It was recently announced that Becky Hajost, owner of Art and Clay would assume the position of director of the Special Improvement District (SID).
Becky’s first and biggest challenge? Establish a vision of what the property and business owners want downtown Lancaster to look like and what we want it to be. If you don’t know where you are going how do you know how to get there?
A huge portion of the challenge is to establish a consensus of this vision with a group of absentee landlords whose primary objective is to get next month’s rent.
There are now sixteen months remaining on the initial five year term of the SID. We wish you luck.
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September 3rd, 2007 at 3:20 pm
Too true Crabby. I don’t think that any downtown can make it without a theme. Artsyfartsy is way over done. The antique theme which was going before the street redo is now out of favor.One theme I came up with was weddings. When my daughter got married we traveled from Chillicothe to Unusual Junction looking for the perfect dress. In the process we found the Unusual Junctoin bridal store. He had people coming from New York to shop there. In additon to all kinds of gowns, he also had paper products, and a deli. Why couldn’t this work for a town. A couple of bridal shops, invitation shops, flower shops, shoe shops specializing in briday shoes. maybe a music agent, photographers, gift places, cakes, favors. There is just so much that goes into a wedding anymore the possibilties are endless. Get people on board then get it advertised and people will come…lots of people. In addition to the brides, you also have rich middle aged mothers dying to give their daughters and sons a great wedding. I see $$$ and it is a new idea for a town.
September 3rd, 2007 at 6:47 pm
I think if there is ever going to be a serious revitalization of downtown there needs to be an “anchor” that draws people down there. Enough with the cutsey stuff…it hasn’t worked. I would like to see something like a Barnes and Noble or a Max & Erma’s. A business that makes people want to come downtown. It’s tragic that the Lyric could not have been turned into some sort of community center/ auditorium / gallery. It could have been the centerpiece of downtown. Now look at it – just another non descript bank. The “heritage” mentality has it’s place, but come on folks it’s time to jazz the old girl up.
September 4th, 2007 at 7:58 am
I’m not so convinced that we need a big box book store or a chain Applebee wannabe in the downtown area. In my vision the downtown area is anchored by OUR brewery and a performing arts center and in between will be filled in with all manner of eateries and specialty shops.
April 29th, 2008 at 7:47 am
[...] meetings over the past two decades discussions focused on how to get there. I have said it before (link) and will say it one more time: We need to determine where THERE is. How do we decide what type of [...]