Warsaw Groups Study Plans For Downtown Renewal
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Community leaders and downtown Warsaw retailers took another step Monday toward the renewal of downtown Warsaw.
A joint meeting of Warsaw's city council and the Warsaw Community Development Corp. board, plus business owners and members of the public, set up an action plan outline to renovate downtown.
According to Warsaw Mayor Ernie Wiggins, the assistant city planner position, which has not yet been filled, will be key in coordinating efforts between the city and the WCDC. Once an assistant planner is hired, he said, a core committee will be formed to guide the project.
Monday's discussion was based on a January report commissioned by the city and done by HyettPalma, a consulting firm from Alexandria, Va. HyettPalma recommended establishing a historic district around the Kosciusko County courthouse.
A majority of those present Monday agreed with Jean Northenor, of the WCDC board, when she said preservation of historic buildings should be a priority.
"A community or person is only as good as their history," she said. "We should try to save as much as we can."
However, Wiggins said, renovating historic buildings may mean having some kind of control over what owners can and cannot do to their buildings so there is some consistency downtown.
"I think if we start down this road that's the next thing," he said.
City planner Jeff Noffsinger said that control could translate into general guidelines and color schemes, instead of specific rules and regulations. Carol Huffer, of the Builders' Association of Kosciusko and Fulton counties, also said new materials available today can keep old buildings up to standards and yet maintain the look and feel of historic buildings.
The group also discussed using matching grants and tax abatements to encourage business owners to renovate their buildings, and Northenor suggested that a committee approve of a renovation design before approving a loan or grant.
Parking in downtown Warsaw also is a concern, and Wiggins said he has asked Noffsinger and the Warsaw traffic commission to look at the parking situation and the potential for diagonal parking.
"We also need to look at parking in general and employee parking for the 1,600 people who work downtown," Noffsinger said. "We need to do a better job identifying public parking spaces and public lots."
Those present also agreed something must be done to discourage business employees and even some owners from parking in front of their retail establishments.
"I think it's unconscionable for people who work downtown to park in front of their building," Northenor said.
"Greening" up the city and bringing in more landscaping also is a concern, as is making the gateway corridor, Ind. 15N or Detroit Street, more attractive.
Wiggins sought, and received, a commitment from WCDC to work with the city council on the project.
"That's what the WCDC was born to do, the downtown," Northenor said.
The key, said Bob Sanders, of Bodkin Abstract, is getting downtown business owners to support the program. "We've got to get those people that aren't in here tonight to buy into this project."
Support also has to come from the entire city, Wiggins said. "The city and WCDC can't do this alone - it's going to take all the community."
WCDC executive officers are Carmen Lock, director; John Elliott, president; Charlie Smith, chair of revolving loan committee; Nanette DeGaetano, vice president of member care, activities and marketing; Daniel Hampton, vice president of administration and facilities; Jay Baumgartner, treasurer; Cindy Dobbins, secretary; and past president Max Courtney. The WCDC board of directors meets the third Wednesday of each month at 11 a.m. at the Chamber of Commerce in Warsaw.
City council members are City council members are Jerry Patterson, Jeff Grose, Charlie Smith, Trish Brown, George Clemens, Bill Rhoades and Joe Thallemer. The council meets the first and third Monday of each month at 7 p.m. in council chambers at city hall. [[In-content Ad]]
Community leaders and downtown Warsaw retailers took another step Monday toward the renewal of downtown Warsaw.
A joint meeting of Warsaw's city council and the Warsaw Community Development Corp. board, plus business owners and members of the public, set up an action plan outline to renovate downtown.
According to Warsaw Mayor Ernie Wiggins, the assistant city planner position, which has not yet been filled, will be key in coordinating efforts between the city and the WCDC. Once an assistant planner is hired, he said, a core committee will be formed to guide the project.
Monday's discussion was based on a January report commissioned by the city and done by HyettPalma, a consulting firm from Alexandria, Va. HyettPalma recommended establishing a historic district around the Kosciusko County courthouse.
A majority of those present Monday agreed with Jean Northenor, of the WCDC board, when she said preservation of historic buildings should be a priority.
"A community or person is only as good as their history," she said. "We should try to save as much as we can."
However, Wiggins said, renovating historic buildings may mean having some kind of control over what owners can and cannot do to their buildings so there is some consistency downtown.
"I think if we start down this road that's the next thing," he said.
City planner Jeff Noffsinger said that control could translate into general guidelines and color schemes, instead of specific rules and regulations. Carol Huffer, of the Builders' Association of Kosciusko and Fulton counties, also said new materials available today can keep old buildings up to standards and yet maintain the look and feel of historic buildings.
The group also discussed using matching grants and tax abatements to encourage business owners to renovate their buildings, and Northenor suggested that a committee approve of a renovation design before approving a loan or grant.
Parking in downtown Warsaw also is a concern, and Wiggins said he has asked Noffsinger and the Warsaw traffic commission to look at the parking situation and the potential for diagonal parking.
"We also need to look at parking in general and employee parking for the 1,600 people who work downtown," Noffsinger said. "We need to do a better job identifying public parking spaces and public lots."
Those present also agreed something must be done to discourage business employees and even some owners from parking in front of their retail establishments.
"I think it's unconscionable for people who work downtown to park in front of their building," Northenor said.
"Greening" up the city and bringing in more landscaping also is a concern, as is making the gateway corridor, Ind. 15N or Detroit Street, more attractive.
Wiggins sought, and received, a commitment from WCDC to work with the city council on the project.
"That's what the WCDC was born to do, the downtown," Northenor said.
The key, said Bob Sanders, of Bodkin Abstract, is getting downtown business owners to support the program. "We've got to get those people that aren't in here tonight to buy into this project."
Support also has to come from the entire city, Wiggins said. "The city and WCDC can't do this alone - it's going to take all the community."
WCDC executive officers are Carmen Lock, director; John Elliott, president; Charlie Smith, chair of revolving loan committee; Nanette DeGaetano, vice president of member care, activities and marketing; Daniel Hampton, vice president of administration and facilities; Jay Baumgartner, treasurer; Cindy Dobbins, secretary; and past president Max Courtney. The WCDC board of directors meets the third Wednesday of each month at 11 a.m. at the Chamber of Commerce in Warsaw.
City council members are City council members are Jerry Patterson, Jeff Grose, Charlie Smith, Trish Brown, George Clemens, Bill Rhoades and Joe Thallemer. The council meets the first and third Monday of each month at 7 p.m. in council chambers at city hall. [[In-content Ad]]