I can't forget what a pleasure it was to go downtown Chattanooga before the Superpower took over our city. I could pay all my utility bills, which was within walking distance of each other, and I would visit the wonderful open front newspapers and magazines from everywhere were there and even a shoe shine boy near the corner of Market Street.

Then there was Moore and King drug store, S.H. Kress, T.H. Payne, Waldenbooks, J.C. Penney, Uncle Herman's shoe store, Orange Julius, Gateway Cards, Yogurt Express, Army Surplus store, Picketts, Loveman's department store, S&W restaurant, George's Hamburgers Restaurant and Krystal Restaurant. We had one of the best schools in the tri-state area, Kirkman Vocational high school, all of which had to be vacated and/or became a down-hill drag on the city's downtown area because the "Superpower" wanted to build Miller Park Plaza. We already had a beautiful Miller Park which was just right for our city.

In our Free Press, May 26, 1983, I quote "Mr. Fred Kent, president of projects for spaces in New York said 'Why tear down something that is perfectly good when it can be redeveloped.'" In the same article, "The $3 million cost of acquiring the properties and expansion of the park will be borne by the Lyndhurst and Tonya foundations."

The "Superpower" oligarchy didn't seem to care about all the tax money that their project would cost the taxpayers years and years to come.

In the Chattanooga Business Journal, page 22, April 1993, I quote, "Chattanooga Downtown Partnership was formed in June 1991 and its goal is to animate, enliven and romanticize downtown Chattanooga for a place for the entire community residents and visitors to come and play."

C.D.P was disbanded July 16, 1992, and RiverCity Company took over operation of Miller Park Plaza and now city and county taxpayers are putting $400,000 each annually into an ongoing "false optimism" operation that is operated by "corporate welfare" kings and queens so that throws this overall issue into the Chattanooga "Misery Index" category for the taxpayers.

W.L. Schultz
So. Moore Rd.

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I don't know where to begin with W.L. Schultz's walk down memory lane. Downtown during the years he recalls was in the last of its "good ole days" as the center of commerce and business. If he wants to blame anyone for the closing of Woolworth's or Walden Books - look no further than Hamilton Place Mall, or better yet, Wal-Mart.

The "Superpower" (whoever he thinks that is, but I bet I can guess) has done nothing but recreate our downtown into a shining example of what a truly "liveable" downtown can be these days. And yes, change costs money. It's called "progress." Get used to it.

Chuck Crowder
chuckcrowder@comcast.net