tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17454417.post115534618585239078..comments2023-11-05T06:06:29.162-06:00Comments on Grand Forks Life: Downtown Grand Forks 60 years agoGrandForksGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02315228631948799533noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17454417.post-1155822940049354062006-08-17T08:55:00.000-05:002006-08-17T08:55:00.000-05:00The exodus from downtown didn't involve a wrecking...The exodus from downtown didn't involve a wrecking ball, it just left big block-size buildings, like the old Norby's and Griffith's, dark.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17454417.post-1155700908229475942006-08-15T23:01:00.000-05:002006-08-15T23:01:00.000-05:00I agree, Ben. Most downtown construction in the l...I agree, Ben. Most downtown construction in the last couple of decades or so did not result in the demolition of buildings...the flood/fire did the demolition instead. New downtown construction is almost exclusively taking place on vacant property or parking lots. You would have to go back to the days of "urban renewal" to see construction crews actually tearing down block after block of GrandForksGuyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02315228631948799533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17454417.post-1155688130428805632006-08-15T19:28:00.000-05:002006-08-15T19:28:00.000-05:00I don't think any of the old buildings were torn d...I don't think any of the old buildings were torn down due to construction of new ones. The flood, fire and deterioration led to the buildings leaving open space and then new building following behind. The newest additions to downtown are all being built on open land that is unoccupied. There is quite a difference, though...including a police building where it looks like there was a grain Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17454417.post-1155660245492707672006-08-15T11:44:00.001-05:002006-08-15T11:44:00.001-05:00Wow, it's neat to compare those pics side-by-side....Wow, it's neat to compare those pics side-by-side. Downtown has really changed a lot. I wonder if those big new buildings were really worth tearing down the historic buildings that are shown on this postcard.<BR/><BR/>The big greenway was probably a nice addition, most downtowns could use more park space. <BR/><BR/>On the above comments -- I really don't see how anyone can praise urban sprawl avocadoinparadisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07710348855305184932noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17454417.post-1155660242127790942006-08-15T11:44:00.000-05:002006-08-15T11:44:00.000-05:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.avocadoinparadisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07710348855305184932noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17454417.post-1155615841322639102006-08-14T23:24:00.000-05:002006-08-14T23:24:00.000-05:00Grand Forks looks so much more of a downtown 60 ye...Grand Forks looks so much more of a downtown 60 years ago. Today, downtown doesn't seem like what it was 60 years ago. I mean, we can blame the flood for a lose of our original downtown buildings, but I guess we'll have to wait for more years to come for more development.Legacy Userhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08484210871458352450noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17454417.post-1155573784340235302006-08-14T11:43:00.000-05:002006-08-14T11:43:00.000-05:00On terms of sprawl, I think Fargo-Moorhead is star...On terms of sprawl, I think Fargo-Moorhead is starting to get that that point where the city might be spreading the services thin as the developers continue to develop on the fringes of the city each year. We're not, in my opinion, at a point were we should be alarmed, but it would be nice to see some higher densities, especially in the urban core. Grand Forks would be wise to develop that way asNanoBisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00008270539776045450noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17454417.post-1155564664092414972006-08-14T09:11:00.000-05:002006-08-14T09:11:00.000-05:00I think there's an alternative between urban spraw...I think there's an alternative between urban sprawl and high-density urban center development that no one talks about around here. Smart growth is what some developers are calling it. Not new, really. Just means as new development on the fringes takes place, it combines walkable distances between schools, shopping parks and residential. Its centerpiece is usually something as simple as a Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17454417.post-1155451642439671352006-08-13T01:47:00.000-05:002006-08-13T01:47:00.000-05:00Peder, I actually agree with you 100%. I just wan...Peder, I actually agree with you 100%. I just wanted to better understand your personal opinions on sprawl.<BR/><BR/>Myself, I like seeing both "sprawl" types of development and <I>also</I> higher density developments in Grand Forks. I love seeing the new relatively dense housing being built downtown, but - at the same time - I am thrilled everytime I hear about another chain coming to 32nd GrandForksGuyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02315228631948799533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17454417.post-1155446157604796042006-08-13T00:15:00.000-05:002006-08-13T00:15:00.000-05:00GrandForksGuy,Have an alternative? One, Americans ...GrandForksGuy,<BR/><BR/>Have an alternative? One, Americans love their cars, and bucking that trend locally isn't exactly an option. Two, the high-traffic 32nd Ave. corridor would be, I dare to say, impossible without the capacity of sprawl. Grand Forks is a regional destination city and we must accommodate. Three, the citizens of Grand Forks love suburban sprawl. Look at all of the development Peder Ricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08358812587223733629noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17454417.post-1155445344147822242006-08-13T00:02:00.000-05:002006-08-13T00:02:00.000-05:00More of what exactly?More of what exactly?GrandForksGuyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02315228631948799533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17454417.post-1155439916081264732006-08-12T22:31:00.000-05:002006-08-12T22:31:00.000-05:00Great entry Grand Forks Guy, where can we GF laype...Great entry Grand Forks Guy, where can we GF laypersons go to find more of this stuff?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17454417.post-1155435861042545972006-08-12T21:24:00.000-05:002006-08-12T21:24:00.000-05:00I put up a better annotated version. Fancy, huh?I put up a better annotated version. Fancy, huh?GrandForksGuyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02315228631948799533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17454417.post-1155426225804214842006-08-12T18:43:00.000-05:002006-08-12T18:43:00.000-05:00Peder, I'm curious. Don't sprawl type development...Peder, I'm curious. Don't sprawl type developments often require more extensive and costly public infrastructure than denser developments would? As a fiscal conservative, does it trouble you to support a style of development that can often times be more costly for taxpayers?GrandForksGuyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02315228631948799533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17454417.post-1155365853516628522006-08-12T01:57:00.000-05:002006-08-12T01:57:00.000-05:00Yep, keep'n it real fresh...Yep, keep'n it <I>real</I> fresh...GrandForksGuyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02315228631948799533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17454417.post-1155365602998916172006-08-12T01:53:00.000-05:002006-08-12T01:53:00.000-05:00It's more computer g33ktastic when it's "Renewl." ...It's more computer g33ktastic when it's "Renewl." I see you're trying to "keep it fresh," as the kids say.<BR/><BR/>Dave, I can't agree that sprawl is a deathtrap. I believe that it is the best method for development and land use in today's superstore world.<BR/><BR/>Of course, the vein of money that is oil that we cut open to have sprawl (yay! for traffic) potentially entirely negates any Peder Ricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08358812587223733629noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17454417.post-1155359489854740142006-08-12T00:11:00.000-05:002006-08-12T00:11:00.000-05:00Oops, obviously that one area on the annotated pho...Oops, obviously that one area on the annotated photo should read "Urban Renew<B>a</B>l Area". My bad.GrandForksGuyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02315228631948799533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17454417.post-1155359217849581982006-08-12T00:06:00.000-05:002006-08-12T00:06:00.000-05:00It's sad and it makes me vomit.You seem to have so...<I>It's sad and it makes me vomit.</I><BR/><BR/>You seem to have some problem with vomiting, don't you? :)<BR/><BR/>I think it <I>is</I> really interesting to see how much of 1946-era downtown GF is simply gone.GrandForksGuyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02315228631948799533noreply@blogger.com