It sure would be nice if someone could present some CURRENT estimates of population growth in Bend and Deschutes County. All these plans for new UGB's and new schools and such would seem to be based on projections that aren't valid anymore...
At worst, we should have a moratorium on expansions until it becomes clearer....
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Interesting that the revoking of the two hour parking for Mirror Pond lot is being pushed through by Chuck Arnold. Last time he tried to do this, there was an uproar and a petition that was signed by nearly every downtown retailer.
It appears that Chuck just hadn't quite lined up the support he needed, yet. Persistent fellow.
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I'm still trying to wrap my brain around the 'sales' statistics that show both Nov. 2009 and Jan. 2010 as being higher than December.
That just doesn't compute.
I'm missing something.
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'Economic gardening.'
I'm not sure about this. Seems to me that I've known several local businesses that situated their businesses in particular locations after doing "studies." Didn't keep them from going out of business.
I think this is one of those "seat of the pants" decisions that can't be delegated to stats.
Not saying you shouldn't have as much information as possible: In fact, I've thought it probably necessary to actually live in a town for a few years to really make a good decision.
Not to say you couldn't get lucky. Or use just basic common sense -- i.e. locating a high foot traffic dependent store in downtown, or a high car traffic store on 3rd St.
I just don't think studies can quite capture the nuances of retail.
Of course, I realize that McDonald's and Burger King and probably most other big mass stores do extensive studies, and gauging customer flow probably helps them.
But for us smaller types, just making an informed guess is probably as valuable.
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I'm not outraged that The Loft had the clout the get their liquor licenses by getting the law changed about 'private' clubs. I doubt it's going to make or break them.
I just don't care.
You couldn't pay me 2000.00 and 200.00 a month to join. (Well I'd take the money and never show up, I suppose.)
I'm just opposed to all the 'gated' communities and private clubs and exclusivity and such. Screw them. I subscribe to the Groucho Marx bon mot: "I wouldn't join a club that would have ME as a member."
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I seem to have lost all interest in the Olympics. My Dad used to watch them from beginning to end. But many years ago I got really tired of the 'upbeat' back stories, and tuned out. They look like mostly made up events, anymore.
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At worst, we should have a moratorium on expansions until it becomes clearer....
**********
Interesting that the revoking of the two hour parking for Mirror Pond lot is being pushed through by Chuck Arnold. Last time he tried to do this, there was an uproar and a petition that was signed by nearly every downtown retailer.
It appears that Chuck just hadn't quite lined up the support he needed, yet. Persistent fellow.
**********
I'm still trying to wrap my brain around the 'sales' statistics that show both Nov. 2009 and Jan. 2010 as being higher than December.
That just doesn't compute.
I'm missing something.
**********
'Economic gardening.'
I'm not sure about this. Seems to me that I've known several local businesses that situated their businesses in particular locations after doing "studies." Didn't keep them from going out of business.
I think this is one of those "seat of the pants" decisions that can't be delegated to stats.
Not saying you shouldn't have as much information as possible: In fact, I've thought it probably necessary to actually live in a town for a few years to really make a good decision.
Not to say you couldn't get lucky. Or use just basic common sense -- i.e. locating a high foot traffic dependent store in downtown, or a high car traffic store on 3rd St.
I just don't think studies can quite capture the nuances of retail.
Of course, I realize that McDonald's and Burger King and probably most other big mass stores do extensive studies, and gauging customer flow probably helps them.
But for us smaller types, just making an informed guess is probably as valuable.
**********
I'm not outraged that The Loft had the clout the get their liquor licenses by getting the law changed about 'private' clubs. I doubt it's going to make or break them.
I just don't care.
You couldn't pay me 2000.00 and 200.00 a month to join. (Well I'd take the money and never show up, I suppose.)
I'm just opposed to all the 'gated' communities and private clubs and exclusivity and such. Screw them. I subscribe to the Groucho Marx bon mot: "I wouldn't join a club that would have ME as a member."
**********
I seem to have lost all interest in the Olympics. My Dad used to watch them from beginning to end. But many years ago I got really tired of the 'upbeat' back stories, and tuned out. They look like mostly made up events, anymore.
**********