"Is your city’s metro shopping area turning into a ghost town?"
Mine is.
Chicago’s State street use to overflow with people and businesses. Now its looking mighty empty. Personally I think it a combination of downtown residents being online shoppers and the parking fees keeping other shoppers away. A third being skyrocket rent. Granted the magnificent mile hasn't been affected visually, North Clark street has seen better days. There arent any board ups like the city forces on abandoned properties on the south and west sides, just lots of whitewashed windows.
30. "They're not ONLY to blame, but I'd say they are a major contributing fac..." In response to Reply # 20
Sac's downtown has always felt like a sundown town (not in the racists way, in that once the sun goes down / working hours are over, it basically shuts down.)
We've made strides in developing more nightlife down there, but it's still a thing.
They have efforts to change zoning so they can transform the vacant commercial space into affordable (and not) housing. Something this region and state DESPERATELY needs.
legsdiamond Member since May 05th 2011 82407 posts
Tue May-06-25 10:24 AM
2. " Charlotte doesn’t have a metro shopping area" In response to Reply # 0
weirdest shit ever
**************** TBH the fact that you're even a mod here fits squarely within Jag's narrative of OK-sanctioned aggression, bullying, and toxicity. *shrug*
3. "Quite a few storefronts are empty here in Philly" In response to Reply # 0 Tue May-06-25 12:19 PM by flipnile
Seems like half the storefronts on Walnut Street are empty. Entertainment like bars & restaurants seem to be doing ok, but retail is fucked. There always mad people downtown due to the large amount of people that live and work in Center City. A lot of tourists too.
Online shopping (Amazon & others) have really fucked-up brick and mortar.
It gets worse out in the suburbs tho, as they either have struggling malls, or straight-up empty ghost malls now (except for King of Prussia).
now, to be 100% fair, i rarely go into the city these days so maybe i'm not the best barometer.
that said, i used to live IN the city...like, IN DOWNTOWN, for 15 years, so i think i know enough to speak on it's vibrancy and character.
many big retailers and restaurants have closed up shop. everything has become so homogenous as far as what's left thanks to the tech boom...like, almost all of the "sauce" that it once had just seems to be gone. you can still find it in neighborhood pockets, but it used to be everywhere.
it really sucks too because Seattle used to be REALLy great and being from there was a great source of pride for many people, but i don't really feel the same way nor do many lifelong locals i know.
5. "downtown atlanta is been shit for decades." In response to Reply # 0
there's always a plan to revitalize, but it never comes to fruition. it's home to homelessness and doesn't look safe. even to me who grew up here, it doesn't feel right.
underground atlanta is just in the way and they can't figure out what to do with it. I think there are club and art type events there, but overall, it's not the attraction that it once was.
legsdiamond Member since May 05th 2011 82407 posts
Wed May-07-25 05:27 AM
8. "underground was the shit in the 90’s" In response to Reply # 5
took my wife there in 2005 and it was nothing but homeless men. She was scared.
That food hall place was PACKED tho when we had christmas there a few years ago.
Is that outdoor mall still popping? I remember it was packed too but that was like 10 years ago.
**************** TBH the fact that you're even a mod here fits squarely within Jag's narrative of OK-sanctioned aggression, bullying, and toxicity. *shrug*
17. "90s was good down there. that's when they turned it into a mall." In response to Reply # 8
no idea what the can do to make it work now. there are no other attractions that I'm aware of in that area. even if they figure out something dope to do with it, I don't see people flocking there.
if you're talking about Atlantic Station, yes. that's still a spot to hang. not as strong as it was earlier but still cool.
10. "Downtown SF is running on fumes" In response to Reply # 0
The mall and surrounding blocks used to be too packed to walk by. International tourism is expected to be way down this year too so it might be a wrap. The new mayor is pushing hard to get more people back in offices. Fuck that.
13. "They were talking about similar conversions here." In response to Reply # 11
>>Fuck that. > >Up here in Sac they are trying to convert all the unused state >buildings into affordable housing (FINALLY!) > >We DO NOT NEED TO RETURN TO TRADITIONAL OFFICE CULTURE. >
Some people wanted to start converting vacant offices to housing. I don't remember why that stalled out (money I'm sure).
14. "not ghos towns because they're turning malls into apartments and shit" In response to Reply # 0
>Mine is. > >Chicago’s State street use to overflow with people and >businesses. Now its looking mighty empty. Personally I think >it a combination of downtown residents being online shoppers >and the parking fees keeping other shoppers away. A third >being skyrocket rent. Granted the magnificent mile hasn't been >affected visually, North Clark street has seen better days. >There arent any board ups like the city forces on abandoned >properties on the south and west sides, just lots of >whitewashed windows. > >Any significant changes to your city?
6th St Market is long gone and they're still trying to figure out what to do with the Colliseum, while putting up condos everywhere and no parking lots
__________________________________________ CHOP-THESE-BITCHES!!!! ------------------------------------ Garhart Ivanhoe Poppwell Un-OK'd moderator for The Lesson and Make The Music (yes, I do's work up in here, and in your asscrease if you run foul of this
**************** TBH the fact that you're even a mod here fits squarely within Jag's narrative of OK-sanctioned aggression, bullying, and toxicity. *shrug*
26. "RE: yep they're doing the same thing they did with Cloverleaf and Regenc..." In response to Reply # 15
to VA Center Commons, but Regency still has half a mall
__________________________________________ CHOP-THESE-BITCHES!!!! ------------------------------------ Garhart Ivanhoe Poppwell Un-OK'd moderator for The Lesson and Make The Music (yes, I do's work up in here, and in your asscrease if you run foul of this
25. "I’m waiting to see that in Chicago" In response to Reply # 14
They’ve flipped schools, churches, hospitals and factories but no malls yet.
In another note the city is towing and ticketing to recover revenue but I believe none of the parking meter funds goes to the city, only the tickets and towing. So parking downtown is trash.
27. "RE: factories here too" In response to Reply # 25
they did that first matter of fact, they leave it the same on the outside and gut them for the rustic look
__________________________________________ CHOP-THESE-BITCHES!!!! ------------------------------------ Garhart Ivanhoe Poppwell Un-OK'd moderator for The Lesson and Make The Music (yes, I do's work up in here, and in your asscrease if you run foul of this
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