EDITORIAL: Resetting Grand Island’s downtown goals and priorities

 A new slate of downtown leaders, business operators and property owners has been selected to serve on Downtown Improvement District 8 (BID 8) board. 

In the coming weeks Bruce Eberle, Matt Armstrong, Craig Hand, Mark Stelk, Barbara Clinch, Dee Johnson, Tom Ziller, Mark Tracy, Kurt Haecker and K.C. Hehnke will take on the important challenge of setting a long range plan for Downtown and prioritizing the projects that can be managed on a limited budget.  

The City Council recently approved the new boundaries of the BID 8 which will now encompass the Hall County Courthouse, YMCA and other non-profit, governmental and commercial properties not counted in the old district.

The new board has already determined that to get the most mileage out of the $80,000 or so in available funding, a change of direction must be taken to reign in the number of projects and promotional events undertaken over the past few years and instead concentrate attention on beautification and sensible, economically achievable goals to improve downtown.

Beautification goals include preserving the amenities that already exist downtown such as historic architecture, benches, walkways, art, trash receptacles, walkways, the gazebo park, trees and other greenery, but also add to those esthetics over the next 5 years.

Simple strategies such as better signage would help visitors find their way to the rich diversity that downtown has to offer.  One such suggestion would include identifying I-80 exit 314 as the route to "Downtown Grand Island."  Certainly, Downtown stands to gain attention along with the rest of the community once the new State Fair opens for business.

Another continued goal is to create more upper level housing to draw more permanent residents into the core of the city which will improve pedestrian traffic, a vitally important aspect of a healthy downtown.

The Lied Main Street program has provided a great resource for planning and a structure to manage historic preservation. The recently dedicated facade renovation if the Kauffman Building is an example of the reinvestment being made in Downtown Grand Island's historic assets.  

We applaud the efforts and dedication of the new BID board and look forward to positive improvements to come to the "heart" of the city.