Newport: Potential for Positive Growth

As I look around Newport, I am either surrounded by aging buildings, construction, and/or empty stores. In addition, some of the closed stores were well known, like Barnes and Noble. Despite the lack of a consistent aesthetic appeal, Newport is a city full of positive potential and growth because of the big renovations being constructed on Newport on the Levee.

A picture of Newport apartment construction.

As stated by Tucker after North American Properties purchased the mall in late 2018, Newport on the Levee has been undergoing a multi-million-dollar renovation that will include new restaurants, bars, and retail stores on its 360,000 square feet of space ( “Newport on the Levee Set to Announce New Tenants.”). By closing down a great number of stores and constructing new businesses, Newport is giving itself the opportunity to create itself a new image and to attract an audience of its choice.

Positive quotes like "New energy on the Levee" are displayed.

Furthermore, the city appears to target a young adult and family audience. For instance, the Newport City Manager, Tom Fromme, discussed how additions like a hotel and a performance venue could potentially be built since North American wants to replace and open up the empty Imax area (Monk, “What Will Replace the Empty Imax at Newport on the Levee?”). In addition, Tucker comments on how the Newport on the Levee developer began offering yoga, bike rides, and weekly concerts this past summer ( “Newport on the Levee Set to Announce New Tenants.” ). By having these types of attractions, more young people will be attracted to visit and/or move to Newport, and, by attracting young adults, Newport will become the home of newly-begun families.

Empty stores are visible throughout Newport.

In addition, by attracting families and young adults, the landscape and identity of Newport could positively be changed and could improve other established institutions as well. For my entire life, I have lived in the Northern Kentucky area, and, candidly, I have never seen Newport as an attractive area to inhabit. I know that the education system in Newport has always been poorly ranked in comparison to other Kentucky schools, and I have physically seen and have learned about the economic struggles of this city and its people. Despite my present perspective, by providing job opportunities and attracting young educated individuals and families, visually appealing homes could be built, and the education system could be improved by the vocalizations of well respected parents and by an increase of funding in the city. 

Newport construction can have positive outcomes.

Thus, despite the construction mess and empty stores, Newport on the Levee could transform into a city with profitable businesses, educated families, and improved institutions. By closing down stores and constructing renovations, Newport on the Levee is giving the city a chance to create a new and better image for itself.

Sources:

Monk, Dan. “What Will Replace the Empty Imax at Newport on the Levee?” WCPO Cincinnati, 10 Sept. 2019, https://www.wcpo.com/money/local-business-news/what-will-replace-the-empty-imax-at-newport-on-the-levee. Accessed 30 Sept. 2019. 

Tucker, Randy. “Newport on the Levee Set to Announce New Tenants.” Cincinnati Enquirer, 10 June 2019, www.cincinnati.com/story/money/2019/06/10/newport-levee-offers-first-glimpse-new-concept/1410351001/. Accessed 30 Sept. 2019.