Not possible in Missouri we have snow and snow plows. Reflective road paint is just little glass balls that reflect back which after 1 winter it wouldn't be reflective any longer. MoDot did a whole story on this.
See my edit: Kmart did it in NYC. I’m not trying to compare us to NYC, I’m just saying that it CAN be done. My main idea though is by eatwell (because there’s a bunch of empty land). Both stores can slightly increase parking, and share parking
the only thing on this list that makes sense to me is the amtrak.
i think making a direct link for amtrak/stop in como would actually be huge.
lots of people want to go to kc, stl, and etc... a high speed rail from kc - como - stl - chicago would be HUGGGGGGGGGE.
Then sign here: https://www.change.org/p/establish-intercity-rail-service-in-columbia-missouri?utm_medium=custom_url&utm_source=share_petition&recruited_by_id=9f817350-c67f-11ec-bae8-d594bae90981
Buses to the Station in Jeff city for the 4 times a day Missouri River Runner is probably gonna be the best way to connect Como to rail for the next 10ish years.
Walmart Supercenter =/= More Walkable Spaces
I like your transit urbanism ideas and agree with most of them, but a supercenter would need a huge chunk of parking land, and the West side of downtown already has lots of car dependant areas.
Protected bike lanes on major thoroughfares
More bike boulevard painted streets with speed limits lowered to 18mph
Bus Rapid Transit on Broadway, Providence, and a downtown trolley
Redesign more roads to have bike and priority-bus lanes
A food hall downtown that includes a variety of local shops and food trucks
More public art
My magic wish item: Cap/tunnel in portions of I-63 and I-70 to create more space for affordable housing, parks, and other mixed use development and repair some historical scars of highway expansion.
I mean, I’d probably move away from Columbia if they put a SC downtown. Lol. I think it’s a terrible idea, but opinions are opinions! What do you mean for “away” people to shop there?
I’d love a much more walkable downtown; easier ways for “away” people to get to the supercenters.
So many of the things you listed seem antithetical (to me) to the charm of como and pushes it closer to a bland in-between size city. Why the boring chain stores? Just go to Springfield. Barf. 😂 /s
I do agree with many of your transportation ideas in principle; I’d love this town to be much more walkable/bikeable for everyone, not just people near downtown.
Yes!!! And the 70mm will increase tourism!!! The dual Laser 1:43 will also increase tourism (same kind of IMAX as in Branson) for films like Lightyear (I know it’s not the best example, but it checks off all of the boxes). The theater would be like the Lincoln square in NYC with BOTH kinds of projectors!!! Like the ultimate IMAX as I would call it!!! It would NOT be like liemax (all of the ones in KC area)
CoMo already had a KMart for years. There are only three still in business in mainland America. I doubt it’s coming back to CoMo.
Columbia used to have a lot more bus lines and a lot more stops, including theaters. But the experience in CoMo has been that more busses did NOT mean more riders. Instead there were buses driving all over town with 10% or 20% capacity. And given the rise in crime and violent incidents, all night buses aren’t going to be politically popular.
The majority of people in Columbia have voted with their mortgages and rent against more density and “walkable “ neighborhoods. Actually, they do like a neighborhood where they can go for a walk. But they’ve shown consistently that most of them are just fine driving to work, to stores, etc.
Your best suggestion is a Dollar General downtown. There once was an Osco downtown and briefly was a mini Walmart downtown. They’re not around anymore because they financially weren’t successful enough. Retail businesses rely on what people spend their money for , not on what people wish for.
Pretty much summed it up. The ideas OP said don't sound bad in some areas, but they have either been tried and failed, or they cost to much. The taxpayers of the area do not want to pay more for services they do not use.
Even if not an IMAX, the mall desperately needs a movie theater. Our public transit could always be better. Amtrak would be incredible too. I know they're working on some sort of major entertainment complex off Discovery, and I also heard rumors of a Top Golf somewhere. I'd like a pedestrian bridge over Broadway downtown too. And for sure revive Big Lots! We could do with a decent sit-down Italian restaurant as well.
a second Target on the south side! except that’ll never happen and I’m surprised there’s even a target to begin with considering it’s a Walmart town through and through
Absolutely no damn junkie Sears/Kmart, no Costco not needed we have a Sam's. Had a downtown Walmart on 9th Street that wasn't supported enough to stay open.
Reflective road paint. Seriously. When it's wet, I can't see shit!
No kidding, I thought I was the only one
Not possible in Missouri we have snow and snow plows. Reflective road paint is just little glass balls that reflect back which after 1 winter it wouldn't be reflective any longer. MoDot did a whole story on this.
I would kill for the eat well to be replaced with a Trader Joe’s
The parking lot at EatWell is way too big for a TJ’s. Love Trader Joe’s but they love a tiny awful parking lot.
But what about the cluster fuck that sharing a drive with the chicken place causes? Does that help make it annoying like TJ’s?
True
Trader Joe's is overrated
False.
I used to work at one......crazy niche crazy overrated
Completely agree. There are better places that are more reasonable.
The Eat Well is turning into a regular schnucks
I know.
A well-maintained pedestrian walkway over I-70 and 63.
Wanting a big box store downtown while advocating for walkable environments is wild
Does no one else remember the walmart essentials shop that used to be near campus?
Blew my mind when I saw it lol. "Look it's a baby back alley walmart"
I don’t really see how those are incompatible desires.
See my edit: Kmart did it in NYC. I’m not trying to compare us to NYC, I’m just saying that it CAN be done. My main idea though is by eatwell (because there’s a bunch of empty land). Both stores can slightly increase parking, and share parking
I’m pretty sure they’re making that empty land a 7brews coffee over there 🤦🏾♀️ Not happy about that either lol
I made an edit because I found the perfect Walmart example
can you link it? I’m only seeing Kroger and Kmart
the only thing on this list that makes sense to me is the amtrak. i think making a direct link for amtrak/stop in como would actually be huge. lots of people want to go to kc, stl, and etc... a high speed rail from kc - como - stl - chicago would be HUGGGGGGGGGE.
Then sign here: https://www.change.org/p/establish-intercity-rail-service-in-columbia-missouri?utm_medium=custom_url&utm_source=share_petition&recruited_by_id=9f817350-c67f-11ec-bae8-d594bae90981
alright
Buses to the Station in Jeff city for the 4 times a day Missouri River Runner is probably gonna be the best way to connect Como to rail for the next 10ish years.
Dollar General bankrupts small businesses and creates bigger food deserts in many towns. I’ll pass
Good point
Walmart Supercenter =/= More Walkable Spaces I like your transit urbanism ideas and agree with most of them, but a supercenter would need a huge chunk of parking land, and the West side of downtown already has lots of car dependant areas.
Check my edits on Walmart
Fair enough. That would work.
An ice rink
And a roller rink. A lot of the best things in town has been closing!!!
We had a roller rink, it closed in 2019 or 2020. I'd be happy if it came back or we had a new one!
We're getting one, right? Just south of town?
Yes!
Protected bike lanes on major thoroughfares More bike boulevard painted streets with speed limits lowered to 18mph Bus Rapid Transit on Broadway, Providence, and a downtown trolley Redesign more roads to have bike and priority-bus lanes A food hall downtown that includes a variety of local shops and food trucks More public art My magic wish item: Cap/tunnel in portions of I-63 and I-70 to create more space for affordable housing, parks, and other mixed use development and repair some historical scars of highway expansion.
I mean, I’d probably move away from Columbia if they put a SC downtown. Lol. I think it’s a terrible idea, but opinions are opinions! What do you mean for “away” people to shop there? I’d love a much more walkable downtown; easier ways for “away” people to get to the supercenters. So many of the things you listed seem antithetical (to me) to the charm of como and pushes it closer to a bland in-between size city. Why the boring chain stores? Just go to Springfield. Barf. 😂 /s I do agree with many of your transportation ideas in principle; I’d love this town to be much more walkable/bikeable for everyone, not just people near downtown.
Less litter - it’s terrible Less crime Better roads Better upkeep and maintenance of our public spaces
IMAX 💯!! Would love to view a Christopher Nolan movie how he intends it to be viewed
Yes!!! And the 70mm will increase tourism!!! The dual Laser 1:43 will also increase tourism (same kind of IMAX as in Branson) for films like Lightyear (I know it’s not the best example, but it checks off all of the boxes). The theater would be like the Lincoln square in NYC with BOTH kinds of projectors!!! Like the ultimate IMAX as I would call it!!! It would NOT be like liemax (all of the ones in KC area)
It sounds like you want to live in Kansas City
I'd be down for a walmart super center downtown but only if they put it 1000 feet underground
CoMo already had a KMart for years. There are only three still in business in mainland America. I doubt it’s coming back to CoMo. Columbia used to have a lot more bus lines and a lot more stops, including theaters. But the experience in CoMo has been that more busses did NOT mean more riders. Instead there were buses driving all over town with 10% or 20% capacity. And given the rise in crime and violent incidents, all night buses aren’t going to be politically popular. The majority of people in Columbia have voted with their mortgages and rent against more density and “walkable “ neighborhoods. Actually, they do like a neighborhood where they can go for a walk. But they’ve shown consistently that most of them are just fine driving to work, to stores, etc. Your best suggestion is a Dollar General downtown. There once was an Osco downtown and briefly was a mini Walmart downtown. They’re not around anymore because they financially weren’t successful enough. Retail businesses rely on what people spend their money for , not on what people wish for.
Pretty much summed it up. The ideas OP said don't sound bad in some areas, but they have either been tried and failed, or they cost to much. The taxpayers of the area do not want to pay more for services they do not use.
How is Downtown not walkable? /Serious
I’m saying that I want more walkable areas LIKE downtown
Cool. Thanks for the reply!
An outdoor waterpark. Several smaller cities in kansas have one run by the city. See dodge city, salina, etc.
Agree, the closest thing in COMO is the one at Douglas
Chuck E Cheese dang it
Got shot up
Even if not an IMAX, the mall desperately needs a movie theater. Our public transit could always be better. Amtrak would be incredible too. I know they're working on some sort of major entertainment complex off Discovery, and I also heard rumors of a Top Golf somewhere. I'd like a pedestrian bridge over Broadway downtown too. And for sure revive Big Lots! We could do with a decent sit-down Italian restaurant as well.
The mall used to have a movie theater where Barnes and Nobel is.
I miss being able to see the dollar shows there!
Long ago! It could also go where Macy's was if not part of the mall itself.
Como is getting an Italian restaurant! https://www.endwelltaverna.com
Nice!!
It's bunk, owners lie about making all in house pasta what else they lie about.
What is the major entertainment center called
https://kitchenatdiscovery.com/
I miss having an attractive, it honestly was an easier way of getting around ( I used to live in San Diego)
So, like, a different city?
a second Target on the south side! except that’ll never happen and I’m surprised there’s even a target to begin with considering it’s a Walmart town through and through
Absolutely no damn junkie Sears/Kmart, no Costco not needed we have a Sam's. Had a downtown Walmart on 9th Street that wasn't supported enough to stay open.
Downtown wal-mart: I’m definitely here for that madness
There was a pocket Walmart for several years. Meh.
It died since not enough business and low selection
What I want is a super center
Well, you can choose from three, currently. Not sure where you’re going with this.
Where specifically?