I think we are doing what needs to be done to lay the groundwork to make downtown attractive for businesses again.miz.jordan17 wrote:Is there anything we can do to persuade companies to come back downtown? Do you think revitalization will help lure them back?
Most of the serious blight has been removed inside the Loop. The Sprint Center and Power & Light District have brought back entertainment and restaurants. There are more hotel rooms.
The streetcar line provides incentive to get rid of large surface parking lots, which contributed to lack of activity.
The Community Improvement District's Public Safety Ambassadors (yellow jackets) help provide a sense of safety and keep downtown streets cleaner.
Downtown is also getting to the point of having enough of a resident population that some businesses will be attracted to where their workers want to live.
I think one of the last pieces that needs to happen are simple things like improving the appearance of downtown streets and sidewalks. Think of the the Country Club Plaza and how the physical environment is so attractive. That needs to be replicated inside the Loop and along major arterial streets south of the Loop. Corporate headquarters are very sensitive to image these days, and they are careful where they locate.
