Vox Civitatis the New Colonist weblog
04/04/2005: "Building Pittsburgh Outside Pittsburgh"
The Las Vegas effect is coming to a town near you. While I can't say for sure if that statement is accurate, I can be pretty damn sure it's coming to a town near me, or if you would, a general area with no there there near me. I glanced through the news headlines this morning and discovered a new mall was underway. This isn't just any mall--it takes more than just stores nowadays to attract shoppers. Today's shoppers want ambiance. Like the mall built a few years back on the site of the Homestead steel plant. It's a mall decorated with red brick with some old smoke stacks left standing in the corner of the parking lot. "Wow, cool!" and the shoppers rush in.
I can see you rolling your eyes. If you didn't roll your eyes, log off now and go back to reading your people magazine.
If that wasn't enough, this new mall is going to be divided into districts based on Pittsburgh. Like a "bridge district" and a "skyline" district. "Wow, eh hem, cool!" So, the suburbanites who gave up on the city years ago can now ease their separation anxiety and feel closer to Pittsburgh without actually going into Pittsburgh.
Why can't we just all live (and shop) in the city we love?
On Monday, April 4th, Brian Miller said:
Pretty pathetic! Do people really think a collection of the same chain stores you get down the street is going to a real city?
Pretty pathetic! Do people really think a collection of the same chain stores you get down the street is going to a real city?
On Tuesday, April 5th, Nick K said:
Because people don't want to live next door to someone they are afraid of, and they don't like pan-handlers, crime, litter, and graffiti. Government does nothing about these things, but it does provide us with entertainment (Pirates and Steelers), convention centers, and department stores.
Because people don't want to live next door to someone they are afraid of, and they don't like pan-handlers, crime, litter, and graffiti. Government does nothing about these things, but it does provide us with entertainment (Pirates and Steelers), convention centers, and department stores.
