Lightspeed University

It has been too long of a time span to recap all that has occurred since my last writing. I believe it all started with a taxi driver telling the joke, "What did one casket say to the other? Is that you coffin?" It also included a lot of work, Kelly staying over for a week (she only fell out of bed once), a few alcohol outings, a mr. noodle flavor powder explosion/fire on the stove, the Getaway being beat, and that is about all I can recall at the moment.

Recently I read a suggestion about what to do with the high amount of vacant buildings here on the west side of the city. The former courthouse, its parking lots, the river inn, legion, and jubilee center and some other additions would make the perfect location for a university.

A university would be an excellent way to not only rescue this city from its pending journey to the bottom of the river, but would also take it to the next level of being what this place should and can be. With the proper vision and building of such a facility here, it could work. Sure there are valid points such as, who wants to stay here to go to university, who wants to move here to go to university, who would teach, what would it offer? To those valid points, I say it would have to be unique. It would need something to set it apart from other schools. It would have to offer something special, find a good niche and a solid image to start with and build upon. Also don't forget, it would have the Blackhorse and OH to help it gain interest.

My vision for the city would be seeing an actual legit university established here on the west side of the city in the above mentioned locations, doing away with traffic around the square. Revamp it with proper shops, restaurants and pubs, and sidewalk patios like every other city has done. Get rid of the former federal wharf; turn it into an extension of Ritchie wharf, complete with massive indoor/outdoor skate/go-kart/climbing, mini golf, etc facilities for people to have something to do.
Turn the former flett property into a McDonalds or something even better. Do the same with the property across the street by Dixie lee. As for the east side of the city, take some of the downtown warehouse space and invest in finding a solid business to come to town, other then a call center or gym. Something that will not only offer employment for people here, but bring people in from out of town who will spend.