Portland, Tennessee Blog

Just how much control does the city have over Main Street businesses? Have they talked with the business and property owners about anything? What do they want? Will there be grants for owners to renovate if the street is closed to traffic? Just curious.

Is Anyone else concerned about the Middle School having the second to the lowest grade on Middle School's in Sumner County? Isn't it time that we got someone in there that can make a difference with the school and the children rather than having someone who is riding out retirement?

My comment about White House football was just a jab at the traditional rivalry between the two sports programs. When I was in school, we were in the same district, so I beleive the rivalry was a bigger deal then than it is now. That's all I was talking about.

I did my student teaching at White House High School and they have an excellent principal and I enjoyed my semester I spent there; and as you can tell in the previous post, I admire a lot of the things their city government has done. However, as a born and raised Portland boy, it felt strange saying so many good things about White House, so I had to level the playing field by taking a little stab at the Portland-White House rivalry. Hope noone took it too seriously.

dale,

perhaps you could be the puppetmaster....hey it worked for bush...both of them..lol...keep the ideas coming...someone sooner or later has to take the hint and the ball and run with it.

jj

JJ,

Thanks. I appreciate what you have said.

However, I don't think I am drawn that way at this time.

I will be glad to continue giving ideas, though. Maybe someone will get a vision and make something happen.

Dale

Dale,

You should think about office if your not already working for someone. Your ideas are fresh and pretty good. You have my vote if you decide to go for it. Portland needs those fresh ideas.

There's a lot of great ideas and suggestions here lately.....hope some of them are given some serious thought by those who can do something about them.........there just needs to be a plan with a theme to pull it all together to give Portland a personality -- think it will all be in it's uniqueness that it will find it's way.
Just having another chain drugstore or fast food place is not going to make it.

Unfortunately, progress must come with a price. However, if that progress, such as an outlets mall, or "high end" eateries, etc. are strategically placed away from the downtown area, as I said, out by the Interstate, then we can use some of that revenue to, as others have mentioned, renovate and upgrade what we have in the city itself.

I have no problem with growth. The planners can get together and organize the highways and by-ways needed to expand the area to include room for more traffic. We have to expect that if we want to move forward. Just renovating what we have isn't growing...we have to add new things to update and upgrade!

I also agree that there are way too many old and empty buildings just sitting -- and I agree that there are a number of ways to deal with them. The problem seems to be in the "doing." Like you, DebraP, I just hope the right people are reading this! At any rate, I plan to attend the next town meeting if I can find out when and where? Maybe if enough of us "voice" our ideas and opinions, they will be heard! I'm afraid there are not enough people reading this Blog to help us out! Most people I mention the Blog to, have no idea what I'm talking about!

First, we need to work with what we have. Remodel the buildings already here and bring them up to code before we even think of bringing in new buildings. There are just too many empty buildings around this town that could be put to good use. I agree with Dale, especially with #7.

Does Portland really need or want a Starbucks or a high end restaurant? Maybe, out by the interstate but not in town. I enjoy going to Gallatin and Franklin when I want something besides a burger. I don't want to see Portland turned into a place like Gallatin with the traffic jams and such. We need to keep our small town feel and figure out what, if anything, we can do to achieve that goal.

Let's work on Main Street and other areas of the town first and then work our way out to the interstate. I liked the outlet mall idea.

There have been many great ideas presented here on the blog. I just hope the right people are reading them.

The underlying point here is that Portland needs to upgrade and update!

I maintain that a new Outlets Mall with brand name shops and eateries (such as fresh hot pretzels, cookie store, and yes a Starbucks), and a few nice resturaunts like our own Cracker Barrell, Logans, Outback, O'Charley's, etc. located at the intersection of Hwy 109 and Hwy 31W would be a perfect fit for Portland. It is in the middle, between Franklin, KY and White House, TN, and it would be different from anything they are doing (yet!).
Spruce up Main St and surrounding area, coordinate the "look" and as DeeAnna mentioned, give it a Depot Square nostalgic feel and appearance. There is lots of traffic going up and down I-65 every day to support the Outlet Mall and we can pull in some of what Franklin and White House are getting...plenty of those travelers can and will pay $5 for a cup of coffee at Starbucks, they will spend their money and we might as well be there to take some of it.
There can and should be lots more to Portland than Main Street, but it all needs to be renovated and brought into this century.

More ideas...

1) The city and the chamber should work together with the SBA to establish an SBA satellite office here, so that small businesses can get advised locally for these loans.

2) An Enterprise Loan Fund should be established, working with the SBA and SCORE, to provide seed capital for projects and businesses like the ones stated below. Donations to the fund should be secured from area citizens, businesses, industries, etc., so that improvements can be made.

3) Start with an overall plan, and break it down into sections for the city. Take a section at a time and begin improvements until that section is done.

4) Give incentives to business owners who fund their own business improvements. Don't do what is currently the idea and wait for a new occupant. Work with business owners, instead of penalizing them. Give a time period for all improvements to be made. Phase such outer and inner improvements in over a time period, .... let's say 5 years.

5) Each section of town will have its own character. Not all parts of town will look the same. Work on zoning to make this happen.

6) Contact the Main Street program, and find out what it will take to get the downtown certified and in their program. This was an idea before, but one or two building owners on Main Street refused to go along with it, so funds were never gotten. Make it an issue of imminent domain, and city cleanup, so no ONE person can stand in the way of everyone else, so that the city can be improved.

7) Work toward a NO VACANCY rule. You have owners who refuse to rent their buildings. Some have been vacant for at least 5 years that I know about. That can't continue. Building MUST become occupied. If rents are too high, then hold a town meeting and solve it. Personally, Portland rents are too high, in my experience, for what you get. Bring them in line with what they should be. We should NOT see rents as high or higher in Portland than you do in White House. Just an opinion.

8) Local schools must do business locally. No more taking it out of state or out of county.

Just a few ideas.

I go to town meetings. I do vote. I dont vote. I can do either. Its my choice as an american. My church is across the street. These are all fine and well used examples of things not getting done in our town. Has anyone heard anything positive in the last 20 years for Portland?

I don't see any issue with the road being closed..you can still go either way at the end. The problem I have with Main St. is that when parking is allowed on both sides....it makes it too congested and looks like a parking lot !
Especially when every other vehicles is a big pick-up truck ....it feels like you just barely have enough room to get through sometimes...and when delivery people park in the middle of the road, no one can get through.

Happy Thanksgiving All!

Back to the Main Street issue, as I mentioned in a previous post, we've lived here for several years and have never been down main street. Well yesterday I drove down and even with the closure at the end, you can still go right or left with no problem and ample space. What's the big issue with the crossing being closed?

Happy Thanksgiving everyone !

I believe Tim was talking about the rivalry between the two schools. White House is one of the classiest teams in the state. Portland would be very lucky to have a coach like Jeff Porter. I would trade our entire coaching staff for Coach Porter. There is tons of examples where the White House Community has stepped up to help there neighbors. I wish our football coach wasn't as arrogant as he is and would take a lesson from Coach Porter.

A Christian man coaching the devils?

Tim, why do you "despise" White House football? Is it because we are successful? If you knew Coach Porter personally, especially with you being a preacher and all, you would really appreciate Coach Porter's strong Christian ethic. He is a compassionate, Christian man who cares deeply about his players and his community.

Did you not read the recent article in the Tennessean where the White House community with the spear-heading of Coach Porter raised $2,400 for the coach of first-week playoff opponent Polk County, who had all of his entire possessions wiped out by burglars? A coffee tin was even passed around by students the night of the game in which $900 was raised by the fans in the stands. Maybe the people of Portland also remember when the students of White House High School collected money for the former principal of Portland High School when she lost everything in a house fire.

I am just saying, I hope your "despising" of White House football is based soley out of a traditional rivalry, and not out of anything beyond that. Our coaches and our community are good people.

Excellent!

Nice variations on what we have been talking about. I could see those ideas working with an overall vision of Main Street. Definitely worth trying.

What about playing on this town's old fashioned way of thinking since progressive idea freak out the old folks... a small retro movie theater? A few new releases, theme nights- Cary Grant double features, World War II movies, musical weekends. Put in a malt shop or diner with a jukebox and costumed waiters/waitresses. Pony tails and poodle skirts! A game room with pool tables and pin ball machines...any other ideas? Or is that setting our 'image' back?

DeeAnna-well said. Voting is the most important right and I find it funny how many people claim to be patriotic and never vote.
Dale-You should come to the next downtown meeting, you've got some good ideas.

I agree with the discussions here, but originally we were trying to come up with ways to make Main Street a great attraction. I simply wanted to show how LBTD could be used. So often, we get into the MUST HAVE IT/ MUST NOT discussion and religion. Honestly, what does it matter if we don't know what we will do with it once we get it? It's kind of like saying we need to make gasoline with no way of using it.

LBTD is not at issue, in my opinion. What are we going to do with this city is the real question. I can give idea after idea, standard and wild. Many will work.

But, will we plan and go forward? That's the question in my mind.

I'm not buying the intimidation theory. Voting is completely private and even if an entire congregation stands outside your voting booth in a prayer circle, they would be none the wiser about "how" you voted unless you chose to tell them.

I'm also not buying the inconvenience factor. As small as Portland is, short of having them bring the booths door -to- door, it couldn't get any more convenient.

Vote or quit complaining. Better yet, vote AND quit complaining. If you don't like the outcome, try rallying voters your way next election. Offer to call and remind people to vote. Offer rides, etc. But once the votes are tallied, we need to come back together and work with what the voters have given us.

Daniel, you're right. If you don't vote, you don't really have a right to complain about the outcome.

I haven't had any problems voting there either...

I got a new voting card recently that says I'm voting now at the High School. Dosen't matter to me where the voting is....I'm going to vote regardless of the location !

People just take voting for granted...not realizing the alternatives if they weren't allowed to ...or realizing the sacrifices given so they can !

I don't buy the location thing at all. I went right in and right out, hardly any wait. Plus election day was sunny and warm, no reason for people not to show up except they decided something else was more important. Which is fine, but to me, if you don't vote, your opinion really doesn't hold weight.

Yes, you're right. People will use every excuse in the book not to vote.
And your "Just For Laughs"....I'm sure you're right about that....the intimidation factor works ! They use that well to accomplish their goals.

I've heard several people say they didn't vote because of the location of the voting... That they either think it's too small a place to get in and out of and didn't feel like fighting the traffic over there, or too out of the way so they forget it's THAT day. I've done it before myself. Maybe if it were dead smack in the center of town people would show.
Just for laughs... I have also heard that it was hard for a person to vote for LBTD when their church is right across the street... they felt guilty with the church greeting them as they turned in. LOL!

The LBTD issue was voted on by the people....that was not a Council decision. The churches campaigned strongly against the liquor issue -- and got their vote out. The problem is that the people who were in favor of it simply did not vote. We have to do better than this unless we want to continue to let the churches run Portland.

I love Dale's idea but we cant even get our goverment to pass lbtd. How can we expect them to be that progressive. We can't. They haven't. Not until some new talent gets into office with fresh ideas and legs. But that would me change. Wait isnt that what a town on the grow means?.....nahhhhhhhhh

Poort-land.....LOL LOL

In what town?LOL

It will take a co-operative effort to make "something" of the downtown district. I'm wondering how much the businesses on Main Street work together or WOULD work together to make something unique there.Portland needs a "revitalization" fund....or something like that.Maybe earmark a tiny bit of our tax money for downtown improvements....it seems. It'll take a team effort...and some creative leadership.
I've watched Portland since I first worked here in the 60's........I haven't seen much progress in all these years. The Richland Buildind re-do is really nice...but the rest of it looks pretty much the same. When I win the BIG lottery....I'll build my "Depot Square".....LOL LOL LOL

Wow! This certainly took an ugly turn!

As I was driving home from Franlin last evening, I just sort of looked around me on Hwy 109 and just took in the "look" of the city. Portland looks old and outdated. I have lived here for 4 years and have not seen any real improvement anywhere in the city. That is too bad...a nice outlet mall on Hwy 52 near the Interstate could possibly work..but I'm just not sure about anything working here anymore...there are so many good ideas, but I'm sure everyone else is like me, no "moo la" to do anything with..I have to drive an hour one way to work everyday, and certainly don't have money to invest in something that is not going to get any business anyway....I truly hate to see the posts on here become critical and angry! Can't we just keep our complaints impersonal...as in maybe discussing the business and not the person! We all make mistakes, and just because I think Hill's Grocery store is too expensive doesn't mean I'm going to sit here and slam the manager personally..who knows what he has to go through from his bosses, public, etc. Anyway, I don't really see anything positive happening here in Portland, so I'll just take my money someplace a little newer, more price competetive and more pleasant to shop in. Seems like that is what everyone else is doing too!

Exactly..we have to be DIFFERENT and UNIQUE.

That's why I think just a simple thing like creating a fun little "downtown district" like Depot Square would be soooooooo neat. It's like nothing in Franklin, Gallatin, or White House.

Alcohol wouldn't even have to be a part of this picture...it could just be a really neat jump-start to making "downtown" an inviting and fun area of Portland and maybe, just maybe, create a little pride in our town, at the same time !
I see it as a family-oriented place that would just be a fun place to go to....even music playing on the sidewalks would be fun..even if it were on CD's....:)

The restaurants could even feature healthy drinks ! Like fruit smoothies...fancy coffee, etc...

I still think the dining car restaurant is a cool idea.....

I am in favor of LBTD because I think people here deserve choices and it's a good source of revenue, but it wouldn't be necessary for Portland to have a neat downtown area. There are many many towns that thrive without alcohol, but they offer uniqueness and an INTEREST for people to come to their towns. It's here, we just have to draw it out and develop it into reality.

You see, I did NOT post to get a debate on LBTD. I showed in my posting how to have an overall vision of what to do with it in a specific area that would enhance the city in a direction. I also gave alternative directions, in case that was not good.

We get bogged down in the morality of LBTD. What we should maybe develop is a strategy of how it would be used, where, why, etc.

I would say the same thing no matter what the issue. Frankly, if the city said they had sound data showing that a petting zoo would draw people to town, I would buy a pig and take her to city hall and drop her down on the mayor's desk.

But PLEEEEEEEEASE have a direction for something. How do you want to see the city? In 5, 10, 20 years? How do we get there? Why will we be unique once we get there?

There seems to be a debate on the meaning of the word 'progressive', so here it is from Webster.com (just for fun... adding to the minutia):

Main Entry: 1pro·gres·sive
Pronunciation: \prə-ˈgre-siv\
Function: adjective
Date: circa 1612
1 a: of, relating to, or characterized by progress b: making use of or interested in new ideas, findings, or opportunities c: of, relating to, or constituting an educational theory marked by emphasis on the individual child, informality of classroom procedure, and encouragement of self-expression
2: of, relating to, or characterized by progression
3: moving forward or onward : advancing
4 a: increasing in extent or severity b: increasing in rate as the base increases
5often capitalized : of or relating to political Progressives
6: of, relating to, or constituting a verb form that expresses action or state in progress at the time of speaking or a time spoken of
7: of, relating to, or being a multifocal lens with a gradual transition between focal lengths
— pro·gres·sive·ly adverb
— pro·gres·sive·ness noun

We need a strategy to change the character of Portland to become DIFFERENT. I have a degree in Marketing, and I have worked in economic development in past jobs. For Portland to continue seeking a chain like Target, at this time, tells me that those doing so do NOT understand the town we live in or basic development. There is no understanding. There is not plan.

We have to create a position that distinguishes our city from those around us. We have to get everyone in on it, so that as the tide continues north of us, we are not swept away. We cannot simply copy what is being done around us. It is economic SUICIDE. We WILL lose.

As to retail, it is amazing that members of the very council chosen to advise on retail do themselves direct their own organizations to buy out of town. The city also does so. Clubs do it. Schools do it.

Imagine what COULD be if our leaders actually set an example and bought here. What would happen if our schools purchased locally? The Chamber? The athletic organizations? What would Portland be like then?

Sorry, but I did use the word "imagine". What was I thinking?

:-)

hey Tim, don't get excited! :o) I was just answerin' the call of the LBTD comments. I know LBTD isn't the answer to the question, but I think it shows our non-progessive state of mind. It would appear that we would try anything to lure retail. I'm sure White House didn't buy Wal-Mart's chain with impact fees. And I absolutely will never understand you and Mike making the comment that if this was all about revenue then abortion and marijuana should be legalized. We have NEVER insinuated to legalize something illegal. It is simply a tool being used by many of our neighbors, and when you don't have the cards in your favor as White House and Franklin, then you have to turn over anther card! i love ya Tim, just two different opinions, take care

Jody, your post was right on as far as retail recruitment. Portland has benefited from its geography when it coems to industrial recruitment, but the very same geography kills us when it comes to retail recruitment. I just have one bone to pick with you.

How did the term progressive, get tied to passing LBTD as the only way this city can be "progressive?" That's like saying that the only way the United States can be progressive is to legalize abortion in every state, invite casinos to come in on every corner, or legalize marijuana.

This city's progressivism is not tied to one issue. Look at White House. They are doing a very good job of being progressive and they also do not have LBTD. That's why their property values rival that of Hendersonville. Their crime rate is so low, they can put their whole police force on the Interstate. That last statement was meant as a half jest, but you get my point.

Progress in this city is not based solely on LBTD. Historically, being progressive has entailed coming up with new and inventive ways to better the lives of the constituents. White House did it by passing impact fees a decade beofre Portland got around to it, and we still don't ask industry to pay anything for all the trucks they are putting on our streets. As much as I despise White House football, you have to admire the progressivism of their government. It won't be until we take a lead in doing new things instead of waiting ten years to get around to doing the things other cities are doing, that we will truly live up to the slogan "Proud, progressive, Portland."

Ok y'all,
This post is going to sound like i'm ramblin from subject to subject, but it's all related and i'm trying to type it in as i think of it! :o)

Dale, you said what I have been fearing for years.

Everyone keeps getting mad at the "Council" for Portland not having retail. The fact is, believe it or not, this new council has tried to be progressive in attending retail conventions etc. to "sell" our city. The problem is, they (retail vendors) all asked "where is your wal-mart?"
They also require population numbers for within a 5,15, and 30 mile radius. White House can provide numbers greater than ours on a 15 mile radius than we can. And Franklin is the county seat of Simpson, these are a few of the reasons they have always seemed to had things we didn't have.

One of the councilman stated in thursdays meeting that if we could get an "anchor tenant" to locate on main street, that others would follow. Well folks let me tell ya, I can almost guarantee you that you will never see an "anchor tenant" on main street!

"Anchor tenants" are retail businesses such as Wal-Mart, Target, etc.. There isn't enough space on main street, plus the traffic flow on "main street" is not at all even close to the numbers needed for successful retail.

I have preached and preached this sermon so many times before! If the city of Portland wants to be successful, we have got to find a way to lasso the traffic from I-65! For a long time, someone traveling on I-65 would travel for 1 hour from Bowling Green to Rivergate or vice versa. Portland was sitting smack dab in the middle of them both (30 minutes to either).

In my opinion, if liquor by the drink had passed, it would have given the opportunity to place "chain" businesses at our interstate exchange. They would have been out of sight and out of mind to our downtown look and heritage. but noooooooo, we would rather pass, and let our neighbors, as usual, beat us to it.

That's why I say Dale is correct! Unless we do something QUICK, we can kiss that revenue goodbye! Because the area at "Wal-Mart" in Franklin has all the cards in their favor.

The voting citizens of this city (a majority anyway) have voted liquor by the drink down several times. So please stop laying all the blame on the city council.

If someone out there has some miracle idea for how we can regain this revenue please let me know.

As much as we would like to see main street some "happenin'" place, we better change our way of thinking! It amazed me that a group of city leaders stated the other night "We are trying to be progressive" yet it's the same city leaders who said they could not support LBTD.

Lord knows I don't want to start this fight again, but you folks keep bringing it (LBTD) up. I'm looking for help! give me some ideas!

Well, I'm sure you're right. There's no point in discussing it here...it's just fun to think about what potential there is and how it might be someday... I really do like building my "fantasy Portland" in my imagination...LOL LOL

Thanks to everyone for thinking about it for a few minutes with me, too !

I guess I am silly enough to think it might plant a seed in someone's mind to make them think "out of the box" a little bit about Portland and give them a suggestion that Portland doesn't have to look so tired and drab and boring like it does now. Portland looks "depressed"....it just needs some life breathed into it.

I don't think there is really any point in discussing anything like this on here anymore. It's over. It all went with the last LBTD vote. It is flat out over. The Portland you see around you is all it will ever be.

It is only a matter of time before all those people you saw fill the city council room opposed to LBTD will be seen dining at all the new LBTD restaraunts about to start going in up in Franklin.

But hey, let's everyone just look at the positive. Franklin is a town on the grow...and better yet, it is only FIVE MILES AWAY!!! We can all shop and eat just like the City of Portland wants us to...IN OUR NEIGHBORING CITY!!!

Dale, you ideas are excellent !! Portland can be a success, but it does need vision and leadership....and it does need to be creative and unique. Therein lies the secret, I believe.

Well, I will continue to dream about Depot Square and build it in my head. .....

I was in a small town in Nevada over Labor Day weekend...and they had Market Days every Tuesday evening in the downtown streets. They blocked off town, and people brought whatever they wanted to sell, there was food, entertainment...it was absolutely wonderful. Portland could do that....

We could do so many things that would draw people to us instead of passing us by.

An art gallery along with unique one of a kind shops would be so neat to go along with the food....there could even be a train dining car turned into a diner....how neat would THAT be ???

I must say, Dale you make pretty good sense. Some direction is better than "no" direction. I like the sound of your ideas as well. Portland just needs to do something to move forward...I really would like to shop and participate in my city, but so far, there is nothing to participate in! A wholesale outlet sounds good, too. I have to agree with you on the WalMart issue..I knew as soon as it went in, that bigger things would follow around it. We can't compete with them in that area, like you said. But what about something like the Outlets Mall in Lebanon? That would be really cool, we could even incorporate Main Street into something like that maybe...sounds like we all have lots of good ideas, we just need to get the city government to do some research and find out what they can come up with.

Some other thoughts for Portland...

Okay, here is another thought: You can't out-Walmart Walmart. Don't be fooled by some on our city council that believe we can get a Target or other big box store here. It's over. They will conglomerate around Walmart and Lowes. See previous posts as to why that is.

There are a few other ideas (directions) to take Portland so that the impact of big box retail in Franklin won't continue to erode the sales base:

1) Work with investors and developers to create a network of wholesale outlets.
2) Go totally with art galleries, high-end specialty shops, and restaurant/bars to add to my previous posts.
3) Develop family-based entertainment complexes to draw people here.
4) Go totally country and get back to olde tyme mercantile stores.

The basic issue is this: vision and leadership. Where there is no vision, the people perish. Poor leadership = poor vision = no growth.

So, our leaders need to get an overall idea, get behind it, and get the community united and working together. Pick SOME direction. SOME is better than NONE.

Franklin has a direction. White House has a direction. Ours should not be the same. But certainly, we SHOULD have one.

That is what I believe we need.

We debate buildings for city hall. Here's an idea: Put the water department in the current fire hall. Expand the jail and Police department there. Keep City Hall where it is. Build TWO fire halls on opposite ends of town. If a fire happens, then trucks would be quicker to respond...

More houses are being built. More people. Seems to me we need a strategy for fire protection that does not put it in only one spot. Basic metal buildings would be less expensive than some of the ideas for momuments-to-council-service we have been getting.

Councilman Callis -- be sure to let us know when that meeting is scheduled and if it will be open to the public....I'd like to be there!! thanks, gw

Depot Square already sounds exciting and unique...LBTD is not a problem for me...entertainment, dining, etc. would at least be better than the boring little street that it is now...I still think gift shops would be nice too and don't forget the red brick street with the street lamps....too bad I don't see any of this really happening in this town...I'm really curious as to just what the problem with Portland growth really is...someone please enlighten me...I see Franklin is having lots of growth spurts....what's our problem??

Absolutely LOVE the main street Food Court Depot on the Square idea! Add to that on weekends a flea market/swap shop during warmer weather months where people can go to peddle their goods & crafts! My husband talks all the time about how when he was a kid his grandfather used to go to downtown on main street to barter/swap goods. Always had to have something to boot he says..... what ever that means.. LOL, I'm sure it doesn't mean shoes or someone to kick!!

Dale...what a great idea....the downtown Depot Square Food Court...

LOVE IT !!

How unique !

The idea behind my idea is not to block anything...it's to create a "magnet" to draw people into Portland.......once that's done or is working....it can only grow from there....don't you think ?

Okay... an idea that will work...

First, pass LBTD. Let's don't fight about the controversy, just see what I am saying, here.

Second, close Main altogether. Rezone it as an enterprise zone for restaurants and bars. Give incentives to existing owners and businesses to move non-restaurant businesses elsewhere.

Open Pubs, micro-breweries, and restaurants there.

Create a sit-down, outside food court and bar area for nightlife in this town. (and daytime stuff, too.)

Have music, live entertainment, etc. Maybe put a stage at one end of the street with an awning for outdoor concerts.

Hire a booking manager or firm to bring talent to perform there.

Allow people to drink their drinks in the open area. (NOTE: The open area would be what is now the street.

Just an idea... not put here to start another LBTD debate and feud. But, you want ideas, so there you have it.

This entire town has so much potential. If we are a town on the grow however, should we not think bigger? Keeping it blocked off limits us to business's and possible new income. Just a thought.

Ooops...typo....that should have been "Depot Square"....lol lol

Well, that's exactly my point. It is drab, and boring. It could be and has the potential for being a really fun center for town. That's what I have in mind by suggesting "Depot Sauare". It will just take some creativity. The idea was not to turn it into Green Hills Mall....LOL LOL

I don't go down Main St either. It is drab and ugly. There is just not anything there to draw me in.

We've lived here almost four years and I got to thinking, I don't think we've ever been down Main Street for anything......

You are right. It is indeed laughable that any major chain restaraunts would actually locate here. I believe Arby's and Walgreen's are the last things new and with a name we will see for a while.

A major chain on Main Street??? LOL

What I was talking about was simply a way to make that area attractive and inviting...and a fun place to go to......something very unique....not a major shopping district that would "kill" the rest of Portland...LOL LOL
To make downtown charming and pretty to look at...with uniqueness.....

You want people to come to Main St? I will be honest. This is a serious idea...get ONE major chain to locate there, and then the rest of the shops will be able to survive on their own. The only time I turn down Main St (which is rare) is when I need to pick up a pack of guitar strings from the very wonderful Steve Austin. Other than that, I NEVER cut through there. I have never even eaten at the Mexican Restaraunt there....

BUT... if you could get, say one name brand store, such as, for instance, a FIREHOUSE SUBS or DOLLAR TREE or something like that to locate there, then maybe you could draw enough traffic there on Main St. to justify people walking through and passing by places such as "Marge's Silverware Emporium" and "Jerry's Ladder World".

Just my Two Cents!

I have seen several downtowns turned into a "pedestrian mall". The most notable of this in my mind is Laurel, Mississippi. When I was a child, it was vibrant. Developments outside the immediate downtown shifted business some. The idea was proposed to turn the downtown into a pedestrian mall. Millions were spent. The result? It killed all remaining retail totally. Vacant buildings became run down. It took a generation, and a new group of city elders to tear all the wasted awnings and pedestrian walks to put it back the way it was. Only in the last 10 years has it begun to reemerge as a downtown.

Pedestrian malls usually fail. They sound like a good idea, but they don't work, especially in a small street like Portland's Main Street.

Now, as a Marketing 101 rule, the general pull area for such outside malls is equal to the retail square footage of the specific area. That is limited. Several key buildings are empty, and the current owner families will NOT entertain tenancy or sale. Other building owners on the street will ONLY entertain office-based businesses... NOT retail. So, you are stuck on overall market pull for this street. Putting a pedestrian walk would not boost the pull.

The pull is a mathematical equation, where the square footage and several other factors are predictors of the geographical probability that business will come to the specific shopping area. As an example of how this works nearby, the total square footage of Lowes and Walmart TOGETHER will pull a larger geographical area than each separately. Additionally, as more shops and eateries begin to locate at that intersection, the more geographical pull will be created.

This is a basic formula taught for over 30 years in most major universities with business degrees. It is proven time and again. It is available easily for any city councilpersons to use to plan a city. For instance, the general pull of specific industries sometimes leads cities to zone so that those industries are located together, thereby increasing the geographical pull and more specifically, the tax revenues of the businesses. Locating auto dealerships together is an example.

Just some thoughts...

Thanks, GW....I really like thinking about Depot Square...:) I like the red brick streets, the lamp posts...sidewalk cafe...hmmm....very nice !

I can see both sides; re-open for current businesses, but also I can picture a quaint, red brick street, with victorian style street lamps. I also like the "Depot Square" theme. I nice little sidewalk cafe, ice cream shop, gift shop, etc. would really add something to the middle of the city. Pedestrians could walk freely from one side to the other and not have to worry about traffic. Businesses could work together as a group to promote the different seasons and holidays. I really think DeeAnna has come up with a great idea with the "Depot Square" and train theme! The back parking lots would work fine with a little promotion and awareness. Businesses would just need to vamp up their back entrances and could really end up with two entrances...like the Mexican Resturaunt.

OH, it could be called Depot Square....and capitalize on the train theme and Portland's history....could be very unique. A "one of a kind" for this area.

My opinion is that Portland needs to think beyond "how it's always been" and think outside the box as far as downtown goes and look at some other little towns and what they are doing. I am for the pedestrian only downtown area with the outdoor mall concept. I know that will never happen, but it could be very unique and a great downtown if done right. A great spot of evening events with restaurants being there....a fun place to go !

I am still pushing on the sign and will be asking for some funding.
I think it is critical, and I think it is something the city can and should do to help promote the area.
If this was a new development, we would require the developer to do it, but this is our mainstreet and we should reinvest in it.

Although it would be a nice pedestrian setting, I feel businesses cannot survive off the rear parking areas, the space that is right off 109 I believe is all office space atleast a large part of it is, the retail area is further down main street and exposure to these businesses will be so limited without traffic on that road. I believe Main street will become all office type businesses if the road isn't opened back up. Just my opinion.

I just don't know how much retail will work on Main St. There's a lot of potential here, talking to most of the business owners they want to see the crossing back open and it would be best. Mike, you had a good idea about putting a sign up with all the business names on it in the downtown area. Where does that stand?

I would like to see the area become a pedestrian only area with a Mini Mall feel to it.

But the business owners on Main are really the only ones that can tell you what will or will not work.