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Downtowns are dead, dying or on life support, says expert with over 50 years of researching urban policy
Fortune ^ | 9/25/23 | John Rennie Short and The Conversation

Posted on 03/11/2025 12:10:43 PM PDT by DallasBiff

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To: dfwgator

I worked in downtown Dallas after Dillard’s and Foley’s were already gone. To make matters worse, I saw a Hardee’s sign in the distance and thought that would be a great place for lunch. Darned if it wasn’t closed too. Now that really hurt.


41 posted on 03/11/2025 1:24:22 PM PDT by Larry Lucido (Donate! Don't just post clickbait!)
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To: Major Matt Mason

Once they shut down the Soup Nazi, that was the beginning of the end.


42 posted on 03/11/2025 1:26:23 PM PDT by Larry Lucido (Donate! Don't just post clickbait!)
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To: Gay State Conservative

I live north of you over the NH border.
The only time I go to Boston is to Logan airport or the occasional Red Sox game.

Years ago my wife and I used to go in and spend a weekend there in the winter. Stay at one of the nice hotels and eat at a fancy restaurant. We have not done that in many years.


43 posted on 03/11/2025 1:26:53 PM PDT by woodbutcher1963
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To: DallasBiff

Change is the only constant.


44 posted on 03/11/2025 1:28:14 PM PDT by 1Old Pro
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To: DallasBiff

Not surprised.


45 posted on 03/11/2025 1:28:54 PM PDT by metmom (He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus)
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To: FlingWingFlyer

FlingWingFlyer wrote: “Sounds like the burbs are on the way to losing all of their pharmacies, supermarkets and Walmarts. Once the “smash and grabber” slash and stabbers move in, decent businesses will be moving out.”

The liberals believe that relocating Section 8 housing into the burbs will have two effects.
First, proximity to the Section 8 will create sympathy among those living in the burbs resulting in increased funding to offset the poverty.
Second, the burbs will become mentors for those living in the Section 8 demonstrating that the way to get ahead is to get a job allowing them to afford the finer things.

Actually, it won’t work that way.
The burbs will be less likely to support the Section 8 when they can see with their own eyes what the residents of Section 8 are like.
The residents of Section 8 will see the burbs leaving for their jobs, they will roll over for more sleep, and then they will use their absence to steal the finer things.


46 posted on 03/11/2025 1:30:52 PM PDT by DugwayDuke (Most pick the expert who says the things they agree with.)
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To: Governor Dinwiddie

Small business people discovered that Democrat city officials refuse to defend their property.

Then they fled.

They decided not to get scammed a second time.


47 posted on 03/11/2025 1:31:42 PM PDT by cgbg (The Democrat Party is a criminal enterprise.)
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To: Brian Griffin

I loved Florence. We stayed in the center of town right on the piazza across from the Ufizzi Gallery. I did not see one homeless person the whole time I was there. The city was clean too.

Even in Rome where we stayed right around the corner from the Spanish Steps. In general I found the center of the city to be pretty clean. I can remember one homeless person lying on a sidewalk talking to herself on the way back from dinner. One homeless person in the four days we were there.
Pretty nice for a city of 3 million.


48 posted on 03/11/2025 1:31:56 PM PDT by woodbutcher1963
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To: woodbutcher1963

Take an empty hi-rise and put a soup kitchen on the top floor. Make them take the stairs up to get there. It would be good for their health/cardio. Panoramic views.

Then they can go down to the next floor and enjoy a glass or 2 of boxed wine as a reward.

The bottom floors can be used for shelters. Laundromat on a separate floor and showers on another.


49 posted on 03/11/2025 1:56:04 PM PDT by DIRTYSECRET
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To: DallasBiff

Nobody wants to live near the blacks. Not even other blacks.


50 posted on 03/11/2025 1:58:10 PM PDT by Sirius Lee ("Never argue with a fool, onlookers may not be able to tell the difference.”)
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To: Big Red Badger

“Prescott is losing a Del Taco.”

Really? They are pretty good.


51 posted on 03/11/2025 2:00:13 PM PDT by Luke21
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To: Alberta's Child

COVID and the dystopian fiasco that came with it was the death knell of downtowns.
__________________________
This was and remains the biggest change agent of all. I wonder if the COVID merchants of death envisioned the long term sweeping societal change and damage they were doing when they went on their killing spree?


52 posted on 03/11/2025 2:03:47 PM PDT by iontheball
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To: DallasBiff

Multiculturalism kills it.


53 posted on 03/11/2025 2:07:09 PM PDT by Choppo
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To: Whatever Works
Wow, people think $20/hr is an astronomical amount of money.
54 posted on 03/11/2025 2:14:01 PM PDT by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn...)
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To: sauropod

.


55 posted on 03/11/2025 2:30:54 PM PDT by sauropod (Make sure Satan has to climb over a lot of Scripture to get to you. John MacArthur Ne supra crepidam)
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To: DallasBiff

WHEN YOU ALLOW/ENCOURAGE N+DRUGS/NEEDLES? EXCREMENT/URINE EVERYWHERE-—THIS WILL KILL BUSINESS.

SAN FRAN TOOK A DELIBERATE ACTION.

THEY ARE REAPING THEIR REWARD


56 posted on 03/11/2025 2:31:05 PM PDT by ridesthemiles (not giving up on TRUMP---EVER)
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To: DallasBiff

Downtowns are not NYC or any other massive liberal shxtholes.

My local downtown.. population just under 700, is doing well, restaurants are usually full, so is the local brewery since I go there and order from the restaurants.

Cities suck, always have and always will.


57 posted on 03/11/2025 2:34:51 PM PDT by maddog55 (The only thing systemic in America is the left's hatred of it!)
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To: dfwgator

Does this mean the dope just figured out the obvious?


58 posted on 03/11/2025 2:36:26 PM PDT by Colt1851Navy (What was wrong with Nixon?)
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To: DallasBiff

Amish.


59 posted on 03/11/2025 3:02:29 PM PDT by exPBRrat
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To: FlingWingFlyer
I live in DeKalb, Illinois. Many years ago, the city implemented Section 8 housing, aided by votes from the student population and faculty at Nothern Illinois University. Section 8 people from Chicago generally flee that area (when they can) to Aurora or Rockford, and then generally flee those areas to DeKalb.

And the section 8 housing has grown to the point where we have our own food desert, along with all of the problems that come along with the stereotypes. There have been various attempts by true-believers to build non-profit groceries, but so far the Casey's Gas Station and the liquor store across the street are the only places to get a bag of chips or a lottery ticket.

And, of course, capitalism is the problem, at least according to the true believers.

60 posted on 03/11/2025 3:33:43 PM PDT by Bernard (Issue an annual budget. And Issue a federal government balance sheet. Let's see what we got.)
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