Greek’s Pizzeria is up and running, buildings are being demolished for the new Nickel Plate Flats apartment complex, facade improvement projects and gas line upgrades abound in downtown Frankfort, all signs that the city’s investment in a Downtown Revitalization Study could be brought to fruition.
Although most of the projects underway have been initiated due to the establishment of the city’s Tax Increment Financing district, which has provided matching funds for most of the project, the Revitalization Study provides a more comprehensive road map for what the city might target next for development.
At Monday’s night’s City Council meeting, Mayor Chris McBarnes presented the council members with a site plan of the proposed Prairie Creek Park, an outdoor park along East Washington Street at the location of the demolished Dorner building and the lot owned by the Utility Service Board that once held the Water Works billing office.
Main Street Frankfort Director Kim Stevens came to the podium to represent Main Street’s support of the idea. According to Stevens, conversations with downtown business owners and Frankfort residents indicate that the project is something that would really downtown and the community as a whole.
Also, Stevens noted that the Main Street’s signature event, the Hot Dog Festival, has expanded to increasingly utilize that area of East Washington Street and that having the development would be to the festival’s advantage.
McBarnes said he believed the project, with the use of TIF monies from the Frankfort Redevelopment Commission and a public-private partnership, would be financially feasible. He also cited the project as a good complement to Nickel Plate Flats because it would add to the “quality of place.”
No estimates for the project were provided at the meeting, and McBarnes said Wednesday that planners are still fine-tuning the project so an approxminate cost is elusive at this time.
Part of the plan involves restoring the city parking garage to make it safe so that its lower level could be used to house public restrooms and retail space, said McBarnes.
“We are doing a bit more research on what it will take to rehabilitate the current city parking garage,” he added. “Once this is complete, we have a better idea of a project cost estimate.”
The plan would convert the area into a family-oriented event setting, complete with a spray/splash pad for kids, a treehouse, play area and climbing wall, an event lawn and screen wall, a pavilion with cafe seating, retail space and a bridge spanning Prairie Creek.
McBarnes also asked council member Joe Palmer to provide his opinion of the project since Palmer’s district includes downtown and he also serves as president of Frankfort Main Street and sits on the Redevelopment Commission.
“It being in my area, I’m really looking forward to it, if we can get it,” he said.
McBarnes said conversations with Frankfort native and nationally known musician Kyle Cook indicated Cook was in favor of the project. “He is fully supportive of helping with fundraising,” said McBarnes.
Council member Wanda Mitchell suggested making banners with the renderings and posting them at the site during the Hot Dog Festival to generate excitement for the project.