Staff Writer
Local officials have signed a contract with a group of consultants to help with the revitalization of the city’s downtown and business areas.
Representatives of Wright-Pierce Civil and Environmental Engineering Services and Kent Associates Inc., were in town last week to meet with the Downtown Advisory Committee on the upcoming study. The $15,250-report is being funded by a $10,000 grant with remainder paid for the city, according to Mary Walton, director of community development.
Almost 270 acres are targeted for potential redevelopment, according to city officials. Among the areas included in the project are the shopping areas of Sweden Street, High Street, Bennett Drive and a portion of Route 1.
The locations are organized into a TIF (tax increment financing) district, which is a funding mechanism to fund public improvements. The extra revenue realized from the increased value is designated into a fund that can be used to fund infrastructure and façade improvements.
According to City Manager Steven Buck, the local hospital is not included within the TIF because it does not produce any tax revenue. Cary Medical Center is located on Route 1, commonly knows as the Van Buren Road.
The current effort is an expansion of the revitalization plan implemented in 2000. During that effort, the Sweden Street area underwent $1 million worth of improvements such as dismantling the roof over the walking area of the downtown mall. New mall lighting was put in and brick sidewalks were installed. Trees were also planted.
According to speakers at Wednesday’s meeting, project officials are gathering information, including maps and reports, in anticipation of meeting with area residents on ideas on how to improve the targeted area. Working with the local advisory committee, the consultants also plan to list the desired improvements, develop sketch ideas and look into the cost of possible changes.
The study will also look at “streetscapes,” which include the sidewalks, landscaping, and “gateways,” which are the entry points to the city as well as signage, according to the project’s work plan.
A meeting is being scheduled for the first part of December to solicit ideas from the public as what should be done to improve the community’s business areas.
Information gathered during the public meeting and the consultant’s work will be compiled into a draft report. That document will be the subject of a second meeting to solicit more ideas from the public and response to the draft report, according to the work plan.
After all the public comments are considered, a final downtown revitalization plan will be issued. City officials can use that to apply for grants in order to implement the plan, according to Walton.
During the 90-minute session last week, committee members discussed various issues that faced the community, such as traffic patterns and deteriorated buildings. According to the city officials, there has been some talk of changing the traffic pattern around the mall to a two-way system.
A deferred project from the 2000 plan, installing a turn lane on High Street, also needs to be addressed, according to Walton. In the same vicinity, the lack of parking around the Fire Department and an adjacent community building, needs attention.
The city also can build upon several opportunities, such as the improved health and recreation facilities and the proposed children’s museum, according to Brian Kent, one of the consultants. Kent also recommended that existing businesses need continued fostering.
In answer to several questions from the committee, Kent said that there was no “one” formula to successful redevelopment and a satisfying mix of retail and service business.
