Star-Herald Downtown Revitalization 2013

Inside Page 2 - History Page 3 - Partners Page 4 & 5 - Renovations Page 6 - CDBG Projects Page 7 - Greener Nebraska Page 8 - Gering

SCOTTSBLUFF DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION TASK FORCE HISTORY

• A downtown business district study concluded that 72% of the downtown buildings were blighted and substandard.

At that time 20% of the buildings in downtown were vacant.

Consequently, the Downtown Revitalization Task Force was established in December 2009 at a Chamber Board Meeting.

• Volunteers utilized data from past economic development initiatives, garnered citizen involvement and leveraged financial support to strategically plan and implement improvements.

• After researching other communities (Gothenburg, Hastings, Sidney, Grand Island, Norfolk, Rapid City) that had addressed vitality issues, a in-depth on-line survey was launched between March 16 and April 1, 2010. The survey was reviewed by marketing research experts of the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and was linked to websites of KNEB, The Star-Herald, and KOTA TV and through members of the Scottsbluff/Gering Chamber and Twin Cities Development and students of Western Nebraska Community College.

• 829 responded to the survey. The philosophy underlying the analysis, interpretation and future strategies to address the survey data was to create a customer-friendly downtown environment in which the retention and expansion of business opportunities is fully leveraged, embraced and supported. Priorities in direction and allocation of resources were articulated and a commitment from leaders in the business community and key government officials were vital to the task force.

• In June 2010, the City of Scottsbluff was awarded a $30,000 planning grant to support the development efforts of the Downtown Task Force. Twin Cities Development wrote the grant, which paved the way for an additional $350,000 implement grant.

• September 28, 2010 an executive summary of the survey was presented to the public and input was solicited for the next steps.

• Four areas were chosen to address: Foremost – grants to property owners and businesses for renovation – renderings were supplied to property owners to showcase possibilities, Farmers Market /mini park area (gathering area), downtown restroom, and user friendly parking lot signage.

• May 24, 2011 – businesses were invited to review grant applications and review guidelines and see business renderings.

• May 2011 – June 2013 – 45 businesses invested a total of $653,064 (grants & private). Total project was $924,541.

TWO

DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION PARTNERS TASK FORCE

Howard Olsen, Co-Chair Simmons Olsen Law Firm Jim Holland, Co-Chair Star-Herald

Judy Amoo

Western Nebraska Community College

Karen Anderson

Scottsbluff/Gering United Chamber

Brenda Darnell - Aurora Financial Annie Folck - City of Scottsbluff Rawnda Pierce - Twin Cities Development Irv Rushall

Overland Storage (In Memorium)

Amy Sieler - Nebraska Forestry Harlan Trupp - Connecting Point Susan Wiedeman - Panhandle Coop

ORGANIZATIONS • Broadway Advisory Board • Business & Improvement District

- City of Scottsbluff • City of Scottsbluff • Downtown Scottsbluff Association • Farmers Market • Greener Nebraska Initiative • KNEB AM/FM • KOTA • Midwest Theaters • Nebraska Forestry Service • Nebraska Statewide Arboreteum • Next Young Professionals • Oregon Trail Community Foundation • Scottsbluff/Gering United Chamber • Star-Herald • Twin Cities Development • USDA • Valley Visions • Western Nebraska Community College

STUDIES & WORKSHOPS THAT WERE UTILIZED • Marty Shukert Urban Design Study • Marty Shukert Unified Directional Signage Study • Roger Brooks Workshop Destination Development

June 24, 2011 • Downtown Master Plan City of Scottsbluff • Scott Day - Urban Development Services -Business Renderings: Baker & Associates Creative Signs by Cozad

THREE

Downtown Scottsbluff Business Renovations Advancing Technology

Advertising Specialties Inc. 12-24 W 17th Street

1914 Broadway

Angela’s Bridal & Boutique

Artistry Salon

1612 Broadway

1801 First Avenue

Bianco & Co.

Book Nook

Brad Childs Financial

1811 Broadway

1625 Broadway

1723 Avenue A

1713 Broadway

Cirrus House

Compliments

Connecting Point

1708 Broadway

1912 Broadway

Chiakos Building

A Bridal Affair

Footnote: Stained Glass windows were replaced and few days later vandals shot out the windows.

1402 Broadway Copier Connection

1509 First Avenue The Dance Company

Doggie Do’s

1501 Broadway

Emporium

1916 Broadway

10 West 18th Street

Scottsbluff Public School District Offices

Hairbender

Hight’s Tavern

Hope Center

1722 1st Avenue

1513 Broadway

10 West 18th Street

1927 Avenue A

FOUR

1818 First Avenue

Independent Plumbing

In Stitches

JoAnn Fabrics

KOTA

1921 Broadway

12-24 West 17th Street

1704 Broadway

1523 First Avenue

Marie’s Embroidery

McCaslin Consulting

Midwest Theater

Mike’s Husker Stuff

1710 Broadway

1524 Broadway

1707 Broadway

1607 Broadway

Now Playing Piano

Panhandle Mental Health

Runza Resturant

Principal Financial Group 1818 Broadway

1823 Broadway

1814 Broadway

18 W 16th Street

Salon West

Sam & Louie’s Pizza

Sports Racquet

Studio Sixteen

1611 Broadway

1522 Broadway

1711 Broadway

9 East 16th Street

Tallmon’s Jewelry

Treasure Chest

Twin Cities Development

Villanous Toys & Games

1701 Broadway

11 East 17th Street

1620 Broadway

1910 Broadway

Rick Wayman Building

Western Trail Sports Post

Wow

1818 Broadway

1802 Broadway

1515 Broadway

Business Renovation Grants were available to businesses on a matching basis up to $10,000 dollars.

FIVE

REVITALIZATION PROJECTS For years, Nebraskans statewide have great-

ly benefitted from funding received through Nebraska’s Community Development Block Grant program (CDBG).

The Primary objective of the CDBG Program is to develop viable communities by providing the various programs, principally to persons of low and moderate income. Program funds for Safe, affordable, accessible housing; updated infrastructure (from sewer, water and street improvements to new or renovated senior or day care centers, new tourism facilities, improved downtowns, etc) and expanded economic opportunities.

The downtown revitalization program is a statewide competitive application program through the Nebraska Dept.

Of Economic Development and utilizes the CDBG funds.

The City of Scottsbluff was awarded a $30,000 Phase I planning grant and a $350,000 Phase II Implementation grant to help revitalize the downtown area.

The grant was written and administered by Twin Cities Development on behalf of the City of Scottsbluff. The project was a partnership between the City of Scottsbluff, Twin Cities Development, Scottsbluff/Gering Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Revitalization Task Force.

• New Parking Lot Signs (24)

• Farmers Market Banners Designed by Infinite Graphics.

Community Development Block Grant Recap Downtown Renovations: Renderings for all businesses.........................$ 3,300.00 Renovations - up to $10K............................$ 264,340.97 Business match/investment.......................$ 654,835.00 Farmers Market Banners ..........................$ 2,390.38 Mini-Park Canopies (14 units)....................$ 46,000.00 Downtown Bathroom...................................$ 8,610.31 Parking lot signs.................................................. $5,500 Downtown Directory Signage...............................$3,158 • Projects complementing revitalization efforts (not CDBG grant) *Greener Nebraska Initiative Grant – Landscaping-Parking lot across from WNAC

• Mini-Park Canopies

B & C Steel and Creative Signs by Cozad designed and constructed the canopies.

• Downtown Bathroom -

Located at Twin Cities Development to be used during events.

• Downtown Directory/Signage To be installed in Spring of 2014.

The project total was $41,220 that included $12,000 from the Greener Nebraska Towns grant, $8,000 in concrete from the BID Board, $5,000 from Oregon Trail Foundation, Labor and Equipment in kind from the City of Scottsbluff. Volunteer hours.

The Sculpture was $750 from Memorial Funds from a Dorothy Bronson Singer Reunion held in 2002.

Parking lot Avenue A & 18 $9,586 Broadway & Overland Dr. Intersection $ 20,729.18 New signage-Broadway & Overland Drive Intersection $9951.00 Rain Garden by Safety Building $700 Pigeon Projects – USDA $5,000 Businesses & individuals donated Nebraska Environmental Trust

SIX

Broadway Resurfacing Project - City of Scottsbluff The first phase of Broadway was completed this summer. The project included replacing all of the old curb and gutter with all new Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessible improvements on both sides of the street from 14th street through 20th street. The project included milling 2 inches of asphalt off the existing surface and skim patching Nathan Johnson rough areas before Broadway was overlaid with new asphalt. As the Assistant City Manager new asphalt was laid on Broadway we reduced the lanes from 2 lanes each way to one lane each way, including a center turn lane and paint striping median, while lowering the speed limit to 20mph. The signal lights other than 20th street were removed. We had pavement markings, including parking spots, ground into the surface allowing the lifecycle of the markings to last longer than paint. City staff eliminated about 36 no parking signs to allow additional on street parking downtown.

At the completion of the installation of pavement markings we installed yield to pedestrian signs in the crosswalks to make it more pedestrian friendly. Throughout the duration of the

project City staff reworked cables and wiring for the holiday lights that go across the streets in the corridor.

After the initial phase of revitalizing Broadway and Downtown Scottsbluff, the Broadway advisory group, the general public, outside consultants and City staff will look into additional ways to improve the Downtown corridor. Some of the enhancements that will be considered in the near future will include traffic mitigation, landscaping, aesthetics and sustainability components among others. The City of Scottsbluff will be looking into the feasibility of hiring an outside consultant(s) to develop a streetscape master plan for the Downtown business district. If it is determined that an outside consultant(s) is appropriate in moving forward with the revitalization efforts, there will be time for public input on the necessary enhancements needed for Broadway and the Downtown Business District to be a safe, vibrant, walkable and aesthetically pleasing destination point.

The paving project was funded 80% Federal-State highway allocation funds and 20% City funds. The 20% City funding was paid out of the Transportation fund with bond money.

The letting date was 10/04/2012, Award date was 10/29/2012 and a construction contract of 55 working days.

Projects • Rain Garden North of Safety Building • Overland & Broadway • 18th & Avenue A • Lied Scottsbluff Library • Parking lot near West Nebraska Arts Center

SEVEN

GERING DOWTOWN REVITALIZATION Steering Committee Amy Doll, Co-Chair Valley Bank Brad Staman, Co-Chair Daily Grind Coffee Shop Lisa Betz - Prairie Arts Studio Ben Dishman - Fresh Foods Kay Grote – Gering Citizen Rick Keller - Meat Shoppe Karla-Niedan-Streeks – Gering CVB/Gering Civic Center Bill Schlaepfer - Benjamin Franklin Plumbing Darlene Tagler, Prairie Pines Quilt Shop Connie Wiedeman, Wiedeman Financial Services Resources: Karen Anderson - S/G United Chamber Lane Danielzuk - City of Gering Rawnda Pierce - Twin Cities Development Edwin Mayo - Mayor of Gering Paul Snarr - City of Gering Consultants, Andrew Dane & David Milder collect data as part of Phase 1 visit.

Jeff Pedersen, Director of Architecture EIGHT

Public Workshop

History/Timeline

· Began process in 2010. Blighting and zoning needed to be updated for the City of Gering This was completed the end of 2011. · March 2012 – Twin Cities Development (TCD) submits a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) - Not funded · October 2012 – TCD submits a CDBG grant – not funded (each submission requires several public hearings, surveys, committee meetings) · March 2013 - TCD submits a CDBG grant – received notice June 2012 that City of Gering was awarded a $30,000 Planning Grant for downtown revitalization · June 18, 2013 – On Site visit by Nebraska Dept. of Economic Development · September 16, 2013 – Request for Proposals are due from potential developers · October 4, 2013 – interviews with developers · November sign contract with Short Elliott Henderickson (SEH) consultants · December 19, 2013 – Committe met with SEH and his team- Andrew Dane and David Milder · January 15-17, 2014 – SEH on-site visit & public workshop, followed by a presentation to property and business owners · SEH & Developers to return first week in February · February 10, 2014 – City of Gering presentation of the completed plan · March 28, 2014 II Implementation CDBG due ($350,000 grant)

Bob Kost, Landscape Architect