This week's News-Star has a great story on an Urban Land Institute study that was done on Uptown's gem, Argyle Street. The study looks to tap into Argyle Street's hidden potential. Read the entire article here.It features another great Shiller quote:
"When we do these kinds of studies, it doesn't always correlate to the real world," Shiller said. "As we talk about broadening Argyle Street, we need to look at the critical mass that will be created at Truman College and by Target [in the Wilson Yard redevelopment]."
Gotta love critical mass.
"When we do these kinds of studies, it doesn't always correlate to the real world," Shiller said.
ReplyDeleteWho's real world yours or mine?
Go ahead Helen take another bong hit.
I don't even get what she's trying to say?
ReplyDeleteI have read this 5 times now and don't know what she means.
ReplyDeleteAccording to Wikipedia "critical mass is the smallest amount of fissile material needed for a sustained nuclear chain reaction."
So if she is trying to use this in reference to businesses critical mass is a good thing. As in there are enough businesses to spawn further businesses. Which (I think) is exactly the opposite of what she is trying to get at.
talking out her critical mass... haha. I get it. Took me a sec....
ReplyDeleteDidn't you guys get pummeled with Marx and Engels in school?
ReplyDelete"Critical mass", the way Shiller has used it, is straight out of Marxist literature.
Nothing wrong with a bong hit every now and again R.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad I'm not the only one who was entirely confused by whatever it was that she tried to say.
ReplyDeleteBut let's give her credit for accomplishing the politician's art of speaking without really saying anything.
SOMH: You mean Laura Engels and Groucho Marx, right?
ReplyDeleteActually, I'm not confused, at all.
She'd just admitted to having no desire whatsoever in helping businesses that she can't leverage, threaten or intimidate.
And, we'd all be well served to lower our expectations of seeing any decent, welcomed change in this ward until Satan opens a sulpher-stenched hole in the ground and takes his daughter back.
The Target will eventually make other retailers give the area a chance...and Helen will take the credit. Just as Lakeview improves on its own momentum and she takes the credit. Way to go Helen...
ReplyDeleteFrom the article: "For the long-term, panelists advised an Asian night market modeled after similar night markets in Canada to be launched in 2010"
ReplyDeleteThe night market sounds cool. How can we help. Who's in charge of making this stuff happen? Uptown United?
Shiller is such a horrible public speaker that she latches onto "buzz phrases" that she thinks makes her sound like she knows what she's talking about.
ReplyDeleteShe doesn't.
Before everything in ShillerLand was "Critical Mass," it was "Lazy Lanes." Over and over and over...
Like larrynow I think what Shiller was trying to say, albeit cryptically - is that the study perhaps didn't take into account the "real world" change already underway via WY, that the increased retail there will create a "critical mass" if you will, of a lot more people and a lot more activity that will (hopefully) spill further north onto Argyle.
ReplyDeleteWow, I think Shiller had better enjoy her last two years in office........Cuz the "critical mass" of an angry, growing, and well organized Uptown militia of sorts is about to give her a big kick in the ass :)
ReplyDeleteAgreed, a night market sounds like an excellent idea. A nice warm summer night with people out walking and shopping. A great way to "take back the night" while also supporting the neighborhood.
ReplyDeleteI chuckled at the commissions comment about improving lighting. Kind of a no-brainer, which just frustrates me more that there are so many lights out in "East Berlin"
The numerous local block clubs should invite Peter and Helen to bring their (credentialed) urban planners to present the "critical mass(es) WY is projected to generate.
ReplyDeleteWhat does "critical mass" mean beyond physics and local bicycle clubs?
ReplyDeleteHas anyone here ever watched the cable series "The Wire". I believe shiller's vision of Uptown would be "The Wires" version of Amsterdam or Amstaa-dam. A free range area un-policed, open air drug market run by the gangs (in a designated area. prostitutes, public drunks abound. Lil pokey and Tike playing on their big wheel in the middle of the street while mama turns tricks and uses 10feet away. Societies problems all in one concentrated area. An area you could concentrate social services at. Not entirely a horrible idea all in all. My problem and well 99/100 bloggers here probably agree. Is that not many tax paying (Income &/or Propertytax; 40 oz. Olde English or mini-Hennesey bottle tax doesn't count). By the way the show if you are unfamiliar used an abandoned segregated area of the city (Baltimore) for there ficticious experiment.....HELLO HELEN not a culturally rich diverse neighborhood were it not for you rich/poor/black/latino/asian/white would live side by side in PEACE.
ReplyDeleteObama gives hope even to this republican, because he has that something that seems to bring people together. Helen on the other hand has that something that seems to divide people and take away hope.
You can thank Helen Shiller for helping out the narcotics trade on Magnolia. The mall makes it very difficult to drive up on the stones there selling rock. Then again her staff has family in the trade. Just keep electing Shiller and Daley over, and over, and over again. Break the political slavery of Chicago politics vote out Shiller and little dick Daley.
ReplyDelete