Downtown Makeover
Is it an extreme makeover? As a former downtown resident, having another Target and a new grocery store at the Downtown Plaza are only pluses for the area. Not only that, but folks will be able to walk from the downtown offices to pick something up to bring home, or whatever. I think it’s a great idea, BUT I question why the city needs to subsidize the project. Granted, it’s not nearly as much as the proposed arena, but it’s still money that I’m not sure Sacramento can dig up. Then again, the parking rates at the plaza could go up. I suppose that could be a solution. In any case, a full service grocery is a good idea. Since I still come in from the pseudo ‘burbs to shop at the Plaza, it would be great to ’streamline’ my driving into one trip fits all.
3 things come to mind after reading that article:
1.) A Target there? I’m not against Target or having another good anchor (I’m no Macy’s fan) in the mall, but the Riverside Target seems pretty close. Can we support two?
2.) Move the bus station, eh? That would remove quite an eyesore, that’s for sure. Combine that with the possible lift K Street could get from a gussied up Downtown Plaza and maybe I wouldn’t mind running to and from the gym instead of driving as I feel compelled to do now for personal comfort.
3.) I support Crest and Tower theaters and would hate to see them hurt by a new theater development. I find the possibility of hurt pretty low, however, since I have yet to witness a major theater chain moving to town, opening 12 or even 30 screens and using them for anything other than showing Talleadega Nights on 7 of them and the latest Ashton Kucher vehicle on the rest. (In college, I lived a short drive from Ontario Mills mall an its 55 movie screens. When they opened, I thought - sweet! - no more driving to the Westside for the smaller films I’d like to see, surely they have the space now. Wrong, wrong, wrong).
Now this is MY kind of public subsidy…maybe I’m drinking too much of the Downtown kool-aid, but it seems like this expansion is necessary and welcome…there’s going to be condos on 3rd and Capitol and 6th and L and 8th and J, and I think it’s awesome if they can walk to get their groceries and everything else Target has to offer..I think the riverside one will be ok, too…
also, it doesn’t seem like Downtown Plaza and Tower/Crest EVER have the same movies playing and I don’t think it will be profitable for them to get smaller movies, so I don’t think there’s anything to wory about…