Here are more photos from downtown Boulder, including Pearl Street Mall.
Charlottesville's mall was an abject failure for many years. It only began to work when:
(a) startups that focused on new media and publishing began to locate their in the 1990s.
(b) upscale housing was built above the stores
(c) programming was introduced, like Fridays After 5 in the summer
(d) nightlife returned, with small independent theaters, restaurants and clubs came to the downtown area.
(e) A relocated LA developer convinced the City to open up a cross street, and he then built a large movie theatre and ice rink downtown
(f) a trolly bus link was established between the Downtown and the Corner (which is where the students hung out).
This also then finally began the redevelopment of West Main Street between the University and downtown as well as the building out of the Corner, which included widening the sidewalks, eliminating parking and narrowing the streets.
But before the early to mid 1990s, the Downtown Mall and the Corner (as well as West Main) were in bad, bad shape.
I lived in CVille for 7 years - '95 thru '99 and again in '03-06. It is true that CVille's mall was a failure until the mid-90's, and the ice rink / movie theatre were a big boost. However, the "upscale housing" did not come into the mix until AFTER the mall was considered a success. Rich folks who want penthouses are NEVER the first into a newly revitalized neighborhood. Gentrification begins with young people, artists, students, etc., who are later displaced by the big-money types - developers, retiress, etc. This is happening in CVille now, not in the late '90s. Boulder, by comparison, is probably 10 years ahead in this scenario. Of course the Pearl St business community will report glowing success - their new neighbors are loaded! It's the youner families and working class who are now displaced in Boulder (see your future CVille)....
Commenting by HaloScan
