Brian Purvis wants to know what's up with Downtown. The mayor's latest redevelopment plan is in the tank, and it may be time, finally, for the City (formally speaking) to throw in the towel. The only plan that ever made sense was one that included Nordstrom, a store that creates its own weather. (A thought: with Lord & Taylor on the way out of town, wouldn't the former Mellon Bank HQ be perfect for the Seattle-based retailer? Would Nordstrom have the savvy and the cash to restore the building's former glory?)
As for the Fifth and Forbes corridor, maybe it really is time for the City just to get out of the way, remove the cloud of redevelopment that hangs over the area, and encourage existing building owners and tenants to rebuild the area. There isn't an invisible hand to guide the process; these people will need help. The History and Landmarks Foundation should be willing to contribute time (and money?) to the process.
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