Priceless.. just priceless.
Now that those connected with the museum are realizing the cost of developing the Salem Ave. site are skyrocketing, so lets distract people by talking about moving it some place not a single celled organisim would want it moved. This way, when we "begrudgingly" go with the downtown location, regardless of the cost and traffic congestion and all that, people will be thrilled that we left Mill Moutain alone.
Oh Art-heads, are things really that bad in your little world? Don't you realize Mill Mountain IS an art museum unto itself. One look out from the Star's overlook and you can see every style, from the PoMo to the impressionistic.
Although allow me to be momentarily amused by the dragging of Mr. Vander Maten into this whole deal. Here is the man charged with the betterment of Explore park. And read his words carefully.. "Vander Maten said moving the zoo to Explore Park "certainly is an idea that's on the table."
Note how he wants the zoo, which is clearly an attraction and draw. NOT the museum, even though adding the museum to Explore Park would be easier than anything based on location and site(s) available.
Oh - "The mountaintop would be made more accessible with a mountainside
tramway, the thinking goes. And the synergy of the area could help draw
people off the Blue Ridge Parkway toward downtown."
Mountainside Tramway? Incline Railroad in the only form we could build it now?
Oh, and Mr. Mayor - you really want a better way to tie downtown to Mill and Explore? You need to read my blog more often sir.. Search through my archives for just those very sentiments, in an easy-to-realize plan.
So, in a nutshell - your not looking at an actual idea floated to move the Museum to Mill Mountain (which in itself would triple the costs), your looking at an idea floated to generate buzz about a dying project. To hide the obvious.
But keep trying, I think I noticed some dust had been moved from the parking lot on Salem Ave. I was unsure if this was a sign of development of the location or not. Please, give us a clear sign. Show us the cost vs. funding data.
Now that those connected with the museum are realizing the cost of developing the Salem Ave. site are skyrocketing, so lets distract people by talking about moving it some place not a single celled organisim would want it moved. This way, when we "begrudgingly" go with the downtown location, regardless of the cost and traffic congestion and all that, people will be thrilled that we left Mill Moutain alone.
Oh Art-heads, are things really that bad in your little world? Don't you realize Mill Mountain IS an art museum unto itself. One look out from the Star's overlook and you can see every style, from the PoMo to the impressionistic.
Although allow me to be momentarily amused by the dragging of Mr. Vander Maten into this whole deal. Here is the man charged with the betterment of Explore park. And read his words carefully.. "Vander Maten said moving the zoo to Explore Park "certainly is an idea that's on the table."
Note how he wants the zoo, which is clearly an attraction and draw. NOT the museum, even though adding the museum to Explore Park would be easier than anything based on location and site(s) available.
Oh - "The mountaintop would be made more accessible with a mountainside
tramway, the thinking goes. And the synergy of the area could help draw
people off the Blue Ridge Parkway toward downtown."
Mountainside Tramway? Incline Railroad in the only form we could build it now?
Oh, and Mr. Mayor - you really want a better way to tie downtown to Mill and Explore? You need to read my blog more often sir.. Search through my archives for just those very sentiments, in an easy-to-realize plan.
So, in a nutshell - your not looking at an actual idea floated to move the Museum to Mill Mountain (which in itself would triple the costs), your looking at an idea floated to generate buzz about a dying project. To hide the obvious.
But keep trying, I think I noticed some dust had been moved from the parking lot on Salem Ave. I was unsure if this was a sign of development of the location or not. Please, give us a clear sign. Show us the cost vs. funding data.
5 comments:
How come the powers that be in Roanoke cannot make a decision and stick to it? Also, notice that Mr. Van still has not stated directly what he will be doing with Explore Park...
because unfortunately the powers that be have absolutely nothing to do with the art museum. They do, however, have everything to do with Mill Mountain. Go ahead, lets see the city allow the AMWV to break ground on Mill Mountain, think of it - when the AMWV goes broke - it will make one hell of a welcome center/restaurant on the mountain.
It wont take very long..
Can't get people to support the zoo, how the hell you think they are going to support a museum up there.
I think the museum is a great idea, and I think tying Mill Mountain commerce to Roanoke is a good idea also - if it's executed well enough.
I'm not sure if you're looking at the museum the right way. It's not going to support itself fully, that's never the goal with a museum. Typically a museum gathers proponents, wealthy proponents, who bequest art and money so that the region can benefit from additional exposure to the arts. Once a museum is established, it's existence and prominence helps define a city in the eyes of those inside - and more importantly - those outside the city limits. When large companies are searching for a new location for their headquarters, or when white collar and blue collar folks are looking to move to a smaller city from a larger metro area, they are really, really, looking at what a potential city has to offer from all sorts of angles. What sort of jobs are available, how good are the schools, what kind of restaurants, what sort of cultural activities and so on. Those are quality of life issues. A museum definitely helps Roanoke put more on the table with regard to quality of life.
I'm a newcomer to the Roanoke area. Grew up poor, living in a trailer park within a city's limits, watching my mom pick grocery produce out of dumpsters. I clawed my way up to that 1% of people who own 90% of everything. So I think can see both sides of this argument. Why dump loads of money on a museum when certain people are going without. However, I can see the connection more clearly now, the connection between those quality of life issues and the draw they create for big employers, and how that can be a good thing for the job market and a good thing for people looking for better paying jobs. More employers mean a smaller employee:employer ratio which pressure up wages.
I picture the museum and other such efforts as loss leaders. Loss leaders are something a merchant loses money on ($2.99 for a 12 pack of soda) because it gets people in the door and they'll be spending money on other things too, where there is a big margin.
From my newcomers' perspective, Roanoke is a great city. I've traveled to many cities around the country and in other countries and for it's size, it's got a tremendous amount of character and history. I think that if we stop progress though, it will age and lose its charm and turn into just another boring ugly old mill town like Nashua, NH.
Sean
I do understand the follow-effect an art museum would have on Roanoke. But the thing is, we allready have a facility which is unlike any other. And at this stage in history, Roanoke needs to worry more about it's commerce than it's culture. It needs to correct past mistakes, which it has begun with the zoning changes - but we are focusing our efforts in respect to culture in the wrong places.
The first problem we need to tackle is the problem of landlords and run-down housing. Some of the most stunning homes in Roanoke are on Patterson, Salem, and Mountain Ave - and yet the homes themselves are in such a state of disrepair they are barely habitable. And yet they are carved into multiple unit housing.
There can be no pride in place or love of arts when you live in those conditions. Part of the reason the Art Museum does not warrant a new building, in my view, is that if the space were developed commercially - the jobs it created, the influx of cash and the city's own efforts to increase home ownership (which I have first hand knowledge of, and it's a wonderful hidden secret apparently - but not for much longer) would give those whom could benefit most from a museum increased pride in place and culture.
It's all part of a process.. but by ignoring the existing underlying problems to focus on a 2nd rate building would not accomplish anything. If you cannot find a nice home to move into within the city, then the museum does not matter. Continuing this way would have businesses relocating to the city, with the employees living in the county due to the housing problems.
But thats just me, and theres more to come on that in the near future.
I was driving my brother in-law around the Roanoke County and City area looking at homes, and we saw plenty of working class neighborhoods within city limits that were well kept and attractive. Saw some less well kept neighborhoods also but they were the exception rather than the rule.
I'm with you on once glorious homes that are now run-down multiple unit rentals. It's depressing. The only way to reverse that trend in certain neighborhoods is to make hard choices. One idea that comes to mind is buying two to three adjacent homes in a neighborhood, razing them, building a historically relevant apartment building with say, 12 units, and then buying out individual renters' lease in those neighborhoods and giving them a free six month lease in one of the new units. Then, buy each of those houses from the owners, and auction them off individually to home flippers or developers who must follow a set number of zoning guidelines - like architecturally and historically correct designs for rebuilds/remodels.
I think that this model, where you have newly constructed multiple unit building(s) mixed in with single family homes, would mitigate the appreciation of those homes and help keep those houses affordable for a longer period of time. Otherwise, if you just flat out remodel every home, you will effectively squeeze out low income renters and market values in those neighborhoods will appreciate rapidly. Also, squeeze them out and you end up being compelled to build giant housing projects and we all know how successful those are :(
Sean
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