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[BBOB]

Why don't the city council talk with the Army Corp of Engineers and see about removing the dams up to Monroe Street.  If people could run their boats up the river, the shoreline would become one hot commodity!!!!!  It would be just like Grand Haven, Toledo, or any other major waterfronts....  Maybe France Stone could do the blasting on the bed rock for the limestone to help make the river deeper...........................

[BBOB]

The only high cost that I see is the cost of no one wanting to visit downtown Monroe!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Will Sweat]

BBOB wrote:

The only high cost that I see is the cost of no one wanting to visit downtown Monroe!!!!!!!!!!!!

Good point. 

I don't think we need the River to be assessable by powerboats at this point.  How about simple canoes or row boats for a few years to see if this will help?  How about opening up the flow of the water to see if this will help reduce the appearance of the flowering rush that now makes the river (especially by Veterans Park) look more like a Louisiana Bayou then the River Raisin. 

It will take a couple of years (post deconstruction of the dams) to get businesses to become accessible from the River - but, doing this could change not only the complexion of our community.  Consider the benefit that doing this could be - with the addition of the MB&T Expo Center in Monroe County now is the time to truly consider expanding the corridor from Sterling State Park to MCCC and beyond to Dundee.  MB&T should be consulted in terms of desire and interest to assist.  The building has there name and one would think that they would like to see it be successful. 

[Massagetherapyworks]

Only a few brave people go canoeing in the river by Dundee, but they stand on the sidelines by the Old Mill and fish (throwing the fish back in, I hope!). The rear of the stores along the river are just as inviting as the fronts, with decks, walkways and a gazebo by the water. If we can't sail along the river in Monroe, at least talk about improvements to the rears of the buildings, the riverwalk and some pleasant gathering areas. If people (flock?) to these areas, maybe some of the building owners/business' will start to offer shops that we will frequent, bringing money into downtown and Monroe.
With a forum like this, notice how many citizens already have the desire to improve this community. Tell me it's not a worthless pursuit...it may take years, but lets not just give up. We have lots of terrific ideas on this forum, whether or not there's any feasible way to accomplish them, at least we're speaking out without politics getting in the way.

[GodfroyGuy]

In many small to medium sized towns, there are city councils who are NOT allowing chain stores or chained restaurants into their communities, so that local businesspeople can thrive.  Monroe should consider this.  This way, more entrepreneurship will exist and thrive and not be closed up by the WalMart's of this world.

Think about it.  Buy in Monroe.  Stop going to Toledo, Ann Arbor or Downriver to purchase your goods.  Buy in Monroe.

[lordfly]

In many small to medium sized towns, there are city councils who are NOT allowing chain stores or chained restaurants into their communities, so that local businesspeople can thrive.  Monroe should consider this.  This way, more entrepreneurship will exist and thrive and not be closed up by the WalMart's of this world.

Think about it.  Buy in Monroe.  Stop going to Toledo, Ann Arbor or Downriver to purchase your goods.  Buy in Monroe.

That's fine, but Monroe has ltitle control over whether Walmart opens up shop in Frenchtown, who seems eager to attract every single big box on the planet.

Ergo it still affects them.

[angrybmxer6]

...back to the topic of downtown monroe that was so revelent on pages 1 and 2
yes i kno
you all know what im about to say
it has only been suggested here once tho...i have to...
allow bikes and skateboards and such downtown
parking is terrible and i know many many people who have actully said "i would buy things downtown if i could ride my bike there" including my parents! regulare shoppers of meijers becuase it is right down the street

[Collegekid]

I would love a bookstore and maybe a decent comic book/sports card shop. But in this economy I don't think there is enough money to support those types of ventures.

[eriemermaid]

There is a book store downtown. It is called the Book Nook and if they don't have it, she can get it for you.

[Collegekid]

There is a book store downtown. It is called the Book Nook and if they don't have it, she can get it for you.

I meant a bigger bookstore, complete with previewing areas and maybe a small newsstand inside.  The BookNook is a good place though. I've only been in there a few times though.

[Jim Richards]

It was kind of funny to read some of the posts from as far back as July 2007. Not much has changed. I wonder if it ever will. Or maybe a better question, if it ever can?

We have all seen many entrepreneurs put lots and lots of their money where their mouth is and started businesses. Only to be hindered and obstructed by the powers that be and then lose it all. 

Do they really want change? I think not. Too many hoops to jump through that end up costing way too much to make it worth it. You have the building department, the engineering department, the zoning department, the plumbing department, the landlords, the architectural costs, remodeling costs, equipment costs, new awning costs, etc.

Once you actually complete jumping though all of their hoops and you finally get opened to the public, that's when their fun begins. The patrons complaining about the lack of parking and the city will start enforcing every little ridiculous rule in the book. Remember the news article about shop owners that blinking signs are a violation and they will be fined and you can only put so much signage in the windows and on and on.

It is not as easy as one would think. Very costly and someone risks losing it all if anything goes wrong. Yes, one could argue that anywhere you go you will have hurdles. But the limited amount of problems mentioned that one will encounter in this downtown are probably unique to other places.

I would really love to see downtown thrive and be prosperous. I would love to have it packed with people so it was fun again like in its earlier years before the Malls, when it was the place to go. But it is what it is and I see no change a'comin.