I was in attendance in a packed City Commission chambers as JGSC Group, of Merchantville, Camden County, presented the results of a survey conducted earlier this year to hear what visitors think of Millville’s downtown.
What the people want, what they asked for by completing in-depth surveys over the summer, is
More retail, restaurants, events and activities.
I don't think that the consultants considered that there are limited liquor licenses. If what I read is true, the money for the consultants could have been used to start the process of marketing the district and plan initatitives. Apparently, other ideas were dismissed out of hand by the MDC. The problem seems to be that some of the landlords downtown charge excessive rents that small boutique shops can not pay and stay in business. What about giving artists incentives to work and live downtown? The MDC and the merchants need to hear each other out. It was good to see merchants come out to this meeting. A key to moving High Street to the "next level" is to get the Levoy Theater restored and open.
6 comments:
I'm confused.
You state "The problem seems to be that some of the landlords downtown charge excessive rents that small boutique shops can not pay and stay in business".
You need to go back in your previous statements in which you praised the improvements within the downtown area which increased the value of the properties. With that came increased assessments which resulted in increased taxes. In order to pay the increased taxes the landlords had to raise the rent.
As a business person, one cannot expect me or any other business person to take a loss on a business investment. The city has succeeded in driving viable businesses from the business district with restrictive ordinances. Now you make it sound like we, the landlords, are the problem.
When I started investing in properties, I "worked" a full time job until I was able to turn a profit on my investments. Maybe some of the artists should try that approach. But it would require an investment on their part (time and sacrafices) which I doubt is going to happen. As for the Levoy, it would be nice if it were to happen but again, you must look at it from a business point of view. Investing what will end up being between 12-15 million dollars will never realize a return on your investment. That is why no developer has stepped forward and gotten involved. And rest assured that all the volunteers/fund raisers/donantions/etc. will never result in the money needed to meet anticipated costs.
But just for arguments sake, let's say that the money is forthcoming and the Levoy is restored. Crunch the numbers from a business perspective and it's doomed. The numbers simply do not lie.
Sir.
I do appreciate your comments. You seem to know what you are talking about without getting personal.
Anyway, I have heard from several merchants complain about this. As you heard there is a 20% vacancy rate and some of it(not all my friend) is caused by excessive rents. As a businessman who has owned property for awhile, wouldn't a slight decrease in rent be worth it to keep a storefront from being empty?
Are you speaking of the ONE restrictive ordnance that kept the Crown Chicken out of the Arts District? I am speaking out to try to understand issues and expressing an opinion. I do not believe I have all the answers and am always correct. In fact I have made certain folks a bit itchy for questioning WaWA intent to develop the property that Manzel and Mumford dropped, but that's a different blog entry. Thanks for being civil. Folks here need to try to listen to each other better.
You people are a joke. I, along with others, have moved out of town because of the continued failures that are suppose to be our salvation. You continue to hold the carrot in front of the taxpayers with the promise that this is the plan or project that will bring in the masses and relieve the taxpayers. Yet our taxes continue to rise.
It is pathetic what has happened and continues to happen in Millville. Can you say Lost Cause?
Mark,
I understand they have a fund raiser for the Levoy this weekend. Do you have any information regarding this?
Thank you for yur time.
Hi
Its tomorrow Morning from 7:30 to 11
Go to http://www.levoy.org/
See you there.
Mark,
Thank you. See you there.
Your friend in C.H.
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