JayPro |
Jun 11, 2013 8:50 PM |
Caveat: The following is most likely to be construed as a grand-mal overreaction on my part; but here goes nothing............................
I'm praying that Barnett's playing head games here. And I hope NYGuy's "4-1-1 straight from the proverbial horse's mouth" post is somehow reflective of that same sort of psychological gamesmanship. This alone concerns me greatly.
Given the worst possible scenario, I suggest this: If the tower deal falls though, despite many an already approved permit to carry on as per schedule, I blame Nordstrom's alone. If they didn't want to bring their mothership store to the Big Apple, they should've just kept their HQ tent pitched in Seattle and not wasted Mr. Barnett's tim...or, for that matter, annihilated our collective emotional stakes in seeing this grow into a potentially striking mark on our beautiful skyline, and a commercial figurehead worth extensive praise and plaudits all around.
That said, I'd dare think that N's presence would most gladly--and perhaps with minimal, if not token, civic and local government resistance--be welcomed by a 300-to-500' squat box on the fringes of the Emerald City's CBD.
Then again, this is the same town that was too damn chintzy to build a stadium to keep their pro hoops team. But that's Oklahoma City's gain...and look at the *beautiful* tower they put up no sooner than the franchise relocation happened, never mind their sudden rise of fortunes on the court. QF, I really mean this: if Seattle wants to shoot themselves in the foot a second time, more power to them...I suppose. But might I first suggest indemnifying the City of New York from whatever enterprise-based masochistic tendencies they still might have?
The preceding brief (writer's emphasis) topical deviation serves my purpose to conclude with this:
If Nordstrom's *really* wants be a "playa" in NYC's continued unprecedented rise in at the very least commercial prestige, it should do more than merely set up nominal bases of operation. Indeed, the only thing that the true entrepreneurial spirit of New York demands in this case needs doing: Set up those offices on a *grand* scale and stop pussyfooting around with our developers who only want to make your damned task easier.
In the end, Mr. Barnett's desire to build the tower--which for all intents is ready to break ground--can only be measured by and conflated with Nordstrom's willingness to partner with him in all aspects of this venture. If they don't want to help him do this--to wit, essentially sabotage beyond repair any chances to significantly increase their own bottom line--their own corporate wishy-washiness alone will be cited as what ultimately will have done in all hopes for the tower going forward.
So if this three qaurter-baked, half-a-bubble off plumb prophecy of mine somehow actually comes to pass, it should never be allowed to get around that Mr. Barnett somehow balked at any stage in this process. People like him can do a helluva lot for any large business that wants to set up shop in the Apple; indeed we welcome whoever is ready for the challenge. In turn, though, that business must be steered by and armed with the forward-thinking collaborative sort needed to establish an abiding presence worthy of this great City.
Otherwise, to be blunt, either stay home, or don't bother. Or else go to boom-towns like Houston or Austin who can even further benefit from your trade. Just don't come to NYC with visions of literal castles in the sky, only to see them dissolve into ether no thanks to reality, and then blame the developer for this or that gone wrong.
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