Here’s a bit more information about Town Center, thanks to Prescott’s PR firm Lowell Public Relations, Inc. You can read the whole article here and here’s a couple of excerpts:
“We will continue to look for ways to solicit community input and tap into the enthusiasm and pride of Lake Highlands as we move forward in the development process,” said Stephanie Colovas, senior managing director, Prescott Realty Group.
And:
In addition to its street naming collaboration, Prescott has worked hard to maintain a steady dialogue with the community. Last fall the developer conducted several community forums to help determine the Lake Highlands Town Center “brand” followed by several additional focus groups held earlier this year to gauge preferences on the residential components of the development. Just this past week, various Lake Highlands women’s organizations provided their opinions on the layout, design elements and retail mix of the Town Center.
As to the community input part, everyday I’m hearing from folks who had the same experience as me: An email hit their desk about input focus groups, with no specification that it was only for three entities. They, like me, were excited and they too were excluded. Also, I’m trying to recall that ‘Last fall the developer conducted several community forums’. I only heard about ONE Prescott meeting – not a focus group – and I attended that one and it regarded the PID. Nobody wanted input from me, rather, it was a sales pitch.
Across the board, everyone I’ve talked to LOVES the idea of being able to be a part of Town Center, whether via an on line survey or a town forum. I’ve been in the LHHS auditorium and it’s really, really big. Great venue.
I took some flack that I was perhaps jealous that I wasn’t included. That’s not at all the case. Being a girl who does a little PR on the side, I get that you have to be consistent and inclusive. I’m sure Prescott has good intentions. But Prescott needs to be more specific and more consistent in the ‘word’ they put out there.
That being said, Prescott and Lowell, come up with that on line survey and send it on! And also produce a community forum as many neighbors have suggested. The bulk of us Lake Highlanders are ready with lots of great input and it’s all free. I personally will be far more amenable to spend my money at the cool new Town Center if I know I had even the tiniest stake in it. Shoot, that’s Neighborhood 101: Support the businesses that have earned your dollar, be it with providing convenient parking or childrens play areas or being genuinely interested in learning and providing what you, the valued consumer, want from them.
