Nothing Happens on the West Side

 I've been posting more on Dreamwidth and have more or less abandoned this blog. Posted this one a couple of days ago. 

I live in an area of the city that is vastly underserved. We're surrounded by poorer neighborhoods, there are very few businesses to walk to. The major streets that border the area have zoning issues that do not allow ease for some businesses to just come in and start. The city has not been kind to this part of town. Neglect is policy. Murals are fine. I'd prefer to see thriving businesses in the empty structures instead of murals on the sides of them. 

In my twenty years here I can count on less that one hand, and probably closer to one, the number of sit down restaurants that have opened up. There is a dearth of food trucks, which is fine but they lack permanence. You can't sit down and eat outside of a food truck when its raining. There's nowhere to walk to if you want a burger and a beer. You have to leave your neighborhood to shop for everything. The nearest Kroger grocery stores contain parking lots full of drama, stores with understocked shelves and poor quality products. For years they've talked of improvements, calls for change. These last for a month or so before reverting to the same sad issues. Yes baby I promise I'll change.

There have been so many fits and starts in the twenty years that I have lived in this area. But if I had photographs of Broad Street or Sullivant Avenue then and now, I suspect there would be very little difference. Now compare that to High Street, or Town Street in Franklinton, or Parsons Avenue, or Oak Street.

In May of 2021 a sign went up in front of a building close to my house saying that a chicken joint was coming soon. Activity has been in fits and starts, but there's still no indication the place will ever open. I get that there are supply chain issues that are slowing things down, and the city has its permits that have to be approved. Money has to change hands and businesses seem to open quicker in better parts of the city.

I've been told to, "be patient" in online forums. I've lived here twenty years, I've been patient and so little has happened. I'm grateful for Third Way Coffee and all the efforts they are making to spin some business in the area. Sure, I can put my money where my mouth is, but anything I would start up would end up being the Fawlty Towers of retail. It's not in me anymore.

So I drive by the chicken place, say where's the chicken, go over the train tracks and recently boarded up apartment building to spend my money outside of my neighborhood. Every day.

Getting My Bell Rung.

Cooper Stadium was built in 1934 and until 2008 was the minor league ballpark of the Columbus Clippers. At the time of its closing it was the oldest operating facility in the minor leagues. It was a lovely, intimate setting to see a baseball game.



We first saw a game there in April of 1990, it may have been Easter Sunday. We arrived early and I bought a program from a very friendly vendor. Turns out, she sold me a program with a winning number enclosed. We won a welcome wagon pack from a realtor. It was the only time I won any of their contests.

Over the years we saw a lot of good baseball there. We had a friend in the box office who always set us up for tickets. The Clippers were the AAA year of the Yankees. Many great players came through on their way to the majors. Bernie Williams, Jorge Posada and Derek Jeter to name three.

We also saw Deion Sanders, Hideki Irabu and Rey Ordonez, whose throw from short to first hit the first baseman's glove with the most explosive pop I've ever heard.

In the stands I saw Dick Williams and Graig Nettles scouting and one memorable time, Mr. George Steinbrenner himself, who was putting ketchup on his own burger. Really. I guess he trusted no one to do it for him!

Never had a bad time at a game. Saw them win two Governor's Cups. Went to many games in the 1990's then as depression and a new life came along, started going less. It's a shame I did.

In 2008, the last game was played there and a new downtown stadium was built. Hunington Park is perfectly fine. A great place to see a game, but I miss being just two miles down the road from baseball.

Went by there a couple of weeks ago and took these pictures. It's very sad to see how this proud facility has been neglected.







There's all kinds of talk going on about what to do with the site. A racetrack being the main topic. I'm not sure about that, having grown up next the noise of Islip Speedway as a child. But what can be done with a site that is bordered by a highway and two cemeteries? I'd rather see something in there and revenue generated that what is happening in the pictures above.