Joe Kennedy-Roanoke must deal with its realities

Joe Kennedy-Roanoke must deal with its realities

Now you know I rarely agree with anything Cuppa Joe writes, but he pretty much nails this one. With one glaring exception.

In all the things he mentions Roanoke being and not being, having and not having - the list of strengths we have, well - it's skewed a tad bit older than I think even Joe realizes. It took me a 2nd read before I realized it myself. It's lacking in strengths for the young adults of the town. Roanoke can be both the "family oriented city" and still have options for a younger population.

Retirees and Young Adults often look for the same thing when choosing an area to live, especially considering how many retirees are moving on to 2nd and 3rd careers now.

Quite a bit of what Roanoke does is based on assumption. You assume something cannot happen here, something can happen here...

The march of the VMI cadets down Jefferson could have easily been replaced by the March of the High Schools as they make their way towards Victory Stadium, but no one assumed it would work. Much like Martin's Bar and Grill on Luck and 2nd. Most people said it would not work, your too far off market. Luckily, the owners of Martins assumed just the opposite, and are being vindicated nightly.

Sometimes you have to make leaps beyond that which is easily assumed.

Assume this: Roanoke is a better city than it gives itself credit for. Roanoke has an optimal layout, that allows you to go from the south side to the north side in a matter of minutes, east-west takes a touch longer than that. Roanoke has a dense, easily navigable downtown area with limitations on parking, but not on available retail space. And Roanoke has much to offer everyone, and it's a safe assumption that should Roanoke decide to, it could easily become both the "family city" and the "friendly city."

No other place in SW Virginia has the capacity for clubs, concerts, and attractions Roanoke does. If someone would build an amusement park somewhere within city limits, even a smaller one would bring people from all over the area (and beyond) as there is NOTHING similar available nearby. But, we are mired down in assumptions that the big concerts would never book here in Roanoke, the large draw attractions would somehow fail.

Assumptions can go both ways, and affect the end result more than the facts could. Delusions of grandeur, or defeatist attitude?

I've learned one thing from studying the history of this city, and from observing the current: Assume nothing. The second you make an assumption that something will not work, your proven right. Make the opposite assumption, you stand a fighting chance.

Enjoy the festivals, but don't assume chili and strawberries go together.