Yes I do think they send the wrong message.

Yes I do think they send out the wrong message.

I walk around downtown with my dog, oh, just about every day. When I saw those security curtains I was shocked and, sort of, offended. I think they look hideous. To my knowledge, there is no reason for them. I can't remember a time when someone threw a brick through a front window to rob a place on Main Street. It's a shame. It ruins the quaintness of downtown.

Yes, definitely sends the wrong message.

Additionally, I don't think I'm going to go there until they take care of those gates. The General Store on Washington is just as convenient. They are super friendly at the General Store and they don't board their windows up at night.

I definitely think it sends the wrong message, I was surprised to see them.

When did Deli's become the new name for "Fort Knox"?

When did Royal Oak become a third world country or the Bronks?

What is so prescious? Liquor, smokes, lottery or the corned beef?

I have seen other liquor stores, banks and even drug stores with less security.

Tear down your walls!

I COMPLETELY agree that the gates need to come down, and would fully support a new ordinance. NO gates should be allowed, even on a jewelry store. Thick, bullet proof glass can be used as the storefront windows with proper alarming and cameras to deter an overnight break in.

Definitely sends the wrong message and an eyesore!

Business owners should be allowed to protect their stores with security gates. In the event of a riot or mob crowd will you folks that are against security gates then come out and patrol a business? Do the folks against security gates have an alarm on their home or cars? Do you folks leave your doors at home unlocked or open? Prevention is the best tool to fight crime and not after the fact.

It was once said "paranoia will destroy ya".

Be prepared

Rob K I do not see a problem with security gates. The argument about image can than be taken to many different levels.

OMG, it doesn't look that bad, and quite honestly, the first thought through my head was not "they must have a crime issue" but "that's how they close up for the night".

As far as "great boutiques and activities for families" goes, I guess I missed that last time I was downtown. I wish the stores would stay open past 5pm because that's when I go there.

And I agree with TJO, Royal Oak's image is the bar scene. At work, all of the younger folks talk about "going to Royal Oak to drink". I've never once heard them say they were going to Royal Oak for the great boutiques and family activities.

We really should be protecting ourselves from the over inflated ego's and a-holes in Royal Oak.

Wow Duke and TJO, you really don't like the city do you? I remember when RO was a sleepy little downtown with closed shops, a vacuum cleaner place, Hagelstein's Bakery, Joe's Army Navy and no traffic or reputation ... just sort of dead. I think the DDA has done a great job. I shop in Downtown, I go there at night, I dine out a lot. I always feel safe. I don't remember seeing any riots or bricks being thrown through windows (especially to grab a sandwich?). I hope your attitude about downtown improves.

Franklin Deli & Cafe, as a marketing pro you should change your name to Bunker Deli & Cafe. Remember December 21st is looming.

Hey Duke, I live downtown and things change. I suggest a local market with Free parking such as Cedars on Rochester. Pull up in front of the store parking, sometimes not available downtown, but I can pull up in front of Beirut Palace at just about any time except for 9P-2A Thursday - Saturday and find a parking spot within 100 feet of the door. Not completely buying your argument here.

Good for you.

hey if Royal Oak's police force is down from 105 officers to current 63 the big wigs must see the writing on the wall.get with the program please.reality is what it is-don't sugar coat it.biz.'s have to protect their property somehow-no? now if the shutters were covered in graffiti then they have reason to complain.

The shutters are indicative of how crazy things get in the downtown at bar closing. The muckity mucks wanted a bar district in the downtown, but now don't want to deal with reality. The shutters make downtown Royal oak look like Highland Park!

This town has gone to hell.

This just in!! Franklin Deli & Cafe has just trucked in a load of gold.

Twinkies!!

I shutter to think.......

Shutters make me shudder.

Rasor is complaining about the shutters, yet he serves on the planning commission that approves the plans for these developments. Maybe if he paid more attention during the planning process, we wouldn't have shutters to look at!

TJO, most people think of Sangrias as a restaurant. Of course, the critics of downtown RO always opt for the "b" word--bar. Would you call Pasquales or Andiamos, a "bar" too?

Judy,

Your headline should of read "The Iron Curtain" is alive in Royal Oak.

I love downtown, night and day. Check out all of the college students studying at Caribou. Go to Barnes and Noble for a book. Get a haircut at the many salons. Buy a cupcake at a nationally recognized bakery. Shop vintage stores for old clothing. Shop boutiques for new clothing. Get chocolates and gifts at Gayles. Buy natural foods. Browse trendy (and expensive) furniture. Stop by the Farmers Market, which I do every Saturday and it is packed with families.

But wait. None of this matters because all Royal Oak is is a bar town.

I sent a pic weeks ago about one on 13 mile and cummings. They do affect perception and there needs to be a better way. The City seemed to ignore this for the neighborhood as well as letting 3 story big foot houses that tower over and encroach on little bungalows all on 40 foot lots. The one on 13 could have been done differently and not announce the area as a place not to buy a house.

Their business their rights

Not exactly. A city has the ability to regulate and set communiity standards and expectations through the city's zoning and planning ordinances. A city can prohibit these shuutters if it wanted to. Some cities have.

The PC was going to take action on the shutter situation as they were very unhappy that was approved. They would have proposed an ordinanace update and sent it to the CC. However the CC doesn't seem to like it either and have already directed Gillam to draw it up.

Their are many negative variables at play here with the "Iron Gates".

1. Public safety perception
2. # of break in's
3. ? Police presence
4, New business impact
5. New property development (increases tax base)
6. Hinders window shoping in a walkable downtown
7. Potential loss to neighboring businesses
8. impact on property owners and or investors

Franklin Deli&Cafe, you forgot to gate some windows.

I guess these businesses are preparing for huricanes.

From this week's police blotter:

Citizens Bank, 218 S. Main, 11-15-12: Royal Oak officers located graffiti spray painted on the garage door. 12-31703

These garage door/shutters are noting more than a empty canvas for gang taggers and other urban graffitti artists. I can't believe anyone thinks they look good!

The bottom line . . . They present the opportunity for negative perception - which was mine when I encountered them on an early morning walk in town.

This is horrible news to see the city official offended by a new owner taken precaution to secure and protect their investment. I frequent Royal Oak and I am truly offended that after a property sat vacant for many years, the city wants to penalize, and nickel and dime the new owner after they've put their money, blood, sweat and tears in opening a business. This property has been undergoing a complete facelift brightening up Main Street. As you are aware, any sort of construction requires many city permits, employees, and supplies PUTTING MONEY IN THE LOCAL ECONOMY. The city approved the security because they understand the owner needs to secure their investment. Should they have no gates, and there be continuous B&E wouldn’t that tarnish RO image? This is no different than an alarm on your car, a large police presence, or security guards working the bar. Its sole purpose is to deter crime and protect the investment.

I ask you; wouldn’t a vacant building and deteriorating property be a worse eye sore to the city than a protective gate? I choose the gate because the store provides tax dollars and employment to the community. Imagine if you’re the owner who spent many months, and monies to open, and then some bum destroys your business by breaking in, stealing your product, and getting away. Would you want to go through the headache of filing a claim, rebuilding, and paying additional insurance premiums? Who will pay then? The customers? I doubt it. The costs are passed to the customers. When costs get to large, customers go elsewhere. When customers go elsewhere, businesses close. Then we are back at the same place we were 5 months ago – vacant building, less jobs, and less tax dollars.

It’s a shame when you see this type of thing happening.

Not a shame at all Carlo. You want security gates installed at every business in RO? What a wonderful and totally unnecessary look. You are inventing a worst case scenario that does not exist here.

JOBS are being created!

The shutters will look like hell in two years. Wait (and I bet you won't have to wait long), a drunk from one of the downtown watering holes will kick a dent into those shutters. Then, we'll be able to look at dented shutters because the owner won't expend the money to fix it every time it happens. Check out the condition of the shutters of the Charter One Bank at Third and Main, or the vacant NBRO bank next to it.

Shutters? No thanks.

"'We just don’t want it looking like Michigan Avenue in Detroit,' one business leader says."

Yeah, wouldn't want anything looking like Slows or one of the other historic Mich. Ave. buildings. He'd rather have something like Franklin Deli, which has all the charm and character of an Applebee's in a mall parking lot.

The shutters are a means of protection, similar to an alarm system on your home. Whether they are visible or not shouldn’t be important because they serve the same purpose. Why is the city OK for a bank to have them, but when an independent business constructs a building with them, the city wants to write an ordinance to have them removed? Hopefully this owner is grandfathered in because we are always told “the self employed are the backbone of our nation”. Let’s not penalize them in order to appease the power hungry especially after the owner took the proper steps to have them approved before installed.

When these security curtains come down at night, most people are at home and asleep. From all the comments posted on this subject,it's screaming offensive looking and a bad image.Who cares what it looks like at 3 or 4 am. I think that the business owners have the right to protect their business investments as well as their inventory and by doing this it actually reduces their insurance rates.

It looks trashy. It should be removed. I am fine with the ordinance. What would looks better are more police around town. I am looking forward to seeing more of that.

What's next? Barbed wire trimming?

Some of you argue for it, but the 7 elected officials have already made up their minds, and it looks like these ugly and unnecessary shutters will be prohibited. Your opinions are meaningless! Now go bark at the moon!

I do not like that "look" at all in my town here! Invest in some attractive protection if you feel you need it. How about bullet-proof glass or a large mean dog looking out the window! Seriously, get rid of those tin things! They look gross!