A vibrant downtown is an integral part of any thriving community. Our downtown has been mired in a slump and needs to be re-envisioned by the community and regional partners.
The proposed business improvement district is a great start (a public hearing is scheduled for 7/22). As has been noted by the group that’s spearheaded it, successful downtowns across the country have implemented these districts. This would provide additional resources to assist with maintenance and caretaking. But this is a first step and more needs to be done.
As Mayor Kleis has noted, adding housing units to the downtown and adjacent areas is a key ingredient for success. For downtown businesses to thrive and grow, they need customers. With more limited housing options available near downtown, it requires people to travel downtown. If folks live near downtown, they can access services, visit coffee shops and restaurants, and attend events at places like Lake George, River’s Edge Convention Center, and the Paramount.
It will also be important to create better connections with the St. Cloud Hospital, St. Cloud State, and the East End of downtown that allow people to walk/bike much easier and safer through these corridors.
Finally, I think we need to think big about creating a vibrant downtown. While I don’t support ideas like a new baseball stadium, I respect where the thought is coming from. I envision much of downtown being an entertainment destination. I would be in favor of exploring new standards and guidelines for downtown to encourage investment in properties by either existing property owners or new ones. I will work with downtown stakeholders to develop a big idea and how all this could be funded – likely with state bonding dollars.
*A Note on Parking* Perhaps the most talked about issue regarding downtown is concerns with paid parking. While I’m not in favor of free parking 24/7, I am generally in favor of free parking after 5pm and free on Sundays.