Old Blue Ridge Outlet Center in Martinsburg, any info.?

[Threerun]

Oh yeah- The flea market is a contentious issue. I occasionally pick up the Journal on my travels back east and always read the junction, lol. Meh, I'm a live and let live kind of guy. There's a place for everything so stop yer whining, lol.

[Georgia]

Originally Posted by Threerun

It was rather nice, and a great use of the old buildings. But the location was an issue (unfortunately). If you don't have a site with easy access to the interstate it just kills the deals nowadays.

We (consumers) contibute to that effect by our own shopping patterns. That's why we have the new Commons and Spring Mills shops- they are right off the interstate. No one wants to go downtown because of the convenience factor.

However I have to say that having the county municipal complex at the old Blue Ridge location is not a bad idea or bad use of the facility. Could be worse- it could be vacant, decaying or occupied by a flea market or something like that.

I agree that the County Government using the building is not a bad idea and it would be worse as vacant or a flea market.

In regard to easy access is mixed with me. Where I live now there was an old location in the the Lawrenceville / Snellville area. A developer came in and raised the old abandonded crap and built an outside shopping area known as the Avenues. It is about 8 miles from the closest highway, off a standard road, and has boomed. Today it has expanded and houses everything from Barnes and Noble, Bonefish, Red Robin, and multiple name plate fashion stores.
People come from Atlata city, Athens, etc., along with the locals. Crime and gangland is now families shopping and folks sitting on the benches reading and sharing coffee. This all came about by a county government working in unison with city government to bring commerce into an area.

On the Flea Market issue. Three is correct. They are more suited for open areas and not in city centers. The old I-81 market comes to mind. Easy on and off, big open field, with an inside shopping area. Flea markets are hit and miss also. Sometimes well managed, but for the most part not.

[Georgia]

Originally Posted by RD35

And here is Berkeley County's investment:

http://www.martinsburgpd.org/Judicial%20Center.JPG

I agree with Threerun, at least it is being used and not left to fall down.

RD, As I stated before, I agree with the fact that the Mill areas are being used and not left to fall down.
The only issue or sickness that Berkeley and many other areas in America has is the ever expansion of government.
If government worked in unison with business to grow areas instead of block them just imagine what Martinsburg could be.
The Gateway comes to mind again. It has been decades of battle to turn a historical building into a center of commerce. Each and every time (9 years and counting for this turn) results in a stalemate due to red tape and we all know, the old politic.
On the other side of the coin the Berkeley government can expand swiftly at the blink of an eye. Currently the Berkeley government goes from King Street's Court house, to what used to be Citizens National Bank, across the street / now half vacant buildings, behind the buildings to Race, down Raleigh to the Dunn etc, etc., I don't think cities with over a million in population in which government spans that broad of spectrum. With this, it brings another question. With commerce you have an increasing revenue base, with government you have an increasing taxation base on the populace.

Writing about this amost reminds me of the CVS Pharmacy contention that happened not that long ago. Wasn't that in the Journal about the city blocking that, a pharmacy, hmmm, doesn't someone in the city government own a pharmacy?

Maybe one day the city / downtown will turn into the Diamond it could be. Such history going to waste. Then again, the county government can start its stretch up Queen Street and meet up with the City Police Department. Can have re-habbed government buildings up and down Queen Of course they would need to maintain the Porn Shop for extra activities

[RD35]

Originally Posted by Georgia

Writing about this amost reminds me of the CVS Pharmacy contention that happened not that long ago. Wasn't that in the Journal about the city blocking that, a pharmacy, hmmm, doesn't someone in the city government own a pharmacy?

Yes Mayor Karos owns a pharmacy. It was actually Walgreens, they wanted in Martinsburg about 5 or 6 years ago on West King Street. They were denied multiple times because they sold alcohol and because they were open 24/7 and because it was a residential district. Well that "Residential District" has the radio station next door, Sheetz, and BP across the street (which I might add sell alcohol and are open 24/7). Walgreens even offered to close at like 10pm and not sell alcohol and were still declined.

City National Bank eventually built on that land and Walgreens "won" last year opening on the other side of town on Edwin Miller Blvd. That area is still in the city limits. I'm surprised they still bothered with building in town.

[Joelra24]

Does anyone have an address for the former site of the outlets?

[Katie1]

Sure it the Court house. The Whole thing was purchased buy the City Turned into Courthouse.