Preston Center Development: A $350,000 Investment Yielding Zero Progress
“Train Wreck.” “Waste of Time.” “Squandered Money.” “Are you eff-ing kidding me?”
These were the furious thoughts echoing through my mind during the most recent Preston Center Task Force meeting. After sixteen arduous months and a staggering $350,000 investment, it’s profoundly disheartening to admit that we find ourselves precisely where we began. In fact, one could argue we’ve regressed. Despite a glimmer of hope following the previous gathering, any perceived progress has evaporated, leaving us squarely back at Square One. Even the concept of an underground parking lot topped with a vibrant park, which had emerged as a central pillar of potential progress, was an idea actively discussed and considered over a year ago. The sheer lack of forward momentum is not just frustrating; it’s a glaring indictment of the process.
Consultants Kimley-Horn, tasked with guiding this extensive project, have, for their part, tabulated some traffic data and cobbled together various developmental scenarios. These scenarios were presented to the task force and the broader public, often eliciting more skepticism than enthusiasm. Just last week, they unveiled a 150-page report, purportedly detailing their “findings” to task force members. However, “findings” feels like an overly generous term for what many perceive as an overwhelming volume of data and theoretical scenarios that ultimately fail to reach any concrete conclusions or actionable recommendations. Compounding the issue, the report was criticized for not adequately incorporating the personal recommendations and insights of the task force members themselves – individuals who, understandably, feel that 16 months of dedicated effort should not culminate in an empty-handed departure.
