Myrtle Beach's proximity to the Pee Dee would make it the last place I'd want to see casinos. The poorer counties in the state also do the most lottery business. Giving the poor more ways to blow their money isn't going to help, IMO.

Wow, sweet aerial. Thanks for sharing That will be a great "before" shot someday.

How about a game of "guess the intersection"?

iColumbia, your enthusiasm is appreciated, but I ask that you do a little spell/grammar checking on yourself. Obviously we all make typos, but it will be a help to everyone if you will do this.

Now as far a video poker, no thanks. What a waste of time and money. Anyone with any common sense knows that those things are programmed to give out just enough money to keep you coming back. What a waste. As far as casinos, I think that SC is fine without them. I don't want to become a state that relies on casinos for anything, and on the other end of the scale I don't want Myrtle Beach to become like Atlantic City, NJ.

People who blame the homeless for keeping other people away from anywhere are just using the homeless as a scapegoat.

My dream for Main Street is that it become home to trendy, eclectic, gourmet restaurants--including ethnic and international cuisine. Not chains, not beer and wings, and not college or even family-oriented. Funky, artsy, bohemian . . these are some words that come to mind (and there are plenty of others that would flock to such in this "most liberal" city in the state). Downtown Greenville has tons of new exciting restaurants such as these (and we all know Charleston has had for years.) We can too, hopefully. It has to be something that the Vista and 5 Points don't offer --- sophistication. (I am stunned that there are NO Thai restaurants anywhere downtown, for instance.) Places like Hush, Rust, Goatfeathers, Bird on a Wire and the like are examples of what would be ideal on Main Street, IMO (with unique concepts of their own, of course). Locally-owned with delicious food and fabulous ambience. Martini and Cosmo bars . . tiki huts . . cigar or hookah lounges . . Cuban, Vietnamese, and churrascaria restaurants . . bring 'em on!

Homeless people, or anyone else for that matter, sitting on a bench minding their own business don't bother me. I'm talking about being harassed by intimidating characters while standing next to my car pumping gas in the middle of a work day at a gas station on Elmwood. I'm talking about seeing men living under bridges and overpasses just footsteps from co-eds' dorm room windows. I'm talking about the urine-soaked and slept-in shrubbery lining Finlay Park. I'm talking about the street hustlers accosting me when trying to enter the fantastic Richland County Library doors that we paid for but can't even use. Have you been around the city lately? These are just a few of the examples of scenes I've encountered, and I'm just one person. It is overwhelming and has GOT to be addressed and not just swept under the rug.

You are right, they are people, and they deserve their dignity. I couldn't agree more. Let's get serious about this, and not treat this casually as "they don't bother anyone, leave them alone". To leave them alone would be the ultimate indignity.

I haven't been visiting this board as much as in the past, but the recent posts concerning Main St have caught my attention. I think the biggest obstacle for Main St, right now, is the presence and proximity of the triving Vista. It is going to be very difficult for Main St to pick up the restaurants and bars that Vista consistently attracts because that's where everyone wants to locate. And it's a better set up (and cheaper) for that sort of thing. I would like to see Main St position itself as a complement to the Vista instead of trying to be a competitor of sorts. I'm not sure how this can be done, but I think "good" retail destinations may help as well as "unique" destinations in general. If Main St tries to compete head-to-head with the Vista, nothing is going to happen. But, if some quality destinations come, then slowly people and restaurants will follow. For what it's worth, it used to bother me that there wasn't much to do on Main St, especially since that's where all the tall buildings (you know, what's supposed to be city center) were. Over time, I've begun to appreciate the Vista and Five Points more and more. I think it's cool that so many city blocks are completely geared towards entertainment, and both are really thriving. Again, Main St has to be something different to succeed...and hopefully something great!

Homeless people are just people to me. I don't say anything to them, just like I don't say anything to anyone else unless I know them, or unless I need to ask them something or they ask me something. When there are popular night-time destinations on Main Street, the homeless will go somewhere else. The only time you see them sitting on benches in the Vista, for instance, is during off hours when there's not much going on there. Homeless people avoid crowds for the most part, and those who don't blend in when there is heavy foot traffic. People who blame the homeless for keeping other people away from anywhere are just using the homeless as a scapegoat. And I don't think a one-stop place would do anything but make the one-stop place the new "place to avoid" and talk down. Even people who live in an area that others already perceive as a place to avoid don't deserve to have yet another reason to avoid their neighborhood forced upon them. Housing First has started, and behind the scenes efforts are being made to expand it, and I think it is the most responsible way to address the homeless problem.

I disagree. Certainly the homeless are an issue, but EVERY city has to deal with homeless people. You should see the homeless people in Charlotte. They are present, but they are just part of the scene. I don't think that is possible for a city to avoid them. Main St Columbia doesn't suffer form a lack of activity because of them it suffers because of a lack of anything worth going to. I think that its going to take some key destination, perhaps associated with one of the hotels on main street that chooses to locate there because of the hotel.

And I don't think a one-stop place would do anything but make the one-stop place the new "place to avoid" and talk down. Even people who live in an area that others already perceive as a place to avoid don't deserve to have yet another reason to avoid their neighborhood forced upon them.

Housing First has started, and behind the scenes efforts are being made to expand it, and I think it is the most responsible way to address the homeless problem.

You have a point, but I think it should be noted that the homeless in uptown Charlotte aren't really part of the overall scene since they are mainly clustered on the north end of Tryon. That said, as of now, there isn't much in that general area that acts as a destination which helps to explain that. I suppose that's why the homeless in downtown Columbia tend to be scattered along the length of Main. But you've got to admit that the abundance of the homeless surely doesn't help the perception of Main. I think both problems, the homeless and the lack of destinations/anchors, need to be dealt with concurrently. They feed off each other.

I know at one time, it was said that the best route may be to section off the campus into different parcels to be developed by different developers. I think that's a smart idea.

I disagree. Certainly the homeless are an issue, but EVERY city has to deal with homeless people. You should see the homeless people in Charlotte. They are present, but they are just part of the scene.