Arlene Jones's Black Entertainment District and Judy Baar-Topinka's crap shoot
If JBT says gambling's a solution, why not put that casino at the old Brach's Candy site on the West Side.
Arlene Jones made the case (again) today in the Austin Weekly News.
If we cannot get a large manufacturing company to relocate to the Brach site, then it is time we stand up for what we want that will benefit us! Why can’t our side of town become a tourist attraction? We have some of the best planned parks in the entire city within a stone’s throw of the Brach site (Garfield, Columbus, Austin Townhall, Humboldt and Lafollette). We have access to the green line and major streets. The Metra also zooms right past the Brach site.It's a natural combined with the mid-city transit way.
A large percentage of our housing stock is part of the original bungalow belt. We can attract students of architecture and folks who just like looking at it. The entire world has enjoyed black culture through music, food, dance and slang. Do I have any proof that folks would come to our side of town? You know I do!
Years ago I was on the community council for the Garfield Park Conservatory. At that time, they would barely get 100 people a week to go there. Then they held the Chihuly glass exhibit and got 20,000 in one week! So I refuse to listen to anyone who wants to say our side of town cannot attract people. Hell, we attract those folks looking for drugs on a daily basis.
This is Birkett's old neigborhood. He and Topinka should get out there, at that old Brach's site, and hold a press conference. Maybe Jones would join them because she sure got it right about Garfield Park Conservatory.
8 comments:
It really is a great idea. And JBT can say this is part of her energy plan: People don't have to drive to some faraway casino; they can take public transit to a local one instead.
Bill,
The Lake's got it over the Garfield Conservatory. I don't think, based upon what Casinos have done for neighborhoods in Joliet, E. Chicago,Whiting & Robertsdale in IN, housing stock is going to shoot-up in value with the concomitant arrive of PAY DAY LOANS, EASY CREDIT, and I GET TREATED BETTER Billboards and businesses.
Scratch-off Lotto sales will sky-rocket at local stores with the flood of 'bridge-jumpers' exiting the Casino after enjoying the Gaming Experience.
Pat,
Casino's helped Elgin. Drive around the Brach's site... it can only go up... besides, the lakefront is too crowded.
Bill,
I know the place - if we are to have Casino keep it downtown and out of the neighborhood - Now I'll hear shrieks from the empty nest-ers on Prairie, Indiana, and Calumet 'Hey, we're a neighbiorhood.' Yeah, Ok.
Lakefront - loser love the water and Casinos need losers.
The real issues with casinos is whether they are going for Monaco or Gary, IN.
My concern is that a west side casino will end up like Gary. What Chicago needs is a high end place to attract tourists and conventions. Frankly, we want people from here to build the place and work there but not to spend money there.
I may not like building casinos but I really like this idea of a black entertainment district. Perhaps the west side should have their time as well as Bronzeville on the southside.
Home of the Impressions! Appoint Commissioner Jerry 'The Ice-Man' Butler' as Executive Director. Now, that Levois is a plan with legs on it.
Will i tbe anything like Black Entertainment Television? If so, they can keep that idea. Booty shake videos, infomercials and televangelists..woohoo.
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