Power: Sherman’s Last Stand

Today, Sherman could save the dough for an international flight and drive to Northern Liberties to witness his dream in three dimensions — a creative hamlet in the middle of a stagnant neighborhood, and a developer who faced opposition but kept his hands firmly on his six-shooters and saw it through. On the opposite river from the Mills is Bart Blatstein’s Liberties Walk, which opened in December and follows the same blueprint — a $25 million village where artists live and work, open to the public for browsing and shopping. Blatstein beat Sherman by a year with his grand opening, but Sherman has learned from his rival’s mistakes. Where Blatstein’s motivations were questioned early on — what the hell does this guy know about art? — Sherman admits he’s clueless, but shows interest and appreciation, and that has endeared him to the folks he’s wooing to the Mills, if not to those who live outside it.

With his back to the door of the bakery, Sherman doesn’t see resident artist Carole Powers Gordon tiptoe in with a piece of yellow notepaper in hand, an afterthought from our conversation in her loft. She waits for a break in his conversation to creep up and pass it along before retreating back to her studio. I read it, then hand her carefully penned cursive note to Sherman: “The man is a genius! I liken him to two characters — Le Petit Prince & Oscar Wilde’s Happy Prince.” Sherman doesn’t seem familiar with French children’s lit or 19th-century British authors, but it sounds like a good thing, and he musters a slight smile. Maybe once the Mills are complete in December, kudos like those will come in bunches again, and the Fallsers will embrace their prodigal son. Until then, here in his healthy place, hidden away from the slings and arrows of residents on Ridge Avenue, Sherman will keep smiling at folks like Gordon. She’s a bit kooky, sure. But these days, he’ll take the compliment.