Take a look at our enhanced Articles page to see some thinking that defies the conventional wisdom about the Plaza and economic opportunity in the County.

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	The article written by Craig Ellis is most compelling. He clearly understands and articulates the history of auto manufacturing in the US. His analysis of the economic impact to the Blue Water Area is very clear. Identifying this plaza project as a huge opportunity seems undeniably correct. The article written by Roger Thomas is equally compelling. We all have a serious responsibility to pay close attention to this planning phase--the end result is going to affect Port Huron for generations. I also happen to know Roger personally. He is an extremely intelligent man. I must admit--I have been ambivalent about this project. However, after carefully reading the entirety of the 'Positive' website, I am ready to encourage the city council to quit squawking and start co-operating. This is a chance to breath new life into Port Huron--a town that desperately needs it. Paul Steinborn President, Crescent Corporation Excellent web site, very refreshing to hear there are others that believe this could be an excellent opportunity. I grew up in this area, moved to Oregon for seven years as a disenchanted young person and then moved back in 2000 to raise a family. Currently opportunity is a rare commodity in the Port Huron area and in my opinion all that present themselves should be seized and acted upon positively. I look forward to watching and interacting with the groups that see the positive in the situation. Keep up the good work!! Rick Russel Vice President of Operations Future Fence Company Great Site! It is great to see some rational discussion on this issue. Here are a few thoughts I have for the development: Suggest a small portion of the bridge toll offset the “loss of tax base”. Work toward any buffer area near the bridge is made into parks. Consider how big the 4th of July Modified Softball Tournament could be with more fields close to down town. Encourage exiting and shopping downtown. Establish a system similar to the old parking validation for downtown. Tokens for the City’s portion of the Bridge Toll mentioned in item 1. Contact Willie Nelson on his new bio-diesel stations. What a tourist and trucker draw that could be! Encourage relocated residents and business to relocate in the City. Maybe a tax incentive to purchase one of the many houses for sale. (4 on my block right now) Is this the type of discussion you are looking for? Gerald E. McClelland, Port Huron Editor's note - good thinking on that last point, Gerry, but the Port Huron leadership may have burned their bridges on that one last spring with their treatment of the Zone residents. After that callous dismissal, I haven't talked to a single neighborhood resident that intends to relocate in the City.		There'll be unseen positive results by having the New Bridge Plaza created in the City: Better \ faster goods and services movement across the border: Many if not all automotive parts and other product producers located within Port Huron rely on this movement since most manufactures subscribe to the Just On Time Supply System (Where they don't have to warehouse the parts) and that'll bring in (hopefully) more manufactures \ companies that can take advantage of this increase in flow...or else they'd be somewhere else besides here any way. These type of businesses and their employees pay the taxes that make the whole machine work. Boiled down as it stands now: Downtown isn't working out as a retail or recreation hub as well as it use to (Hello...I think we all know it's the Mall \ the northends retail build up, I believe an old retired City Manager made sure of that with some land deal, but lets not dwell there because it helps nothing going forward). In big business when Nothings working out the way you want it (Lets say your 0-10) You should either change the Management making these bad moves \ not moving on items when action is needed (or) if you can't do that because of existing Old Boy Networking (Did we see the recent exit of the City Manager as well as the School Supr, they tried bucking the norm and paid the price...or should we say we the people here are still paying the price)....then the only thing left to do is to say that the New Bridge Plaza in the City will be a good thing since the Old Boy Network says it'll be a bad thing (remember 0-10). Many great ideas go against the norm and become much better that anyone first predicted. Lets ask the designers of the new plaza to get in tune with the Downtown areas new Nautical \ Old fashion looking Theme, which has been used by the new Downtown southend developers and looks great: Go check out the area around the new SEMCO building downtown, these types of little nautical touches could possibly make visitors passing through the area, to and from Canada, want to explore the City's Downtown area more (We are the Maritime Capital of the Great Lakes!!). Lets hook' em while they swim past before they get away!! Steve, Port Huron