Mufasa update

I just recieved this from the family who recieved Mufasa's doghouse. I wish them luck and many happy years with Haley and her new home. I'm sure Mufasa would approve.

Honey do list

Some people have job jars. Others have ‘honey do’ list. Honey do this, honey do that, etc. I just have a never-ending pile of chores that never seem to get done. I’d like to say I’m too busy to get to them, but truth be known, I usually just procrastinate my way out of them.

Heck, I’ve even procrastinated updating the list. I have all these projects that need done in my head that need organized. Item number one will be to make the list.

I promised myself I would paint the garage this year. Now I’m hoping for next year. Maybe I can incorporate it into an overall yard makeover. Now it sounds like a huge project, better hold off on that…Next project.

I need to hang some shelves in garage. But before I can hang them, they need cut to size. Before I can cut them, I need to clear off the workbench. There are no shelves to put the stuff on the workbench because I still need to hang them. But they need cut to length…viscous cycle…Next project.

The sprayer on my sink has been busted since we moved here. I’m not allowed to do anything that resembles plumbing since I tend to make up new words that are far too improper for newspaper print. Besides, we’ve been here 10 years now and it has never worked, we obviously don’t need it…Next project.

My girls have learned to climb out of their cribs and we need to move them up to twin beds. I’d like to build some bed frames, but there is clutter all over the workbench (see shelf task above). They have a few more inches to grow before they are taller then the crib mattress; maybe I can tackle this one next spring…Next project.

I have about 2 years worth of digital pictures that need sorted. The best ones need printed and put into photo albums. The photo printer has been out of ink for about 2 years (imagine that). Maybe I’ll just transfer them to a digital photo frame instead. That’s almost the same thing…Next project.

Clean vehicles…why, they will just get dirty again…next project.

I can come up with an excuse for not doing just about anything on my list. But eventually my procrastination will come back to haunt me. Maybe I’ll get to work on it after the World Series; as long as it’s not to cold; on Saturdays of course; Sundays are for football.

Mall improvements welcome news

After years of neglect, the mall will soon be the recipient of some much-needed maintenance. The City of Mattoon is in the process of creating a TIF and Business district for the mall and surrounding area, and plans are being developed to upgrade the area.

The area is starting to show some blight, but more distinctly, it looks dated. The parking lot is nothing but a sea of asphalt and what little architecture on the building screams 1970’s. The storm water holding pond has been neglected for so long, flooding has become a problem around the parking lot.

The old Wal-Mart building has also seen its better days. It has recently been purchased by Lake Land College, who has rented a portion of the building for years. Landscaping and façade upgrades will go a long way in improving the looks of this area.

Some will argue that spending money on the mall parking lot is a waste. And efforts should be spent on bringing in another anchor store or restaurant. But retailers won’t consider locating here if the site is outdated and blighted. It is the chicken and the egg effect.

Others will argue efforts should be spent on attracting manufacturing jobs to the area. Once employment figures improve, retail will follow. The city needs to work on improving the community on all fronts. There are many efforts to improve these numbers as well.

It is no real surprise the mall and surrounding area is seeing such decline. They are in the first ring of the donut that I have mentioned many times before. National chains built new stores and restaurants on the periphery, abandoning their central locations and creating the ‘hole’ downtown. This happened when the mall area was originally developed.

Businesses often scramble to the outskirts when expansion is desired. Or they fail altogether, abandoning their building. Their former buildings are left to local developers and are often too big for one business. They sit partially empty for years and eventually become an eyesore. The donut grows. There are many buildings in this first ring that fit this pattern; Kroger’s (Big Lots), Jewel/Ocso, Wal-Mart, and even K-mart.

Expanding businesses can be a double-edged sword for a community. They often bring more jobs, and increased tax revenue. But their former locations can become a drag on other resources. Not only does a town have to struggle with redeveloping downtown, they also have to deal with these first ring developments that are approaching the same problems.

Filling both downtown and first ring developments can be a daunting task to a community that has seen a declining population for the better part of two decades. But without the tools in place, this task will be darned near impossible. Most developers will only develop with incentives, regardless of how deep their own pockets are. These incentives may be the needed spark to improving the first ring developments.