PlaceEconomics This is the site to visit if you want to tear down old buildings. I invite your comments! Reduce, reuse, and recycle!
Friday, January 30, 2009
Monday, January 26, 2009
C-town it is!
Along with making Crookston the destination for thrift, consignment, antique, and collectible shopping, I must say that our town has been named already! “C-town.”
Benjamin W. Parkin (San Francisco, CA) wrote
at 12:14pm on November 22nd, 2008: Just to set the record straight..... The term "C-town" originated back in the late '90's, probably around 1998. Wes Colborn (class of '94) and I started using it when we were college roommates, as a result of listening to Sir Mix-a-Lot and his use of "Sea Town", for Seattle. It quickly caught on and has given everyone from the C something to identify with. Props to the younger generation for keepin' it rollin'. Peace. (from www.kroxam.com facebook group)
Tommy Helgeson has called Crookston, “C-Town,” for years. We don’t need a fancy marketing firm, to create a logo and image for our town, we’ve had one all along. We especially don’t need the same fancy marketing firm that came up with the confusing “Protecting the Legacy,” theme for the new 3-ring hockey arena. Just think what can be done with “C-Town:” Cool, Classic, Crookston. Be cool, shop C-town! The Big C. I’m sure you can do better than me and come up with many more! Oh, there’s one: Come Up to Crookston!
Another one I’ve always admired, remember the TV program, “Northern Exposure?” The name is great, the moose is great, and the radio announcer, WOW, if we could have a guy like that! In addition to our announcers of course. A dose of philosophy in our brand! A little Tao here, some arts, and some good old “We can do it” attitude. We do need a voting place and the www.ilovecrookston.com site has the contest running. Go Enter, have some fun! I’m entering C-Town in case Ben or Tommy doesn’t, and also “Northern Exposure.” Part III of my vision for Crookston next post, I promise.
Benjamin W. Parkin (San Francisco, CA) wrote
at 12:14pm on November 22nd, 2008: Just to set the record straight..... The term "C-town" originated back in the late '90's, probably around 1998. Wes Colborn (class of '94) and I started using it when we were college roommates, as a result of listening to Sir Mix-a-Lot and his use of "Sea Town", for Seattle. It quickly caught on and has given everyone from the C something to identify with. Props to the younger generation for keepin' it rollin'. Peace. (from www.kroxam.com facebook group)
Tommy Helgeson has called Crookston, “C-Town,” for years. We don’t need a fancy marketing firm, to create a logo and image for our town, we’ve had one all along. We especially don’t need the same fancy marketing firm that came up with the confusing “Protecting the Legacy,” theme for the new 3-ring hockey arena. Just think what can be done with “C-Town:” Cool, Classic, Crookston. Be cool, shop C-town! The Big C. I’m sure you can do better than me and come up with many more! Oh, there’s one: Come Up to Crookston!
Another one I’ve always admired, remember the TV program, “Northern Exposure?” The name is great, the moose is great, and the radio announcer, WOW, if we could have a guy like that! In addition to our announcers of course. A dose of philosophy in our brand! A little Tao here, some arts, and some good old “We can do it” attitude. We do need a voting place and the www.ilovecrookston.com site has the contest running. Go Enter, have some fun! I’m entering C-Town in case Ben or Tommy doesn’t, and also “Northern Exposure.” Part III of my vision for Crookston next post, I promise.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
It can be done.
The other day I sped down the center lane on Main Street by the Arby’s and noticed out of the corner of my eye, a pedestrian wanting to cross the street as I went by. Oops, not very “Minnesota Nice” of me at all. AND, the watch for peds signs were only just taken down. I must not have learned anything from those signs. Imagine if I was the walker. I’d be steamed if I was in a hurry or freezing cold.
You know it wouldn’t be so hard to do: Going back to diagonal parking and two way streets on Main and Broadway to slow down traffic and prevent accidents like Ramona Unke. Mike Kammikar from Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) tells me that it all starts with the City Council. So, of course, we will have to convince them it’s worth it. We, meaning the Crookston retailers and shoppers.
It could be similar to what Bemidji did. And their downtown is booming. Crookston will have to beef up the truck routes around town and probably build a new road to bypass the Crookston High School and new hockey arena. Then MnDot would designate the bypasses as Highway 2 and Main Street and Broadway will revert to the City’s control. Of course it all comes at a cost. I’m guessing it might take $1 million per mile of new road around the High School and another couple million to make the bypasses better able to handle the truck traffic. Far less money than the new 3 ring hockey arena, parking will be vastly improved downtown, traffic reduced, noise reduced for a more pleasant walking experience. Of course delivery trucks and semi’s will have to pass through downtown and there’s no law that says trucks have to take the Highway 2 bypasses, I just have to feel that with this change, trucks choosing their way based on GPS units will be routed around town. As well as trucks influenced by new signage saying " go this way to follow U.S. Highway 2."
You know it wouldn’t be so hard to do: Going back to diagonal parking and two way streets on Main and Broadway to slow down traffic and prevent accidents like Ramona Unke. Mike Kammikar from Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) tells me that it all starts with the City Council. So, of course, we will have to convince them it’s worth it. We, meaning the Crookston retailers and shoppers.
It could be similar to what Bemidji did. And their downtown is booming. Crookston will have to beef up the truck routes around town and probably build a new road to bypass the Crookston High School and new hockey arena. Then MnDot would designate the bypasses as Highway 2 and Main Street and Broadway will revert to the City’s control. Of course it all comes at a cost. I’m guessing it might take $1 million per mile of new road around the High School and another couple million to make the bypasses better able to handle the truck traffic. Far less money than the new 3 ring hockey arena, parking will be vastly improved downtown, traffic reduced, noise reduced for a more pleasant walking experience. Of course delivery trucks and semi’s will have to pass through downtown and there’s no law that says trucks have to take the Highway 2 bypasses, I just have to feel that with this change, trucks choosing their way based on GPS units will be routed around town. As well as trucks influenced by new signage saying " go this way to follow U.S. Highway 2."
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Everyone take a Cruise!
Before I continue with Part Three of my vision for the future of Crookston, I must take a moment to tell you that my oldest daughter, Sara, got married to Grant Louiseau of Perham, Minnesota on the beach of the island of St. Thomas on January 6, 2009; and honeymooned on the cruise ship, Carnival Glory . I’m so happy for them and for Mom who enjoyed a real vacation in many years. I am so refreshed. Thank you Sara and Grant!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)