A successful city starts in the core... which is our downtown area... once it's intact, the rest follows. I've seen it happen myself.
I'd like to suggest a volunteer organization to set up regular meetings to discuss these things. Similar to a PTO meeting of sorts, if you will...
People can comment all day on a forum, but to form an organization of people who actually reside and participate and show up to make themselves heard for the future of the Shoals area... well that takes some initiative. That's 'get off your arse and do something people'.
We can get our ideas together, let the Manhattan investor take a look at them, hopefully get to discuss things with him, and have a concise plan to take to our local officials.
I would be happy to coordinate such events... with enough interest, then we can approach our council. They wouldn't be able to ignore the masses.
What do you think? LAWGRL, others?