Washington Post: Life Around Dupont Circle Takes a New Turn
One of my greatest fears concerning the future of our neighborhood/local commercial districts/corridors such as the Vieux Carre Royal/Decatur Streets, Faubourg Marigny Frenchman Street, Lower Garden District Magazine Street, Garden District/Irish Channel Magazine Street, Jefferson City Magazine Street, Carrollton Maple and Oak Streets, and Mid-City North Carrollton Avenue is the transformation from being home to mostly locally-owned businesses to the location of primarily national, traditionally suburban or mall retail chain stores. I had this concern before KTMB, but even more so post-KTMB and given the alledged "pro-business" stance of OUR MAYOR (tm), I think there is reason for concern. These often-time long established, locally-owned and operated businesses play a significant role in the unique character of New Orleans. Once we lose such businesses, they are gone--and we take another step towards becoming Non Orleans, otherwise known as Dallas. No, thanks.
Here's what's happening in the Dupont Circle area in Washington, DC--exactly what I don't think we want to happen in New Orleans . . . . Notice how one of the local merchants believes "the beginning of the end" for Dupont Circle started as soon as Starbucks deemed the neighborhood--and it's demographics--worthy of their latte.
www.staylocal.org
TAGS: Katrina, New Orleans, NOLA, Local Business, Vieux Carre, Urban Planning
posted by Seymour D. Fair @ 7:22 AM
7 comments
7 Comments:
Interesting, I got the same comment earlier, I haven't approved it yet.
In other news the Time Picayune is reporting that the plan for Eastern New Orleans comes out pretty much as I expected,
Eastern N.O. plan returns area to its roots
"The plan calls for three major bicycle paths, each stretching at least five miles; landscape buffers between homes and businesses; a French Quarter-style mixing of commercial and residential properties at most major intersections along the interstate; a revitalized Lincoln Beach; a family entertainment district; an open-air, pedestrian-friendly town center for Eastern N.O. plan returns area to its roots."
I'm starting to get a little annoyed by this zihuatanejo dude. He seems to be going around to everyone's blogs, not offering thoughtful remarks, but pasting in the same poorly-written blurb, advertising another forum that contributes nothing to our community, in the same way that a dog goes around the neighborhood urinating to mark places.
Starbucks has Lattes? I thought they only had whip cream mocha frapichinos at the low low price of $6.50.
I've always been a little bit of two minds on this subject. I'm all for patronizing the local mom & pop's, when it's not hugely more inconvenient or greatly more expensive than getting the same product from a national store. But am I expected to boycott all national stores for which there is any possible local alternative? To what extent am I expected (and is it to my benefit) to "subsidize" the corner store by paying more for something than I can find it at the big guy? I know it's in my interest to do this to some point...but where is the line drawn?
Usually the big nationals have become big nationals for a reason--somewhere along the way they discovered a successful marketing strategy that a greater amount of customers found appealing when compared to their competitors approach. Sure, there's the whole thing about businesses getting so big that they forget about the things that made them successful in the first place. But usually if they're still reasonably successful after their growth it's because they're still doing something right--offering a huge selection, lower prices...something. And before you paint me with the "Walmart" brush, no, I'm not real crazy about what happens to small businesses because they can't compete with Walmart. And I'd like it a whole lot better if there were ANY pressure at all put on them for any unfair business practices they may engage in. But I think we run the risk of slipping right into the dreaded "elitist" role if we complain too much about fellow citizens who balk at paying a substantial amount more for items in order to buy them from the corner store and begrudge them the opportunity to buy a "cheaper" (not to mention less expensive) version from the mass marketer.
This is one of my favorite neighborhoods in DC. The last two visits we made we stayed at a Holiday Inn about five blocks away (with the kids, needed a pool) and at Drury's the time before that.
I even remarked to my wife on our visit 2 and a half years ago that Dupont Circle would be the perfect sort of urban neighborhood to retire to.
I am sadened to read that article.
Our case is slightly different. The national chains are not, buy and large, charging into NOLA. We simply don't have the traffic counts (feet or cars going by) that are the Holy Grail of national chain location. On my last visit to Riverwalk, I noticed that all of the stores that have reopened are the mom-and-pop, local retailers. None of the chains were reopened.
The real danger is long term. As local businesses fail and tourist traffic (and residents) return, the national chains may see a void they can move in and fill. Imagine Jackson Square and Royal, or Magazine and Carrollton lined only with national chain stores. How would this differ from one of the retail districts one finds in Orlando at Disney World?
Our representatives in Washington are ignoring the local small business person (and the mid-market renter). Neither is welcomed back by the Road Home or any other plan.
Puddinhead:
I agree--its a tough issue. The reality is that people in the 21st century United States expect to have Wal-Marts and Targets to buy cheap, mass-produced stuff and quite frankly the last twenty years or so has made it where you really don't have a choice to buy such things but at such national chains. In New Orleans' case, if these stores aren't allowed to build within the city then all of the sales tax money goes instead to Jefferson Parish . . .
mark:
Its the long-term future I am concerned with--especially in the Vieux Carre. The big boys are going to come in and mop it all up.
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