The gallery was one of the main stops on the monthly gallery walks.
It was big news when Monk-Reising first moved into the space so a huge question is, what is going to move into the empty space?
By looking at this issue we can also analyze other aspects of current and future revitalization of downtown Oshkosh.
Let's review some of the business that have recently opened downtown..
a store that sells expensive purses
a store that sells VERY expensive womens clothes.
a nail salon.
another salon.
a new bar.
Being a current resident of downtown I see that the streets are gererally empty at night. During the day few people are seen walking alon gthe sidewalk. I question how the committee that oversees buisness improvement defines actual DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION.
Sure, the stores that recently opened are located in buildings that may look nicer, but what do these stores give to the general public?
How do these stores cater to the needs of residents on the north and east sides of town?
The answer is that, in general, they don't.
Urban communities that have successful downtown areas utilize a basics need of the surrounding community.
For example- a grocery store, a place to eat, a place to do something.
Obviously a boutique shop does not have regular customers because of the price of the items that are sold. The west side of Oshkosh is where the wealthier population lives. These people are also typically the customers of come-and-go businesses like a high-priced cafe (Planet Perk), a boutique purse shop (Lulu) and a boutique women's clothing store (The Whtie Russian).
How are we helping to rebuild downtown Oshkosh if more and more stores that cater to citizens that live on the other side of town help the greater Oshkosh?
Downtown....
Where is a grocery store?
Where can I get some milk when I run out?
Where can I hang-out when I don't want to sit at home?
What if I don't want to drink?
Where can I do something with my family downtown?
---the ampitheatre is a solution to this but obviously you can't go there in the winter.
Where can I sit and have a nice meal, besides the WaterCityGrill?
So what is going to happen to the empty space at Monk-Reising gallery?
This is a question of business improvement and renovation concerns of downtown.
In order to make this a successful downtown revialization, lacking of mistakes, and financial burdens (like the tax situation of the lack-lustre 100 N.Main apartment) what can we provide to our general Oshkosh citizens that can prove to be a sustainable business?
Duh! We need to start something that has easy acess to a larger income bracket while also pertaining to those people's wants and or needs.
If the downtown area can provide for the general needs of the GENERAL public of north and east Oshkosh , it then, will be able to become a self- thriving community.
Other points of Note:
The Park Plaza mall, once comparable to the Fox River Mall, was once located in downtown Oshkosh. The mall was occupied by major stores like: Younkers,Pragne Way, JC Penny,Deb, and others and also had a full food court. The building is now a empty building containing phone centers for catalogue companies.
Mercy Mecical Center, once the only hospital in Oshkosh it is now a buildling that still hasn't been fully restored. The hospital was rebuilt on the west side of town. A second hospital was built less than a mile from it.
There was a popular Chinese food restaurant that used to be located in downtown Oshkosh. It burned down and was never replaced.
A large movie theatre once occupied the current location of the Mainview Apartments on Main Street. The theatre was one of the biggest in the Wisconsin area. The theatre was closed and is now a provider of low-income housing. This buildling has MANY rooms. Is this fully occupied?
Another theatre downtown closed less than five years ago. The space used to host regular plays and theatrical performances that were inexpensive to attend. The building has continued to be vacant downtown and efforts to make the space into a club that hosted live musical acts was turned down by the city.
posted by Oshkosh Music Scene @ 10:06 AM
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