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Cities look to revitalize downtowns

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By LISA NICELY

nicely@crescent-news.com

Revitalize: to bring vitality, vigor, piazza or excitement back.

That's just what three cities in the region are hoping to do with revitalization projects. Defiance, Napoleon and Bryan all have downtown revitalization projects in the works, not only to attract more people downtown, but to preserve some history as well.

In Defiance, the Defiance Development and Visitors Bureau (DDVB) and the city has filed for a community development block grant for $400,000. The grant would be for the first phase of the revitalization, which runs north-south from the Maumee River to Third Street and east-west from Wayne Avenue to Perry Street. If approved, funds will be available in 2008. That means in 2009, the phase two area which includes the rest of downtown can apply for funds.

The DDVB will know in December if the grant was approved. If approved, business owners much provide a one-to-one match for CDBG funds for building improvements.

"We're definitely geared to maintain our history and build on that history," said Rita Kissner, DDVB director of downtown development. "We're looking at using the river, which brings back a lot of our history from Indian settlements throughout the years, and the history of the canal which runs behind some of the buildings downtown. We will be building on that to make a small town experience and atmosphere."

Kissner said a lot of business and building owners are excited in the revitalization project.

"We have a lot of enthusiasm going," she said. "I think we need physical improvements so people can say 'yes there will be a difference in downtown.' "

Kissner said the DDVB worked with a nonprofit group out of Columbus to take pictures of the current downtown buildings and then digitally work with them to bring back some of the building's original facade.

"The comments we get from the pictures are 'wow, what a little bit of paint can do., It's not full new construction, but highlighting the beautiful buildings we already have," she said.

Because the city received two downtown grants in the 1980s and 1990s, the DDVB really didn't consult with other communities doing revitalization projects. However, it did work closely with Maumee Valley Planning Organization throughout the process.

"Everything we did is based on what we already have known from the past," said Kissner.

The past is also important for Napoleon. In fact he mission statement of the Rediscover Napoleon's marketing committee is "To make the public, local and outside our area, more aware of Napoleon and the opportunities it has to offer. Using our past and present to secure our future."

"It's interesting," said Lee Schroeder, group facilitator for Rediscover Napoleon and director of the Henry County Community Improvement Corp. (CIC) about the revitalization efforts. "It's a positive look to the future. In essence that's what the community is looking for, to create an environment positive to business and bringing folks downtown."

A multi-facet approach is going on to revitalization efforts in Napoleon. The chamber of commerce has placed large planters downtown and installed banners talking about historic downtown. It has also been actively creating a database of downtown buildings available for businesses to use.

There is also two nonprofit groups working on revitalization efforts. These are Rediscover Napoleon -- Why Not? which hosted outdoor movie nights and arts fair to bring people to the downtown area. Rediscover Napoleon Inc. has been focusing on attracting businesses to the downtown area.

"There are a lot of different groups involved in a lot of different levels, and each is coming at it in a way," said Schroeder. "As a general rule, the community is finding their niche and working to make sure the downtown is as viable as it can possibly be."

The city of Napoleon has received a $15,000 matching grant from the state to be used for a comprehensive downtown revitalization plan. Poggemeyer design Group and the CIC will help design the improvement plan, that can be used later to apply for a CDBG grant.

Schroeder said individuals working toward revitalization efforts have looked at other towns with revitalization efforts.

"Some have done some networking, gone to other communities to get ideas," he said. "There have been individuals efforts that brought forth new ideas."

In Bryan, the city and Downtown Bryan Inc. have been working on two separate projects to help revitalize the downtown area.

The city recently received $688,103 for the second phase of its Courthouse Square project. The streetscape project is along Main, High, Lynn and Butler streets and includes decorative sidewalks, lighting, planters, signs and more. The total cost of the project is around $850,000.

"It's to make it more pedestrian friendly in the downtown area," said Brian Wieland of the Bryan City engineering department. "It's replacing old, dilapidated sidewalks to give downtown a new fresh look and enhance pedestrian safety."

The earliest the project can start is July 2009.

Downtown Bryan Inc. is also working with the city to get a Tier II grant to help business owners with structural items such as improvements to plumbing, heating, air condition systems, handicapped assessable ramps, windows doors and other items.

"It cannot cover interior decor improvements," said Mandy Hanna of Downtown Bryan Inc. "It's nothing cosmetic other than outer facade. We want to beautify the downtown and make it a better place."

Notification of those who received Tier II grants will be given in December. The group will help implement the grant if the village receives it. If approved, business owners much provide a one-to-one match for funds.

"These buildings were built in 1880s. The brick needs work on a lot of buildings," said Hanna, adding a lot of business owners are excited about the grant. "They know their buildings are deteriorating and they want to save them. When we talked to the business and building owners, we told them to dream of all the things they wanted to do to their building and then think of projects you could afford if you only had to pay half the cost. This is a great way to get a project going. It's also a great way to get the town motivated."

Hanna noted that the plan is to maintain the historical aspects of the downtown buildings. Grant funding will not be given to business owners until projects pass an inspection stating the project will maintain historic aspect of the building.

"If we could make the downtown a more beautiful place and a place where people want to do and sit on courthouse lawn and eat lunch and enjoy being around them," said Hanna. "That's a start. It's the core of the city and grow it outward to revitalize the whole town."