August 6, 2014
Members of the Downtown Revitalization Committee met Wednesday evening. Mayor Mark Senter asked members for, “new downtown ideas.”
Member Brent Martin sent out 16 to 18 ideas to board members but only Mark Gidley responded to any of them. Martin proposed a private development residential project on Water Street along with the sketch of a project for the south gateway area including the Deon property.
Mayor Senter noted that they have appraisals for the Deon property and hope to negotiate with them for a future building site
Gidley said creating incentives for developers to spend would be beneficial. He asked for a map of city owned lots in the downtown area. Gidley said improvements to parking lots, sidewalks, and extending corners to make downtown more walk-able are good ideas but he felt putting more property back on the tax rolls would appeal to the citizens.
Martin asked about tying in the Metronet with an incubator project for start-up companies in the downtown area.
Member Dan Tyree also felt getting some properties back on the tax rolls would help the committee with other projects. He too asked for a map of city lots and suggested looking at incentives and abatements for residential development. Tyree also felt a nice restaurant in the downtown would be beneficial to the entire community with people taking a walk after dinner or walking while waiting for seating.
The committee talked about downtown Valparaiso and their success for bringing economic development. Tyree also mention the request for downtown upscale renovated housing on the upper floors.
At the end of the meeting committee member Brent Martin tendered his resignation. Martin said he is merging his business with a company in Warsaw and will be relocating it there. Although he will still live in Plymouth he will be spending much more of him time in Warsaw and didn’t think he would have the time to devote to the Mayor’s committee.
Mark Gidley said, “Every town needs a dreamer and we are losing a dreamer with Martin’s move.” He continued, “Sometimes people think Brent dreams too big but I’d rather have some who dreams even if we fall short of the expectations.”