Fighting the pull of the pike

Hankla thinks that long beach can compare to a world class city like San Diego? What a joke.

People are creatures of convenience. Generally, when having to make a choice about where to shop or eat they will go to the convenient spot as long as it meets their needs. So, if I can walk across the street to an Outback versus walk up the hill to an unknown name to eat they will opt for the Outback; it is known and close (from the Hyatt).
But from the other hotels in downtown the choice is not as easy or convenient as the Hyatt. Downtown has to market itself if it wants to draw these people. It is convenient from several hotels but most of the restaurants and shops are "unknown" brands to out of town visitors. Make your brand "known" through marketing to visitors and they will come to you.
Do nothing and they will go to what they know or see - the Pike and its "national" brand places.

Who want to go way down to san diego to unwind?I say saved some gas.com e to Pine and drink.party away.

The Pike is 90% leased? If this is the case, how much rent has DDR paid to the City of Long Beach. After all, the development contract stated if DDR achieved a certain return on investment, they are obligated to pay rent for use of the property. At 90% leased, there should be sufficient revenues generated to provide monies for rent payments. In addition, with so much activity at the Pike, one could also say the parking garage is busy. Therefore, there should also be enough revenues that the facility is self sustaining. Thus, there should be no taxpayer monies being used to pay for the parking garage bonds. Perhaps, the PT can provide us with any information that offers proof that my assertions are correct.

Hankla's comments reflect what is the problem. He says to look at San Diego. Suja Lowenthal says look at Portland. A better solution would be to develop a real master plan for the Long Beach seaside entertainment district that lets Pine Avenue flow naturally from Seventh to the sea.

Once the hotel is built on the corner of Pine and Ocean, the dark hole will be filled. There still needs to be an easier way to go from the convention center to Pine Avenue shops and restaurants. George's trolley is a nice feature and Passport C, though it covers the whole venue, takes such a long route that it is not convenient enough.

And what about integrating the arts district? LB has a vibrant east village art community but conventioneers seem to be oblivious about it. Restaurants and night clubs can be easily augmented by open art galleries and small shops.

Let's see what the city planners can imagine for LB ten years from now.

Why don't they build a small railway track from Pine to the Pike, place several classic looking Trolley Cars on it, and shuttle folks back and forth at no charge or at a small charge to each local business?

Cumulus wrote:

Hankla's comments reflect what is the problem. He says to look at San Diego. Suja Lowenthal says look at Portland. A better solution would be to develop a real master plan for the Long Beach seaside entertainment district that lets Pine Avenue flow naturally from Seventh to the sea.
Once the hotel is built on the corner of Pine and Ocean, the dark hole will be filled. There still needs to be an easier way to go from the convention center to Pine Avenue shops and restaurants. George's trolley is a nice feature and Passport C, though it covers the whole venue, takes such a long route that it is not convenient enough.
And what about integrating the arts district? LB has a vibrant east village art community but conventioneers seem to be oblivious about it. Restaurants and night clubs can be easily augmented by open art galleries and small shops.
Let's see what the city planners can imagine for LB ten years from now.

Ten years from now? You will probably have double the current failures that presently exist.

Long Beach once had a wonderful Pike amusement zone until the politicians banned decent women and men who smoke tobacco from places of entertainment and food establishments in the downtown area.

The consequence was that "diverse" people swarmed into the area from places such as Compton, South LA, and New Orleans. Without the former patronage of the decent folks, the area become dependent on the current diverse crowd of non smoker pugilists, rampaging drunks, various others of the baser sort, and purse snatchers and other non smoker opportunists who prey on local residents.

One can decrease his chances of victimhood by never looking anyone in the eye should you take a wrong turn and end up in that dangerous part of town. Keep your windows rolled up. Be alert, and remember, not ALL non smokers are evil!

Ronald

Juan, you hope it's not 90% filled. You are so invested in seeing the area fail that it would be devestating to see any progress.

Just once it would be great if you would put forth some positive ideas or solutions instead of the constant unproductive naysaying.

Ronald, get off the smoking ban. Move to Vegas if you want to cough up a lung. This is such a false argument that if you allowed smoking, the bars and restaurants would be packed and owners pockets lined with gold.

It all depends on the mood really for me. If i wanna watch a game, I go to hooters for hot wings and beer. Night out on the town, there is the Rhythm Lounge on Pine or Sgt. Peppers and Gameworks at the Pike. George's Greek Restaurant if i wanna change in food. Outback for steak, Chilis for the family and you cant forget Parkers Lighthouse for a little one on one dinner, options are endless at down there. Whether its down at the Pike or uphill on Pine, i have fun either way.

John Morris and the owner of the Madison and L'Opera can say what they want but I don't come down here to eat because the prices at your restaurants are too high. I don't want to spend that much money on a meal, even if the atmosphere is "wow".

Hey Suja. Thanks for pointing out the obvious problems with the Pike vs Pine in this article but not addressing how perhaps your office might be working on any type of solution.

Pine represents the best chance we have at creating an authentic experience in the downtown besides maybe the east village. With a little bit of creativity and actual planning it's totally possible to turn things around.

Suja, perhaps use this forum as an opportunity to address your constituents and all the naysayers. I would love to see a Suja vs. Juan battle.

37th District Voter wrote:

Ronald, get off the smoking ban. Move to Vegas if you want to cough up a lung. This is such a false argument that if you allowed smoking, the bars and restaurants would be packed and owners pockets lined with gold.

You are right. Once the radical extremist anti smoker Long Beach politicians prohibited local places of entertainment and food from serving their best customers the operators no longer had the benefit of economy of scale. All the vacant business rentals in the now dangerous downtown area is certainly no surprise. Its a simple matter of economics.

Ronald

lbresident wrote:

Juan, you hope it's not 90% filled. You are so invested in seeing the area fail that it would be devestating to see any progress.
Just once it would be great if you would put forth some positive ideas or solutions instead of the constant unproductive naysaying.

I'm pointing out a fact. The development agreement, mandates the developer to pay rent to the city based on a percentage return on investment. If The Pike is 90% leased, there should be no problem in achieving the rent requirement. I believe your city auditor should investigate this matter. Also, its a fact, Long Beach taxpayers are paying for the revenue shortages of the Aquarium & Pike parking garages. If The Pike is so busy, taxpayers shouldn't be subsidizing the annual bond payments.
With so much good news, why would there be a need for positive change? DDR is telling you how great things are. Well, let's see where they've honored their obigations. After all, some of that money could be used for things like infrastructure repairs. Thus, no need for Measure I.

Overall a safer, older and more affluent crowd at the Pike. We feel safer...

Andreas wrote:

Hey Suja. Thanks for pointing out the obvious problems with the Pike vs Pine in this article but not addressing how perhaps your office might be working on any type of solution.
Pine represents the best chance we have at creating an authentic experience in the downtown besides maybe the east village. With a little bit of creativity and actual planning it's totally possible to turn things around.
Suja, perhaps use this forum as an opportunity to address your constituents and all the naysayers. I would love to see a Suja vs. Juan battle.

If Bonnie or Suja's council offices had a solution, don't you believe they it would have already been tried? The problems of downtown Long Beach, are much bigger than any one person can fix.

Its your neighborhood wrote:

Overall a safer, older and more affluent crowd at the Pike. We feel safer...

Perhaps. But what's at The Pike that you couldn't find anywhere else in Southern California?

Juan Pardell wrote:

<quoted text>
I'm pointing out a fact. The development agreement, mandates the developer to pay rent to the city based on a percentage return on investment. If The Pike is 90% leased, there should be no problem in achieving the rent requirement. I believe your city auditor should investigate this matter.

The city auditor's calculator is still at the shop.
It exploded when they were trying to figure out Lori "You Can't Fire Me" Farrell's gambling debt at Lehman.

Blue Line, aka the Mugger Mover.