An FBvian who specializes in charitable property development has more thoughts on the Garden Cafe, neighborhood spaces, and urban planning. Hey–it has to start somewhere. And as of today it won’t be near a super-size version of a Calatrava bridge. What, nobody at City Hall believed the $57 million bid number was a freakin’ pipe dream? Nobody knew, as Emily Ramshaw deftly points out, that the Fancy Architect Whose Name We’ll Do Anything To Use is well-known for “breaking budgets”? Hey, think wannabe; act locally.
Not only is the Garden Café a good place to eat and a model for the community, but the entire small retail/commercial structure should be a model for urban planners. There have been to many of the similar developments taken down in the name of separating retail and commercial usage. All of the ones left should be encouraged and more small retail/commercial use planned whenever it can fit. Wick may remember the small retail development on High School, just north of HPJunior High School. It was all taken out in the late 1950s, including small grocery store and other neighborhood services. Wouldn’t it be nice to have those stores back?
