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Resident says Third Ward revitalization hasn't produced promised improvements two years after Costco
Summary
At the March 10 University City meeting, resident Tom Sullivan criticized the pace and results of the Third Ward revitalization, citing two-plus years since a Costco opened and continuing vacancies and park maintenance issues.
Tom Sullivan told the University City Council on March 10 that the city's Third Ward revitalization has not produced tangible results two-and-a-half years after a Costco opened on the corridor.
Sullivan, who identified his address as 751 Syracuse, said he attended the recent state-of-the-city addresses and found the remarks "very nice, not especially believable," and he urged council members to inspect local parks and streets himself.
"Costco development was to provide funding to revitalize the Third Ward. It's 2 and a half years since the store opened, and where are the results? Total number of improvements completed, 0," Sullivan said. He cited empty storefronts along Olive Boulevard, closures of long-standing businesses and maintenance problems at Lewis Park fountain and the Rain Man sculpture.
Sullivan said the loop district now shows about 30 vacancies and noted that an old tenant's space has been empty for seven years. He described the recent Eckard Park renovation as costly but said it has not returned the park to its prior levels of use.
The comments were delivered during the public-comment portion of the meeting; no council action followed. The council did not respond during the public-comment segment recorded in the transcript.
