So yesterday my mom walked on that sidewalk that no one walks on and took the bus to her church. She was impressed by all the places she could go on the bus. I tell you, you just got to get the people on the bus once…

AustinContrarian has an interesting post on banning plastic bags. I’m definitely against this ban even though I have grown to absolutely despise plastic bags. I get in fights with Julie and/or the bagger almost every time we go to the store. But I think the ban will just inspire a massive anti-environmental front setting back attitudes by decades. I imagine it would have the same effect culturally as if someone had banned smoking in 1975.

YerMama has a post about the Village going VMU. I can’t really get nostalgic about that hole of a property although I do like a lot of the businesses. The VMU should be nice though. Hopefully it will inspire some of the other businesses in the area to move towards the street. It’s nearly impossible to see any of the businesses off of Anderson. Julie has been trying to describe to me (unsuccessfully) for months where Sun Harvest is on Anderson. That neighborhood is one of the worst “strip malls with tiny little signs dwarfed by huge parking lots” in existence. I’m surprised any of the businesses survive. I think they’re all subsisting on word of mouth. I’m hoping the Alamo will stay in the new VMU though. They’d be fools not to try to keep it as an anchor. I think 90% of the shopping traffic on Anderson is probably related to the Alamo. And if they make the sidewalk nicer I could see actually taking the bus up their to do some window shopping. Julie used to live in the area, and I miss spending time their.

So there’s my opinion, but what do you think?

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Comments

Julie (www.juliesdramas.blogspot.com)

2007-10-19T20:29:29.000Z

So I read the AC article and he really pissed me off on this subject. Of course, that’s why I like to read him because he is often contrary and I disagree with him sometimes. I think that requiring a deposit coupled with cheap reusable bags will cut down on people using plastic bags and increase the amount being recycled. Ikea now charges for their bags and even though it’s only like 5 cents, I still won’t spend it. But I’m a cheap bastard (bitch?). I have evolved to think VMU’s are awesome, that we need more density to avoid sprawl, but I do hope that all the great independent businesses can stay in business.

Tim (http://www.loadedguntheory.com/blog/director/listblog/tim.html)

2007-10-19T20:49:36.000Z

Yeah, I still think the best way for independent businesses to stay in business is for developers to overbuild commercial space. Have a ridiculous amount so that rents will go down. Let them build, and build, and build. Put retail space on the bottom floor of every apartment complex in town. If that happened we’d see all kinds of cool funky businesses.

Ashley

2007-10-19T21:47:24.000Z

Personally, I love living above retails space. It is sooo convenient. Which is why I am pro-VMU. If you can’t find Sun Harvest then you will never find that Russian market I keep telling you about. Quite a few buses go by it on their way to the northcross transfer center.