South Nevada businesses ready to hear some ideas

0 Comments | Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), Jun 10, 2007 | by SARAH PULLIAM, THE GAZETTE

Many South Nevada Avenue business owners are eager to hear what the mayor has in mind to revitalize the area.

The north end of the designated area contains a mix of older motels and fast-food restaurants. On the south end, the Broadmoor Towne Center has attracted big chain stores such as Home Depot.

Business owner Jim Lind calls the motels where some people live an "eyesore" and would like to see them go.

Lind, who owns a jewelry shop in a small strip mall at 1107 S. Nevada, said that unemployed people often stand around his shop and smoke. Every morning, Lind uses a blower to sweep the cigarette butts off the sidewalk in front of his store.

"It's a zoo at night. When I get here in the morning, the garbage is full of empty booze bottles," Lind said. "We don't have the teeth to be able to run them out of here."

The owner of Golden Anvil Jewelers is worried that Lowe's may buy the building where he rents a spot. It he's forced to move, he worries about having to pay higher rent. He is curious to see what kind of development the mayor has in mind.

"There's a whole bunch of us who would jump on the bandwagon," Lind said. "I'd like to see it become a little south destination spot."

Helen Curtis lives just east of South Nevada and is content with the neighborhood.

"I don't particularly like change. We've already got plenty of traffic," Curtis said. "I'd just like to have a health food store and maybe another grocery store."

Curtis shops at the Safeway grocery store near her house but must drive at least 20 minutes to get to a health food store. She doesn't want to see the character of her neighborhood change.

"I wouldn't like living in a subdivision where all the houses are the same," she said. "It's just like being buried alive."

Business owner Melissa Harmon said she would like to see a greater police presence around the area. Harmon sometimes locks the door to The Pet Pawlor grooming store during business hours.

"It's kind of scummy," Harmon said as she groomed a dog. "I don't like that I can't be here at night."

Harmon's employee, LaRue Wade, grew up in the area and said it has improved since the Broadmoor Towne Center was built.

"It used to be worse," Wade said. "If you wanted to pick up a prostitute, you'd go here."

Still, Harmon said she would like fewer motels and would like to see a mall or more large retail stores. Most of her customers are from the surrounding area and other stores might attract people from farther away, she said.

"I have a lot of people who are reluctant to come here because of the reputation of the area," she said.