I saw these two items today, one from France http://www.nicematin.com/monaco/grace-de-monaco-le-film-qui-tourne-mal.1485371.html and this one from Durham http://www.heraldsun.com/business/x2082473046/The-Buzz
What struck me about both of them is the creative way in which each restaurant is approaching its restaurant day and, most important, its customers. Their wants and needs vary with time of day and so both places seem headed toward meeting that demand.
In thinking about Obey Creek more, I wonder if we have done enough imagining of what it is that we really want there. It's easy to tick off a list of retailers and generic categories, but are we listing them because we need them?
When I was in India last month, I met a man who talked about the many small villages that are the bulk of India. He said that a village needs only about 6 or 8 services in order to be successful and self-sustaining. I have the list somewhere and will add it here, but I recall that it included a shoemaker, a butcher, a baker, a vegetable vendor, etc.
What, exactly, are our unmet needs that would justify a change in zoning at Obey Creek? Whom would the change benefit?
I heard nothing at the forum last week that seemed to speak to this. Some were dazzled by the developer's proposal, but does it in any way respond to any need we might have, other than the forever illusive claim of tax revenues? Is that the only reason for considering a change in zoning?
Think through this on something like a drug store. We have a small, new drugstore in Southern Village. Do we need another because the prices here are too high? The selection too limited? Honestly - and I mean HONESTLY - how many people within two miles of Obey Creek are going to walk to the drugstore there? It's going to be 95% car traffic, I predict. That compared to a trip to CVS, for example, accomplishes what?
I think the Compass Committee and everyone else needs to focus almost exclusively on this needs analysis in a very hard-nosed fashion, and make some informed assumptions about what the needs are, how they might be met at Obey Creek, and - in detail - whether that met need(s) is worth the zoning change.
What struck me about both of them is the creative way in which each restaurant is approaching its restaurant day and, most important, its customers. Their wants and needs vary with time of day and so both places seem headed toward meeting that demand.
In thinking about Obey Creek more, I wonder if we have done enough imagining of what it is that we really want there. It's easy to tick off a list of retailers and generic categories, but are we listing them because we need them?
When I was in India last month, I met a man who talked about the many small villages that are the bulk of India. He said that a village needs only about 6 or 8 services in order to be successful and self-sustaining. I have the list somewhere and will add it here, but I recall that it included a shoemaker, a butcher, a baker, a vegetable vendor, etc.
What, exactly, are our unmet needs that would justify a change in zoning at Obey Creek? Whom would the change benefit?
I heard nothing at the forum last week that seemed to speak to this. Some were dazzled by the developer's proposal, but does it in any way respond to any need we might have, other than the forever illusive claim of tax revenues? Is that the only reason for considering a change in zoning?
Think through this on something like a drug store. We have a small, new drugstore in Southern Village. Do we need another because the prices here are too high? The selection too limited? Honestly - and I mean HONESTLY - how many people within two miles of Obey Creek are going to walk to the drugstore there? It's going to be 95% car traffic, I predict. That compared to a trip to CVS, for example, accomplishes what?
I think the Compass Committee and everyone else needs to focus almost exclusively on this needs analysis in a very hard-nosed fashion, and make some informed assumptions about what the needs are, how they might be met at Obey Creek, and - in detail - whether that met need(s) is worth the zoning change.
No comments:
Post a Comment