Sunday, December 21, 2008
This time of year the media become obsessed with retrospections and attaching social and historical significance to the year soon to pass into history.
While I plead guilty to loving such examinations, a pair of lunches last week with several local business leaders forced me to look forward instead.
In particular, it was the challenge by one business leader to identify the most pressing issues for Waco in 2009. It launched an enlightening discussion about where we may be headed and how we should prepare ourselves.
The economy obviously goes to the head of this line. But Waco, marching ever steady to the beat of its own drummer, faces a unique set of economic challenges.
Specifically, they have to do with what I call the Renaissance of Waco — the continued momentum of new development downtown, as well as other developments including the spring opening of the new Hillcrest medical facility off Interstate 35.
Hopefully, this two-act play will help propel the local economy through some tough national times that experts predict will only get tougher in 2009.
Setting priorities
The challenge will be to maintain our focus and the momentum of both downtown and Brazos riverfront development while leveraging on new momentum as our medical community makes a dramatic shift from one area of town to another.
Competing infrastructure demands threaten to factionalize competing business interests unless the political leadership in this community can forge a list of priorities that represents a wide swath of interests.
Should we focus our political capital on replacing and enhancing the Interstate 35 bridge over the Brazos, for example? Or should we begin to aggressively invest in a fixed-line trolley system that would provide a permanent lifeline between Baylor University and the nearby museum district with downtown Waco, Cameron Park, the zoo, the mammoth site and other tourist destinations?
And what of East Waco, an area that has waited in line for its turn at public attention?
What demands will be made by the medical community as the Highway 6 corridor absorbs a new hospital, medical tower and all its support businesses? And how do we ensure that the old Hillcrest hospital and those ancillary medical facilities are put to use?
What of the education initiatives Mayor Virginia DuPuy began with her recent summit?
Speaking of education, two great institutions — Baylor and McLennan Community College — will be hiring new presidents.
The stability that Dennis Michaelis has brought to MCC suddenly will be disrupted and bring with it the type of challenges Baylor faces with its recent years of instability.
But the implications of what happens with both institutions extend far beyond their campuses, particularly with Baylor, which is this city’s cultural and intellectual nerve center.
Indeed, 2009 promises to be far more than a transitional year in Waco’s history. It has all the makings of being a transformational year.
That promise can only be realized by an aggressive and inclusive community leadership, one that understands the competing demands of competing interests.
There’s always a threat that all of these challenges can lead to indecision and, worse, paralysis by our leadership.
The first sign of such paralysis may well be signaled by postponement. Postponement of decision until a consensus is reached. Or worse, a postponement of decision until a study can be done.
All the elements of a transformational year are in the place, including that most elusive of elements: momentum.
Now is not the time for our leadership to fumble or even to blink.
Now is the time to embrace these challenges for what they represent: an unparalleled opportunity to transform this community into something that has only been a vision.
The Renaissance of Waco has begun.
Carlos Sanchez’s column runs Sundays. E-mail: csanchez@wacotrib.com.
Comments
By Chuck
Feb 27, 2009 1:47 PM | Link to this
Downtown definately needs to be improved. Instead of contributing to outward sprawl, businesses should have incentive to rebuild rather than take over unused land. There should be an incentive NOT to keep building outward, as it is economically inefficient.
Also, future subdivisions should implement smart growth ideals into "traditional neighborhoods"- where sidewalks are wider and streets are narrower and there are nearby parks and schools implemented into the neighborhood. Additionally, a town center has stores common to "strip malls" although the town center is within walking distance and people dont have to get in their car for a 5 minute trip. Many progressive communites in New England have traditional neighborhoods, while Waco to my knowledge does not.
By Don
Dec 26, 2008 3:07 AM | Link to this
Have you ever really looked at the downtown geography? Most people think downtown is built solely in a flat area of land. That is incorrect. While the Brazos river area is kind of flat, when you start heading up Washington, Austin, and Frankin you are climbing a very substantial hill. Trollies are suited for the downtown environment and what they are trying to achieve.
The next time you guys are in San Francisco, tell the trolley conductors you don't want to take an old fashioned out-of-date trolley and ask for the location of the city bus. Besides getting strange looks, they will think you have lost your mind.
What is new becomes old and what is old becomes new again. Oh yeah, and if trolleys are ever put back in, tell your wife or girlfriend she'll have to walk because you don't use old out-of-date stuff. Not very romantic is it?
By Obama Will Fix It!
Dec 22, 2008 12:28 AM | Link to this
Waco should strike a deal to house our most violent criminals in Mexican jails. (Why not, we out-source everything else!) It would save us a ton of money, and serve as a strong deterent to criminal behavior in Waco.
By Fortunately
Dec 21, 2008 2:46 PM | Link to this
Fortunately for Waco, small thinkers like you never actually get involved and do anything. Waco will continue to grow and become a better place in which to live because some of us are willing to do the work for it. And pathetic cynicism like yours will continue to fester on the sidelines. Hope it makes you happy, losers. Here comes the Waco of tomorrow.
By Cecil 1
Dec 21, 2008 12:53 PM | Link to this
I have to agree with Fred and also Wacowally use the bus system why go to the expense and trouble to install tracks and buy trollys for down town Waco, get real people, this isn't San Francisco..Now I am sure someone in this town has stock in a trolly company or a track company and would just love these idiots in city hall and else where to do that, at tax payers expense, I don't have a problem with what the developers do but I do have a problem with whos money thoses flem-flamers do it with, leave the tax dollars along...
By why in the world
Dec 21, 2008 11:50 AM | Link to this
I can't believe I am saying this, but I actually agree with Fred on this one. Crap--where's my pills.
By wacowally
Dec 21, 2008 11:15 AM | Link to this
I would like to make a few suggestions about downtown Waco.
Do not install trolley tracks. Use a bus, maybe painted in bright colors on a fixed route. You are trying to grow downtown and if you grow it, the trolley becomes obsolete and we cannot afford to change the route. Buses can be rerouted and added to as demand changes. In case of a fire or accident, busses can be rerouted around the event. trolleys can't. Also check the price.
We do not need a big fancy I-35 bridge over the brazos. The money could better be sent on reconstructing the man made eddies formed in the coves that were built into the river walk on both sides of the river. They are always filled with garbage and look nasty.
Signs would be good. But the signs should not be placed in front of or behind existing signs. (See the area around University Parks drive and I-35. Way to many signs and they cover each other.
When we build something, we need to remember it will take money to maintain. We like to compare our riverwalk to the one in San Antonio. SA cleans their waterway everyday. We have no money budgeted for repairs and cleanup. The only clean up is when the river is low or they have a volunteer day to help clean up. We should have people working full time to keep the river free of stumps and TRASH, old tires and cars.
Baylor and the city really need to rethink what should be built in the flood plain. When/not if the river floods, who will pay for the replacement costs of the damage? Libraries and museums in the flood plain is very poor thinking. Look at the old pictures of Waco which show the massive flooding in Waco. I know we have dams now, but so don't many other towns that have been flooded in the recent past.
By Realist
Dec 21, 2008 11:07 AM | Link to this
Actually, Fred, you are living in a sick,misbegotten wasteland. Get real and seek therapy....other people chose to look at the positive...you would not know positive if it hit you on the butt...
By Fred
Dec 21, 2008 8:17 AM | Link to this
Waco Renaissance? Rubbish! Slaughterhouse Waco has gone to "Hell in a hand-basket". The so called Downtown Waco Development is only a block and a half around Waco City Hall. The rest of Downtown Waco is still ugly, urban rot with increasing street crime and unsolved Downtown Waco Bank robberies. You mention the new Hillcrest Hospital? Both Providence and Hillcrest have "fled" to far west Waco to escape the urban nightmare and crime of a giant area in North Waco which has been destroyed by the ugliness of poverty and the Crack Cocaine plague. In crime infested Slaughterhouse Waco, the Waco Police Department is understaffed, weak and ineffective in fighting crime in a city which has become a crime-Hell-hole. Waco has the fifth highest (per capita) poverty level in the State of Texas. Wages in Waco are dirt-low with no Unions. Waco has the absolute WORST public schools in Texas (WISD) according to TEA stats and TAKS test scores. Waco waterways (both rivers and the lake) are polluted with foul tasting and smelling local water. Hey Carlos.....you are living in a Disneyland Dreamworld with your head in the clouds. Wake-up, open your eyes and GET REAL!
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