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Sunday, May. 18, 2008

Will great ideas work? Panelists rate the ideas

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Which of these ideas would work? Which are pie-in-the-sky?

We asked five people who might know to rate the ideas’ “doability” on a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being the easiest.

FARMERS MARKET

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Doability factor: 2

From Township auditorium director Sally Roach: “Great idea (that) would breathe some life into downtown on the weekend!”

The State House would have security and grounds issues, said Budget and Control Board spokesman Mike Sponhour. But “there might be other state-owned sites ... perhaps near the museum complex, along the river?”

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MIDSIZE VENUE

Doability factor: 3

Tax money would have to build and maintain it, the group said. Allowing alcohol sales would help groups pump up revenues and compete with other venues.

Put it on the greenway, said Watson Tate Savory’s Michael Watson, state president of the American Institute of Architects.

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FOOD, RETAIL ON GREENWAY

Doability factor: 2

City Council member Tameika Isaac Devine: “Definitely doable.”

Watson: “There has to be enough critical mass to make (venues) work, and they have to be clustered in strategic areas.”

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TROLLEYS

Doability factor: 2

Bob Guild, environmental attorney and Planning Commission member: “We would need to ... stop subsidizing car choices — parking, fast streets, pedestrian-hostile codes and design ...”

Devine: “Would love to see it, but how would you fund it, and would people ride?”

Watson: “Maybe the food and beverage tax can help ...”

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PLACES TO BIKE, WALK, SIT

Doability factor: 3-4

Expensive and labor-intensive ideas, the group said, but definitely worth pursuing.

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