New Upscale Housing Coming to Downtown Scranton (Wilkes-Barre, State College: cul-de-sac, dorm)

[shoegal111]

Originally Posted by scrantastic

This is quite amusing. Everyone in Scranton has alway complained that nothing ever happens, and nothing ever will. Now something is happening, and its ridiculed. Conspiracy theories are thrown around, complaints about the cost of the rent, and anything else you can think of...One common theme is apparent. People here just want something to complain about...

Right on Scrantastic.

[ScranBarre]

Instead of bashing people like shoegal111 you ought to be encouraging them. The more people like her willing to take a chance on downtown living, the better for downtown business ventures that will benefit from the increasing foot traffic. I'm sure shoegal111 on occasion eats at Vidas, Brixx, Coney Island, or Banshee, does some shopping at Steamtown, hits up a First Friday every now and then, etc., pumping much-needed revenue into downtown coffers while mostly everyone else floods out to Dickson City, Moosic, or Tannersville, as shoegal111 already mentioned. Naturally some of this fault can lay squarely on the laps of city business owners; the last time we were at the Marquee Cinema after dark we felt like we were walking through the South Bronx or West Philly as we had to practically shove 15-year-old gangsta-thug-wannabes out of our way before scurrying across Lackawanna Avenue to our car at the Steamtown garage. Due to this experience we now mainly patronize Cinemark in Moosic. However, there are some WONDERFUL downtown restaurants, for example, that are always dead whenever we come in to eat. Brixx, for example, while having terrible service (at least from our past few experiences) has some above-average food. Their loaded potato skins are delicious, the portion sizes of their salads are overwhelming, and their burgers really hit the spot. Nevertheless they're never "hopping," but I'm sure Applebee's, Olive Garden, Johnny Rocket's, etc. out in 'da 'burbs are packed at the very same time. Why?

[weluvpa]

Originally Posted by shoegal111

I seldom watch the city council meetings because of the inappropriate behavior and verbal abuse that is thrown at city council each week by some, not all, of those who speak during fifth order but I did catch about a half hour either last week or the week before when members of city council were rebutting some comments and talking about some website where people post under cover- is this the site and are you one of those who are always at the city council meetings?

I noticed that some of the posters on this site write like some speak at the city council meetings.

If he was? Then what? If there were a few members here that have spoken at council meetings would you have a problem with that?

That paragraph alone, nevermind the last comment are suspect and trollish in my mind. What almost 70 posts and 90% in the Seattle discussion and then you suddenly bring up council speakers?

Shoegal you come off like a true blue Doherty supporter, I mean honestly Scranton is never going to be a little seattle or a east boulder, lets be real here.

[blip]

Originally Posted by go phillies

It seems the mayor's biggest cheerleaders are usually from outside the city.

It does kinda seem that way. Similarly, also kinda seems like the people who say downtown sucks or is worse than 10 years ago are people who admittedly don't go downtown.

[ScranBarre]

Originally Posted by blip

It does kinda seem that way. Similarly, also kinda seems like the people who say downtown sucks or is worse than 10 years ago are people who admittedly don't go downtown.

In the early-1990s Downtown Scranton was a decrepit ghost town. In 2009 it is a ghost town with a pretty facade. I don't think many like weluvpa will dispute that the downtown most certainly "looks" better today than under the Connors administration. Most of the grumblings come into play when you factor in the cost for everything from the dog park to Nay Aug to the downtown projects to everything in between and then look at Scranton's deep red ink and wonder "How is this all going to be paid for?!"

[go phillies]

Originally Posted by blip

It does kinda seem that way. Similarly, also kinda seems like the people who say downtown sucks or is worse than 10 years ago are people who admittedly don't go downtown.

I don't think the downtown is worse than 10 years ago, but I don't think its any better, either. Sure, some buildings have new facades and look better, but when those nice new looking buildings are mostly empty, its the equivalent of putting lipstick on a pig. They need to concentrate on the nieghbohoods and making them nice, safe, and liveable...because more people living in the city's neighborhoods means more demand for city businesses, and then the downtown and other business districts in the city will be booming. This mayor has never heard of "supply and demand," obviously. He's obviously watched too much "Field of Dreams," with his "if you build it, they will come" philosophy. The problem is, he's building it, but they aren't coming.

[go phillies]

Originally Posted by shoegal111

Also, if you have only lived here for 7 years then how would you know just how bad things were before the Dougherty administration since he has only been mayor for 7 years. South Side was a mess with crime long before Mayor Dougherty. That's been going on for about 20 years.

I've only lived in the city for 6 years, but grew up just outside Scranton, so I'm not unfamiliar with Scranton at all.

South Side was not a mess long before Doherty became mayor. As little as 10 years ago, South Side was nice...many parts of it are still nice. The problem is that the ghetto is spreading farther and farther every day.....its now creeping over from South Side into West Side. The problem is that this city cracks down on crime in one section when it gets bad, and all they do is chase the scum to another part of town. In the 90s, it was the Hill section, they cracked down in the Hill, and the criminals moved right over to South Side, and now that South Side is the focus of crime fighting efforts, they are now moving over to West Side. I'm not about to watch my neighborhood be taken over by scum from the inner cities, because this mayor would rather build himself photo ops for his future runs for higher office than to focus on public safety.

[go phillies]

Originally Posted by ScranBarre

. I don't think many like weluvpa will dispute that the downtown most certainly "looks" better today than under the Connors administration.

Connors started many of the projects that made the downtown look better. He was in office when the Steamtown Mall was built....and Connors is the one responsible for the Hilton. Not to mention, when Connors left office, the city had a budget surplus.....Chris Doherty is creating debt that won't be paid off for generations.

[shoegal111]

Originally Posted by weluvpa

If he was? Then what? If there were a few members here that have spoken at council meetings would you have a problem with that?

That paragraph alone, nevermind the last comment are suspect and trollish in my mind. What almost 70 posts and 90% in the Seattle discussion and then you suddenly bring up council speakers?

Shoegal you come off like a true blue Doherty supporter, I mean honestly Scranton is never going to be a little seattle or a east boulder, lets be real here.

Um, that's because I spent three years in Seattle. I would have stayed if the local people weren't so nasty to the transplants. Sound familiar? You also forgot I have posted for Philadelphia where I also lived for a very short period of time.

[shoegal111]

Originally Posted by go phillies

I've only lived in the city for 6 years, but grew up just outside Scranton, so I'm not unfamiliar with Scranton at all.

South Side was not a mess long before Doherty became mayor. As little as 10 years ago, South Side was nice...many parts of it are still nice. The problem is that the ghetto is spreading farther and farther every day.....its now creeping over from South Side into West Side. The problem is that this city cracks down on crime in one section when it gets bad, and all they do is chase the scum to another part of town. In the 90s, it was the Hill section, they cracked down in the Hill, and the criminals moved right over to South Side, and now that South Side is the focus of crime fighting efforts, they are now moving over to West Side. I'm not about to watch my neighborhood be taken over by scum from the inner cities, because this mayor would rather build himself photo ops for his future runs for higher office than to focus on public safety.

I lived in South Side in the 80's and 90's and moved out because it was a bad section at that time and Connors was mayor during that time.