I think what bugs me is that it should be redeveloped into something great. And yet, it'll likely just be a strip mall - if it ever gets redeveloped. With our slow growth measure, I don't know if it'd be worth it for a developer to touch it.

As for our mall, all that will be left is a Cinemark, a Target, Hobby Lobby, and Burlington. The last two don't open into the mall, and Target's interior entrance is open sporadically.

The interior of the mall is a ghost town and has been for many years.

That Macy's store went through several distinct moments in its fifteen year history. In the beginning, it was "nice" but lacking. Around 2015, the lines were upgraded and the selection really improved. After COVID (and the "neighborhood store" concept) the selection really cratered.

oh god now I have to go look

One of those commissioners being termed out is the nastiest MAGA type who has failed at her own city council bids two times in a row. She spends much of her time attacking our previous and current mayors (both minorities, naturally.)

I'm really looking forward to seeing her out of a job.

So they currently have 4 of the 5 seats on the planning commission. However, something that may be of interest: three of those seats expire in March. So i'm hopeful we will see changes made on that front.

Also, the planning commission has yet to approve the project, but it's inevitable. The NIMBYs were voted off of the city council in the last election, but their parting gift was appointing two of their NIMBY lackeys to the planning commission, joining two others they appointed before.

good GOD lemon

As I was telling my friend, I'm not really going to miss this place when I leave. However, I am always going to want the best for it. It's just frustrating that so many people either accept the worst or actively try to hurt the city.

A "mixed-use" building (less than 20 units btw) was proposed for the city-owned vacancy, but certain citizens (all the same names as I see complaining about pride flags) were furious and mobilized against it. So it sits there.

they have three things going for them: housing, transit, and centrality! we can't fix the latter, but we can fix the other two, but we fucking refuse. We have five empty plots of land and one city-owned vacant building, with zero desire to do anything with them. Except drive-thrus, apparently.

It's a plot of land that has been vacant for the better part of two decades, and it's good to see it being used, but what the FUCK dude.

And residents will constantly complain that our downtown is a ghost town compared to neighboring cities, but never think about why that is... those other cities?

discounting the bacon and syrup which presumably knock it up another 400 or so

what is in those two waffles to make them 700 calories

good morning ben

I suppose it is