Community Capitalism, Stimulus Funding, and Downtown

I recently submitted a list of ideas for a more magnetic downtown Newark to a friend who is a development expert.

Some of them, he said, didn't fit today's "business model." To me, that makes them all the more valuable. To the folks who would be asked to invest, that probably makes them stink. Some of the others, he said, were already being considered. Anyway, here's that list:

Downtown needs reasons for people to visit, shop and live
As for shopping, the malls seem dependent on good anchor stores, and that may also serve downtown Newark, if it can be done. Maybe a general merchandise store that would be fairly compact (therefore easier to navigate) and more service-oriented (meaning that it doesn't rely on self-service, but offers clerks to help) than, say, another self-serve business like Walmart. I'm remembering the old Sears store downtown and maybe such a thing no longer exists, or can exist, but I'd prefer that kind of place over the warehouses of the big retailers. To think of downtown as one big convenience store may be a helpful key to success.

Also, consider:
Youngsters with money, if drawn downtown, would be a gold mine - teen/early 20s trends/fashions of the moment - plus a trendy youth music hall would do wonders.
An upbeat computer store/gaming store
A really ritzy hotel with a night club
Sports bar
A gas station with attendants who pump gas, wash windshields, and check oil and tires.
Culinary diversity, preferably inexpensive (e.g. Greek, Italian, Indonesian)
A book/record/camera/used-book store
Upscale pool hall/arcade
Boutiques - remember the old hat store? Nobody wears that kind of hat anymore, but ball caps, motorcycle jackets, cowboy boots, NASCAR paraphernalia? Not such good examples maybe, but trendy specialty shops that are rare in Licking County are worth a thought.

To make it inviting and easy, we should provide a wealth of convenient parking areas with attractive well-lit, secure, landscaped walkways into the shopping district.

Downtown needs to use those beautiful old buildings that appear from the outside to be vacant or nearly so. The biggest that come to mind are ...
The telephone building
The Masonic Building
The Union Square building
The Carroll's Department Store building

And what it needs to do is provide good living quarters for people with money, namely, upscale loft living - (with some geared to college students?) Maybe these buildings could serve?

Also, the elderly are pushing for additional and more-modern facilities. Why shouldn't this be downtown, maybe in one of these nice old buildings, rather than on the far east side? And I'm wondering whether the private residential needs for the elderly are being satisfied or whether any new social/office facility for them could profitably incorporate (downtown) more apartments?

I'm neither a developer nor business person; likely not much help, but maybe it will inspire better brains to contribute.