An addendum: This article appeared in the Lansing City Pulse on December 6 of last year. It mentions the efforts made by one of the Quality Dairy franchises near downtown to bring in fresh produce. In the article, the QD manager makes note that demand and the subsequent sales for produce were high. The market exists. It's just not a very upscale market.
My greatest concern, still, is price. This effort (assuming it goes through) has to avoid alienating the crowd it is primarily intended for. I'm really excited by the thought of being able to revitalize downtown Lansing, but it's important not to get carried away and to keep in mind the fact that a large proportion of Lansing residents rely on gas stations and convenience stores for a bulk of their grocery needs.
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Rebuild! Restore! Reconsider!
A quite recent posting on the Capital Area Community Voices website has me intrigued. I have no doubt that a grocery store should be placed in a more central location for those who have difficutly making it out to the extremities of the Lansing city limit. However, the issue of whether a Trader Joe's or a Whole Foods has me a bit, well, torn up. While the idea for low-income families to have access to healthy affordable food does not include either of those upscale retailers, the thought of being able to bring the suburbanites into downtown Lansing is compelling. Lansing, with 30% of its population living in poverty, needs a way to harness the economic resources of its nearby suburban neighbors. Maybe then downtown Lansing wouldn't shut down at 3 every afternoon.
There is also the employment incentive for bringing a grocery store downtown. One grocery store can't boost employment rates, though the growth of downtown can. However, if an upscale retailer moves in, will they hire the neighbors? Places like Whole Foods and Trader Joe's offer desirable benefits and decent wages, but they may be looking for employees who have a greater knowledge of, say, whole (health) foods. So the question is, who will get these jobs? A Meijer or a Kroger (or whatever retail chain or independent grocer moves in (possibly)) will not have the need for a staff skilled in the yuppy foods industry and will, thus, be more likely to hire those most in need of employment.
Finally, am I giving the suburbanites too much credit? Can downtown Lansing become vibrant (or at least remain open past sunset) without the resources from East Lansing and Okemos? If a low-income-accessible grocery store moves in, will the crowd it invites be enough to revitalize the district? Am I even giving too much credit to a grocery store? So many questions.
There is also the employment incentive for bringing a grocery store downtown. One grocery store can't boost employment rates, though the growth of downtown can. However, if an upscale retailer moves in, will they hire the neighbors? Places like Whole Foods and Trader Joe's offer desirable benefits and decent wages, but they may be looking for employees who have a greater knowledge of, say, whole (health) foods. So the question is, who will get these jobs? A Meijer or a Kroger (or whatever retail chain or independent grocer moves in (possibly)) will not have the need for a staff skilled in the yuppy foods industry and will, thus, be more likely to hire those most in need of employment.
Finally, am I giving the suburbanites too much credit? Can downtown Lansing become vibrant (or at least remain open past sunset) without the resources from East Lansing and Okemos? If a low-income-accessible grocery store moves in, will the crowd it invites be enough to revitalize the district? Am I even giving too much credit to a grocery store? So many questions.
Friday, January 12, 2007
People are lying when they say television sucks
My apologies for the long delay in the update. As I was home for three weeks, my access to the internet was tenuous. Also, I was busy with friends, family, and moving people into new houses.
I had a chance to see the Michael Kirby clan, with Private Mike relatively recently back from Iraq, and Elly Kirby relatively recently born. Ivie, relatively recently 2, was in attendance as well with the matriarch, Meghan. Elly and Ivie are such fantastic, cute, and well-behaved children that they could make anyone want children. Of this, I'm convinced.
Also, the Chris and Sara Kirby family (with 4/9 of a still en-wombed baby) were in attendance as well. Brother was also home, so it was a complete-family holiday. There was lots of food, lots of playing with kids, lots of watching home videos. It was relaxing and warm and everything a holiday should be.
However, I have to note the passing of my grandfather, Harold Gaines. I would go into his life and times, except that Brother did it much more eloquently than I could hope to. I'll merely point you in this direction, for a glimpse into what it was like having this character for a grandfather.
As for school, I'm back into the swing of things. I gave my first presentation yesterday (I'd say it went swimmingly), am looking to join a gym, and have become obsessed with watching television on my computer. Oh, it's bad.
I've started watching Heroes and How I Met Your Mother. This is in addition to the DVDs I got for Christmas, which include season two of Chapelle's Show, season three of Arrested Development, volume three of The Family Guy, a few movies, some Pete and Pete, and an older volume of Family Guy. I'm doomed. What dissertation?
I had a chance to see the Michael Kirby clan, with Private Mike relatively recently back from Iraq, and Elly Kirby relatively recently born. Ivie, relatively recently 2, was in attendance as well with the matriarch, Meghan. Elly and Ivie are such fantastic, cute, and well-behaved children that they could make anyone want children. Of this, I'm convinced.
Also, the Chris and Sara Kirby family (with 4/9 of a still en-wombed baby) were in attendance as well. Brother was also home, so it was a complete-family holiday. There was lots of food, lots of playing with kids, lots of watching home videos. It was relaxing and warm and everything a holiday should be.
However, I have to note the passing of my grandfather, Harold Gaines. I would go into his life and times, except that Brother did it much more eloquently than I could hope to. I'll merely point you in this direction, for a glimpse into what it was like having this character for a grandfather.
As for school, I'm back into the swing of things. I gave my first presentation yesterday (I'd say it went swimmingly), am looking to join a gym, and have become obsessed with watching television on my computer. Oh, it's bad.
I've started watching Heroes and How I Met Your Mother. This is in addition to the DVDs I got for Christmas, which include season two of Chapelle's Show, season three of Arrested Development, volume three of The Family Guy, a few movies, some Pete and Pete, and an older volume of Family Guy. I'm doomed. What dissertation?
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