baseball stadium would do wonders for our currently diminished downtown development efforts ... there are some more pressing issues for the retired community, as well as the loft apartment's young professionals who already occupy downtown space. First and foremost, a full-service grocery store would be excellent — snacks from the three drugstores don't quite get it nutritionally. Next, the businesses that are currently operating seem to be challenged by rental structures that don't equate with the traffic flow necessary to remain open for more than the initial year of operation. That might have been tied into the parking challenges that should've been solved with the parking structure next to where PWC once had a wonderful building that somehow bypassed the historical codes that have perplexed other business entrepreneurs, in terms of compliance. Having a well-stocked (which it hasn't been for several years now — there are entirely too many shelves less than half full of materials and that catalogue continues to decrease monthly) library that operates as something other than a place for the homeless to warm up, or prepare for whatever "work opportunities" may await them ... shaving and all the necessaries that go along with that. Finally — and we've discussed customer service numerous times — there are still entirely too many of those businesses that take their regular customers for granted. We shouldn't have to feel that we are interrupting something more important, like cellphone conversations, when we honor their attempts at success. Whew! No, Bill — your utopian downtown sounds doable ... somewhere in the Land of Oz. Any one of your three dreams would be just as nice as that art museum that might one day occupy some of the unused space in the county library, or the one just across the street by Festival Park. More tax dollars, though, for your projects seems (currently) highly unlikely. Sincerely, Randy C. Steffens Dear Bill: It has been a long time since I have written regarding an article I have read, but the piece about our downtown was so good I must. We are a military family and not from this area, or the South. However, we have been stationed here once from 2008-10 and now again since 2012. Living in Fayetteville has been a struggle for us simply because of the lack of character of the town and all the box stores and chain restaurants. We are a family that loves to invest in our community and we certainly try. We support local restaurants and stores, support the arts, and go downtown as much as we can. We, as outsiders, have always wondered why downtown never seems to take off. We don't know the local government or the incentives, or lack of incentives, that local business owners are given, but we think it is so very sad that the downtown has such potential, but never seems to get going. We have always said that it needs a hotel. Great idea! A thriving downtown would not only be beneficial for the full-time local community, it would be fantastic for the military community. I believe that more military families would support local venues if they had a great downtown to go to. It would also significantly increase our quality of life. Thank you for reminding everyone that this community can do better. Renee Pundt Bill: Thanks for keeping Duke Energy's coal ash covered feet to the fire. They didn't mean nothing by it. Though the Duke boys throw stones in jest, surely the frogs die in earnest choking on coal ash. Please tell Dave Wilson he did a good job. Keep up the good work Pitt Dickey LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Downtown Still Has a Way to Go SAVE THE DATE! 4 th Annual Pizza & Politics Call 484-7957 or 425-4353 for ticket information Sponsored by www.CumberlandCountyRepublicanWomensClub.org Tickets $15 per person (children under 10 free) Fayetteville Mayor Nat Robertson will be introducing Keynote Speaker: Becki Gray Vice President for Outreach, John Locke Foundation Her topic: "The 2014 Elections: What's at Stake" H H H H H H MEET THE CANDIDATES: U.S. Senate -Thom Tillis U.S. District 2 - Rep. Rene Ellmers & Frank Roche U.S. District 7 - Chris Andrade & Woody White N.C. House 44 - Richard Button • N.C. House 45 - John Szoka N.C. Senate 19 - Wesley Meredith Statewide judicial candidates and others! H H BRING YOUR FRIENDS, ENJOY A GREAT EVENING! SAT., APRIL 12, 2014 5:30 – 7:30 P.M. Cliffdale Recreation Center, 6404 Cliffdale Rd., Fayetteville, NC 28314 Participate in the U.S. Senate and U.S. House Straw Polls All you can eat Marco's Pizza, homemade desserts, beverages & Silent Auction www.visitdowntownfayetteville.com Participating stores open late every Friday in April! Fun, family friendly events! Fabulous dining and fresh menu items in sidewalk cafes! New spring merchandise! Join Us Downtown!