Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Imagine downtown Warsaw as a vibrant mix of specialty shops and businesses with an arts and culture center frequented by people who both work and live there.
That's what current residents said they would like to see and experience within the next five years.
Gathered Tuesday to discuss the future of the downtown area, citizens presented their ideas during a town meeting sponsored by the city and hosted by consultants Doyle Hyett and Doloris Palma of HyettPalma Inc., Virginia.
The meeting followed a day of more formal interviews that culminated in a report to city council members.
The Virginia-based consultants were contracted earlier this year by the city to provide a blueprint for success in the downtown area.
During the city council meeting, Hyett said he and Palma will provide a workable template to rejuvenate the area, but leaders would have to emerge and drive the program to completion.
"We'll set a policy for you," Hyett said, "and you'll have to apply your own conventional wisdom, control your own destiny instead of letting it be controlled."
Hyett praised the people who presented their ideas. "You have a lot of really bright people who get out and see what others are doing."
He advised the council members to pay attention to their constituents because they made a lot of good points.
During the town meeting the group of about 60 residents were asked how they would like the downtown to look by 2007.
Answers included: the streets and buildings having a unified theme with apartments above the shops; plaques describing each building's history; extensive landscaping and canopies; lots of restaurants and places for the community to gather after working hours.
The parking situation was criticized because of the parallel spaces and number of spaces available. Construction of a parking garage was suggested as one solution.
Residents advised directional signs for attractions be installed and that a focused effort be made to rehabilitate the buildings.
Hyett told the council members it would be nearly impossible to attract a retail store downtown.
"You will not have any 'big box' stores down here," he said. "It's not that you don't want them, they don't want you."
The HyettPalma report will be presented early next year, Hyett said.
The company's fee for the five-year market-driven summary is $30,150. The Indiana Association of Cities and Towns paid half of the fee, with the city of Warsaw paying the other half.
