The Dispatch explores the possibility.
Level III has been pointed out by some, probably unfairly, as being a flashpoint. (Flashback from last fall.)
I sthis teh right dircetion?
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I do not think it is unfair to blame this, at least partially, on Level III. The place is usually just a vacant eye sore. When it does sporadically open, we have crowd control problems. No crowd problems on the nights it is closed…even on busy football weekends. What if it were a shop that sold glass pipes once a month? Could we then be allowed to blame the owners for the folks smoking pot on the sidewalks? If anyone is to blame besides the business, it is the people that are afraid to enforce laws and community standards due to personal and political fears.
I think the town should give the owner an ultimatum. Either open for business regularly (i.e., at least 3 nights/week) and contribute something to our community or lose your business license.
Without a doubt, Level III deserves the majority of the blame. When it is open, a line forms down Main St. in front of all the other businesses. One need only watch the video link from the ’08 link above to see what the problem is.
But WHAT GOOD is it going to do to close off Main Street??
That will simply:
* Allow more room for a bigger crowd, thus making it harder for SPD.
* Congest other areas of downtown with cars, thus making a bigger area to canvas for SPD
* Not address the real problem.
Level III has no control and is not truly a business. I’m not sure if they have an alcohol license- if they do, it should be revoked. They are NOT a restaurant, which state law states to serve alcohol, 50% of your sales have to come from food. Alchol should not be allowed on premises there. They don’t have the ability to control their patrons.
This is a brilliant idea. It is another step in modernizing our town. It provides a controlled and safe place for residents and city guests to gather for eating, drinking and socializing. It promotes business in the area and adds to the overall atmosphere of our town.
How does barring cars from Main Street prevent this?
http://sixpackspeak.yuku.com/sreply/206510/t/exhibit-1.html
Agreed with both of these posters. Closing Main St would cause even more problems (i.e. parking and Night Route pickup/dropoff), and all it would be for is Level III. Go to Main St at 1:00AM on a night when Level III is open and a night when it is closed, and tell me where the blame should be directed.
I say close the streets down, move The Pony to the Level III building and just make ourselves a French Quarter North! After all, closing down streets at night just lets folks know we are a gitdown partytown, right?
Just ask the businesses surrounding Level III where this crowd relieves themselves when nature calls. Level III does not need to be on Main Street.
It looks like some would have us live up to our nickname of STARKVEGAS. The majority of the businesses in the downtown area would not benefit from the street closings. We should not overlook the 9 to 5ish businesses that are actually damaged by this type of atmosphere. Is this talk just more of the same from the majority of the members of the b of a who apparently think that incresed alcohol sales are the key to Starkville’s future?
Closing Main St just skirts the problem, and further, rewards them for doing such. Whether or not you close the street, you will still have the problem.
I looked at the photo on JimmyB’s link to Sixpack. Wow! I had no idea! He is correct in that the problem is there whether the streets are closed or not. But if the City closes the streets rowdy behavior is officially condoned if not encouraged. It doesn’t take a lawyer to tell you that that increases the City’s legal exposure.
Leroy says MSDawg hit tha nail on tha head! Unfortunately, the problems seem to happen when the Level III is open.
I have to agree with those that point the problem at Level III, if Level III is not open there is not a problem. Unfortunately, I have witnessed this a couple times and on one occasion the bar/restaurant that I was in locked the door at the Police’s direction (I believe) and told everyone to stay put for a bit. The people who visit Level II are disrespectful, take handicap parking spaces, circle downtown non-stop, do not use common courtesy when meeting people on the sidewalks, etc.
Level 3 is NOT a comparable business compared to other businesses on Main open during these hours. Level III is simply a rental hall used for parties on an irregular basis. The other businesses on Main open at this time are open on a regular basis (generally 6 days a week on average all year)and serve food as well as alchol. Level III does not. My opinion is Level III does not have a ligitimate reason to sell, serve or allow alcohol on premisis. This is not a Black or White thing. This is a common sense thing.
While on some levels I like the idea of closing off Main on Game Weekends, the fact is we do not have enough officers to monitor traffic, respond to emergencies and baby-sit an even larger crowd downtown. Thus, roping of Main St will simply compound the problem. Considering we have a budget deficit as-is and our City’s leaders are proposing hiring freezes, how can the city then afford to designate appropriate resources to do this at this time?
If they shut down Level III then I would actually go downtown on gamedays. It does not matter to me whether they close down the street or not, the problem lies with the people who visit Level III.
The most important issue with downtown is shutting down Level III, then changing the distance you can open up a bar near a church. As it stands, one side of Main Street for an entire block is not allowed to sell alcohol because of their proximity to a church. Janice must be crazy if she thinks that these “mom and pop” stores are the key to having a great downtown in a college town. She forgets that the B of A are trying to increase revenue by opening up more places that MAKE MONEY.. IE Bars. Wake up and quit living in the olden days.
Most of the places on the South Side of Main Street (Not below the hill, but directly on Main) have been in business for years, so they must be making money. And odds are, they are not going to be replaced with a bar or restaurant. Furthermore, Mom and Pop stores are key to contributing to a BALANCED and strong central downtown area that attracts different groups of people to downtown.
Below the hill, a lot will still not be allowed due to distance to funeral home and a very small church. In my opinion, funeral homes should not be included in the distance requirement for alcohol sales.
A-Love, who’s crazy now? Maybe there are some folks with ABC in Jackson who care more about the city’s image than some of you do! Why did they deny Sunday sales?
Dawg is right. You need to look at some of the businesses in downtown Starkville that have been there for years. Why would they still be in business after all this time if they were not making money? You forget there is more to Starkville than the entertainment of college students. I feel sure people don’t choose to raise families or to retire in Starkville based on the availablity of liquor outlets 24-7-365.
From the State of Mississippi Alcoholic Beverage Control to the City of Starkville, in the words of Suzie Orman, you have been denied, denied denied!
Yea, Lola, but can still purchase beer and light wine….so maybe just one denied.
OK – just one “denied”.
Where have you been hiding, Lola?
Not hiding, Dawg. Just busy with other things.
Have missed you and others posting. Has been a slow board lately!