JOEB - welcome to this forum. Based on the tone of many of these posts, I am surprised that anyone chooses to live or work in this Village. Let's hope that small business/retail owners or people looking to relocate to Riverside don't read this Forum.
Riverside Info » About Riverside
Village Budget and Strained Finances: Please Comment
(137 posts)-
Posted Wednesday Jan 10, 2007 11:40 #
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Mike - since there has not been what you call a "vibrant" retail sector in Riverside for a long time, why do you think people would be motivated to move here if you had one? They seem to come now and buy the houses and bring their kids to attend the schools. Maybe the condo market is slow - someone said 62 unsold in town at the present time - but that might be because the people that buy condos are either younger without children or older "empty-nesters". Maybe they want to live downtown where there is a more vibrant scene, but people seem to be buying the houses just the way it is.
How you think, or why you think that 100,000 to 150,000 sq. ft of additional retail/commercial could be filled with "vibrant and successful" businesses here is anyone's guess. This is just a dumb proposal from people who confuse wanting another couple of restaurants to go to.
Posted Wednesday Jan 10, 2007 11:53 # -
Mr. Spatny - I am just frustrated with the overriding theme that nothing good has apparently happened in this Village since Olmsted's passing.
Posted Wednesday Jan 10, 2007 12:02 # -
quick list, off hand --
I think the Tower Building, the Library, and that mfd across the swinging bridge are good things in cbd land since Fred's death.retail- chew chew, grumpys, riverside foods, blue parrot, riverside garage, metal mites,
miket
Posted Wednesday Jan 10, 2007 12:11 # -
MikeT - I'm glad we can at least agree on that. Thank you. What is an mfd?
Posted Wednesday Jan 10, 2007 12:16 # -
MikeS - mfd == multi-family dwelling. The one across from the Fire Department on Riverside Road, the back of which is viewable from the parking lot behind First American Bank.
Posted Wednesday Jan 10, 2007 12:55 # -
Thank you.
Posted Wednesday Jan 10, 2007 13:23 # -
yes, that is the one. some great views there. I think that bldng is all rental. Does anyone know when that building was made? When I was passing out flyers there I noticed how solid the materials seemed. I wonder what the units rent for? if that is an inappropriate question, please ignore.
Does that building have its own parking? or do do tenants take whatever is around town?
Oh, Higgins Glass is a good concern, too.
What do these places have in common that keeps them here in riverside for a while? The spots that chew chew and grumpys occupy were revolving doors for awhile. HH seems to doing well for another revolving door place. in my view, chew chew and blueparrot get extra credit for being written up by the chicago mag; grumpys s/ too. they have that riverside unique-ness.
Riv Bank, Mid america, bakery, travel agency-jewelry shop?, and the hair salons have persisted.
miket
Posted Wednesday Jan 10, 2007 13:38 # -
MikeT - I think those businesses that have been successful really understand customer service. I would add Parallel 42 and the Cork to your list as well and I'm sure I'm missing a few more.
Posted Wednesday Jan 10, 2007 14:03 # -
Mike Sedivy, I hope the people who are building the VC do read this forum. Perhaps they will be induced to cover their monster with ivy. As to living here, yes, I could do without the "economic development" commission, for my own part.
The apartment building on Lawton is nice and extremely well maintained by its janitor. It is like a pristine '20s hotel inside. However, I have noticed its sidewalks have cracked lately and so on. The Wirtz family owns it. The views are only out the front and narrow, as the apartments are of a galley layout. I don't know when it was built.
While nothing better than Olmsted, Wright, LeBaron Jenney, and Jensen etc. have happened to this town, the businesses that persist do so because they give people what they want. This is called capitalism and the free market. It always amuses me that business people do not want Uncle Sam interfering in their business, but don't mind having a handout from him.
Posted Wednesday Jan 10, 2007 16:59 #
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