Why This Runs Counter To All The Theories
The Instapundit theorizes on downtown Knoxville's comeback.
JAMES LILEKS ON DOWNTOWN BEAUTIFICATION: "If you’ve ever visited one of those sad deindustrialized cities with a moribund core, you know how they tried to bring the downtown back: banners and trees. If not trees, then flower baskets hanging from ornamental light fixtures. But certainly banners. If you hang something from every block that says History District or Pennsylvania’s Culture: On the Grow or Home of the 2003 Upper West New York Jazz Festival people will come back."
He's right that that doesn't work. But downtown Knoxville has gotten better -- the Insta-Daughter and I had lunch downtown on Market Square today (her idea) -- and it was a bustling scene. Knoxville tried the trees, banners, brick-paved sidewalk stuff. But what mostly worked was businesses starting on their own, and people moving downtown. There's now a booming downtown scene, but it's pretty much happened spontaneously, not because of the city's various development schemes, which have been going on since Nixon was President. But one thing has made a difference: Parking! It's easy and cheap to park, and that's key.
It happened spontaneously and there's lots of cheap, easy parking? The planning class will not be pleased.
Please post something to let us know you're ok. It seems every time a blog goes idle for a spell around here, something really terrible has happened.
Posted by: LC Scotty | June 19, 2007 at 08:34 AM
Hey buddy! Interesting post... I just landed on your blog courtesy google. I was thinking.. you could try to put up some current news and happenings. Will make ur blog more interesting.There are many news scrollers. I know of one on http://www.widgetmate.com
Posted by: Andy James | July 19, 2007 at 07:32 AM
We live in Gatlinburg and we all use the banners for any festival we can contrive. Spring Festival, Summer festival, Valentines, military festival. It lends the tourists more value for their vacation bucks."Look honey, it's a festival!" Knoxville always has something going on, free concerts in Market Square, arts and crafts, ice skating downtown at Christmas.It just makes sense if tourism is your major income. By the way, I never noticed your blog disappearing for any length of time and I always thought that you posted "current news and happenings!
Posted by: Sister Kristen | July 28, 2007 at 01:01 AM