Riverside Info Topic: CBD, What businesses do we need/want?

Riverside Info Topic: CBD, What businesses do we need/want? http://www.riversideinfo.org/forum/ Discussion Forum for Riverside Illinois en Sun, 12 Feb 2012 01:28:56 +0000 rwhite on "CBD, What businesses do we need/want?" http://www.riversideinfo.org/forum/topic/cbd-what-businesses-do-we-needwant/page/7#post-12464 Thu, 25 Mar 2010 16:04:03 +0000 rwhite 12464@http://www.riversideinfo.org/forum/ I know that this is an older thread, but I have a dream that keeps popping into my head that seemed to fit with this thread best. I think that Riverside would be an *amazing* location for a little independent art-house theatre (2-3 screens). I've personally always thought that the LaGrange theatre is totally missing out by not becoming an art-house theatre rather than the second-run theatre they are, as they are the perfect size and location for such a venue. In two other places I've lived, I was in a smaller neighborhood near a larger metropolitan city, and both locations were famous for having art-house cinemas, which were big draws from the surrounding areas as well as the from the city. These cinemas were the anchor for the many other businesses (restaurants, galleries, cafes, etc.) that flourished in these small(ish), quaint business districts. These art house cinemas, of course, screened indie and art house films that were often difficult to find anywhere else (though not totally obscure films -- I saw Juno, Little Miss Sunshine, and many other very famous indie "crossover" films at one of these cinemas, for example). One of these theatres used to screen classic films a couple of weekends a month as well, films that many people otherwise wouldn't ever get to see on the big screen. One of these theatres often had programming for kids/families during the day, sometimes screening old (and new!) animated classics that would bring adults out too (I went to see a screening of Bambi with friends once, as well as seeing a few of the Miyazaki animated films, for example.). Here are links to the cinemas I used to frequent in my old 'hoods... gosh, do I miss these theatres... <a href="http://www.drexel.net/" rel="nofollow">http://www.drexel.net/</a> <a href="http://www.princesscinemas.com/" rel="nofollow">http://www.princesscinemas.com/</a> Of course, I have no idea *where* something like this would fit in the CBD, but from my experience, I think it would be a huge draw. Currently, people generally have to go into the city to the Music Box, Facets, the Siskel film center, etc., to see anything but the big blockbusters. Kelly on "CBD, What businesses do we need/want?" http://www.riversideinfo.org/forum/topic/cbd-what-businesses-do-we-needwant/page/7#post-10888 Tue, 29 Sep 2009 08:29:53 +0000 Kelly 10888@http://www.riversideinfo.org/forum/ Chris, I agree with your analysis of the problem to a point and I agree that creating a comprehensive plan is paramount. Prior board members as well as our more senior members of the current board have tried to focus on planning to no avail. Creating a comprehensive plan requires a group of seasoned consensus builders and in that regard, the RCA board holds little hope. I know you don't want to weigh in the parking lot issue. I submit that we need to preserve the space to integrate it into a comprehensive plan for downtown. The best way to do that, at least for the short term, is to use the space for parking until that plan can be made. Rwhite, Welcome! We moved here for many of the same reasons. We have so many talented artisans in town who run businesses out of their homes. There is a group of women with a knitting club, we have potters, gardeners, chefs, bakers, furniture painters, chocolateers, purse designers... the list go on and on. I have always wanted to create a co-op space for them, and to incorporate a cooking school, a restaurant or coffee shop. The Art Center tried an artists co-op but it didn't take, possibly because of their location or the fact they didn't offer food or a place to hang out. If you have kids, the Art Center's classes are AWESOME. I've never tried the adult classes, but I hear they are good too. ChrisHajer on "CBD, What businesses do we need/want?" http://www.riversideinfo.org/forum/topic/cbd-what-businesses-do-we-needwant/page/7#post-10887 Tue, 29 Sep 2009 07:40:30 +0000 ChrisHajer 10887@http://www.riversideinfo.org/forum/ rwhite, you will find those same sort of pottery classes at our Riverside Arts Center. Here's the adult schedule. <a href="http://www.riversideartscenter.com/images/pdf/adult.pdf" rel="nofollow">http://www.riversideartscenter.com/images/pdf/adult.pdf</a> rwhite on "CBD, What businesses do we need/want?" http://www.riversideinfo.org/forum/topic/cbd-what-businesses-do-we-needwant/page/7#post-10886 Tue, 29 Sep 2009 00:26:20 +0000 rwhite 10886@http://www.riversideinfo.org/forum/ Thanks for the kind welcome! With regards to how arts-related businesses can afford to pay the rent, in my old neighborhood on which I am drawing for inspiration, while there were many proper galleries that eventually moved in, many of the original businesses were those that combined gallery space with other products/services. Examples include, 1) a world art / beading store that offered classes in beadwork and jewelry-making for all ages, while also having a really cool gallery space, 2) a coffee shop that had gallery space in which art by local artists for sale was rotated on a monthly basis, 3) a nice pottery gallery that also offered specialized paint-your-own pottery events and classes (including ones designed for nights out with girlfriends, which I loved attending!)... I'd say that at least 80% of the businesses in my neighborhood incorporated some sort of art gallery space, which helped to encourage a cohesive "arts district" identity for the neighborhood and attract other businesses. As others have said, there is certainly a great framework for building such an identity with the Freeark, Riverside Arts, and Higgins on Quincy. How cool would a "lamplighter Larry" pub be? If only I had some cash to back such an idea! I'm thrilled to hear that the Arcade Building may have some murals soon! chrisrobling on "CBD, What businesses do we need/want?" http://www.riversideinfo.org/forum/topic/cbd-what-businesses-do-we-needwant/page/7#post-10885 Mon, 28 Sep 2009 21:50:32 +0000 chrisrobling 10885@http://www.riversideinfo.org/forum/ Actually, Don, I disagree. "Just do it" was the former Board's attitude when it bought the houses on Burlington. Like so many actions we have seen over the years, it was done without either the basis or the end purpose clearly stated, let alone politically supported. And the result? What we have seen since the transition in May. I started a string in April, after the election and before the transition, called "Reconciliation and Progress." I hope for more of that. Staying out of the week-to-week pace of what's happening with the Board of Trustees, I am struck by our need as a village to get behind something bigger than the promises or claims of the last campaign. The studies you mention were ad hoc, out of order, uncoordinated and incomplete. It has been said repeatedly, and apparently need be said again, that the process goes: Vision to Plan to Zoning. Our history goes something like this: Study to Zone to Argument to New Study to Residential Zoning to TIF fight to... The clash of absolutes each of these steps occasioned between residents drained the last Board of its political will to address the real issues facing the village. They came to the conclusion, stated many times privately and somewhat publicly, that "We cannot plan here." This was sometimes dressed in a parallel formulation, "We Do Not Need To Plan Here." Thus the Board became a spent force, and the RCA, recognizing that in the midst of the anti-TIF fight of Spring 2007 (before it even was the RCA), organized and campaigned its way to victory. (Prior to the April 2007 TIF vote some of us told the Board -- maybe even using this site -- that if they did not get a comprehensive planning process going, then they should expect every initiative as far as the eye could see, to result in ad-hoc attacks and opposition. Given the results of the TIF, the tax hike, the Board-affiliated candidates in the April 2009 election and finally the rocky lots, one may observe the idea was not all wrong.) My point now is to put the empty lots aside, constitute a Village-wide process and declare that we as a village are going to face these various white elephants together. This will require leadership and guts on the part of the new Board, and true hearts and dedication on the part of the residents. People who participate must bring their facts and arguments, not their biases or preconceived ideas. Part of the problem with my proposal is that the new Board campaigned on a "no new consultants" platform. Doing this without a real planner/facilitator is probably impossible. Another problem is that our cupboard is fairly bare, so paying for this will mean de-funding something else. All of us -- as I think you portrayed in your post, which sounded a lot like statements heard from Trustees now in the happy hunting ground of post-public life -- are studied out and sick of the whole bloody mess. Finally, we would be starting this in the midst of the worst real estate market since the Great Depression, so we propose anticipating private interest in our Riverside in an environment that does not yet exist. The alternative is more spats like that we have seen over the rocky lots on Burlington. I am on neither side of that, and I hereby refuse to get involved. But I know reconciliation and progress when I see them, Don, and neither happened there. It is not about who was right or wrong on the rocky lots. It is only about building a village consensus for what comes next. That requires reconciliation and it will bring progress. Thanks as always. CuriousResident on "CBD, What businesses do we need/want?" http://www.riversideinfo.org/forum/topic/cbd-what-businesses-do-we-needwant/page/7#post-10884 Mon, 28 Sep 2009 18:39:08 +0000 CuriousResident 10884@http://www.riversideinfo.org/forum/ One would expect coming out of "current state mapping" and "ideation" for "future state(s)" that there would be more than "just a diagram of the possible layout of the village". Are there vision, strategy and action plan documents as well? If so, the new board should review (and possibly revise) and then communicate how they intend to proceed. Note: I say "new" board because any time there is significant turn over in management you really should "realign". If not, then I'd suggest the board take up where the last board left off and complete a strategic planning process. IME, folks get impatient with the amount of set up necessary to drive a business plan...and "just start doing things". Yet, if you/we can respect the fact that a plan has necessary layers, and the "do things" is at the end of a completed strategic plan, the chance of success will dramatically increase. KimJ on "CBD, What businesses do we need/want?" http://www.riversideinfo.org/forum/topic/cbd-what-businesses-do-we-needwant/page/7#post-10883 Mon, 28 Sep 2009 18:22:45 +0000 KimJ 10883@http://www.riversideinfo.org/forum/ A good place to start the conversation for a new planning process is for the village to make available all the planning documents that they already have. (AND Coalescing these planning document pdf's on the Village website, for example, would make it easier for interested individuals to find, to make informed decisions, for example.) Then, get the stakeholders involved in the process. Stakeholders being residents, as well as reps from each club/organization/Chamber/churches/etc. Schedule meetings, mull over the great (and not so great) ideas of the past and create a FINAL plan (kind of like a mission statement that you can always refer back to in which to see if plan x,y,z fits into "The Plan!") Pie in the Sky is a lofty goal, but for the long term, not inaccessible. We are not suggesting moon walks. Lets think BIG! And when this planning process is complete, the village board may be able to govern from the same platform as there will be an expectation that they all share the same vision. (Which at the end of the day, I am convinced, is that we all want what is the best for Riverside.) And chrisrobling is right. We will not all leave happy. But Riverside will be better for it. PAR4 on "CBD, What businesses do we need/want?" http://www.riversideinfo.org/forum/topic/cbd-what-businesses-do-we-needwant/page/6#post-10882 Mon, 28 Sep 2009 17:58:47 +0000 PAR4 10882@http://www.riversideinfo.org/forum/ I worry that no matter how much planning and tinkering we do as a community, it all boils down to attracting 'others' to our community in order for the CBD to become viable. The RCA has made it clear that they don't want that. They have the majority and have proven time and again that anything they don't want, we don't get. spatny on "CBD, What businesses do we need/want?" http://www.riversideinfo.org/forum/topic/cbd-what-businesses-do-we-needwant/page/6#post-10881 Mon, 28 Sep 2009 17:53:15 +0000 spatny 10881@http://www.riversideinfo.org/forum/ Chris - we had a Downtown Riverside Planning Workshop in April 2002 (before I was around) that stated as its goals Ensure Downtown Remaians Viable, Preserve & Build Upon Downtown's Historic Character and Serve the Residents of Riverside. It was led by Camiros and resulted in the B2 Zoning redraw. Its principles were: Mixed use is imperative for a vibrant downtown, Building design, scale & siting should rflect existing historic examples, Buildings & site improvements should reflect a pedestrian orientation, Prominent buildings should frame the village center space, we should Address parking on a district-wide basis, Businesses and parking must be within a walkable radius, the Buildings should create a "streetwall", and we should "Enhance the trainscape and views from the train. It dealt with all manner of things and established Bulk Requirements for setback, height and density and site development standards for parking, landscaping, screening and signage and lots more. The Village spent a lot of money on this, and then promptly went around it to grant variances for the VC, which does not conform to the criteria it developed. Then Came the Kane McKenna TOD study, which after a lot of hacking around was adopted as the "official vision" for Riverside's CBD. Then we had the whole TIF process. Then came TIF, by the same guys under a new name - UBS or URS or something like that - same guys. More dough spent. The 2002 drawing which Chris put up here reflected the result of the 2002 study - and we had further workshops where 5-8 other plans were looked at and commented on at public meetings and workshops. We don't need another plan - we need to do - as we are able - what we already decided upon. Obviously, as these were happening the present financial situation was not contemplated and could not have been prevented in any case. We also had another plan and workshops and open meeting to concentrate on both residential zoning and the B1 district - essentially Harlem Avenue. The Village did all this stuff - but we don't have the money or, it seems, the inclination, to pursue any (or many) of the ideas that were arrived at. Based on the reality of economics I don't think we need another study. Just addressing the CBD, I think we need the stake holders - the landlords, property owners and business operators/owners to look at that drawing and work out a way to get more use out of the rear parking areas we have now that are underused. The common parking reservoir idea is sound because it is low cost - really almost no cost - and would address the immediate needs of the merchants that are here now. It would also look attractive to anyone wanting to locate here. What is the objection to implementing this? chrisrobling on "CBD, What businesses do we need/want?" http://www.riversideinfo.org/forum/topic/cbd-what-businesses-do-we-needwant/page/6#post-10880 Mon, 28 Sep 2009 16:22:04 +0000 chrisrobling 10880@http://www.riversideinfo.org/forum/ I am not involved in, nor have I closely followed, the Burlington-vacant-lots-not-becomming-parking-for-now issue. As a member of St Mary Parish, I have been involved in the tumult there over building a new rectory in "Mary Park." Without speaking to any of the merits or equities of any of the sides in either of these disputes, may I once again note the added value of planning? Had either the Village or the Parish undertaken a comprehensive planning process some years ago, then they would not be where they are today on these two issues. I have been banging this kettle so long my ears hurt. I realize planning is no fun, and the work is indeed hard. ALL OF US must also come to the planning table knowing the -- if it is done right -- none of us will leave entirely satisfied. That is, in the nature of vectoring in to a planning runway, we of necessity will not land on everyone's favorite idea. As Riversiders who know its strengths best, I hope we accept that and use it to earn adherence to the plan by all parties once it is adopted. It appears, and again I address none of the particulars on one side or another, that our Village's economic strain is real. Our budget sums up our current wants, but revenues seem unable to go far enough. Rather than using this circumstance to retreat from planning, it is in fact another reason to jump into a planning process. Because only through such a process do we determine priorities as well as the delineation between what may be accomplished privately and what must be done publicly. What direction for a plan? In another string, about a month ago, I had to (again) restate my two cents, so I borrow that expression: "I believe in Riverside having an appropriate and contributing downtown that builds on our uniqueness, provides for residents, attracts visitors who are interested in Riverside's natural beauty and National Historic Landmark character, aka our land form and built form, and which proceeds based on an open, public, inclusive, disciplined and ongoing comprehensive plan process. I have distinguished between the Harlem and Ogden corridors and the downtown. I well understand the limits on sales tax revenue as a factor in our overall budgetary imbalance. I have said such and acted on this basis many many times here and elsewhere." Planning will not solve our imbalances -- bedgetary or expectational -- by itself. But by planning the whats, whens and hows can evolve into a roadmap all of us may consult. That is its added value, and it is a value of which we are currently depriving ourselves, with all of the results one might expect to show for it.