The empty field down on Harrison Street in Jamestown where a thriving factory once stood is tempting for anyone looking for an easy place to erect an industrial or commercial building.
It is just about the only parcel left in the city where an industry would be able to build or expand. On the other hand, there are plenty of other places where retail and professional offices could be located.
Still, with the old Watkins building already torn down and the Harrison Street parcel shovel ready, as they say, it is no wonder The Resource Center has zeroed in on it as the location for its proposed health care facility. It is simply a very convenient place to build.
We congratulate TRC officials for taking to heart the hope of Mayor Sam Teresi and some City Council members that the Harrison Street parcel be saved for an industrial use.
Well, at least they said they are willing to look at other sites.
Acknowledging the city has put a lot of money into the Harrison Street parcel, which is controlled by the county Industrial Development Agency, and that it has been empty for years, Teresi talks about the eventual payoff in having the patience to preserve a property for industrial growth.
"History has proven that where we have invested in facilities and made them attractive and available, and where we have invested in new building sites and we've had the patience and the willpower, businesses have chosen to come and to locate there," Teresi said. "If we had not been ready, they would have chosen somewhere else."
Just so.
At least one of the applications TRC has to file in relation to developing a building to house the health care services that are scattered in several locations, a resolution of support from the city is required. The hesitation from Jamestown officials has nothing to do with a lack of support for TRC.
Rather, the issue is the location. Mayor Teresi envisions the new TRC building having a lot of employees and attracting a lot of people, and so it would make sense to have it in an area of the city that would benefit from extra foot traffic.
It seems to us Jamestown has been a good partner and neighbor of The Resource Center over the years in welcoming its many expansions, its many clients and its tax-free status.
We hope TRC officials are, in turn, sincere in their stated willingness to consider other options.