Cities in Trouble—What Can Be Done

Now it is possible for a community to receive funds from the Government to draw up a plan. The bulldozer approach is not necessarily to correct one.

It may be that renewal, rather than redevelopment, is the answer. Buildings that are beyond redemption may be condemned while those that are still in good condition may be left standing. With the federal and State government putting up three quarters of the money, the city can demolish the old buildings, put in new sewers and new utilities, then turn the area over to private developer for renewal.

Q  Is the rebuilding of downtown areas actually being done in some cities?

A  We are working now on a number of such projects in downtown centers. We are doing one of Stamford, Conn., and another in Paterson, N.J.

One project that is unusual and probably the farthest advanced is that which is taking place in Rochester, N.Y. There the redevelopment is being done by private enterprise.

WHEN BUSINESSMEN ACT

Q  How did this come about in Rochester?

A  Here we had a case of two downtown department stores that came to us, I believe, three years ago and said: "We're finding ourselves in quite a quandary. Business downtown is retrogressive. We have considered opening branch stores, as some of our competitors are doing. In fact, we each have one branch store. But we are not very happy with them. We believe Rochester is not a big-enough city for regional shopping centers with department-store branches. What do you think?"

I replied" "Gentlemen, you're absolutely right."

They said: "Do you believe there is a chance to do something about the downtown area? We love our town and would rather spend our money to give it new life than drain the money off into the suburbs."

I told them: "I think there is something you can do, especially since your city has already taken a number of steps in the right direction."

Q  What has the city of Rochester done?

A  Rochester is building a loop road, which I have mentioned, as one of the important ingredients in city replanning. It is about half completed and the other half should be completed in two or three years.

The city is also building a new civic center, which is important because it creates greater civic pride and interest.

Rochester has a very progressive administration which is giving thought to changes in the whole traffic pattern and has built a number of city-owned parking garages along the edge of the downtown area.

Q  What are the merchants doing, through private enterprise?

A  I told the merchants: "If we can persuade the city to co-operate by closing the street between your two stores and allowing it to be converted into a covered shopping arcade, by diverting some traffic to a new street that has been projected for a long time, and by building parking garages underground instead of an the surface, I believe we can do something very interesting that would convert the very heart of Rochester into a downtown regional shopping center." The result is "Midtown Plaza," which is now under construction.

Q  How big is this Midtown Plaza?

A  There are about eight or nine acres of land involved. The Midtown Plaza is a fusion of existing structures and new ones. The existing ones are the two department stores and a hotel. The new ones are stores, auditoriums, coffee shops, restaurants and so on, and an 18-story office building of which the top four floors are occupied by a new hotel.

Underneath this complex is arranged a 2,000-car garage on three levels. All the stores, the hotel and the office building can be reached on two merchandising levels from an air-conditioned, landscaped pedestrian mall two stories high. People can reach the mall by escalator from garages.