“Now that the Main Street Enhancement construction project is about to commence, we need to pull together to enhance the attraction of doing business, shopping, dining, being entertained, going to church and seeing places of interest,” said Gautam Daswani, president of Downtown Revitalization Inc. (DRI). DRI will roll out its proposed Working Plan for enhancing business Downtown and obtaining community feedback and buy-in at a community forum at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 7, at the Memorial Moravian Church on Norre Gade.
“The Working Group of DRI has had multiple conversations and received input of all kinds on what is needed to revive our Downtown from a crisis state,” said David Bornn, chairman of the Working Group. “Those conversations have led the Working Group to develop a proposed Working Plan that encompasses five key premises:
o Providing safe environment for doing business, residing, being entertained and dining, shopping and doing things of interest
o Creating a variety of business and shopping experiences and utilizing flexible “open for business” times
o Cost and placement of effective transportation and parking options
o Consistent offering of variety of entertainment, dining, things to do and places to visit
o Encouragement to new businesses (large and small), property owners and residential life.
And in so doing, we create a 24/7 Island Experience Zone,” said Bornn.
So what will you learn about at the fast-moving, information filled forum?
• How a private security system can supplement public law enforcement officers to create a safe but friendly commercial and residential zone.
• What new Business/Tenant/Resident opportunities exist and what financing or tax incentive opportunities and business advisory services are available to support them.
• How physical enhancement of appearance of out Downtown can enable residents to benefit from film production.
• How Downtown historic churches/synagogue and schools are as much in need of help as our traditional businesses.
• What are the upcoming events for Downtown and how can we keep such events going?
• Chicken and egg…what drives people to want to come Downtown: Parking? Variety of shopping and business offerings? Grocery store? Wi Fi throughout the town? Food Truck Fetes? Tech-compatible creative office space? Cool places to live?
• What are our neighborhood successes?
Why do we need you to attend and participate?
o Success can only be achieved by everyone and every community organization and church/synagogue/house of worship taking a part of the effort
o Using the information provided, identify how you can personally benefit from the Working Plan changes.
o Sign up for approval of the Working Plan
o Sign up to be part of a committee implementing the Working Plan
The Working Plan applies to more than Main Street…it includes: Garden Street, Up Street, Savan and Downstreet as areas that can all come together to enhance the Downtown experience.
You can have the opportunity to soak up a basketfull of information and share your thoughts about community initiatives that may not be obvious.
Come out on Saturday, November 7th from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. to the air-conditioned Memorial Moravian Church, 17 Norre Gade. Ft. Christian Parking Lot is free on weekends; coffee, tea and goodies from My Brother’s Workshop Café will be available for sale.
For more information contact: David Bornn, chairman Working Group, at 774-2501 or
www.downtownrevitalizationinc.com
