Vermont: Endangered?
Since my family (consisting of all two people) moved to Vermont, I have paid much closer attention to what goes on in this feisty little state. Of course, as preservationists, you all are aware that Vermont has been on the National Trust's 11 Most Endangered List twice, most recently in 2004. The National Trust has endured the complaints of those who feel that their assertion--that Vermont is endangered--is merely the whining of summer and winter tourists who will miss the "quaintness" of Vermont's small towns as they change with big-box growth. But of course it isn't just the tourists who find this kind of growth disturbing. But, Vermont residents are ambivalent. Because my family will feel the effect of any growth or lack of growth in this state makes the issue more present for me, but also more complex.
California, my home state, is policy-laden, overflowing with legislature and public programs. For the most part, I believe these to be extremely important for the health and well-being of the population of California. Even so, all these laws and regulations haven't slowed the overwhelming growth of the state, nor have they sufficiently protected the residents and the land. Such are the problems of a large and diverse state.
Vermont's approach to policy and regulation is a little different. The state is quite small (the largest city, Burlington, is home to only about 40,000 people) and as a result, it can afford to do things differently. One of the longstanding traditions, with regard to policy, is to allow individual freedoms to prevail as much as humanly possible. Vermonters may have strongly held beliefs, but are generally unwilling to impose them upon others. The state legislature is replaced with startling frequency, and politicians make house calls to their constituents. All of this allows for a fluidity which is difficult in larger states.
Conversely, the small size of the state is a problem for residents. It is difficult to attract businesses of any size (even with IBM in Essex Junction, and UVM in Burlington) to the area, meaning that Vermonters have been making do with a few centrally located department stores which anchor small malls. Main streets flourish only in the busiest areas, such as Burlington, Rutland, and Bennington. In smaller towns throughout the state, the main streets cater to tourism, if anything--ski shops or lodges, a few restaurants or cafes, things of that nature.
What is difficult for city or suburb residents to understand is the lack of services in most parts of the state. And while the map may look small, it takes hours to cross the state, over multiple mountain ranges and curvy roads. Rural Canadians and people from upper New Hampshire flock to Williston, St. Johnsbury and Burlington to do their shopping. There still isn't much, compared to the bounty of resources I've enjoyed in San Francisco, Chicago, and Washington.
Having a lack of resources, combined with a small population, makes it difficult to maintain culture in all its forms. Architecture is not the only victim--the arts, too, the theater and musical events--are also bound to fail as people move towards areas of new growth. The problem is bigger than Wal-Mart, and the imminent arrival of a number of box-sores.
People are not thrilled about the influx of Wal-Marts. Believe me, this is a state that finds McDonald's so distasteful that it has taken measures to ensure that the few fast food restaurants in the state are well hidden. But I think people are easily captivated by the promise of employment that a big-box store will supposedly bring. Will it? Probably not. Not without a cost in employment in other areas, and not without the cost that it will bring to the state, since profits return to the corporate headquarters. Of course it will bring in sales and property tax dollars. But will the cost to Vermont be too much, in the end?
I'd like to talk about two of the cities slated to get a Wal-Mart: St. Albans, and St. Johnsbury.
St. Albans is a beautiful town with a French-Canadian air. Its public school system is superior, especially in its approach to underserved communities. Most of all, the look of the town is compelling. There is a central square, surrounded by churches, an historical society, and a row of businesses. A main street. The main street has been failing now for a while. What is left are one or two restaurants, a jeweller, and one lone privately owned clothing shop. The bookstore is gone. Up the road a little is a one-floor JC Penney, and a little further down, a Price Chopper, and a strip mall.
Architecturally, St. Albans is marvelous. It has so much potential for business on the main floor, and offices in the second and third story spaces. There is parking, and a place to sit and meet. It should attract new residents for its superior schools and housing that is more affordable than Burlington. But it will not if it continues to fail to attract revenue.
St. Johnsbury, located on the otherside of the state in the Northeast Kingdom, may be worse off. It has some of the most stunning houses I have ever seen (think Kenwood, but better) and two great museums, too. But St. Johnsbury is far from lots of things--much further than St. Albans is from Burlington, for example. St. Johnsbury is a hike. But it too has a school of national note: St. Johnsbury Academy.
These towns deserve better. Will a Wal-Mart help? Probably in the short-term, yes. It well bring people from the surrounding countryside to shop. BUT . . . they will not shop the downtown areas, and chances are they will not move to the town because a Wal-Mart has arrived. They will shop and leave, leaving very little profit for a town already sinking in the mire.
What preservationists can do--and what Vermont residents should do--is approach these things with the air of realism. A few more Wal-Marts is probably inevitable. Of course, I support insistence that Wal-Mart use existing structures such as the now defunct Ames stores as its location. But why not pursue a better option at the same time? City planners ought to aggressively seek business for their stunning downtowns--businesses that are more willing to fit themselves to a location, like Pier One has done on Church Street in Burlington. Better merchandise ought to be available to the professionals of the state (not everyone can wear jeans to work). Above all, there are a number of small businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs throughout the state, and they are looking for places to start their businesses. Vermont is full of enterprising people, people who create their own work, and whose work varies from season to season. I would take advantage of this, and set an example of smart and sustainable growth in a beautiful, historic setting, for the rest of the world to see.
California, my home state, is policy-laden, overflowing with legislature and public programs. For the most part, I believe these to be extremely important for the health and well-being of the population of California. Even so, all these laws and regulations haven't slowed the overwhelming growth of the state, nor have they sufficiently protected the residents and the land. Such are the problems of a large and diverse state.
Vermont's approach to policy and regulation is a little different. The state is quite small (the largest city, Burlington, is home to only about 40,000 people) and as a result, it can afford to do things differently. One of the longstanding traditions, with regard to policy, is to allow individual freedoms to prevail as much as humanly possible. Vermonters may have strongly held beliefs, but are generally unwilling to impose them upon others. The state legislature is replaced with startling frequency, and politicians make house calls to their constituents. All of this allows for a fluidity which is difficult in larger states.
Conversely, the small size of the state is a problem for residents. It is difficult to attract businesses of any size (even with IBM in Essex Junction, and UVM in Burlington) to the area, meaning that Vermonters have been making do with a few centrally located department stores which anchor small malls. Main streets flourish only in the busiest areas, such as Burlington, Rutland, and Bennington. In smaller towns throughout the state, the main streets cater to tourism, if anything--ski shops or lodges, a few restaurants or cafes, things of that nature.
What is difficult for city or suburb residents to understand is the lack of services in most parts of the state. And while the map may look small, it takes hours to cross the state, over multiple mountain ranges and curvy roads. Rural Canadians and people from upper New Hampshire flock to Williston, St. Johnsbury and Burlington to do their shopping. There still isn't much, compared to the bounty of resources I've enjoyed in San Francisco, Chicago, and Washington.
Having a lack of resources, combined with a small population, makes it difficult to maintain culture in all its forms. Architecture is not the only victim--the arts, too, the theater and musical events--are also bound to fail as people move towards areas of new growth. The problem is bigger than Wal-Mart, and the imminent arrival of a number of box-sores.
People are not thrilled about the influx of Wal-Marts. Believe me, this is a state that finds McDonald's so distasteful that it has taken measures to ensure that the few fast food restaurants in the state are well hidden. But I think people are easily captivated by the promise of employment that a big-box store will supposedly bring. Will it? Probably not. Not without a cost in employment in other areas, and not without the cost that it will bring to the state, since profits return to the corporate headquarters. Of course it will bring in sales and property tax dollars. But will the cost to Vermont be too much, in the end?
I'd like to talk about two of the cities slated to get a Wal-Mart: St. Albans, and St. Johnsbury.
St. Albans is a beautiful town with a French-Canadian air. Its public school system is superior, especially in its approach to underserved communities. Most of all, the look of the town is compelling. There is a central square, surrounded by churches, an historical society, and a row of businesses. A main street. The main street has been failing now for a while. What is left are one or two restaurants, a jeweller, and one lone privately owned clothing shop. The bookstore is gone. Up the road a little is a one-floor JC Penney, and a little further down, a Price Chopper, and a strip mall.
Architecturally, St. Albans is marvelous. It has so much potential for business on the main floor, and offices in the second and third story spaces. There is parking, and a place to sit and meet. It should attract new residents for its superior schools and housing that is more affordable than Burlington. But it will not if it continues to fail to attract revenue.
St. Johnsbury, located on the otherside of the state in the Northeast Kingdom, may be worse off. It has some of the most stunning houses I have ever seen (think Kenwood, but better) and two great museums, too. But St. Johnsbury is far from lots of things--much further than St. Albans is from Burlington, for example. St. Johnsbury is a hike. But it too has a school of national note: St. Johnsbury Academy.
These towns deserve better. Will a Wal-Mart help? Probably in the short-term, yes. It well bring people from the surrounding countryside to shop. BUT . . . they will not shop the downtown areas, and chances are they will not move to the town because a Wal-Mart has arrived. They will shop and leave, leaving very little profit for a town already sinking in the mire.
What preservationists can do--and what Vermont residents should do--is approach these things with the air of realism. A few more Wal-Marts is probably inevitable. Of course, I support insistence that Wal-Mart use existing structures such as the now defunct Ames stores as its location. But why not pursue a better option at the same time? City planners ought to aggressively seek business for their stunning downtowns--businesses that are more willing to fit themselves to a location, like Pier One has done on Church Street in Burlington. Better merchandise ought to be available to the professionals of the state (not everyone can wear jeans to work). Above all, there are a number of small businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs throughout the state, and they are looking for places to start their businesses. Vermont is full of enterprising people, people who create their own work, and whose work varies from season to season. I would take advantage of this, and set an example of smart and sustainable growth in a beautiful, historic setting, for the rest of the world to see.
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