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The reality is that a Third Street entertainment area already exists.

It’s unofficial—and ungoverned—but it’s here, and it’s here to stay.

It has no name, no organization, no control and no resources. Yet restaurants, bars and new businesses continue to open and thrive there.

Do we do nothing to manage it? Shall we sit on our hands and watch disorganization flourish?

Or do we make an effort to establish a defined, controlled and

conceptualized Third Street enter-tainment district, one that has a name, has boundaries, imposes control and generates income in order to help police, not to mention cleans up problems that will come with the ever-increasing population—an increase that will continue regardless of whether we create an official entertainment district.

The answer is truly a no-brainer. We have an opportunity—even an obligation—to at least try.

Two key elements of a successful entertainment district include limited street closures and a carefully regulated open container provision (a recent, non-scientific Business Report online poll found more than 80% of 1,550 responders favored open containers, and more than 60% favored street closures).

They’d promote safety, not to mention revenue. Everyone wants a safe, orderly, freely moving and diversely composed social corridor along Third Street, preferably with an urban, European, pedestrian feel. Curbside dining, art venues, street vendors and the unrestricted flow of people are all facilitated (and made safer) by limited, block-long street closures of Third Street.

An open container provision, highlighted by a distinctive “sig-nature cup,” sold exclusively within the entertainment district to par-ticipating businesses, would create a sense of privilege and belonging to those using them. Sales of these cups, with the opportunity for sales of promotions on the cups themselves, would pay for supplemental police and clean-up crews, as well as hiring a much needed “ambassador” to oversee the smooth, safe and clean operation of the district.

What have we got to lose? If it doesn’t work, there was no harm in trying, and any part that doesn’t work can be discontinued. If it does work, what will we have gained? A truly unique, inviting and functional entertainment district, one that other cities will travel to Baton Rouge—not Austin—to see and copy.

Danny McGlynn, an attorney with McGlynn, Glisson and Koch, invests in and renovates old buildings, including some downtown.