Craig Daily Press / Our View: A project worth considering

Archive for Wednesday, July 22, 2009

July 22, 2009

It's a subject this Editorial Board, and several others in the past, have hammered home many times: the need to work smarter and harder on improving the community's downtown district.

It once again came up during Monday's meeting.

The focus of the board's discussion was the potential that exists in our community's downtown.

Once you scrub away the current environment downtown - of a few neglected buildings, odd business practices by some stores, and at least one property that could serve as a primetime location for a future business, but which currently lies ugly and barren - there lies an area that could be busy with foot traffic, prosperous for store owners, beneficial to customers and a complement to the community.

Unfortunately, this board questions whether such a future ever will become a reality, given what appears to be a lack of vision on the part of those who could make a difference downtown.

As it stands now, downtown is serviceable.

It certainly has its benefits: a variety of stores, some well-established businesses, an institution like the Museum of Northwest Colorado, the future promise of a wonderful facility such as the Center of Craig, a nice park in the center, decent sidewalks, light poles and the adornment of flowers when the season is right.

So, be careful not to confuse the message: Downtown, in its current embodiment, is fine. But this board knows there is more downtown just waiting to be unearthed with the right steps.

One of those steps, board members believe, is city officials taking the lead on attempting to get the Main Street Program to town.

The program, an offering from Downtown Colorado, Inc., is an attempt to revitalize traditional downtown districts within the context of historic preservation, and provides technical assistance in four key areas.

Those areas are: economic restructuring, design, organization and promotion.

These sound exactly like areas where our downtown needs fine tuning.

Without a concerted effort, downtown simply will be left to its own devices, which, by and large, haven't worked too well recently.

Some business owners, it should be noted, have taken it upon themselves to revitalize their own stores and shops, and for them, this board is grateful.

But, they are the exception rather than the rule.

Going after the Main Street Program to provide downtown the jolt that it needs would be a sign that city leaders recognize the business district needs help, and consider its ultimate preservation and improvement as vital as we do.

22 July 2009 at 6:23 a.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

taxslave (Anonymous) says…

Anything being built right now is on the sand falling down the hour glass.

22 July 2009 at 9:28 a.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

dentedfender (Anonymous) says…

“Unfortunately, this board questions whether such a future ever will become a reality, given what appears to be a lack of vision on the part of those who could make a difference downtown.”

Me thinks the board is right. I have said for 30+ years “How do the downtown business' think anyone is going to do business there when they roll up the sidewalks at 5:00 and then are closed on the weekend.”

22 July 2009 at 2:26 p.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

als362 (Anonymous) says…

This city had a chance to make downtown better, but they threw that out the window when they let walmart come in.

22 July 2009 at 3 p.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

taxslave (Anonymous) says…

als362 - BINGO

Also simulus dollars come with major stipulations to them, stipulations that take away liberty and freedom. We shouldn't be taking any of this money but Ritter can't get enough of them because he's one of “them”. Alaska just signed legislation declaring their soviernty (sp) from the FEDS…..they'll probably get droned.

22 July 2009 at 6:53 p.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

grannyrett (Anonymous) says…

guys-If there wasn't a need for Wal-Mart it would have never been built. Downtown has had 30? years to rebuild before Wal-Mart came to town. If they didn't do much in those 30 years, what on earth makes you think Wal-Mart changed anything?

22 July 2009 at 10:26 p.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

lonelyone (Anonymous) says…

I totally agree with you Granny.

22 July 2009 at 10:52 p.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

als362 (Anonymous) says…

walmart is a joke, all they sell is junk, and expect their employees to work for nothing with little or no benefits.

23 July 2009 at 6:06 a.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

nimrod (Anonymous) says…

And that's why they are the largest corporation in the world als362. I'd say that's a pretty big joke…

23 July 2009 at 8:59 a.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

als362 (Anonymous) says…

At least youve got the big joke part right.

23 July 2009 at 11:33 a.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

grannyrett (Anonymous) says…

Did any of you who slam Wal-Mart slam K-mart when they came to town? Did you rage about low wages and no benefits? Where was your outrage then? How many stores did K-mart put out of business? lawmaker-every business in this country has the right to hire whoever they want. Why should Wal-Mart be any different? als-I know you have a job with great benefits, but how many businesses in Craig offer any benefits at all? Do you complain about them too? My sister-in-law works at Wal-Mart and for the first time is able to get health insurance. Great boon for her family. How many construction jobs offer benefits? Do you ever eat out in Craig? Be sure to tip your waitress well. They depend on that to bring their wages up to minimum wage. Last I heard, top wages for that was $2.50 an hour. No benefits there either. I can only shake my head at those who can only put Wal-Mart down. If it bothers you so much, don't shop there. If you avoid all the businesses that don't offer benefits, you won't shop or eat out anywhere in Craig.

23 July 2009 at 12:01 p.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

als362 (Anonymous) says…

Yes granny there are MANY places in Craig that I won't shop because of the way they do business and treat there employees. And you are correct I DO NOT shop at walmart, in fact I have never been inside the junk shop.

23 July 2009 at 3:58 p.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

lonelyone (Anonymous) says…

What's wrong with the new pharmacist??

23 July 2009 at 9:05 p.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

lonelyone (Anonymous) says…

I'll take that “nice guy” any day of the week.
Because it happened in Wyoming we don't have a clue how things turned out and if that “nice guy” was convicted or not. I'd assume he wasn't because he could have probably lost his license to fill my perscriptions if he had been. He's probably the best damn pharmacist in this town and I'll stand behind him all the way.

23 July 2009 at 10:17 p.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

lawmaker (Anonymous) says…

he was the one that used to be at the other mart,,,ooooo,,,,,,,,,kkkkkkkkkk