The points acknowledged between us are that successful businesses attract, especially if there is a balance between government and private enterprise.

GP owner layed his own foundation, literally. He drinks wine; doesn’t voice it. And all good points about the differences between our two communities. At the end of the day, GP owner takes in more than he pays out and that ultimately keeps him from moving. That is the Scott Stevenson simple economics. Uh oh, I’m pontificating again……

Did you notice that GP has a housing, property & tax problem far worse than Farmington? Government and citizens no doubt have spent millions over the years making that area a fine place to visit, go to school, and live. And yes, they want to spend/invest more via streetscapes and parking. They have the same question as Farmington? Will it really work?

Capitalism, government support? I suppose I inferred previously that someone can be an island and go it alone and if so I mispoke. I think we agree that the fact is one most always has to work with enough other people in order to get what they want, which means a healthy balance between private enterprise and government. For Farmington, I believe that also means if government is going to follow the business principle, they can’t do it cafeteria style. Do more with less? How about just doing the things you do now very well?

The boys and I are hopping on Amtrak next week for a long distance ride to the west. The Bush administration did something absolutely astounding this year: they actually increased rail funding by some five billion. I wonder how I’ll see these funds implemented? Hopefully, not from the bottom of the Mississippi. We all are concerned about our crumbling “infrastructure” (by the way, if I hear that word one more time I’m going to break a block of ice with my head), but does anyone see that our rail is even more in crisis than our roads and bridges? All this while oil profits soar beyond comprehension.

Something is very wrong here. And yet, the adventure continues….all aboard!

After poking around a bit, I discovered that Lexington is, indeed, a fascinating city. I’ve never heard of The Lex, but any place that brings in B.J. Thomas has my stamp of approval. Interesting that the owner had enough juice to buy a city block – although the economy and real estate market in 1992 might have been more friendly. I loved the ‘hometown boy returns’ angle of the story and the way he built a sense of history and craftsmanship into the place. Just like what the Cowley family did when they tore down the old bar and made a $1 million-plus investment in the current restaurant. They brought in wooden fixtures salvaged from buildings in Ireland. The bar is gorgeous.

There is an aspect of Lexington’s history that I found interesting. Apparently, a storm destroyed 3 Lexington docks in 1913, and freighter traffic stopped. According to a Web site maintained by the local business community: “Lexington built a harbor of refuge in the 1970′s. There are many boat slips, restaurants, park, picnic area, beach, and pier for everyone to enjoy.”

In other words, the city (I presume, it didn’t say “private business owners”) invested in improvements to make Lexington a destination, with amenities enjoyed by the public. They did this in the 1970s and over the past 30 years, it appears business owners took advantage of the improvements to build successful businesses.

Going back to our Italian friend in Grosse Pointe, who “built his unique business from the ground up…”. All true, I’m sure. However, business owners in Grosse Pointe start with a foundation unlike what exists here. While he worked his fingers to the bone, this restaurant owner did so with the support of a community that has invested in public amenities, walkable streets and carefully manicured improvements – something a little more than slapping a layer of asphalt on the road. In fact, and this may be old news, Grosse Pointe is establishing a DDA to finance – of all things – a parking structure, streetscape and the infrastructure to support additional development. The story is here: http://www.metromodemedia.com/devnews/grossepointedda0064.aspx Other stories available at Metromode seem to indicate this has not slowed development at all. Consider this as well, reported by the Grosse Pointe News:

>>”If a DDA and board of directors is established at the July City council meeting, as council members have been saying they want to happen, increased property tax receipts generated by rising property values in the district would be captured to fund improvements in the district. To that end, more than $11.7 million in upgrades to infrastructure, parking, traffic safety, utilities and streetscapes have been drawn up for the Village.

“We’re trying to stimulate substantial private development, create jobs and expand the tax base,” (city manager Peter) Dame said.<<

Capitalism once existed in this country without government support, but not today. Commercial traffic barrels down publicly (under)funded roads and bridges, businesses rely on public sanitation and clean water, parking spaces, passable and safe sidewalks, street lighting…among other things. Most of what government does has become invisible to us; we accept the privilege of living in a civilized world without fully understanding the cost. Which is not to say the current Michigan business tax structure is fair; it is not. Neither is saying the GP restaurateur “covers all his own expenses.” Because the foundation that facilitates his success was paid for by others, long before he opened the doors. I’ll bet he knows that quite well, too.

The point with the east sider was a good lesson about capitalism and one man’s creativity: he built his unique business from the ground up, he covered all his own expenses, and by his good works, energy, and most importantly, service to others, attracted his patrons from home and nearby communities. He also inspired businesses on the block to do the same; sort of like how neighbors compete to have the best light display during the winter holidays.

The point on the barrio was the neighborhood draw not the dirt or busted up roads that often lead into them. And sidewalks, what’s that? Well that is if you spend a lot of time in the southwest, where in one state, it is required by law to have the letters USA on the license plate.

Lexington is also anonther fine example. Continue the adventure here at http://www.lexmtc.com/

And I wholeheartedly agree that drivers are much nicer east of Cleveland. Why is that? It seems the finger is our State’s driving symbol for hate. My gosh; even when I do end up driving out east, oncoming drivers actually let me turn left when the light first turns green. I’ll drive downtown Boston over Detroit anytime.

And yet, the point is still valid.

Eating in the “barrio” – after dark? More times than you can imagine (I’m older and more widely travelled than you must think..). But, I’m not going to take my wife and kids there – regardless of the quality of the offerings. Somehow not worth the potential “adventures in dining”!

YOU made the reference to Little Italy. But my answer was irrelevant? Hmm.

As for Lexington, that’s an awfully big place for anyone to have transformed anything single-handedly. But I’ll bite – what’s the name of the business? I’d like to know more.

The recent eastern adventure involved grandchildren. Don’t get me started, I’m crazy about all three. But we did visit Gettysburg, which has to be the single biggest tourist trap ever built. What I found really interesting was how patient people were. The streets are very narrow and not particularly well ordered. We made a number of wrong turns, waited too long at a light or two, and heard no honking horns, no yelling or inappropriate finger displays. I found this quite refreshing.

Something tells me you haven’t had the real experience of a meal in the barrio, after dark even. Bricks and mortar aren’t the draw unless you are looking for a throw down.

Something also tells me that Little Italy would trade something they do very well, like build a sidewalk, for a tax break. I wonder if he/she was offered that? No, they just went somewhere else like businesses look to other states besides Michigan.

By the way, have you been up to Lexington to see what one business owner transformed single-handedly? Puts Northville to shame.

Pride, forethought, simple, hmmm…..save that for later (Beetle Juice). I want to hear to more about the recent eastern adventure…..

They could have left out the barfing machine, but the rest of the story worked well.

Back to your bad accents, sorry for the interruption.

Ask the owner of Little Italy if he likes what Northville has done to their downtown. He didn’t pay for that all himself. And yet it brings folks downtown, where they shop and relax and yes, they eat. Many times, at his place. Thereby raising the amount of tax revenue the city receives and maybe even sparing it’s residents another millage increase. A time-honored process, and no more than Economics in it’s most simple form. And much closer to the definition of “win/win”.

The “would-be owner of Farmington’s future Little Italy” has already researched coming here – and found that (surprise!) having to start up a new business in town and THEN having to pay to build new city infrastructure around it – “issa too esspensive” (accent, mine)(sorry).

So, he goes elsewhere, where the city and it’s residents have the pride and forethought to invest in their own city first, thereby encouraging him to do the same in hopes of gaining the business of those very folk. Simple concept, really. Works well, too.

I failed to mention on purpose, the owner’s response to my question as to what he would suggest for the downtown businesses. Suffice it to say his primary language, the physical response, was not positive and his verbal one, well, that wasn’t either – it was one word: “Farmington?”

We’ve got a lot of work to do, that’s for sure. Yes, wouldn’t it be nice to dine at home, well, I mean in the city in which you live. Would love to see a position that explains or a forum where we can express our imagination regarding, the type of businesses that streetscape is expected to attract and/or create.

Quizno’s is no Little Italy, and no sidewalk in the world would make that so or draw someone like me anytime soon, but something tells me that the would-be owner of Farmington’s future Little Italy would build his own sidewalk and raise his own fence before he asked for other people’s money. But these Italians, no offense, it seems like they hang out mostly on the east side.

Ok, so let’s see where/if anymore reasons have been posted to vote Yes, and why. Yikes, what an article on the former mayor!