Downtown Revitalization Study

Mr. Melbye:

While I wish this young lady well in all of her future endeavors, this sounds like another “answer in search of a question”!!!

That is, it is like all past efforts for downtown Middletown.  It starts with someone already convinced that it can be revived in its present (or nearly its present) configuration, and actually seeks only confirmation that downtown can be what they have already decided it can be--simply because they want it to be!!!

Of course, the answer is always that the only thing preventing their dream from reaching fruition is a lack of other people’s money, since no one successful enough to be able to finance any such schemes with their own money is at the same time reckless enough to bankroll any of the “visions” that so many seem to foresee in their tea leaves. And then there is always City Hall, ever at the ready to squash any reasonable attempt at development that has a chance at success that does not include the Camelot-like scenarios floating in the nether regions of their friends’ minds.

What really is needed is someone just like Ms. DePriest, but without the preconceived notions and biases, to perform such a study. Someone who would look at the facts, and only the facts. Someone who would study the “former” downtown Middletown, and then objectively report any and all logical conclusions reached. We need a true prognosticator to tell us the truth, and not what he, or whoever sponsors him or her, wants to hear. In fact, we must be told the truth, whether it is good or bad, expected or surprising, welcome or foreboding.

In actuality, I would be surprised if such studies have not been performed already. They are called “market analyses” and all large (and many small) companies have them performed BEFORE they invest in an area.. We have not heard about them because the ones who have had them performed likely did not like the results and have decided not to invest here.

If we keep doing the same things, we will keep reaching the same results.

The free market will solve this problem for us, if only we will allow it to do so, but that means getting, and keeping, City Hall out of the way!!!

And that means starting with changes this November!!!

Mr. Melbye:

Please allow me to respond point-by-point. I will do so by interspersing my responses throughout your post, using a different font and color.

Mike,

These are great comments, and exactly the sort of thing Leah could use in her study. Please consider cutting and pasting your comments into an email to downtownstories@gmail.com!

I understand how this effort could look like yet another “answer in search of a question,” though I disagree with that view.

Please recall your statements: “She’s genuinely interested in Middletown—particularly the downtown area—…” and: “I’m hoping she’ll join me and the other people working on the Castell/Sebald building project…”. [emphasis added] These remarks indicate, at least to me, a definite bias already built into the study. I am sure that no one will be surprised when the study reveals that the former downtown Middletown would have a glorious future in store for it--if only the City would chip in several more millions of the taxpayers’ dollars!

The question Leah is exploring in this first stage of the study is simply, “How do people perceive of downtown Middletown?”

Perhaps the “first stage” of the study should be to recognize that the area to which you/she refer is no longer “downtown Middletown”! Please allow me to quote Collins Essential English Dictionary 2nd Edition 2006 © HarperCollins Publishers 2004, 2006:

And also to quote The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2003. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.:

Later this summer, she’ll lead a series of public forums in which people can further discuss their responses to that question, and consider ways their opinions and ideas can assist in downtown revitalization efforts.

That includes the ongoing efforts of everyone—community groups, businesses, and concerned individuals as well as city officials. This study isn’t being organized by any part of Middletown’s government, and neither Leah nor any Middletown city official is imposing a vision for downtown revitalization onto the study. In other words, there aren’t any hidden agendas, and there aren’t any preconceptions or biases beyond the notions that something can be done with downtown Middletown, and that the people here have valuable input on that. Even if you disagree with those notions, your input is valuable to Leah’s study.

With all due respect, Mr. Melbye, you are tripping over your own words here. The ONLY thing under consideration by anyone, either now or for the future is “the revitalization of this area as a ‘downtown’!” As long as we keep trying this over and over, we will reach the same result over and over. Deny the imposition of a vision all you would like. Reject the fact that there is a bias until AK General Offices return if you so desire. Regardless of how long you care to ignore the facts, those ARE the FACTS, just as YOU have restated them again while trying to hide from them. This study has a built in bias, as all past studies have had. They know the answer that is desired, they are just looking for a way to ask the question so that they can provide that answer!

You’re correct that different types of market analyses have already been conducted by/for Middletown, and that seeing those analyses would be useful. Leah’s project isn’t really a market analysis, though. It’s not being conducted by a corporation, and it’s more open-ended and community-oriented, gathering opinions from the community rather than collecting hard data and statistics.

But I can answer it. It’s those pesky market studies!!! No matter how they analyze them, the answer is the same. And if the Pros don’t think that they can do it, what makes (and I’m being kind here) the “amateurs” think that they can???

Some personal responses, separate from Leah’s work:

I wholeheartedly agree with you that there is good use for downtown Middletown. MUM didn’t set up shop at Miami Middletown Downtown because the abundant foot traffic and thriving business/cultural environment would make MMD an instant success. We established a location downtown to contribute to efforts to create that sort of community. I’ve met many individuals and worked with business owners and community groups who share that commitment, and it’s encouraging to know I’m not alone. It’s tough going to say the least, but I believe it’s worth the effort.

More power to you, sir. I wish you good fortune and success, I truly do! I admire your mettle, but question your judgment. Who was it that said “Chance favors the prepared mind.”?

I also strongly agree with your comment that “we have to open our minds to all options,” and “if we keep doing the same things, we will keep reaching the same results.” I would add that opening our minds and trying something different involves changing our perceptions of downtown Middletown, and Middletown as a whole. Personally, I believe that focusing on the many problems and challenges we face and expecting city officials to solve everything for us isn’t the most effective way to create the positive change we desire.

That perception creates a sort of victim mentality that thinks, “Middletown has too many problems to fix, and the City isn’t doing enough to solve them. Middletown is dead.” That perception is understandable. It’s also not very productive.

(After all, even Forbes hasn’t proclaimed Middletown is dead…!) I believe that if we focus on discovering the assets and resources we already have available rather than the mountain of problems we face, we can use those assets to address specific problems we want to solve. We can’t solve all the problems at once, of course, but we can take them on in smaller chunks, step by step, and do some good that way.

____________________________________
Eric Melbye, Director
Office of Community Engagement and Service
Miami University Middletown
www.mid.muohio.edu/community
mumccc@muohio.edu