1425 replies to this topic

[krazeeboi]

Some questions I posted earlier:

» Are there too many restaurants and bars in the Vista?

» What other types of businesses would you like to see in the Vista?

» Should there be more restaurants and bars on Main Street?

» What other types of businesses would you like to see on Main Street?

[waccamatt]

krazeeboi, on Jul 26 2005, 06:58 PM, said:

Some questions I posted earlier:

» Are there too many restaurants and bars in the Vista?

» What other types of businesses would you like to see in the Vista?

» Should there be more restaurants and bars on Main Street?

» What other types of businesses would you like to see on Main Street?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

No, there can never be too many bars or restaurants, at least not for Waccamatt.

I would like to see more upscale shopping in the Vista. I'm not a big fan of chains, but they do draw interest. That said, Brooks Brothers, Benneton, Tiffanys and Crate and Barrel would look awesome in the Vista. For those of you who say there isn't enough money in Columbia, who is buying all of these $300-$1,000,000 condos and homes downtown? I'm far from wealthy, but I would still shop in places like that on occassion. I could see the Vista taking business away from the malls with more shops. Devine Street has already turned into an pscale shopping area with Storehouse, The Bohemian, Weathers and some of the upscale women's stores.

As far as Main Street is concerned, the city must require new office buildings to have street level retail. The Meridian has Garden Bistro, but that's it. All First Citizens is going to have is their branch. I'd like to see Nickelodeon and Workshop Theater move to Main Street, also.

[krazeeboi]

As I mentioned in an earlier post, this building is atrocious and could use a facelift; picture courtesy of waccamatt:



Also, in some places on Main, it seems as though there is no uniformity in landscaping. I don't mind variety (not TOO much; it's a street, not a botanical garden), but there also needs to be a sense of balance. Case in point (also from waccamatt's page):



There seems to be about three types of trees here in close proximity; I think that's a no-no. And as I mentioned, some of the Palmetto trees look kinda sickly.

As it stands now, Main is just outright depressing.

[Spartan]

vicupstate, on Jul 26 2005, 06:17 PM, said:

The park's name was changed to honor Mayor Kirkman Findley, not because of a bad reputation.  That area was not called Sydney Park in recent times until the park was completed.  That same site had been a park previously(pre-Civil War, I think), and was called Sydney Park.  Sometime after that, the city abandoned the park and rail and other uses took over the site.  Fast forward about 100 years.  The city opened the park we see today around 1988 or so.  It was named Sydney Park because of the history behind the name.  Sometime in the early-to-mid '90s it was renamed Findley Park. Findley had just died, and he was the originator of the Congaree Vista name and redevelopment initiative, part of which included the park.   

I still see no reason to go to the expense (public and private) and loss of business for Main St. merchants (what few are left).

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I am well aware of the Park's history. The area actually used to be called Seaboard Park back before Finlay/Sidney park was established. But it wasn't the park we have today... When they built the post office there, the USPS still used trains for long distance deliveries, and they had partially constructed a rail line into the underside of the Post Office (which is why the thing is bulit up so high to start with) so that mail cars could go right up to the building. However, the USPS switched to trucks before this was completed, leaving a partially constructed rail line through the park area. It really made for a trashy area. So when Sidney park was renamed for Mayor Finlay, it was to honor him, of course, but it also changed the association people had with the name of the park. Its only natural. That is my point about the name changes.


» Are there too many restaurants and bars in the Vista?
No way.

» What other types of businesses would you like to see in the Vista?
Daily use stores like a drug store. Publix is a great start. Maybe some sort of electronics store. I'd like to see the Hardware store on Lady st fixed up alittle.

» Should there be more restaurants and bars on Main Street?
Yes.

» What other types of businesses would you like to see on Main Street?
Anything other than a wig shop or a finance/loan/fast cash store would be acceptable.

[krazeeboi]

As for other business that should be located on Main, I'm thinking things like a Fed Ex store, something like a classy souvenir shop, a rare/antique bookstore, etc. For restaurants, I'm thinking Brixx, a nice classy-type bar (something along the lines of Blue Restaurant & Bar in Charlotte or Halo Lounge in Atlanta), Showmars, or even SC's first P.F. Changs.

I'm really convinced that the revitalization of Main Street into a more urban, pedestrian-friendly destination will be absolutely KEY into taking Columbia to the next level. The Vista and Five Points are cool and all, but it doesn't carry the significance that Main Street does.

[vicupstate]

However, part of the renaming process was to shed the image that Sydney Park had- being over grown and a generally unwelcoming and unsafe place.

Not to get into a tit-for-tat here, but the name Sydney Park was applied (or should I say re-applied) to the area once construction started on the park in the late '80s.  As you correctly stated, Seaboard Park was the name used when it was overgrown and unsightly.

The park was opened for a couple of years under the name "Sydney Park".  I lived just a few blocks from it, and it was very popular and heavily used.  Telling someone that you went to Sydney Park over the weekend, did not raise questions of "is it safe down there?" or the like.  The name change was only proposed after Findlay's death.  I don't remember any mention during the news reports about changing the name for reputational reasons, -- it had the reputation of being the city's newest and nicest park.  

As for Main Street, merely renaming it will initially give it an unknown reputation.  And once the name does catch on, the current reputation will follow it, if the atmosphere  doesn't change too.  I would concentrate on that.  I'm sure Main St. in Greenville had a negative connotation back in the late '70s, but it has a positive one now.  I say change the SUBSTANCE of Main Street, not the name.

[mainstreeter]

How about a good old fashion General Store like the one in Greenville.  That would be a great draw for locals and visitors.  The one in Greenville and Ashville is

http://www.mastgeneralstore.com/

That would continue the momentum for Main St and would add a lot

[HAMMETTM]

krazeeboi, on Jul 25 2005, 09:47 PM, said:

Question: Do you guys think the name "Main Street" should be changed? Do you guys think it's too "small townish" for Columbia?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

It's definitely too small with it being just two lanes.

[HAMMETTM]

Sorry I didn't read into the question. It doesn't really matter if the name is changed, but I still think the feel of Main St. with it being two lanes is definitely small townish, but I don't think there is a way they can change this as the buildings are too close too the street. Maybe they should do away with vehicle traffic on the street and change it to a pedestrian only street from Main and Gervais to Main and Blanding (which is the street where Club Rio is, I believe).

[Charleston native]

HAMMETTM, on Jul 27 2005, 10:39 AM, said:

Sorry I didn't read into the question. It doesn't really matter if the name is changed, but I still think the feel of Main St. with it being two lanes is definitely small townish, but I don't think there is a way they can change this as the buildings are too close too the street. Maybe they should do away with vehicle traffic on the street and change it to a pedestrian only street from Main and Gervais to Main and Blanding (which is the street where Club Rio is, I believe).

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You know, that is a great idea. Denver did that with their corridor known as 16th Street. It used to be a regular street for cars, but they changed a 10-block stretch of it to be pedestrian-only. They created a beautiful urban shopping, dining, and entertainment district with many local and nationally-known restaurants such as Hard Rock and The Cheesecake Factory. Many business HQs are also located there to draw in workers. Now since this street is rather long, a small shuttle makes stops at each intersection of street (like a mini-mass transit system!) for people who don't want to walk that far. If Columbia followed that model, Main Street could be quite impressive!

[vicupstate]

Charleston native, on Jul 27 2005, 10:22 AM, said:

You know, that is a great idea. Denver did that with their corridor known as 16th Street. It used to be a regular street for cars, but they changed a 10-block stretch of it to be pedestrian-only. They created a beautiful urban shopping, dining, and entertainment district with many local and nationally-known restaurants such as Hard Rock and The Cheesecake Factory. Many business HQs are also located there to draw in workers. Now since this street is rather long, a small shuttle makes stops at each intersection of street (like a mini-mass transit system!) for people who don't want to walk that far. If Columbia followed that model, Main Street could be quite impressive!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Pedestrian malls like Denver's 16th Street and Miami beach's Lincoln Road are very nice, but for every success story, there are a lot of failures in the pedestrian mall category.  Many cities tried these in the '70's only to tear them up later.  

Having only two lanes does not mean the kiss of death either.  Main Street in Greenville was narrowed from four to two lanes and found success.  But Greenville didn't just narrow the street.  They made the newly widen sidewalks very beautiful and SHADED.  They also brought in "anchors" in the form of a convention hotel, a performing arts center and eventually another major hotel.  More recently a major retailer (Mast General) was added.  

Closing off Main Street to vehicular traffic would be the kiss of death unless something besides office buildings were added to the Main Street mix.

[krazeeboi]

On one of the discussion boards on TheState.com, the following suggestions were offered concerning Main Street:

Quote

To bring back Main Street you have to:

* get rid of the bums

* get rid of the criminals and thugs

* stop taxing improvements to property

* replace AT&T, BellSouth and the other major businesses that the politicians ran off to Charlotte.

* replace the banks which were sold to Charlotte.

* stop tearing up the street every few years and putting the small businesses out of business.

* stop issuing so many parking tickets when half the spaces are empty all day

Are his comments dead-on?

[Spartan]

HAMMETTM, on Jul 27 2005, 11:39 AM, said:

Sorry I didn't read into the question. It doesn't really matter if the name is changed, but I still think the feel of Main St. with it being two lanes is definitely small townish, but I don't think there is a way they can change this as the buildings are too close too the street. Maybe they should do away with vehicle traffic on the street and change it to a pedestrian only street from Main and Gervais to Main and Blanding (which is the street where Club Rio is, I believe).

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I disagree. You need some vehicular traffic in the area. Pedistrian malls are not a good idea for Columbia.

krazeeboi, on Jul 27 2005, 11:28 PM, said:

On one of the discussion boards on TheState.com, the following suggestions were offered concerning Main Street:
Are his comments dead-on?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Not entirely. He seems to not have an idea of what really has to happen. There is a need to get the bums/homeless people out of the area. I haven't ever thought about thugs, but mostly becasue there arent any.

There are tax incentives in the official CBD area, so that doesnt apply. Maybe making one specifically for restaurants would help.

Hasn't it been 10-15 years or more since the last time they redid Main St? It sure looked it.

Parking tickets are going to happen. Use a garage. I still think Columbia needs better signage to direct traffic to garages.

[krazeeboi]

Spartan, on Jul 25 2005, 11:14 PM, said:

No, it was first called Richardson St on the orginal layout. We didn't have a Gov Richardson unil 1840. I am not sure who it is named after.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Actually, we had a governor by the name of  James B. Richardson who served in that capacity from 1802-1804; John P. Richardson was elected in 1840.

I'd still like to know who the street was originally named after though.

[emerging.me]

krazeeboi, on Jul 29 2005, 08:17 PM, said:

Actually, we had a governor by the name of  James B. Richardson who served in that capacity from 1802-1804; John P. Richardson was elected in 1840.

I'd still like to know who the street was originally named after though.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

South Carolina Revolutionary War General Richard Richardson.

I can't take credit though... the naming of the streets in Columbia -- as well as some other interesting and little known info (did you know the land where Elmwood Cemetery is was thought to be haunted even before they began using it as a burial ground?) -- is discussed at length in this document prepared by Clemson University.

Here's the link.

The street naming info is on page 44, I believe.

Edited by emerging.me, 29 July 2005 - 09:33 PM.

[krazeeboi]

^Thanks for that info. For some reason, I thought it may have been a Revolutionary War figure of some sort.

[Spartan]

That is a nice link. It certainly clears up any misunderstandings:) I have always found information on why streets were named what they are to be interesting. I wish they had this information for our other cities.

I like how they used to call it the "Lunatic Asylum" as opposed to our PC terminology: 'Mental Health Facility.' People back then just said it like it was.

[krazeeboi]

^I'm sure this information is available for Charleston.

But I found this part of the report very interesting:

As part of an attempt to ridicule the Up Country wilderness settlers, Charlestonians suggested that the site be called, "Town of Refuge," but Gervais responded that he "hoped that the oppressed of every land might find a refuge under the wings of Columbia."

That's a very cool saying; perhaps Columbia should adopt this as a motto of some sort.

[colajnp]

The Athlete Factory (http://www.athletefactorysc.com/) is moving into the basement of Tapps building.  This and the new bar Whigs at the corner of Main and Gervais are a nice addition to Main St.  Still a significant amount of retail infill needed but everything helps.

[emerging.me]

colajnp, on Jul 30 2005, 03:04 PM, said:

The Athlete Factory (http://www.athletefactorysc.com/) is moving into the basement of Tapps building.  This and the new bar Whigs at the corner of Main and Gervais are a nice addition to Main St.  Still a significant amount of retail infill needed but everything helps.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Wow... that's such a cool space... a gym isn't exactly what I would've hoped for in terms of reuse, but it beats it just sitting there. Haven't been to the Whig yet, but I hope to check it out soon... hear it's cool.