: Warrensburg, Mo. News
City Council, Main Street agree to pursue community development grant
Mar 26, 2008, 07:47
Andrea Bartlow
WARRENSBURG, Mo. -- The city of Warrensburg and Main Street Inc. will apply for a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) worth $500,000 to finance the third phase of the revitalization project along Pine Street at the beginning of April.
Following Monday's public hearing, Barbara Carroll, community development assistant manager, explained the design concept for the third phase of the Pine Street project includes narrowing the sidewalks to an even eight feet in width, to allow vehicles more room to maneuver.
Carroll and Jessica Thomas, executive director for Main Street, said the grant’s application deadline is April 1 and will cover renovations of the sidewalks, the sewage drains, signage, trees on the sidewalks and better lighting. The grant, however, would require the city to come up with the first $100,000 and to get business owners in the area of the project to commit to match the grant amount through renovations to their properties.
Carroll said $50,000 will come from available cash in the water pollution control fund, while in-kind services and existing available funds will cover the other $50,000.
She said five business owners have verbally committed to renovations totaling the bulk of the grant amount, but she did not wish to divulge their identities until written contracts are completed.
Some controversy ensued concerning available parking along Pine St. and how the revitalization project will affect the current 85 parking spots. Carroll and Thomas said only five or less spots would be lost, although the final number could not be agreed upon. Charlie Rutt, council member, asked how fluid the funds available for the project were, in case business owners backed out on their commitments or should the grant not cover the entire cost of the renovations.
“The city does not have contingency funds in place for such a scenario,” Carroll said. “But we expect the number of business owners committing to matching the grant with their own renovations to grow.”
John Mallory, owner of Johnny’s Pour House on Holden Street, said business owners in the downtown area periodically spend on their own renovations, so support for the grant should be easy to come by.
“There are lots of people downtown willing to make improvements. I think business owners just don’t want to put the city on the hook,” Mallory said. “There’s plenty to put $400,000 together; I know it sounds like a scary number, but it really isn’t.”
Chairman Pro Tem Donna DeFrain expressed concern on whether narrower sidewalks would have an adverse effect for patrons. Police Chief Bruce Howey said it was possible people waiting outside clubs and other businesses may be “scrunched” in the sidewalk’s space, but added it did not represent a major problem.
Following Monday's public hearing, Barbara Carroll, community development assistant manager, explained the design concept for the third phase of the Pine Street project includes narrowing the sidewalks to an even eight feet in width, to allow vehicles more room to maneuver.
Carroll and Jessica Thomas, executive director for Main Street, said the grant’s application deadline is April 1 and will cover renovations of the sidewalks, the sewage drains, signage, trees on the sidewalks and better lighting. The grant, however, would require the city to come up with the first $100,000 and to get business owners in the area of the project to commit to match the grant amount through renovations to their properties.
Carroll said $50,000 will come from available cash in the water pollution control fund, while in-kind services and existing available funds will cover the other $50,000.
She said five business owners have verbally committed to renovations totaling the bulk of the grant amount, but she did not wish to divulge their identities until written contracts are completed.
Some controversy ensued concerning available parking along Pine St. and how the revitalization project will affect the current 85 parking spots. Carroll and Thomas said only five or less spots would be lost, although the final number could not be agreed upon. Charlie Rutt, council member, asked how fluid the funds available for the project were, in case business owners backed out on their commitments or should the grant not cover the entire cost of the renovations.
“The city does not have contingency funds in place for such a scenario,” Carroll said. “But we expect the number of business owners committing to matching the grant with their own renovations to grow.”
John Mallory, owner of Johnny’s Pour House on Holden Street, said business owners in the downtown area periodically spend on their own renovations, so support for the grant should be easy to come by.
“There are lots of people downtown willing to make improvements. I think business owners just don’t want to put the city on the hook,” Mallory said. “There’s plenty to put $400,000 together; I know it sounds like a scary number, but it really isn’t.”
Chairman Pro Tem Donna DeFrain expressed concern on whether narrower sidewalks would have an adverse effect for patrons. Police Chief Bruce Howey said it was possible people waiting outside clubs and other businesses may be “scrunched” in the sidewalk’s space, but added it did not represent a major problem.
