New Upscale Housing Coming to Downtown Scranton (Philadelphia, Harrisburg: amusement park, insurance)

[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.

No problem with that, it's just that they language suggests so and the attacks are so venemous that those launching the attacks look pretty bad. The mayor is not the devil neither was Connors, Wenzel, Peters, etc. so I believe some of the accusations are a little outlandish that's all.
I woudn't vote for Bob Bolus because of his record, his verbal attacks on people, etc. because I don;t agree with them but I don't call him names or launch verbal public attacks on him. In fact, I always compliment him on his generosity around the holidays when he hosts a dinner that is inclusive of all regardless of race, income level, social status, etc. And as my parents and grandparents, all born and raised here in Scranton, have taught me, if you can't say something nice about a person, don't say anything at all.

As of the city never being like Seattle. Just an f.y.i. if you bothered to read any of the posts, Seattle was modeled after NYC just on a smaller scale. That was decided when the first settlers arrived. It's had it's dark days (and decades) just like Scranton and look where it is now-it's daytime population is approx. 600 thousand (less in the evenings). They spent a lot of money to get there and it didn't happen overnight. People aren't always happy with the mayor and city council there but they maintain decorum at city council meetings.

Scranton's planning for city development allowed for the infrastructure design to support more than three times it's existing population. That's half the size of Seattle. The Seattlites were all for the development, growth and prosperity but they just don't like to share it with transplants but the transplants are the ones who helped transform the city to what is today.

Look at Morgantown West Virginia. A small town with a thriving downtown and low unemployment. That's because people shop and live downtown instead of heading to the burbs and the malls-and that's not including the college students from WVU. I haven't checked their population but it doesn't even come close to Seattle in size and I bet it's close or less than Scranton.

[shoegal111]

Originally Posted by 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?

Thanks Scranbarre for the props. Every city I have lived in I have made it a point to shop locally instead of in the burbs. There are many places I would love to patronize on the weekends in the downtown but since they do not get enough foot traffic on the weekends they are closed. I would love to be able to drop off and pick up drycleaning, get my shoes repaired, and pickup a really great fruit salad from one of my favorite deli's.

[NYRangers 2008]

Originally Posted by 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?

For one, it's a pain in the neck to drive downtown. The one bridge on Lackawanna they're working on, so then I would have to find another way there. Then when you get there the roads are horrible and then you have to find a place to park. I'd much rather do without the headaches and go to Dickson City. I have enough aggravation, I don't need more driving to downtown Scranton.

[ScranBarre]

Originally Posted by NYRangers 2008

For one, it's a pain in the neck to drive downtown. The one bridge on Lackawanna they're working on, so then I would have to find another way there. Then when you get there the roads are horrible and then you have to find a place to park. I'd much rather do without the headaches and go to Dickson City. I have enough aggravation, I don't need more driving to downtown Scranton.

I suppose for me I'm willing to endure some hassle if the business I want to patronize is "worth it." Normally I'll park for free in the Steamtown Mall garage and then walk to any downtown destination. I do more than enough spending throughout the year at the mall to justify "using" their garage on occasion for other purposes. For me I'd gladly endure battling the rush-hour congestion on Highway 315 @ Oak/Keystone near Pittston, sitting in a construction-related traffic jam on I-81 Northbound, and then holding my breath as I try to commandeer my vehicle into the narrow spaces in the garage just for the thought of shoveling one of those loaded potato skin appetizers into my gaping mouth, followed by a B-B-B Burger (Burnt/Bacon/Bleu Cheese)! Now that I'm moving to a more liberal area I just may have to stop into GreenBeing and finally buy one of those "Solar is Sexy" t-shirts for when I go running! LOL!

[NYRangers 2008]

Originally Posted by shoegal111

No problem with that, it's just that they language suggests so and the attacks are so venemous that those launching the attacks look pretty bad. The mayor is not the devil neither was Connors, Wenzel, Peters, etc. so I believe some of the accusations are a little outlandish that's all.
I woudn't vote for Bob Bolus because of his record, his verbal attacks on people, etc. because I don;t agree with them but I don't call him names or launch verbal public attacks on him. In fact, I always compliment him on his generosity around the holidays when he hosts a dinner that is inclusive of all regardless of race, income level, social status, etc. And as my parents and grandparents, all born and raised here in Scranton, have taught me, if you can't say something nice about a person, don't say anything at all.

As of the city never being like Seattle. Just an f.y.i. if you bothered to read any of the posts, Seattle was modeled after NYC just on a smaller scale. That was decided when the first settlers arrived. It's had it's dark days (and decades) just like Scranton and look where it is now-it's daytime population is approx. 600 thousand (less in the evenings). They spent a lot of money to get there and it didn't happen overnight. People aren't always happy with the mayor and city council there but they maintain decorum at city council meetings.

Scranton's planning for city development allowed for the infrastructure design to support more than three times it's existing population. That's half the size of Seattle. The Seattlites were all for the development, growth and prosperity but they just don't like to share it with transplants but the transplants are the ones who helped transform the city to what is today.

Look at Morgantown West Virginia. A small town with a thriving downtown and low unemployment. That's because people shop and live downtown instead of heading to the burbs and the malls-and that's not including the college students from WVU. I haven't checked their population but it doesn't even come close to Seattle in size and I bet it's close or less than Scranton.

I never said the mayor was the devil. I just think his time is up and some new blood should be put in there. I don't think he has done a good job as mayor. I would grade him a D on performance in the last 7 plus years. He has proven to be inept when it comes to trying to be fiscally solid. His spending is out of control and his cuts on public safety are not good.

[go phillies]

Originally Posted by shoegal111

Look at Morgantown West Virginia. A small town with a thriving downtown and low unemployment. That's because people shop and live downtown instead of heading to the burbs and the malls-and that's not including the college students from WVU. I haven't checked their population but it doesn't even come close to Seattle in size and I bet it's close or less than Scranton.

That's all due to it being a college town...college towns and state capitals seem to be immune to the decay that's happened to downtowns in Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, Binghamton, and other smaller cities. That's why downtown State College is as prosperous as it is.....lots of college students, many of whom don't have cars so they need businesses in walking distance. The businesses in cities like Morgantown and State College sprouted up in RESPONSE to the demand from lots of people with disposable income creating a demand for businesses in walking distance. Those towns didn't just build millions upon millions of dollars in new empty buildings just thinking that people and businesses would show up to fill them....like Doherty has done here.

[ScranBarre]

Originally Posted by go phillies

That's all due to it being a college town...college towns and state capitals seem to be immune to the decay that's happened to downtowns in Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, Binghamton, and other smaller cities. That's why downtown State College is as prosperous as it is.....lots of college students, many of whom don't have cars so they need businesses in walking distance. The businesses in cities like Morgantown and State College sprouted up in RESPONSE to the demand from lots of people with disposable income creating a demand for businesses in walking distance. Those towns didn't just build millions upon millions of dollars in new empty buildings just thinking that people and businesses would show up to fill them....like Doherty has done here.

Scranton and Wilkes-Barre both could be reinvented as college towns very easily though, but the majority of residents don't seem to want this to happen.

Using CampusCorner as my resource, here is the following:

WILKES-BARRE
Wilkes University: 4,364 Students
King's College: 2,223 Students
TOTAL: 6,587 (Not Including LCCC Corporate Learning Center)
2009-2010 ESTIMATE: Approx. 7,000 Students

SCRANTON
University of Scranton: 4,795 Students
Marywood University: 3,127 Students
Lackawanna College: 1,197 Students
TOTAL: 9,119 Students (Not Including Commonwealth Medical College)
2009-2010 ESTIMATE: Approx. 10,000 Students

[go phillies]

Originally Posted by ScranBarre

Scranton and Wilkes-Barre both could be reinvented as college towns very easily though, but the majority of residents don't seem to want this to happen.

Using CampusCorner as my resource, here is the following:

WILKES-BARRE
Wilkes University: 4,364 Students
King's College: 2,223 Students
TOTAL: 6,587 (Not Including LCCC Corporate Learning Center)
2009-2010 ESTIMATE: Approx. 7,000 Students

SCRANTON
University of Scranton: 4,795 Students
Marywood University: 3,127 Students
Lackawanna College: 1,197 Students
TOTAL: 9,119 Students (Not Including Commonwealth Medical College)
2009-2010 ESTIMATE: Approx. 10,000 Students

They still don't come close to Penn State's 40,000 students right in the middle of State College. Plus, I would guess that a much higher percentage of students at the U of S, Kings, and Wilkes are commuters from the area. If there was a high demand by local college students for more businesses, those businesses would be there...simple supply and demand.

[ScranBarre]

Originally Posted by go phillies

They still don't come close to Penn State's 40,000 students right in the middle of State College. Plus, I would guess that a much higher percentage of students at the U of S, Kings, and Wilkes are commuters from the area. If there was a high demand by local college students for more businesses, those businesses would be there...simple supply and demand.

The problem is that local colleges don't even do a good enough job of promoting our downtown business districts. King's and Wilkes both have shuttles that run (normally on the weekends) to ferry on-campus students out to shop in Wilkes-Barre Twp. I'm sure many of the kids who dorm at "Da U" would drive up to Borders to buy the same book that they could have bought by walking a few blocks downtown to Anthology. The Baby Boomers have apparently spread their undivided love of Wal-Mart, Applebee's, Burger King, and cul-de-sacs to my generation too!

[shoegal111]

Originally Posted by go phillies

They still don't come close to Penn State's 40,000 students right in the middle of State College. Plus, I would guess that a much higher percentage of students at the U of S, Kings, and Wilkes are commuters from the area. If there was a high demand by local college students for more businesses, those businesses would be there...simple supply and demand.

The majority of undergraduates at U of S are not from the area-they come from NY, NJ and CT.