A Bigger and Batter Downtown for Madison (Alexandria: cul-de-sac, for sale)

[A&M Bulldawg]

Madison's downtown is planned to get an expansion.

Madison plans to expand, revitalize downtown area

Friday, October 30, 2009 By Gina Hannah
Times Business Writer gina.hannah@htimes.com

2 historic homes for sale on Main Street, spur ideas for development of businesses in adjacent lots
MADISON - Drive past Madison's downtown and, frankly, it's easy to miss. Some city leaders want to change that.
Those leaders are working to revitalize and expand the small commercial area just east of Sullivan Street that's bisected by railroad tracks.

Madison plans to expand, revitalize downtown area - al.com

[dee 42]

What's a batter downtown?

[djmaxwell]

Originally Posted by dee 42

What's a batter downtown?

IHOP

[Southlander]

Pretty typical city council thinking - let's tear down those ugly old houses and build some uglier buildings that nobody will want to rent.

Madison's true downtown is U.S. 72.

For all the talk about "walkable communities," the fact is that stores cannot survive without parking lots. And parking lots are the antithesis of traditional downtowns.

[CharlotteRJ]

Originally Posted by Southlander

For all the talk about "walkable communities," the fact is that stores cannot survive without parking lots. And parking lots are the antithesis of traditional downtowns.

Sure they can. You just have to create a community where people live, shop, dine, and work. Easier said than done, I know... But it is virtually impossible to create a downtown in a vacuum of cul-de-sac type subdivisions that empty out onto collector roads. A viable and real downtown (not one of the made up kinds made to look cute with a couple of benches and pretty street lights) will have residential and office space on floors above, and nearby residential neighborhoods. You can get by with fewer parking lots by allowing street parking. You might not be able to park right in front of each store you want to go to, but parking a block away isn't much different from parking across a large parking lot.

If you have a mix of residential and commercial, the shoppers will park there during the day, and the residents will park in the evening. That's the theory, anyway.

[caution]

Originally Posted by dee 42

What's a batter downtown?

Deep Fried! The Bama way!

[rnc76]

Originally Posted by Southlander

Pretty typical city council thinking - let's tear down those ugly old houses and build some uglier buildings that nobody will want to rent.

Madison's true downtown is U.S. 72.

For all the talk about "walkable communities," the fact is that stores cannot survive without parking lots. And parking lots are the antithesis of traditional downtowns.

They can, just seemingly not in North Alabama.

[Southlander]

So which comes first - residents? or retail? It's hard to have one without the other.
And in Madison's case...how are you going to get to the downtown? The current narrow 2-lane streets restrict access.

[HB2HSV]

Next batter UP !!!

[Diffy Q]

"Beautiful Treed One/Half Acre Lot In Downtown Madison"

I saw this listing for a residential building lot and I thought that sounds great. I had heard vague references to Historic Downtown Madison. I was thinking it was like Old Town Alexandria or Old Town Fredericksburg, you know some quaint historic downtown area. Well, the listing agent was very nice and gently burst my bubble. He told me about the train tracks and the urban blight that was across the street from the lot. Oh, well..... If they can make a nice place out of it and the lot is still available.....