Image is Everything in Redevelopment Projects

Revitalization Downtown projects are all the rage in fact the "Main Street America Project" is making significant headway as cities and towns share information. The communication of information of what worked and why as well as what did not work in a given demographic is now available to those who dare to take back their downtown areas. Urban flight and suburban sprawl has been tough on America. The people have chosen to live in the suburbs; unfortunately this hurts small businesses and jobs in the downtown areas. Americans are finding a better quality of life and higher standard of living while pursuing happiness in the less congested areas.

The key to a successful redevelopment of any downtown area is to improve the image. Cities need to clean up the street crime, panhandling, graffiti and filth. This of course is the first step, but such Spring Cleaning is only the first step. Fire hydrants, bus stops, trash receptacles and yellow, red and white zone curbing must be painted. Next comes the up lifting of small businesses, consistency of sign ordinances. The next and probably the single most important thing you can do; is start adding landscaping, curvy sidewalks, brick pedestrian crossings or simulated stone. Center medians with landscaping is also important and advised where space allows. This makes downtown look walk able and inviting. Without the image the business owners will not step up to the plate to invest or re-invest in their storefronts, patios or upgrades. Without the signs of increased sales of people coming back and additional foot traffic; it is nearly impossible to get the businesses to pony up. The businesses want to see a return on their investment and feel comfortable in their attaining future profits.

The redevelopment committees must be careful not to waste too much time or expect business owners to embrace the plan until the downtown image starts to change. When they see the street crime leave, graffiti free areas, cleaning up of trash debris, homeless panhandlers and inviting landscaping these small businesses will then join the team to help with the downtown revitalization. There will be little "buy in" until then and the image issues are problems and challenges, which involve police, planning departments, traffic flows and community volunteers. Once the effort becomes a reality instead of talk, committee members should not be concerned of small business owners not showing up to meetings.

Entrepreneurs are a completely different animal and should not be forced to sit for hours of idle chitchat. The plan will not work without their help, true enough, but without some progress they will just feel it is more of the same promises from the Blob of local bureaucracy, which impedes their businesses at every turn. Additionally, having remembered the hassles of getting building permits, treatment from code enforcement and attitudes of city officials with all their myriad of rules and ordinances, which often conflict with county, state and federal laws and regulations the last thing a small business wants to do is sit in a committee for redevelopment. And if they do show up do not be surprised to get a hostile team member on your committee.

The best bet is to treat all small businesses as if they are from Missouri and "show them!" Once they see your cleanup and new landscaping, they will be convinced that you are walking your talk and your committee is serious about redevelopment of downtown. Think on this.

"Lance Winslow" - If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.worldthinktank.net/wttbbs

Wood Dale Chicago prom limo .. Lockport Chicago limo O’Hare
In The News:

Fueled by artificial intelligence, CyberDog the robotic dog is designed specifically locate fire ant nests, which are endangering ecosystems.
Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents
Internet browsers are useful, but they can be dangerous. Clicking on malicious links can direct you to dangerous websites that steal information or infect your device.
Apple's latest iOS update introduces advanced artificial intelligence capabilities, which may be capturing and analyzing sensitive information.
Breach site confirmed 56,904,909 Hot Topic users' data leaked online. Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says the company's silence makes matters even worse.
Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson discusses how an innovative Easy-Way kit turns standard strollers electric, simplifying navigation for parents.
Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson talks about T-Mobile being hacked in broad cyberattack on global phone and internet companies.
Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson shows you how to add, customize and manage widgets for quick access to apps and info from your iPhone home screen.
Wrong Google searches can not only compromise your device and personal data. They can also bring law enforcement to your doorstep. Hackers are targeting Google searches.
China's Shanghai Kepler Robotics has developed a new humanoid robot that can carry up to 35 pounds per hand for commercial applications across various industries
Checking your hearing has gotten easier with the new hearing test feature in AirPods Pro 2. You can take reliable hearing tests using your iPhone or iPad.
Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.
Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson explains how a VPN — virtual private network — works and how running it can slow down the operation of your device.
The WalkON Suit F1, an exoskeleton developed to help people with disabilities, can actually walk over to a person in a wheelchair, solving a major problem.
ClickFix, a new scam targeting computer users, is on the rise in the U.S. The scam prompts its targets to click on a link to fix a problem.
Skydweller is the world's largest unmanned solar-powered aircraft that can stay airborne for weeks, and even months, without refueling.
The U.S. government said it is investigating after People's Republic of China hackers targeted commercial telecommunications service providers in the U.S.
Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.
Scammers are using increasingly sophisticated ways to lure unsuspecting victims, and some are impersonating an email help desk or support team.
You can unsend or edit your iMessages with the latest iOS updates. Kurt the CyberGuy explains how you can save yourself some potential embarrassment.
Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says there’s been a rise in cybercriminal services using hacked police and government emails to send subpoenas and data requests to U.S. companies.
Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson discusses how Axiom Space and luxury designer Prada are collaborating on NASA's Artemis III spacesuit design.
Voice assistants may cause confusion across devices. Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson offers some solutions to fix it.
Shameless scammers trick veterans into giving personal info or cash. Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson explores five common scams.

The U.S. Department of Justice vs. the Realty Industry, and Its Effect on Consumers

From the National Association of Realtors' Virtual Office Website policy,... Read More

MORAL ARMORS Economic Warning for Americans

For years we've suffered under recession, prompting us to ask,... Read More

The Professions of the Future

Predicting the future is a tricky business. There have been... Read More

US Government Owes Martha Stewart 1 Billion Dollars

The prosecutors in the Martha Stewart Case used testimony from... Read More

Trade Policy; Hurting Industry and Small Business

The steel tariff taxes a few years ago hurt industry... Read More

Should Farmers Plant GM Terminator Seeds?

If a farmer plants the same crop three seasons in... Read More

Mental Masturbation of FTC Franchise Rule Report

Please read through this quick thought and discussion as if... Read More

Adminstration of E-Business Taxation

The entry by telephone and cable companies into the Internet... Read More

What are the benefits of Nuclear War again; I must have missed that point?

Indian and Pakistan and nuclear war. What does the world... Read More

Debt Relief and Reality Check

The United States and other first world nations have been... Read More

Army recovers terrorists? bodies from avalanche-hit areas in South Kashmir

As the death toll in the avalanche-hit Jammu and Kashmir... Read More

NASA Budget Space Shuttle Thoughts

Regarding the issues with the Space Shuttle and the in... Read More

Federal Trade Commission Will Not Monitor MLM Companies

Having been to every city in the country over the... Read More

Tax Attorney? You Might Need One; The City of Portland is Going After Small Businesses

The City of Portland is going after any small business,... Read More

Politicians Are Like Car Sales People

Well, another election has come and gone in the US... Read More

The Ugly American Returns!

Originally published in 1958, "The Ugly American" (Lederer & Burdick)... Read More

Water Conservation, Retention and Better Policies

As the populations expand in Colorado outside of Denver, Las... Read More

Trucking and the Flow of Fuel

There are many types of fuels besides that gasoline we... Read More

Protecting Our Buses from International Terrorists

We know that the International Terrorists like the idea of... Read More

The Glorious Acts of Our Legislature

I always have to remember to take a deep breath... Read More

The Civil War - FOGC

Thomas Jefferson wrote a letter to Lafayette in 1823 that... Read More

Fuel Prices at the Pump: That is not the problem, Natural Gas Prices are high too

The price at the gas pump is certainly on everyone's... Read More

China: Tibet Standoff

The People's Liberation Army of China invaded Tibet in 1949.... Read More

The World of Diplomatic Backstage

De-classification of official documents have been a routine practice in... Read More

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act Was created on July 30th 2002, by... Read More

Antigo wedding limo ..