Visions for Vacancies: 6220 Grand Boulevard

Melanie September 11, 2012 at 01:24 am

Something to occupy the kids in the community without being bullied by disrespectful teenagers (like at Sims Park).

Donna Scott September 11, 2012 at 02:47 am

I work around the corner from this place, i see it every day across the street from me. i would like to see businesses brought back to down town before malls took away business from most main streets in america . A movie theater , chain restaurant, tho i know its too small for a movie theater. Down town has enough bars and clubs,mom and pop restaurants. put a chi chi restaurant,TGIF, and see what would start to explode !! the prob is the city allowing, and the land lords getting them in... if the city can help the land owner sell or get big names in , it will help down down

Ed Caum September 11, 2012 at 04:51 pm

Turn it into an Artesian Village and invite artists from across Florida to set up a studio and shop to market Florida artwork. Tie that in with street musicians and Main Street Events. Maybe some locally made products shops, organic foods, soap, linens, etc...

Sherri Lonon (Editor) September 11, 2012 at 06:41 pm

These are some fantastic ideas. I really love yours, Ed!

Christy J September 12, 2012 at 04:17 pm

A coffee house downtown would be great. It would be nice to be able to go somewhere other than Starbucks or Dunkin' Donuts.

Rob Marlowe September 12, 2012 at 07:12 pm

There is a perfect place for a coffee shop with tables & chairs out under the tree in front right in the same building as me. (Gulfcoast Networking).

Mike September 13, 2012 at 02:27 pm

blow it up and start over

Sandra Dornick September 16, 2012 at 02:03 pm

A specialty shop - Bakery, Ice Cream, Bagel Shop, Studio for Classes. Because it would require foot traffic, the city needs to invest in lighting for sidewalks and parking lots to make customers feel safe when downtown. If you google map the location and continue down Missouri Ave, the next building screams it's not safe here (razor wire on top of fence) and I'm not sure if the man kneeling down in the doorway is someone working there or vagrant. This is the only impression one can walk away with who is not familiar to the area.
I'm glad to see NPR is working to keep the city alive. Sims Park is unique and the river makes it unique. Craft and Art fairs always draws a crowd. Bringing a farmers market to the downtown area is a wonderful idea. I just recently learned of the NPR Patch and I'm glad I did.

Denise Houston October 4, 2012 at 01:35 pm

Exactly Donna, now we are starting to think big. Bring in the bigger chains that can survive the start up and bring business to the existing businesses. I agree enough with bars already.

Steven Zimmerman October 4, 2012 at 05:46 pm

Alex, Odd thing, I can't find it listed in the MLS ~

Alex Tiegen (Editor) October 4, 2012 at 06:01 pm

Hi Steven, I'm not aware of where it is in the MLS . I do, however, get my info from the Pasco Prperty Appraiser's website. http://appraiser.pascogov.com/

Sandi December 17, 2012 at 07:31 pm

Sadly enough for downtown, and Grand Blvd and the like, it's neither the landlord nor the city who stops "chain restaurants" or franchise restaurants from moving to a small downtown area. They do all kinds of studies to determine how close they are to another franchise owner, and they especially go by the number of cars and people that go by each hour. That is why they are all on 19 and Little Rd. I don't know what the answer is either. I know I had a store on Main St, then moved to Rt 19 and now I am in the Trinity area. Some areas are supported well and some are not. The Trinity / seven springs area has a lot more residents to draw from with a much higher median income. I've lived the whole nightmare in the past 13 years. With the Big Boys moving into the area, no one wants to shop the great little stores. Plus you have the majority of people who can shop on line. Can't eat online tho, I guess I should have openen a restaurant!

Sandi December 17, 2012 at 07:34 pm

Like Gulfport! Great Idea, Ed.