I caught part of WTOK’s “On the Record” program with Gil Carmichael on Sunday.

Mr. Carmichael said, “Meridian is growing.” Sounds good to me. Can’t go anywhere but up and forward with progress here.

While I’m staying optimistic about Meridian’s growth and find some good things happening to the city, I still find the downtown situation puzzling.

The MSU Riley Center and the new Threefoot ideas happening are grand plans, sure. Although I’ve never used the new parking garage, going past at night, it looks very impressive with its bright street lighting for those who may want to walk the streets downtown at night in the future.

But …

What will be downtown? My understanding is rent prices are going higher for even the worst of buildings downtown. Is the “prospect” of new growth downtown going to start keeping businesses away? One of the best signs (to me) of downtown growth started when Faraway Places moved in across from Union Station years ago on Front Street. Well, it had to move out recently, from my understanding because of “sky high” rent.

To all of you downtown property owners, remember that you have to make “the little guy” feel like he can start a business downtown. If the rent is too high, even national chains like Starbucks won’t bother with Meridian. Let some local businesses grow downtown and your “chains” will come in. Then rents can be raised accordingly.

Front Street “could be” Meridian’s answer to Beale Street (a “controlled” Beale Street) — fun, full of music and excitement, and people gathering to relax on a Friday or Saturday night. I don’t see why it couldn’t — or why it shouldn’t.

Downtown Meridian is not Uptown Manhattan, yet. Keep rents affordable downtown and growth will come.

Brad Palmer

Meridian