Trip To Paducah

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Amazing! I thought that we already HAD a “plan” for downtown! We’ve already spent MILLIONS of our own (and our children’s and grandchildren’s) money on it.
All council has to do is read the vaunted MASTER PLAN!
Here is a brief overview of the plan for downtown copied and pasted exactly from page 9-17 of the Master Plan. Read it and weep:

“In order to create a viable, healthy downtown, the city and its partners will take further steps to revitalize the area by encouraging the preservation and renovation of historic buildings, and ensuring that new development blends with the architecture and character of the surrounding area.”
“Future Land Use. Mixed Use Commercial is planned along Central and Verity as shown on Map 15. Retail activity should be concentrated within this defined location. Residential uses are desired on upper floors of downtown commercial buildings. “Mixed Use Residential” is planned as a transition between Commercial Mixed Use and predominately single family residential neighborhoods located adjacent to downtown. Residential and offices uses are appropriate in existing buildings. Smaller- scale retail may be appropriate if adequate parking facilities are available and if the retail activity does not detract from the neighborhood.”
“Increased residential will provide customers to downtown businesses and bring life to the downtown throughout more hours of the day. Accordingly, a wide range of housing options are appropriate in the downtown including new market-rate townhomes, lofts, work-live units, and studios. Development of work-live units, lofts, and studios should be strongly considered to attract artists to downtown Middletown. This strategy could capitalize on downtown’s existing strengths characterized by Beau Verre, Middletown Arts Center, Sorg Theater Company, downtown murals, etc.”

“Capital Improvements

Canal Greenway. Restore the canal bed to create an interpretive and interactive historic attraction. Turn the restored canal into an urban greenway that connects Smith Park to the Great Miami River through downtown. Other means of providing linkages between the downtown and river need to be explored.

Utilities. Engineering analysis performed as part of this Master Plan indicates that the downtown environs have the oldest and some cases undersized water and sanitary sewer infrastructure. As mentioned in the brownfield redevelopment strategies, the city may be called upon to improve utility services in the downtown to accommodate new growth on brownfield sties.

Bike Path. A cross-town bike path is planned to connect the Renaissance Development Opportunity Area to downtown via SR 122 and Central Avenue. Though the exact path alignment is not known, a logical routing through the downtown needs to be identified and should ultimately end at the bike path located along the river.

Streetscape. Though many positive improvements have been made, continued improvement to the downtown streetscape is needed to strengthen downtown’s sense of place and attractiveness.”
The same folks who made this “plan” are currently trying to make sure that Forest Hills and all other land surrounding their beloved South Main Street Historic District cannot be developed except with high-end mansions, and their re-zoning request is before the board even as I type this. They are also pushing for expensive town homes (not large enough for more than one or two kids, please) in exclusive developments in all open areas such as brownfields or “reclaimed” neighborhoods.
THAT is the “plan”, that has been the “plan” at least since 1998 (when I moved back to Middletown), and that will ALWAYS be the plan, even if it takes the very last dollar the common residents have to make it happen…or until we clean out city hall and re-populate it with people who have the entire city’s best interests at heart.