Nothing says world-class like parking garages and eau de urine
Here's Rad Sallee's take on last Friday's downtown party to mark the end of street construction. He included comments from some unimpressed local business owners:
A block away at Main and Walker, Mahmoud Harmouche says his Metro Restaurant, opened in 1997, is barely hanging on. Harmouche said he has cut employees and hours since the street work and light rail project began.
"We're a blue-collar restaurant, not a high-dollar restaurant," he said. "People changing buses would stop and get dinner or breakfast. They don't do that anymore."
Now, Harmouche said, homeless people and drug dealers loiter outside and the bus riders who used to wait there to transfer are mostly gone.
On the upscale end, chef Arturo Boada blames the construction for the closing of his restaurants Solero, on Prairie near Main, and Century Diner, at Main and Texas.
On the other hand, Central Houston President Bob Eury sees parking garages as beacons of hope:
"I have to be pretty excited with what I see out there," he said, speaking of a new restaurant, two new parking garages and the Foley's department store, soon to be Macy's, all in sight of the Main Street Square fountain.
"I like the direction we're going. I like the push."
All with the pleasing aroma of urine.
UPDATE: The Chronicle has a related One Question One Answer on its Opinion page:
John Galvan
Wheeler Watch Clinic, family-owned business on Main StreetQ: Two years after the start of the light rail line, do you think it has helped revitalize Main Street?
A: There have only been two new businesses that have opened after the rail launched two years ago. It’s too hard for customers to navigate the streets now. ... They should have elevated it, but I know that would have cost more money.
Posted by Anne Linehan @ 12/12/05 05:55 AM | Print |
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