quote:

Originally posted by 6013seven:
I never realized how many homeless had cell phones.

quote:

Originally posted by 6013seven:
Scribbler,

I also headed into town between some GW conferences. Did you run the gauntlet of PADS patrons across from the train station, waiting to enter the church? I never realized how many homeless had cell phones.

With all the talk about the CBD in Geneva, I am surprised no one mentioned the articles from the Daily Herald and their techniques for getting ideas.

Geneva looks to make downtown better

"In small groups, armed with markers, giant Post-It sheets, their desires and their know-how, Geneva residents and business owners came up with ideas on how to keep the downtown district vibrant earlier this week.

While a singles club danced on the floor above, those gathered in a banquet room at Riverside Receptions narrowed down goals for Vision 2 of the city's 2017 strategic plan to just two:

• Maintain and enhance the downtown's people-friendly environment.

• Maintain and enhance the downtown's eclectic and vital business community.

But how to do that?

They gave guidance on that too, prioritizing objectives with each goal.

The group thought the city should work on retaining existing public services, such as the city hall, library, old courthouse and post office.

It should also encourage businesses to be open later in the evenings, to be open on Sundays and to have consistent business hours.

They want the city to "foster diversity of goods and services among the independent business community" and to consider using economic incentives to improve Geneva's chances when businesses are considering sites to open in.

Several aldermen attended the meeting, which was run by the Strategic Plan Advisory Committee.

"When we have over 80 people show up for a town meeting like that, it is a huge success," said Carolyn Dellutri, downtown development director for Geneva. Dellutri gave an overview of her job and the work of the downtown development committee at the beginning of the meeting.

The city council will review the recommendations at its annual goal-setting meeting later this month.

The issue of store hours has come up before. Typically, downtown businesses are not open weeknights and many are not open on Sunday. About 60 banded together this summer for a Thursday Night is Eight Night program, in which they stayed open until 8 p.m. on Thursdays in conjunction with a weekly car show. Those businesses are planning a similar effort for the Christmas shopping season.

"Downtown businesses are open business hours, not retail hours," Dellutri said.

She also noted how merchants are starting to band together in marketing subgroups for special events, such as the art galleries that host the First Friday arts walks each month or the wedding-related businesses that are coming up with a wedding products fair for January.

Such efforts show a downtown has reached a high level of economic sophistication, Dellutri said.

"This downtown is the envy of a lot of communities," Dellutri said."

quote:

Originally posted by theTroof:

If you post smart ideas like these, you're just going to be told by most of the regulars a dozen reasons why this can be done in Geneva (or anywhere else), but not in Glen Ellyn. What can be done in Glen Ellyn ... no one knows!

quote:

But how to do that?

They gave guidance on that too, prioritizing objectives with each goal.

The group thought the city should work on retaining existing public services, such as the city hall, library, old courthouse and post office.

quote:

It should also encourage businesses to be open later in the evenings, to be open on Sundays and to have consistent business hours.

quote:

They want the city to "foster diversity of goods and services among the independent business community" and to consider using economic incentives to improve Geneva's chances when businesses are considering sites to open in.

quote:

"In small groups, armed with markers, giant Post-It sheets, their desires and their know-how, Geneva residents and business owners came up with ideas on how to keep the downtown district vibrant earlier this week.

quote:

Originally posted by moonwalk:

quote:

"In small groups, armed with markers, giant Post-It sheets, their desires and their know-how, Geneva residents and business owners came up with ideas on how to keep the downtown district vibrant earlier this week.

If this were done in GE, I think there would be quite a few bums and bank tellers walking around with post it notes stuck to them.

quote:

Originally posted by GlenEllynRing:
I had dinner with a good friend last night in downtown GE (Thai joint). She is from Oak Park, has lived there her entire life and does try to shop as much as possible in her downtown area. I was really surprised to hear say that she is, and always has been, very attracted to coming to downtown Glen Ellyn for a days excursion with her girlfriends, shopping, having lunch, doing the spa thing. I asked her why she was so attracted to coming here (they take METRA)? She said she has always thought it was quaint and so much less 'urban' than her town's downtown area and they don't want to go all the way out to Geneva for the same feel.

My point is, it really hit me that Glen Ellyn should be marketing itself for this type of customer. As kids, my mom would pile us on the train to Geneva because she thought it less 'urban' than her downtown. Obviously, we are quite a few miles/stops closer than Geneva on the METRA line, so we could really have an opportunity with folks from Oak Park/River Forest/Forest Park, etc... and the city to become a place for these types of excursions.

We may be landlocked and not on a major highway, but that is part of the charm and something to be marketed. What we DO have is a train line and we could (with time and careful planning) become that 'closer' destination/alternative to Geneva.

quote:

Originally posted by theTroof:

quote:

Originally posted by 6013seven:
Scribbler,

I also headed into town between some GW conferences. Did you run the gauntlet of PADS patrons across from the train station, waiting to enter the church? I never realized how many homeless had cell phones.

With all the talk about the CBD in Geneva, I am surprised no one mentioned the articles from the Daily Herald and their techniques for getting ideas.

Geneva looks to make downtown better

"In small groups, armed with markers, giant Post-It sheets, their desires and their know-how, Geneva residents and business owners came up with ideas on how to keep the downtown district vibrant earlier this week.

While a singles club danced on the floor above, those gathered in a banquet room at Riverside Receptions narrowed down goals for Vision 2 of the city's 2017 strategic plan to just two:

• Maintain and enhance the downtown's people-friendly environment.

• Maintain and enhance the downtown's eclectic and vital business community.

But how to do that?

They gave guidance on that too, prioritizing objectives with each goal.

The group thought the city should work on retaining existing public services, such as the city hall, library, old courthouse and post office.

It should also encourage businesses to be open later in the evenings, to be open on Sundays and to have consistent business hours.

They want the city to "foster diversity of goods and services among the independent business community" and to consider using economic incentives to improve Geneva's chances when businesses are considering sites to open in.

Several aldermen attended the meeting, which was run by the Strategic Plan Advisory Committee.

"When we have over 80 people show up for a town meeting like that, it is a huge success," said Carolyn Dellutri, downtown development director for Geneva. Dellutri gave an overview of her job and the work of the downtown development committee at the beginning of the meeting.

The city council will review the recommendations at its annual goal-setting meeting later this month.

The issue of store hours has come up before. Typically, downtown businesses are not open weeknights and many are not open on Sunday. About 60 banded together this summer for a Thursday Night is Eight Night program, in which they stayed open until 8 p.m. on Thursdays in conjunction with a weekly car show. Those businesses are planning a similar effort for the Christmas shopping season.

"Downtown businesses are open business hours, not retail hours," Dellutri said.

She also noted how merchants are starting to band together in marketing subgroups for special events, such as the art galleries that host the First Friday arts walks each month or the wedding-related businesses that are coming up with a wedding products fair for January.

Such efforts show a downtown has reached a high level of economic sophistication, Dellutri said.

"This downtown is the envy of a lot of communities," Dellutri said."

If you post smart ideas like these, you're just going to be told by most of the regulars a dozen reasons why this can be done in Geneva (or anywhere else), but not in Glen Ellyn. What can be done in Glen Ellyn ... no one knows!

quote:

Originally posted by ArmchairQuarterback:
Her husband is brilliant....I'll bet he wrote that.

That being said, what type of "man" lets his wife hyphenate?

quote:

Originally posted by Clamato:

Parker was fictional name given by Ruydah who claims/claimed she looked like Parker Posey.