ten-year decisions made in 30-minute meetings
I admire people who can anticipate the future and act according to their intuition for unseen events. This is why I hold select members of elite businesses in such high esteem (a controlled esteem, let’s say). When I listened to George Nolen’s lecture (CEO of Siemens) this past spring semester, his predictions for the world-wide effects of today’s actions and trends fully impressed me with his insightful and discerning understanding clearly hidden behind his well-chosen verbiage. Deciding for the future is a risky business - who wants to screw things up for their own children? - and the task is as daunting as it is hopeful.
Now somewhat having already been brought into the local Blacksburg fold, I am seeing the disaster that the town council of Blacksburg, somewhat in junction with Virginia Tech, are bringing upon this community. I have discussed the topic with several business owners around town in the past weeks and the issue continually arises in general conversation with Bollo’s customers who like to chat. The concern? Blacksburg is being commercialized with chains. There are several causes, perhaps some hidden ones I haven’t yet discovered, but the stench of corruption is already seeping through the surface cracks.
About three years ago, a large, five-story building was constructed at the corner of Washington & Main Streeets called Kent Square. It is a tall brick building, complete with large, glass windowfronts. A bank was getting the crossroads corner and other stores were lined up for bids. Other stores like Bollo’s. When inquiring to locate a satellite Bollo’s shop in Kent Square, our official bidding representative was flatly rejected with, “We want a Starbucks.” Ok, well, they got their Starbucks. And eventually also a Subway and a frou-frou jewelry store and hair-cutlery place. There were a few spaces open for businesses, too, namely four more stories of never-touched flooring. Two or three other store fronts filled up, but after only two years of goods & services, they closed their doors, not being able to pay the exorbitant rent. The majestic Kent Square currently rests a nearly empty block of un-earthened clay and drywall. The Starbucks and Subway maintain regular business.
Another one of these uppity buildings began construction last year, Clay Court, almost adjacent to Kent Square. Without dwelling on the flop that was Kent Square, this attitude of “let’s bring in the people who can pay really high rents” is killing the actual downtown area of Blacksburg. Main Street is slowly becoming deserted as the landlords of those blocks catch on to the fever that is greenbacks. Even though Kent Square is a disaster and Clay Court looks to follow those footsteps, the downtown landlords have begun massive renovations to the look of their sections and have been raising rents without remorse. Over a dozen shops that have been staples of the Blacksburg community have closed. Even Crossroads, an unbelievably famous and renown music shop (complete with utterly impossible-to-find indie/electronic albums), had to relocate from its premier Main & College Ave corner (crossroads) to a far-from-campus hole-in-a-plaza.
Will a Banana Republic place a store in a location where all local businesses seem to be losing money even if the actual aesthetics of the storefront are beautiful? Does a Panera want to open shop when it witnesses some of the most popular Blacksburg restaurants closing their doors because even they can’t make a decent profit at the current rent rates? The downtown landlords are nuts. The town council who sought to construct Clay Court after the now-defunct Kent Square are even nuttier. While these places may cater to some of the wealthier groups of Virignia Tech’s students, they have no legitimate reason to be in a town like Blacksburg - a place of residents almost completely against their presence.
It’s not a disaster waiting to happen - it’s a disaster.
This is one of those instances where you hope that your elected officials will pull themselves together and act like actual residents and not corporate tools. But this is also a type of situation that nearly cries for coup d’é tat. I simply loathe corruption and hypocrisy.
Just this morning, on my walk to class, I was clocked at 11 miles per hour by the Virginia Tech Police’s remote radar station. Totally reeks.
June 23rd, 2006 at 6:58 pm
It really wrenches my heart to have watched downtown turn from “boom” to “bust” over a period of about 9 months. I really enjoy the town of Blacksburg because it is (well, used to be) so unlike my hometown - nothing but a massive, cancerous suburb.
I sit here over the summer, isolated from everyone I know by a 10-15 minute drive. That drive, during which I pass by at least two bastions of unkempt capitalism (uber-shopping centers), contributes to the fact that Greensboro, NC has worse air during the summer than Los Angeles.
Uncontrolled growth fueled by corportate greed + chain stores preying on the mainstream + cut down trees to build roads, McMansions, and shopping centers that will be empty in 5 years = desolate wasteland.
The Triad of NC used to be lush, green, and a nice place to live. Now it’s a polluted concrete & asphalt jungle. And I’m seeing the start of the very same process starting Blacksburg. It’s sad that a gem such as Blacksburg is viewed as no more than a diamond in the rough, needing to be cut, polished, and sold to the highest bidder.
June 24th, 2006 at 8:06 pm
Though it is not a justification, I can say Toby once described to me why the town council built Clay Court in light of Kent Square. I wish I could remember what the term was built it has to do with the ability to stimulate growth in the town. Although it’s very frustrating to see the small businesses falter, I will argue that it is not corruption but rather something else. If you ever get in touch with Toby, perhaps you should have a discussion with him as he is an Urban Planning alumnus.
In closing, I agree that this is a growing problem and it pains my heart to see small businesses falter in a place like Blacksburg. They actually care for their customers and the food and drink is of such a higher quality. Places like Crossroads at such a location will be missed.