Portland, Tennessee Blog

Empty buildings... here are the answers that I know after looking for months....

1) Owners don't want retail - Yep, that's right. You would be surprised how many owners of property do NOT want a retail store in their location. Many prefer office operations, like check cashing places or mortgage companies. I can give specific locations, if you need. I have gone so far as to offer the EXACT amount listed for two properties in town, only to be turned down on a purchase price for this reason.

2) Owners don't want to rent - Many don't, UNLESS they can get 3-5 times to market rate per square foot for their properties, without putting any money into repairs. Three key buildings on or near Main Street fall into this category.

3) Trumped by churches - No sooner does a place become vacant than a new church emerges and enters before a business can get started.

4) New city planning issues - Any business attempting to put a business in an existing building must now produce a site plan. This must be done by a surveyor and engineer, showing a property plat with foliage plans, drainage plans, parking plans, etc. This must be supplied in 18 bound copies to the planning commission for consideration. Such consideration may take months, and the commission could still deny an application. This is for BOTH new construction and existing, commercially-zoned locations.

5) Can't get an answer - Many property owners simply don't get back with information, or call back at all. I have chased owners for months on some properties.

These are just a few scenarios that I have personally experienced. I am sure some will debate them. I suggest that you travel street-by-street and find out for yourself.

All the above situations are valid and until the people who have the power to allow Progress to move forward, it will stay the way it is. I don't like it, so I take my business elsewhere. I would like to see more variety in Portland and shop at home. Leadership is changing, but I feel it a day late and a dollar short. Such as draining the water from the city. It has been 25 yrs since the State bought the land to drain the city. Look and see how much has been done (a bridge built and a few hundred feet of ditches cleaned out and widend. We just have to keep trying and asking.
William

I would love to see Ryan's come to Portland. One like they have in Knoxville with a steak grill bar and seafood all the time. They would stay full all the time. I would also like to see a skating rink or a bowling alley come to Portland. Some thing my children could do that is controlled and not out running the streets.

My thoughts exactly! But hasn't the majority of citizens in Portland been comlaining about the same thing for years? We will never have any decent places here. All we ever get are burger joints, and most of them are practically run by kids, so they get nasty and run down in no time! 5 Chefs is the best sit-down restaraunt we have! We need more. As was stated in previous posts, we also need a place for our teens to go. There is nothing here for them to do. Years ago, when the skating rink was here, Portland was actually a fun place that kept our children close. Well, now they have to go to Hendersonville, Gallatin, or Rivergate to do anything. This is suppose to be Proud Progressive Portland, well Portland needs to prove that it is progressing, instead of just remaining stagnant.

MLK has my thoughts to the T. I am in no way impressed with the town's apperance.I think Portland could be so much more.I would love to see more of a hometown look for the city. Main St is nice but one street? The parking lots of most business' are littered with trash and all these empty buildings. I hope something can be done to clean up Portland.I am not sure who will take it on.I love the people in the town. I just wish it was cleaner than what it is...

I am in agreeance that there are toooo many buildings in Portland that have become eyesores. I also have a beef with the parking lot in the center of town that our gazebo is built in the middle of. How inviting is that?

Portland needs a "hook" to bring visitors in. Visitors = $$$. I own my own business, yet sell online. If the setting was correct, I would definately consider setting up a brick and mortar store here - but why do it here now? People who are not from here are only going THROUGH Portland, not coming TO Portland. What is here for them to visit? McD's? Krystal? If they wait 15 more minutes they can be in a town that offers more options - and not only for food.

I have had the pleasure of living all over the country. In comparison to other towns I have lived in, Portland doesn't have much to offer visually. There's no quaintness, or home town feel. There's a bunch of gas stations, fast food restaurants, empty buildings, and a not-so-inviting parking lot with a nice gazebo in the middle of it.

So...what can we do about to change?

I agree with Deborah, we need more places for our teens. We had a great place where Beachhouse is with games and food, but it soon went out of business. We need a place where parents can trust teens to go out by themselves and know that where they are is a good place. A place that serves a smoothie here and there and pizza and games would be nice. Being a preteen myself, I would love to have a place where we could hang out and not worry about our parents worrying about us.

I would like to see a bakery in Portland.It would fit nicely with the Strawberry Place theme. I know we have our local grocerie deli's, but I think a full service bakery would do great? Who doesn't like sweet's? An early morning stop for donuts and other specialty items would be ideal for local business people,too. Fresh bakery items, such as donuts,bearclaws,eclairs,ect.would be perfect for large business meetings, impressing clients, charity events for local schools or groups. There are many possibilities for a full service bakery. However, just as with any food business,in order keep the business going, it would have to be managed right. I have seen a few good restaurant's come and go for lack of management. Good food is only part of the picture. Cleanliness,kindess,promptness,and a huge dedication are main factors of a successful business.

Yes I would like to see more well known family places to eat at ,such as Captain D's or KFC and Ryans.

On the other hand I feel we need more places for our youth or teens can meet and eat in a clean enviroment we need something more here for them to do.

How about the old Houchens Building? I would like to see all of the old empty buildings on Main street with new buisness.

Nice picture, I have learned that Arby's will be taking that building in about 8 weeks also they will being offering breakfast with location..

I wish they open it like the picture here though.

I agree and have waited for someone to comment on the empty buildings.I do not understand why they have sent empty for so long.We need more business to attract more people in Portland.We have some great places such as the Beachhouse and Occasions. I agree I would love to see more places that are unique.How many burger places can we have?