re: Farmer's Co-Op becoming a mixed-use development.

quote:

---

I could be wrong, but I interpreted the loss of small town feel to the loss of the Farmer's Co-Op specifically. Like a place your grandpaw used to take you as a kid is being turned into another higher-intensity use.

---

That's exactly right. I actually like that more expensive stuff is going into that area, and that what we define as "downtown" is separating into possibly a third district to post up and get your drink on. But seeing long-time businesses like the Co-Op move out of their cool old locations is a little sad.

There's a few more "warehouse" sites adjacent to this and the "Mill District" properties. It will be interesting to see how it all develops over the next half decade, especially with the Windgate Foundation's $40 million donation to fill that block up with art space. A few more higher intensity zonings are on the docket as we speak, so property owners are rightfully trying to cash-in. Specialized will do an interesting project there and it will be big influx of $$$ and bodies into that area.

As soon as there are 4-5 restaurants to choose from on the block, and a few bars, people will start seeing it as another place to spend the whole afternoon or evening.