Midtown Inc.

[casscorridor]

The reasons for not merging are also political.

Let's discuss whether or not this move will benefit the area it is intended to serve.

There is a new definition of "midtown" by the three anchor institutions. The boundary is roughly Rosa Parks Blvd on the West, I-75 freeway on the East, Virgina Park St on the North and Mack Ave/MLK Blvd on the South... This includes all of Woodbridge but not lower Midtown. But I'm sure lower Midtown will still be included in the "Midtown Inc's" mission.

Currently three separate orgs serve this expanded area: UCCA, New Center Council and Woodbridge NDC. Clearly, UCCA is the strongest and most successful of the organizations, and Woodbridge the least strongest. New Center continues to lag behind Midtown even though its directly north and has its many strong institutions, including one of the anchors. Woodbridge continues to struggle to diversify, lacking commercial/retail options beyond one pub, and a few liquor and dollar stores and gas stations. So it seems merging the organizations would help the entire area develop.

It is also important to remember all the smaller "neighborhoods" within this expanded "Midtown" have strong ties to one-another, almost one continuous area with many holes, like swiss cheese. All these sub-areas are emerging neighborhoods, with many education professionals seeking to life and work and invest here, many already doing so. The areas just need to be more connected, so a large vibrant urban area emerges. A strong development organization that can tie all these areas together is what is needed. Politics of non-profit mergers aside, I think this will be an overall positive move.

[rsa.313]

don't drink the kool-aid cass. who do you think expanded the boundaries/definition of midtown? i can't speak much about woodbridge NDC, but it depends on your definition of "successful" to determine who wins UCCA vs. NCC. i don't think you can pick UCCA hands down if you correspond each organization to their mission statements.

what makes you think that a larger, mega-org is going to serve the smaller neighborhoods? do you know what the new board structure looks like? smaller neighborhoods and businesses currently have representation on these boards; what makes you think they will continue to do so? what makes you think these smaller organizations don't already talk and connect with each other?

[it's important to note that development is only one aspect of what these smaller organiztions do, not the only thing.]