Gateway Park on Google Maps

Here's a link to a press release from WPI two years ago regarding the groundbreaking ceremony for Gateway Park. The groundbreaking only slipped by six months from a much earlier projected date mentioned in this link on the WorcesterMass.Org website. It said that construction would begin in the fall of 2004, after the target of 75% signed leases was completed.

Last month, this press release announced that the opening of the life-science based campus will be this September.

Now, don't think for a minute that I'm a fan of the brand of "urban renewal" that ripped the heart out of this city, but let's just compare the Gateway Park project to the CitySquare project. Where the former is being run by business and academic leaders in the city, the latter is heavily laden with a "political process" of 100% hype and absolutely NO VISIBLE RESULTS so far, despite the factor of similar timelines.

Oh, but wait a minute! There ARE visible results of the CitySqure project on Google Maps! And guess what? There are NO visible results of the Gateway Project on Google Maps...

As you can see from this hybrid satellite/map shot from Google Maps, there is no label for the Gateway Park area of town...

So, in the virual reality world of Google Maps, CitySquare is REAL, but Gateway Park ISN'T! In the REAL world, of course, Gateway Park is opening the campus in a couple of months, and CitySqure has yet to evidence itself at all.

I think it makes a difference, though, don't you? Isn't hype and promo MUCH more effective than actual progress in the long run?

Personally, I just can't wait for the next premature announcement from City Hall about what's right on the horizon for CitySquare...