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Yes, it's a dusty, earthquake trap. A wonderful dusty, earthquake trap. But 90% of what's gone in downtown has not shown any long-term economic viability--something Acres of Books apparently knows a bit about.
Look at the empty store fronts and businesses above Broadway on Pine St. If you really want an "Arts" district, why destroy an anchor for that area? Councilperson Lowenthal took a nice contribution from developer October Five, the PT developer, and I wouldn't be surprised to see more of these deposits in her account.
LOL, you silly fools are so anti government its funny. This is just another example of capitalism at its best. The owners made a nice profit yet you all blame the city for being the "mean" bully! Ha! Why don't you look at the owners and ask them why they sold, they just held out for the best offer and didn't care about history or anything. This place was just a bad fire ready to happen. I'm glad its gone, I hope that something nice is built there, and I will hold my opinions on the architecture until its built... those who fault it now are just full of hot air.
I would rather have the city keep the empty store fronts on Broadway and Pine instead of just pimping them out to the next 9.99 shoe store. Get a clue!
And I could add illogical, short-sighted, and utterly ignorant of urban planning, history, and of the area itself. Frankly, if I owned Acres of Books and the city came to me with a 2.8 mil payout, I'd take it in a heartbeat. The point is why should the city buyout Acres of Books? If the folks that own it want to get out of business, let them shut it down, sell it, or lock the doors and walk away. But we don't need to remove it with tax money to allegedly "redevelop" the area.
And if you're too much of a "why can't every place be as pristine as South Coast Plaza" OC 'tard, please stay there.
Recently, I've been following the write-ups and rumors about Acres' impending closure, always with a wistful sigh, an annoyed "fuck that," and an impromptu visit determined to make a purchase. More often than not, I'd walk out with something other than what I'd come looking for. I'd settle for Saroyan when I couldn't find Fante, select an alternative Nabokov title, have to think of plan B when I couldn't find anything by Barthelme. No big deal when I got to wander the towering stacks in solitude, searching for something I'd know when I found it.
To risk a corny but apt analogy, visiting Acres is like visiting the sanctuary of a Medieval cathedral. It's cavernous, cool and quiet inside; the scent of dust and age hangs in the air. And although I'm no Catholic and I've got but a passing interest in the greater religious and political significance of the church, I'm deeply fascinated by certain details in the building's architecture and stained glass, a few of the paintings on the walls, a worn pew, the impressive pipe organ, how the nice the damn building looks as it sits in the midst of a small town.
And because the place seems important to me, to the wider community, to the historic integrity of a town, I deposit whatever change happens to be in my pocket in the small box near the entrance. A paltry donation in lieu of a tithe. It is for these very same reasons I go into Acre's. But here, I get a souvenir for my donation. I leave with novels, books of poetry, stories. Things I read, or plan to, or give away, or set on my shelf because everyone's gotta collect something and I collect books.
To me, most of the things I cherish about the enigmatic Acres symbolize slow decay, senescence, chaos, limbo, and mystery. Not the sort of stuff people typically desire in businesses, bookstores or otherwise.
I imagine that, financially speaking, to save the place as is (which is to say, as the operating 2nd hand bookstore many of us know and love) would've been extremely difficult, perhaps ultimately impossible without a significant increase in sales income.
The right person could've turned things around there. Downsized the bloated collection, used some of the extra space to start up a music venue, coffee house, anything. If you've been to Portland and visited the McMinnimans places, you know what I'm talking about. Sure it's a different neighborhood/environment in Long Beach, but damn it if that wouldn't have been a great idea. A little savvy, creativity and vision could've done the trick, something that the management/owners clearly lacked.
I guess I'm bummed because now the chance for this has passed.
As it stands: I hope they make the place a sand trap.
And never get their balls out.
So it goes...
The only thing i can hope for now is that you (the city/RDA) store the inventory and work them into the new design of the "art block" that you're planning to create. If you come anywhere close to what Portland has with Powell's Books...you could be a hero. But then again, are the Powell's or the AOBs of the world manufactured, i don't think so.
From the city website: In the City of Long Beach, redevelopment activities are overseen by a board of appointees established by City Council. This Redevelopment Agency Board is separate from the City Council and oversees all redevelopment activities in the City.
So, no, "I won't let it go".
And I do go to Acres to purchase books or browse. And I've bought new books from Amazon. What's your point? How does that relate to the article? Please bow out of this conversation until your rhetoric is more than quoting bumper stickers on the crazy neighbor's truck.
I guess I can see why you wouldn't appreciate the loss of a bookstore and historical landmark, when illiteracy is apparently a badge of honor.
You win! The RDA spends 2.8 million taxpayer dollars to buyout and destroy an existing, viable business...oh, yes, you win!
And thanks for recognizing that I win and you lose, no need to reiterate... its redundant.
But if you don't speak English well enough to understand these points (or understand cultural sensitivities), maybe you should ask someone to explain them to you before you post.
Four languages, wow, that sure validates your argument (that's "sarcasm"--look it up). But you clearly don't know anything about urban planning, local fiscal responsibility, historic preservation, or economic viability.
Your arguments consist of "it's yucky."
The redevelopment of downtown Long Beach has been a nearly complete tragedy.
The RDA, unlike city council, is not accountable to the voters. I don't see why that means we should "get over" their poor guidance for our public shared spaces.
Cheers!
That "[your] opinion counts just as much as [Andy's] whether [he] like[s] it or not" is just, like, your opinion--regardless of how righteous (read: petulant) you feel at the moment you post.
As for your polyglotism, I would applaud you if I thought you'd be able to discern my meager praise through the self-congratulatory peal of your own ego.
Seriously though, I'll be honest: You've piqued my interest. Four languages?! I'm impressed. So you speak English and Bullshit (which I'm guessing is your native tongue since I can't detect any accent). What are the other two?
By the way, have you ever heard the expression "neener, neener, neener?" It's a well-known taunt in American grade schooler argot. It would make a formidable addition to your arsenal of snappy comebacks.
But, you know, that's just, like, my opinion.
You remind me of a mastectomy. You are one sad, lonely boob.
Andy,
Word.
Most smart cities go out of their way to save businesses and buildings that are unique to the area, create a draw and help to define a city. I love new shit too, when done right. But the juxtaposition of new and old should be embraced.
As a city trying to compete against not just other national cities but international cities, we should be doing what we can to save what is unique about Long Beach, which helps to create a sense of place and create a draw for people that don't just want watered down anywhere USA type scenarios.
So as i said i'm confused by how this makes you happy and how you think this could actually be a good thing. I guess the obvious answer would be that i paves the way for something new. But there are other areas to develop new that don't have to do with steamrolling something unique to the flavor of long beach.
would love to hear your thoughts expressed on that.
Yours truly,
Slaggy Sue (lol, too funny)
I hope you weren't expecting an explanation based on something other than wanting to "pave the way for something new." And despite SS's massive intellect, she's, in fact, wrong, as the structure is architecturally significant (it is a designated historic structure) and, though it is small, it is precisely because of short-sightedness (and the 1933 earthquake) that there are so few examples of art deco facades in Long Beach.
But it is the combination of the building, the history, and the feel of the place that makes it special. You can have your Arts Exchange, but why the need to desperately erase the past? Again, it's the unprincipled waste of tax dollars and abuse of eminent domain that is the crime here, and the hypocrisy of elected officials who vowed to protect it (Suja, that'd be you).
Yes, Sassy, you won.
"In all the wild orgy of wastefulness and luxury with which the nineteenth century reaches its close, the gilded youth has been surely the worst symptom. With his airs of young milord, his fast horses, his gold and silver cigarette cases, his clothes from a New York tailor, his recklessness of money showered upon him by indulgent mothers or doting grandfathers, he respects nothing and nobody."
Booth Tarkington, The Magnificent Ambersons
A book you won't have to worry about finding at the Arts Exchange.
Why move the business, why not look at ways to make it work for its location? Step in, get creative and reinvent it to act as a backbone for the "arts exchange" being planned. To pave the way for this new creative development by taking away this creative cornerstone just makes no sense at all.
The overall business represents the true soul of long beach, it's part of what makes this place authentic.
So Sassy, have you looked at it from this overall perspective or are you only looking at it as a building that you think just ain't that great?