Friday, February 17, 2006

Taming Twenty Miles Of Ugly

Transforming The Turnpike, From Elmont To East Meadow

All of the talk about Empire Zones, the new Suburbanization, and the revitalization of our "downtowns" and "Main Street" has made us very hungry -- for ideas, for real-time plans, for action.

And so, we put the question out to you, the loyal stalwarts of community, "What is your vision for the rebirth of the Turnpike, the Boulevard, the Avenue or the Road you commonly refer to as your hometown's "downtown?"

Giving life back to our "Main Streets" -- and, in some communities, creating "Main Street" as a first impression -- will take all of us thinking, visualizing, discussing, and acting resolutely to bring about results (in our lifetime) that are aesthetically appealing, economically productive, and people-friendly.

Do we accept the challenge and move our communities -- and our island -- forward? Or do we rest on the laurels of others' words, finding that next year, or five years from now, we are no further along the road to renewal than we are today?

Yes, this will separate the community advocates from the talking heads, the civic activists from the potted plants. Is it time to get started as we advance the cause of the revival of our business districts? You bet it is!

No better place to start than right here and right now. "Guest Blog," anyone? The wrecking ball and the corner stone are, as they say, in your hands, ladies and gentlemen. There is much work to be done.

Let's get to it!

The tools have been placed before us. What we do with them is entirely up to YOU!
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Click HERE to check out mainstreet.org

Click HERE to see what other communities are doing at revitalized-downtowns.com
Check out some Streetscape improvement projects, near and far:
Loydminster, Canada
Austin, Texas
Seattle, Washington
Sydney, Australia
Renton, Washington

Many places, from center cities to outer suburbs, have given new life to their "Main Streets," making "Downtown" the place to live, to work, to play.

Why not Long Island? Why not TODAY?

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