In a message dated 1/20/98 7:48:14 PM EST, [log in to unmask] writes:

>
>  Another example of a failure is Downtown Trenton, NJ on State Street.  When
>  the cars, buses and trucks were banned, the people disappeared.  This
> appears to be the norm.

An interesting follow-up to Betty Steckman's comments today about the
department stores leaving downtown Trenton. Yet another posting talked about
the apparently viable Main St. historic district in Hannibal, MO, closed as a
pedestrian mall.

Is there a difference in the results when a historic environment is a part of
the marketing strategy, as opposed to just a "mall" atmosphere?  Trenton
certainly has not capitalized on its historic commercial core.  Is creating a
"themed" environment (i.e., authentic historic buildings) part of the reason
for the success in some places? Would it work with another "theme" or
otherwise unified streetscape in the same way?  (The Main St. folks should
have some good insights into this one . . .)

Mary Krugman