Editorial: Downtown Development - WSFA.com: News Weather and Sports for Montgomery, AL.

Editorial: Downtown Development

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  • Editorials

  • Tuesday, May 21 2013 7:20 PM EDT2013-05-21 23:20:08 GMT
    The horrific tornadoes that ripped through Oklahoma this week bring back all too familiar memories for Alabamians as memories of April 27, 2011 are still fresh in many minds. When Alabamians were in need
    The horrific tornadoes that ripped through Oklahoma this week bring back all too familiar memories for Alabamians as memories of April 27, 2011 are still fresh in many minds. When Alabamians were in need

  • Thursday, May 16 2013 7:20 PM EDT2013-05-16 23:20:04 GMT
    In my editorial on Tuesday I chided our legislators for being the last state to pass a no-brainer  bill legalizing home brewing.  Today I want to challenge them to be one of the first states to pass another no-brainer;
    In my editorial on Tuesday I chided our legislators for being the last state to pass a no-brainer  bill legalizing home brewing.  Today I want to challenge them to be one of the first states to pass another no-brainer;

  • Tuesday, May 14 2013 7:20 PM EDT2013-05-14 23:20:07 GMT
    Kudos, or perhaps, cheers to the Alabama Legislature for passing HB9, the home brewing bill. Legalized home brewing may not be up there with education reform or prison funding, but it was overdue. 
    Kudos, or perhaps, cheers to the Alabama Legislature for passing HB9, the home brewing bill. Legalized home brewing may not be up there with education reform or prison funding, but it was overdue. 
    •   

When thousands of people come to Jubilee CityFest next month, they will be treated to a much more vibrant downtown, thanks to the opening of this Alleyway, reminiscent of parts of New Orleans.

Nearly a thousand more people from the Southeastern Regional Ballet Association will visit Montgomery Mother's Day weekend as this dance festival can now be hosted here because of the new Renaissance Hotel and Performing Arts Center.  

The energy in this city at night is noticeable as music can be heard both outdoors and indoors.

More people are now living downtown in the new condo developments. What's missing is shopping.

Convention goers now have more food options. They also want to shop. The Biscuits shop is great. We need more.

Specialty shops are a tough sell anytime, as are retail outlets, and this economy is rough.

But to truly realize the dream of a vibrant downtown, shopping options are needed.

Empty storefronts diminish the excitement happening here.

One third of our downtown guests are business travelers, another third come for conventions and meetings and the rest for leisure activities.

Clearly, well over half the foot traffic here will spend money beyond a bar or restaurant.

It's vital we work towards giving them that option.