Montrose Introduces Multi-Million Dollar Plan for Downtown
by
Cori Coffin
Story Created:
Feb 21, 2012 at 1:34 AM MDT
Story Updated:
Feb 21, 2012 at 1:38 AM MDT
MONTROSE - Yep, Montrose is open for business.
“Downtown is an attractive, vibrant place, where people converge, businesses thrive and values rise,” said Scott Shine, Executive Director of Montrose’s Downtown Development Authority.
He was reciting the Montrose DDA’s “Vision Statement” in their multi-million dollar plan to revitalize the Western Slope community.
“Downtown was starting to fall apart a little bit,” said Shine.
Focusing on business environment, design, marketing and organization, the DDA hopes to transform this area for shop owners like Debbie Tenaglia, who spent a year searching for the right city to build her business in.
“You can see that people are working on making it better,” said Tenaglia.
One way to do that, is by “changing the design of Main Street,” added Shine.
The DDA envisions wider sidewalks for the community, narrower roads to reduce traffic speeds, a better parking layout for shoppers and a lit walking trail between downtown and the Uncompahgre River.
The organization will also help build up surrounding areas that have potential.
“We want to come along side those property owners and help them do something with that property,” said Shine.
With special financing incentives for businesses, the DDA says their plan gives investors the confidence to keep Montrose moving forward.
“They see what Montrose was in the past on the Main Street and they believe it can be again in the future,” added Tenaglia.
The DDA said they don’t have an exact number on cost of the plan yet, but estimated it will be in the multiple millions of dollars and take multiple years to complete. To fun this project, the organization has several options, including a “tax increment financing program” which would use existing taxes raised from downtown commerce.
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great said on Thursday, Feb 23 at 2:21 PM
Great article Cori, I love you.
No Sense said on Tuesday, Feb 21 at 9:06 PM
Let's see: Narrower streets, no bypass to the south, higher taxes, more city control and even less parking. Sounds like an irrestible place to invest.
guest said on Tuesday, Feb 21 at 10:42 AM
more waste of tax payer money. they had to move the dispatch from the west end cause they couldnt afford it . but can afford millions for beautification????????? poor judgement of priorities
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