HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 21 Correspondence from Greg and Linda Shaver, Springfield, Oregon
TO: Springfield City Council & Springfield Planning Commission & combined staffs
FROM: Greg & Linda Shaver
DATE: 8/7/2007
RE: Downtown Renewal/Revitalization
Dear Fellow lovers of Springfield,
You probably know our commitment, concern, and love for this city. We believe
in Springfield and its downtown. We've been very pleased with several downtown
developments this past year -the two biggest improvements being the new Wildish
Theater and the Saint Vincent high-rise housing project.
We also think switching from yellow to white street lights will make a positive
impact for downtown Springfield. We urge you to make their installation in the
downtown area a priority over the rest of the city. (BTW - My hat's offto the current
council. EVERY new city councilor elected since the mid 70's, myself included, has
asked staff about replacing those damn yellow lights, and only this council got it done.)
All plans aside, a vital downtown is dependent upon one thing more than any
other for its success. People. Lots of happy, "normal," law abiding people willing to
spend time and money in our downtown. Without them, no amount of new paint, bricks,
or lighting will make the kind of change we want.
Unfortunately, There is one thing standing in our way of a true revitalization and
that is the number of strip clubs and sub-standard bars in the downtown district. If this
problem is not addressed, you will be spending money (our money) to put a new suit of
clothes on the body of a leper. You need to first cure the disease, THEN buy the new
suit of clothes. If there is no plan for dealing with the real problem, then we will not.be
supporting the district. If there is a comprehensive plan for solving this problem, then
both of us will be behind it 100%!
You might consider forming a district which limits the number ofhard liquor
licenses within it - this may mean you grandfather in some establishments, but as they
close, they cannot be replaced with like businesses. You might think of some defendable
but expensive business license for strip clubs within the down town district. You may
even need to buy certain business properties and lease them out with the condition that no
strip club or sleazy bar be run on the property - as property owners have a bit more
control than does regulation. Maybe EXTRA BRIGHT city installed street lighting just
outside of certain establishments should be considered. Get creative, but make it a
priority or you can forget success. As "uptown" as Springfield is becoming, we are still
too small to have a thriving shop/office/restaurant community AND a busy sleazy-
bar/strip club community in our downtown core. It is time to make your choice.
Thanks for considering our thoughts.
Sincerely, Greg Shaver & Linda Shaver