Scottville's Main Street Critiqued by Citizen

[XLFD]

Bill Brooks of Scottville sends a letter to the MCP about whether the Main Street Program has succeeded for the town.  My long-standing opinion on the matter is that it hasn't, as I have stated in numerous threads throughout the years (see Will Scottville Need an EFM?, and Historical Landmarks Get Revival, and Scottville's Loss, Scottville's Gain, among others).  Just paying for the manager is a $50,000+ a year proposition.

 

Those willing to play with the program become dependent on grant money and dies off when the tax money dries off.  Those who don't, have to deal with unfair competition created by those who do.  The city tax rate has to remain at county highs to help perpetuate these programs.  But the abandoned store fronts often look well-kept, and they have received state grants to fix-up upstairs apartments while occupancy needs are decreasing, so maybe an argument can be promoted that makes sense, but what do you think? 

 

Former Main Street Manager Josh Spencer from southeastern Michigan and currently disrupting the free market in Grand Haven, weighed in to the discussion on Facebook to fault Brooks and Scottville business manager Ron Bayton for not getting in line with the program.  Spencer-for-hire came into town, played the game poorly, and left for greener pastures with his team trailing big time.  Notice he does not defend his program or his time at the helm.

 

Scottville’s Main Street program: A failure or success?

June 11, 2014

Islands in the west parking lot of Scottville producing long weeds.

Letter to the editor. By Bill Brooks, Scottville.

As the Main Street group attempts to convince the public that it is a success, the question is why is it necessary to do so. I see it as neither a success nor a failure. I see it as a way for the government to provide jobs for architects, engineers, and aspiring city managers.

Looking at the cost of administering this program, it would be considered an abysmal failure. Looking at the spruced up store fronts it  could be considered a success. However some of these storefronts are not in use. Also the parking lot shrubbery has been removed and replaced with weeds.

It was my hope that this program would rejuvenate Scottville but I’m not overly optimistic.

To make Scottville a more desirable place to live and do business several things need to happen. First and foremost bring property taxes in line with neighboring townships and communities. Second is to create a program to make parking lots, sidewalks and streets safe, clean and attractive. Third is to remove dysfunctional, unsafe and unhealthy buildings such as the old schoolhouse, the old elevator building, the CSX building which has the roof caving in and the house on the northeast side covered with plywood.

Finally return city government to its only purpose which is maintaining safety and communal projects.

Government has no reason nor expertise in managing free enterprise projects including RV parks and store front improvements.The free enterprise system works much better without government interference.

http://www.masoncountypress.com/2014/06/11/scottvilles-main-street-...

[Willy]

In my opinion the decline of Scottville started with the commercialization of U.S. 10 followed by the west side bypass of Scottville. There is very little need for businesses in Scottville when all of the retail and eating establishments one could need are just down the road outside of Ludington. All the money in the World is not going to fix Scottvilles problems caused by the small town nemesis, "progress".

[Willy]

There's only one mom and pop hardware store left in Ludington since Lowe's and Home Depot moved in. I do all my business at the mom and pop and then I'm forced to use the big stores if they don't carry what I need.

[AQUAMAN]

Many people said long ago that the MDOT by-pass would be the end of Scottville's main street, and so, can't they admit that now? Some "progress" in actuality, become regress later. 

[XLFD]

Scottville may have faired a lot better with the bypass if the city's main downtown businesses were situated along State Street (US 10) rather than along Main Street/Scottville Road.  Scottville still has a lot of traffic along US 10 going through it, but it has to entice people to want to turn (especially south) at Main Street because they just don't see what's in the downtown unless they do.  They lose out on a lot of drive-by impulse-shoppers every day, because there is still a lot of east-west traffic going through Scottville naturally, but not a lot of north-south movement.