As many of you probably know, 2007 was the year Wall St. in Midland got a face lift downtown. Now, before all you ney-sayers start to chime in, listen up for a second... it looks cool!
For years now, I've listened to the skeptics tell me downtown "isn't worth saving," and that "it's a waste of tax payers dollars," and "there's nothing down there, so why bother?" Well, I've said it before and I'll say it again: "Midland is the 'Tall City.' Downtown isn't going anywhere and it is plain FOOLISH to think if we ignore it, it'll just go away!" No, downtown Midland is in all actuality an asset to Midland and is only just now getting the face lift it needs to breath life back into it.
TxDOT and the city of Midland just did a great overhaul last year to Wall St., a good chunk of downtown. And thanks to the foresight of the City and citizens working with the city, six blocks of Wall St. right next to downtown have been rezoned PDNS, or, Planned District Neighborhood Services. Now then, what does that mean?
From N Street to I street (I think that's correct) is a six block area that had previously been zoned strictly for offices. BOR...ING! Sure, some look good, but others need a little help! But now, with the change, shops of various kinds can open up along Wall St. and breath new life into the gateway to downtown Midland! Monument signs will be used instead of pole signs, meaning businesses will have signs no taller than four feet tall. This will allow for the oaks to remain and stay the nice feature that they are. Shops of all kinds can come in, pharmacies, various services, and there is even talk about a "collectible cars museum" coming in to the area! Being that it is just a couple blocks from the Museum of the Southwest, it's very fitting and can only prove to be a further asset to Midland.
Things are happening in Midland, and changes... good changes, are all around us. Through the participation of the citizens of Midland, bigger and better things will come as well!
Speaking of which, the new city council met recently and declared they would bring back a "ten minute" section of time at their council meetings for citizens of Midland to come and talk to the council about... get this.... ready??
ANYTHING!
Yes, you to can have 2 minutes of uninterrupted time to speak with the city council about anything and everything you feel you need to voice to them. Want a stop sign in your neighborhood? Tell them. Like what they are doing? Not? Tell them. Want something changed? Left alone? TELL THEM!
This blog is my bullhorn and by God, I'm gonna tell you right here and right now:
SPEAK UP! We elected people to listen to us and work for us. They can only do that if they know what the heck we're thinking! That can only happen if we talk to them.
Now is your chance. Get to a council meeting and make yourself heard. You'll never feel so free as getting out in the open, all the thoughts and ideas you've been bottling up for years. Be brief. Be concise. But be heard.
Okay, I'm done here. I'll be back next time with more news I think you should know. I'm cool like that. ;)
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