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: https://www.epageflip.net/i/18418
LETTERS In Response to Where Do We Go From Here? Other than a few minor errors in fact and observation, I can agree in part with your recent article. Let’s get all the obvious out of the way so as not to muddy the water. There is plenty of blame to be placed on the city and Chen. Yes, Chen should have complied and worked the normal process (as we know it) to navigate the political waters in Fayetteville. And yes, the city and former owners could have been a little more aggressive in welcoming him to town and offering assistance and advice on how to do this — I call it reaching out or “Southern Hospitality.” Docks is done period. Move on. Time is past for the “wisha, shoulda, coulda crowd.” Learn from the mistakes and move on! All that aside, I am sure the portable defi brillators had to be used when some read your comment about tearing down the hotel. I, for one, agree with you. It is my understanding that the local group of investors who bought and operated the facility at a profi t used very little of their own money. Further, it is my understanding they received grants and tax credits for a majority of the investment. Not a bad business model if you can make it work. And I do stand corrected if that is an error in fact. I do not see where new investors can make it work fi nancially. One, Chen is asking around $7 million for the land and building. You would have to rent a lot of space to make that work with a reasonable return on investment. Further on you write, businesses need to work long hours past 6 p.m. citing the popularity of Huske. I agree that a restaurant/bar after 9 p.m. should work long hours. However, opening long hours for niche stores does only one thing — incur more overhead in labor for little sales. Longer hours is not our immediate dilemma. You write that greatness can not happen only on 4th Fridays and festivals. I whole heartedly agree with that statement. So here we go. We need to create destinations downtown. Yes, we have the museums which do serve a purpose for “out of towners.” But get real — the exhibits do not change that much. Been there, done that! I have heard this mentioned — we need a performing arts center downtown and a multi-purpose stadium. See, you didn’t pay me a million dollar consulting fee for that! We need to create entertainment on a large scale at reasonable prices that the masses will enjoy. Thereby, bringing large crowds from diverse demographics downtown on a regular basis. And while downtown, they might have a meal, shop, or even perhaps decide it would be fun to live downtown. My suggestion: down goes the PC and AIT building — up goes a PAC combined with a new Museum of Art. Down goes the Greyhound station and up goes a multi purpose stadium that can host regional sporting events. Bookend downtown with two larger destination points. Out goes Dawes and the Historical Resource Commission and their antiquated ordinances. In comes more progressive thinkers that will keep in mind the historical values while moving downtown Fayetteville ahead — this is when you will see the “greatness” of downtown Fayetteville of which you speak and not before. Until then, we need to get the downtown landlords, through incentives or whatever it takes, to be realistic about rents. For example, upon information and belief, Menno Pennick was asking $3,500 a month for the old Hamburger Heaven location. And it still sits vacant. Well, I am hear to tell you, that is a big nut to crack on a Person Street location. Downtown has lost or is losing four businesses in the last month. Janice, when all that is done, the businesses will need to stay open longer hours to accommodate all the new business. Robert Bailey Fayetteville ONE OF THE BEST SHOWS IN THE SOUTHEAST! Hawley’s Bicycle Crown Box Office 800-745-3000 ycleWorld orld 100% of all Ticket Sales given to local Children’s Agencies S H O W The HEART OF Crown Center Theatre November 27th 7:00 PM W WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM November 28th 3:00 PM WWW.HEARTOFCHRISTMASSHOW.COM SHOW LINES (910) 978-1118 & 978-1119 Jack Britt National Honor Society OCTOBER 27 - NOVEMBER 2, 2010 UCW 5 Surprisingly AWESOME! HURRY! RESERVED SEATS SELL FAST! SE