Commons' Failure is Great Opportunity Downtown

Dan Moore - downtownVItal.org

Washington Commons was a blight on the downtown. Conceived as the savior of a struggling city center, the former Port Plaza Mall has become a symbol of the struggles the downtown has faced. New ownership and a new name could only delay the inevitable. In the mall’s wake, not even an impressive list of accomplishments downtown in recent years could change the minds of many that downtown was beyond repair.

Now we are presented with the finality of the mall’s end, but more significantly an opportunity to re-envision what seven acres in the heart of our downtown will become. This is no small opportunity – much as having a parking lot and a dilapidated parking structure along the riverfront gave us an opportunity for a world-class boardwalk, the closing of Washington Commons gives us the chance to put the heart of our downtown to its best use.

We are left with an enclosed space, cut off form the rest of the city while cutting the city off from itself, and dedicated to a use for which the time has passed. Going forward, we must make sure that no matter how compelling or trendy a use for the mall space is today, what we build there must be adaptable to other uses while engaging the surrounding city.

Moreover, we need to think big about what we build on the Commons site. The goal is not to fill the space quickly with whatever comes first just because we fear a vacant property. We need to envision what we would like to see built, and take the time necessary until our vision becomes reality.

One such vision, created by a local downtown supporter to show what is possible on this site, exemplifies downtown development done right. A large atrium creates an all-season space that is not only beautiful, but also adaptable to a wide range of uses while flowing almost seamlessly into its surroundings. Punctuating the plan is a twenty-story tower which enhances the landmark status of the site but also combines with Astor Place, River Center, and the potential signature building on the corner of Walnut and Washington to further define Washington Street as downtown’s “main street.” (For more details on this plan visit: http://home.new.rr.com/visualizeit/downtown_GB.html)

As important as having the right plan is, perhaps even more vital is having the right attitude towards development downtown. It is easy to define a problem (a struggling downtown), come up with a solution (build a mall), and believe that the problem is fixed and needs no further help. Human nature is to resolve a problem quickly and move on, but such a band-aid approach is the surest way to ensure long-term failure.

Going forward, we need to make sure the health of downtown is a continuing priority. Cities are never finished products; a stagnant city is a dying city. No matter how great a singular project may be, supporters of the downtown must always be looking for what can be improved, how to adapt to changing trends, and what can be done to make the downtown best serve the needs of the community. This is the only recipe for lasting success downtown.

We are fortunate to have the opportunity to redefine yet another major slice of our downtown. It is up to all of us to learn from the mistakes of the past, and to build a city that will have long-term success. We need to dream big and have the guts to make the dream reality. Moreover, we need a lasting commitment to ensure that the vision is a lasting success. As always, it will be the people of the community that will determine the success or failure of the mall site. The bold and lasting commitment of downtown supporters will lead to success as big as our dreams.