Joseph Frank Discusses his Initial Misgivings

Society always has its skeptics when it comes to local projects funded in whole or in part by federal grants. I plead guilty to having been one of them.

My excuse is that my college education in economics inculcated in me an intense dislike of the so-called pork-barrel approach to the availability of federal money for local projects. Every member of Congress is jockeying for federal financing of their pet projects, many of which have
little or no national significance, and some of which have little merit even in local terms. One over-used rationale is the necessity of federal financing for “demonstration” projects.

So when the Church Street Marketplace was dreamed up, I had misgivings, despite being brought up as a third-generation Burlingtonian and coming from a family with an interest in Church Street since the early twentieth century. My paternal grandfather’s Red 46 Department Store was located on the east side of Church Street on the second block below Pearl Street. And for eleven years, my law office was located in the former Masonic Temple at One Church Street. Nevertheless, the “Marketplace” seemed like an excuse to waste federal funds.

With the benefit of hindsight I see, however, that the Church Street Marketplace has been a great success. It has been much more than a ploy to have Uncle Sam pay for infrastructure improvements on and under the Street.

It has created an attractive commercial environment which draws residents of greater Burlington and visitors to the area to come downtown.

It is greater Burlington’s hub for governmental services, quality retailing, fine dining, banking, and other kinds of commerce. While the downtowns of many cities have become ghost towns, downtown Burlington continues to thrive.

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