I guess I didn't really think anyone would take that statement so seriously. To me, City Center is the town joke right now, so I figured it was well within limits of the statement. I used to work for City Center management (where the mall was also a big joke) and so learned a lot about malls, especially those put down in the middle of any downtown, and how the design of the City Center set it up for failure due to even some very simple issues that should have been raised. Taubman, who owned the City Center originally, was an architect and City Center was a vanity project and he designed it using throw-back, suburban-mall ideas of closing people in, not letting them know what was happening outside or what time it was, like a casino. But that was bad design for an urban shopping center, which we quickly learned. But, I digress.
I have no real idea how the railcars work, nor what kind of turn radius a fixed wheel, rail vehicle would need to turn around. It was a bullshit statement, I admit that, but that is what is was meant to be. I'm more bothered about the MANNER about which knocking the statement down was undertaken. One particular poster has been repeatedly condescending to me and, while I'm not an expert at rail cars and city planning, I guess I thought I was allowed to have an opinion and question the rail without feeling like a whack-a-mole. It's not that I'm totally AGAINST the thing. I just don't understand the enthusiasm that so many have shown toward something that only the least of details have even been researched. I realize that the city has been dealing with the rail issue for quite some time now. I guess I figured they would have some basic details down that are important to me in determining whether or not I was in full support of the thing. Maybe I'm just not as optimistic as others. At the same time, I feel like actual public transportation is a more important issue than putting in a rail. There are several that disagree with me and, while I respect that, I think the rail is taking over discussion of the need for better transportation options for EVERYBODY. Throughout the whole ordeal, I have been cognizant of the fact that the rail is going to happen. That's pretty much a done deal. Then, I expressed hope, again, I guess born of my lack of optimism, that the limited route wouldn't be setting the rail up to fail. If we're going to do it, we might as well set the wheels in motion for it to be as successful as it could be. Then, I worried about the indie businesses in the Short North because I'd hate to see them adversely affected by rising property values that the rail may bring. The City Center thing was just me musing on what might happen on that end and where the rail might turn around and was never meant to be taken so seriously. I should have known that lifting the tension, no matter how clumsily, should have been avoided given the emotion and passion that has been shown throughout this discussion. In all, I have been abused, belittled and made to feel like an idiot for not being so optimistic about putting a rail up and down the street.
Overall, I'm not pessimistic. I don't FEEL pessimistic. I would say I'm just not so optimistic. Doubtful at worst. I WAS here for Son of Heaven and Ameriflora. Regardless of how great Mike has been in the past, anyone is liable to make a bad decision (I know he had nothing to do with those except his part in City Council approvals, which I BELIEVE he was on, unless I'm wrong). I never thought that this post would generate such a shit storm of zealotry. I guess I also never thought that making a statement of belief would require me to be an expert on the subject.
To anyone I may have offended by my sarcasm, clumsy or otherwise, general assholery, or anything else I may have said, please let me apologize. There's no real excuse except for the fact that I felt pushed into a corner and may have been lashing out. I'm really a nice guy if you would ever meet me.
In closing, I really do hope the rail works out. I just wanted a few more details before I jumped in the pool.
