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Up With Downtown project
looks to attract stores to Lafayette area
By Jamie Teibel
Summer
Editor
Lafayette and the Indiana Association of Cities
and Towns are collaborating for a project called Up With Downtown. This
project, along with others in the association’s Indiana Downtown
pilot program, is supposed to "advance the quality of life and economic
progress of downtown communities statewide."
HyattPalma, a downtown enhancement consulting firm,
is working with Lafayette to "tweak and enhance" the city's downtown
area, said Sherry McGlauchlan, community development director.
"I think it's an excellent project, I'm really
excited about it," said Dennis Carson of the Urban Enterprise Association.
He is familiar with HyattPalma, calling it a "top notch firm." He is
looking forward to taking downtown to the next level, although the role
of the Association has yet to be decided. No matter what, Carson said
it would have a strong role with the project and with the city.
Carson said the association has been working with
city of Lafayette for a number of years. "Our goal is to revitalize
downtown," he said, referring to the role it can play with the project.
He said that it would contribute a number of things, including retail
attraction and retention strategies and funding.
McGlauchlan said this city-funded effort is an
enhancement strategy to focus on the trade area of downtown, which spans
from Second Street to the railroad tracks and from Alabama Street to
Ferry Street. However, said McGlauchlan, the project is broader than
just downtown Lafayette, it will encompass the entire (Greater Lafayette)
trade area.
Soon a group will be formed to perform market studies
and focus groups to find the "niche" of downtown and to find out what
people want. "We'd just like to see what else we need to offer here
to keep a strong economic base downtown," said McGlauchlan. "We've got
a lot going on."
She said the groups would find out what it takes
to get people downtown and shopping.
McGlauchlan referred to downtown Lafayette as an
"award winning downtown," but also said it still has empty storefronts.
"We need to work on these things to stay in place as well as stay ahead."
She said that the market downtown is mostly antique
and interior design stores. She is hoping for more of a growth in market,
so that more business owners will be attracted to downtown. "As downtowns
have evolved, they've become business centers instead of retail centers,"
said McGlauchlan.
She said that hopefully, with success of the focus
groups and market studies, more entertainment and dining would be the
result. "Hopefully these consultants (HyattPalma) will help us do that."
McGlauchlan said that because Purdue is the largest
employer in the county she wants its faculty, students and staff to
be involved with the project. She said that if more business come to
Lafayette, more jobs would be developed, therefore the city might be
able to retain more graduates.
Aug. 13 is the first meeting of Up With Downtown,
time and location has yet to be decided. October is when focus groups,
surveys and interviews with Lafayette community members will be carried
out. From September to January, HyattPalma will perform its market analysis
and develop an enhancement strategy for downtown. At a date later to
be announced, possibly in late December or early January, will be the
public presentation of the enhancement strategy, which will include
action agenda findings and recommendations by HyattPalma.
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