I wonder how many people really looked at what Downtown Midland was and what it is now befrore they started trying to apply the various "Downtown Revitialization" plans that have been hatched around the country.
Looking over the Downtown Midland Photo Collection at the Big Gold Dog Blog one can quickly tell that Downtown Midland never had the typical "Courthouse Square" or "Residential Center."
From the beginning of the community, downtown had office buildings, government buildings and retail. What retail there was just fronted Main Street, and that all but died once they built the Village Shopping Center. Once our retail was effectively dead, that area of town was crushed to dust to build the Downtown Post Office, Federal Court Building, Midland Center, Midland Center Parking and Midland Hilton Parking ages ago.
So why do we point at "Main Street" projects in Harlingen, Odessa or elsewhere when we don't even have those types of buildings to rennovate?
Midland's downtown has always been unique and it is going to take unique and original ideas coupled with bold (and well financed) leadership to come up with solutions other than the obvious ones:
1) Tear down buildings to make what space we have more valuable.
2) Pray for the return of office space intensive businesses.
3) Spend lots of taxpayer money.
4 Comments
ospurt
thanks for posting the picture from biggolddog
I love these old photos
Midland was and still is I guess a peculiar place, barely 16 blocks square and already three significant multi strory buildings downtown.
Too bad the old courthouse is gone-it looks like a classic Texas courrhouse- with adjacent "castle" jail. The replacement and its additions isn't much, though it could be worse. No doubt in a few years we will see a new one going up.
a&mgrad
I think you pretty much just described Florida Avenue from Lamesa to Big Spring. Except for the blocked off brick streets.
The practice of blocking streets off to create a 'pedestrian mall' has in most places proven to be a bad idea, and many of these pedestrian malls are being or have been returned to thru streets.
I think the mercado idea is not a bad one, it reinforces what I said on the other thread-their are many areas of town that could use some attention and possibly offer a better return. A little planning and possibly limited funding could be helpful-South Big Spring / Florida is a thriving restaurant and retail area, but it could use some aesthetic help. How about a TIRZ district there? You know, my street could use some help, how about a TIRZ district for me and my neighbors.
It is just like the federal government-why are we so eager for the municipal government to expand into this new role, you know they will never voluntarily step out of the downtown redevelopment once they get involved.
An "Entertainment District" is mentioned often by the Developers That Be.
In a downtown area that only stretches for 3 blocks in any direction from the center where would this entertainment district be other than the same block as the Yucca Theater?
That would place it in close proximity to the "Diamond District" (Cristiani's) but would also be a bit away from the "Garment District" (Fashion Cleaners).
great idea
more suggestions
design district: carters furniture
federal district: post office
financial district: drive-thru lanes at MCFCU
future coronary infarction district: vicinity of Mr. Brooks
I agree 100% Ospurt! As a matter of fact, I could say you copied my ideas! ;) Especially the one that wants to turn a chicken (the current downtown) into a duck (a downtown with retail, etc.) when a chicken was never, and never will be, a duck.
However, instead of just a bitchen, I will (re) introduce an idea I always liked. I have seen it before but I like repeating it because it's good. How about a few blocks just south of downtown dedicated to a "Casa de Midland Mercado"? An open air Mexican market. Complete with blocked off bricked streets, old-fashioned water fountains, Mexican palms and outdoor eating. The shops around the "square" would be a Mexican bakery (Tony's already exists), an import/export store, a candy/cookie store and Mexican restaurants. Also included could be the Hispanic Chamber offices with a museum of some type. You get the idea.
This Midland Mercado would be accessible from the Interstate, there could be service to it from the buses and would go along way to the south Midland/downtown revitalization effort. It would also be a REAL tourist destination. I also estimate it would cost less than the empty building at the airport to get off the ground.