Riverside Hopes to Make Downtown "Cool"
The Village of Riverside is applying for a state grant worth a little more than a million dollars to spruce up the downtown section of Burlington Avenue with the goal of making the heart of Riverside's downtown more modern and pedestrian-friendly. Do you think they have a chance?
You can read the entire article from the Riverside-Brookfield Landmark.
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This would work if the village would open themselves up for more restaurants and chains like Potbelly's or Egg harbor. Until more traffic starts coming through Riverside, such improvements will be wasted. Empty store-fronts are not an attractive site.
ReplyDeleteRiverside will attract more of the wrong people as it is doing now. More traffic, more people and more crime. This town was established as a vacation away from the city (Chicago). It was built to keep people who do not belong here out .By opening the doors to major change makes this town less desirable.Just sometimes, Change is not good. Been here since the 70's so I have seen a lot happen in this town. Seems as if what has been done in the last 30 yrs really hasn't improved this town. This town is nothing like any other town and if you were not raised here then you won't understand. No chains need to be in downtown Riverside it will ruin it...But Alas too many people could care about the history of Riverside and only look at the money to be made. I will not be living my life out here. I am retiring to another state because this town is not and will not be what is was built to be anymore...Personally I think it will be another Cicero in 20 yrs.....so sad...
ReplyDeleteLooks great on paper, but what you can't see are all the empty storefronts and condos. Riverside has failed to attract new businesses for decades! Open your minds folks. Either live in your little bubble, or become progressive and prosper. It can be done while maintaining Riverside's "charm".
ReplyDeleteSeems like someone pulls this plan out of the closet every so often. A few stores come in, they change things and then they turn around and go empty. They fill parks with too many trees , bushes, and flowers so you can't see the other drivers as they make "make" their rolling stops. I think sometimes putting the energy somewhere else might be better. Instead of more planters, how about helping out senior citizens with their vehicle tags so they don't have to pay the full price of $90 ???
ReplyDeleteI was born and raised in this town. Riverside will always have a place in my heart. It seems that "the powers that be" run this town on their own agenda. There are no businesses and really it sad considering the ASTRONOMICAL TAXES being paid. Businesses come snd go because of all the RULES that they need to follow. They get sick of it. It hss been this way since the early 60's! It will never prosper unless something is done and the town is not being run by a bunch of greedy idiots....plain and simple!!
ReplyDelete"Riverside will attract more of the wrong people as it is doing now." "Greedy idiots" run the village. No wonder you post as anonymous. I get annoyed at some of the village practices and actions. And not everyone who lives here is out of a Rockwell illustration. But this is a village of widely diverse opinions and vision. La Grange has managed to rise from the ashes of a desolate La Grange Road after Montgomery Ward and other stores closed without "the wrong people" moving in and taking over. Taxes are high in Riverside in part because we don't have a business tax base with enough volume to help reduce the burden on the home owner. This village is not only for the people who live here. It's a national treasure that should be shared and enjoyed by others. I doubt many of "the wrong people" will show up for walking tours or to have a cup of coffee at a sidewalk cafe. There were times that I became actively involved in civic organizations because I wanted my voice and opinions heard - and acted upon when possible. I coached sports for kids, have volunteered for events. And I believe that because of that there were changes. Get involved if you haven't. What a wonderful village we have.
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