Tonight is our one and only opportunity to support, provide input or push to deny the development of the Point Ruston project. As I've said before, this is the single most important issue for Ruston's future. Unless this project moves forward NOW (with the commercial core in Ruston), there is little chance of our survival.
Please attend tonight, give the planning commission your input and voice your opinion loud and clear. If we don't participate, we have no excuses to complain or shed tears later if Ruston withers on the vine.
Just my opinion. Let yours be heard tonight at 7 pm.
Karen
10 comments:
I hope this point ruston project kicks off and is very successful. If Ruston needs money and it seem its does since they are now trying to raise taxes and prices then new businesses and condos and other revenue is needed. Stop the whining and embrace the new future to more residents, higher prices, higher gas, higher taxes and move on. This town is no longer Mayberry. Its going to be a vibrant, functioning town with great revenue and the Town of Ruston officials will come to embrace it because the money will start to roll in. Guess by this time next year we will have a big ole Town of Ruston block party to celebrate new residents from the condos, new businesses and change :D
Lets get the building started!!!!
Seems like the people on this blog are very one-sided in support of any development. We are going to end up as one more overbuilt mess - too much traffic, high buildings and be like every other over-developed area. You claim to think Ruston is wonderful but you are supporting changes that will make it just like everywhere else.
Isn't it our LAST and ONLY chance to save Ruston as a town?
I just don't get the people that still complaint about losing the old feel and Ruston becoming like everywhere else. Hmm, so what is it: Ruston as a town to call home with a new development that is acceptable for us or is it 'Welcome to Tacoma, formerly the Town of Ruston, where those lived that wanted no progress'?
Here are my two cents, and I won't be in the meeting, but for what it's worth:
Ruston, since the close of the smelter, is primarily residential in nature. While that's all fine and good, for Ruston to survive into the 21st century (or else be annexed or forfeited to Tacoma) is to get with the times.
Look at our commercial district as it stands. We've got a bar or two, a gas station, a sandwich shop, an automotive parts repair store, Don's Market, a few antique shops, a car wash, liquor store, daycare, and a few other smaller holes in the wall (no offense to those business owners) and that's about it.
While I'm not saying we should put in a Subway and a McDonalds, we might want to take a "Sim City" approach (for those of you who play the game might understand this) and consider REZONING certain parts of the town to make them more attractive for further development. Ruston would do WELL with the following suggestions:
-A beautification project that would make the intersection of 51st St and Pearl look more like Proctor--classy and tasteful. this could be expanded from 50th Street down to the Park, and on 51st Street down to the new development. We all know how ruddy 51st street looks towards the tunnel. Make it look like a REAL street and update it to start.
-Expansion of the commercial district. This may require the demolition of several nearby homes and what not, but with the right developer, we could do something great with this. No strip malls needed, but how about trying to cater to other small buisnesses? How about a travel agency, an insurance store, a small drugstore (nothing as big as RiteAid or Walgrens (which sucks in my opinion), perhaps a restaurant or two can be added--something with class like an Olive Garden or something at the three or four star level.
-Increase the amount of local jobs to boost employment and per capita income. This can be done by doing the above. This will draw more people to live in the area and as such, more tax revenue. (Insert cash register noise here)
-Add a library!!! Why drive to Proctor...the North End would DIE for a library near by.
-Create new and fun festivals and traditions. How about a "Ruston 4th of July" with a block party and festival in the Ruston park, with Ruston's own fireworks show to draw crowds over to us. Why go down to the waterfront or stand on rooftops trying to get a partial glimpse of the Tacoma show when we can have our own?
Sure, it's hard sometimes to get the communiy involved in everything--but with the RIGHT PEOPLE and a POSITIVE ATTITUDE you could keep Ruston around into the next century.
Think about these ideas and if you want to contact me to know who I am, please indicate this in your responses.
Have you looked at the layout? It's what us oldtimers have been waiting for. Don't like? Then move back to the burbs!
Two cents worth....we need you to join our business district and join our efforts to do just what your talking about. Please stop in and ask what we are working on & share your vision with us!
Beth @ Ruston Market
Ruston is the people in it.
It has been suggested in the past that some more business be located on 51st but that idea received a nuclear response. Not because it was a bad idea, it just wasn't their idea.
Olive Garden, That is not what we want in Ruston. How about a nice upscale restaurant. We don't want a drugstore we want a nice place to go have coffee or a farmers market. You won't see an Olive Garden in proctor but you will enjoy a nice dinner at Asado or Primo Grill which are a great addition to the up and coming sixth street rehab.
I'd be happy just to lure Indochine up the street to our biz dist. Not so far to walk with my take-out containers. BTW, do any of the naysayers actually frequent the Ruston business district for anything? Antique Sandwich Co. has killer coffee and great entertainment or just go in and veg while reading or writing a book. Oak Brothers supplies me with caning for my chair projects adn will curve glass if the grandkids do the unthinkable with the wife's cabinets. Sound Starterrr Rebuild has done my starters and alternators for years at very competetive prices. My living room set was purchased from Ruston Antique Gallery then reupholstered by a local craftsman on the edge of town. I can't count the breakfasts at the Ruston Inn over the years. The Casino's food service worked fine for me the times I have been there to eat, though I have no interest in gambling. The Edward Jones franchise handles my modest investments and I am a regular at Don and Beth's corner store. The bars in town don't interest me since I don't drink. I have to find out for myself whether an business is worth my patronage, not listen to or spread the rumor and innuendo that float around town. I also engage in conversation with folks that are diametrically opposed to my own politics. I further realize that conversation can lead to some cursing raised voices and waving of arms, much like these blogs. I distrust any publication such as the RC where any dissention is carefully scrubbed or eliminated for the sake of "advocacy" as defined by the editors.
Craig
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