http://www.johnsoncitypress.com/Detail.php?Cat=HOMEPAGE&ID=63850
The photos at above link will illustrate the downtown flooding better than I can describe it. This was yesterday's storm aftermath. These buildings could be housing thriving business if the Johnson City Development Authority had wanted it so. Instead, they focused on and wasted money in the "Core" area, from Fountain Square to just beyond Roan Street, a total of one lousy city block of buildings. Years ago, the JCDA had huge fountains put in place around old Fountain Square, hoping to retrieve some of the charm of a bygone era. They were ugly concrete fountains that hardly ever worked and were constantly leaking. The only time they looked good was when vandals poured detergent in them. Lovely bubbles, I'll say! Within the past year, two of the three have been removed, and the other one is not located within the "square" itself, but just south of the main part.
I may as well shut up about the situation because JCDA rules the downtown roost, and whatever they want they eventually get, one way or another.
2 comments:
That looks like an area that would be great for art gallerys. Older buildings like that seem well suited that purpose.
That's what I was thinking, Mark. Maybe some specialty shops, cafes, a few small performing arts places too.
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