BEDFORD — Bedford City Council members Byron Buker, Mark Scherschel, Judy Carlisle, Michele Murphy, Adele Bowden-Purlee, Pat Robbins and Julie Johnson-Hewetson were treated to a brief trip down Memory Lane Tuesday during their monthly council meeting.
Representatives from Bernardin, Lochmueller & Associates recapped the methodical path city leaders have taken in developing a comprehensive plan for downtown renovation. Mayor Shawna Girgis explained many of the ideas emerging from public forums are included in the Stellar Communities grant proposal the city submitted in hopes of landing a multi-million dollar award.
Bedford is among six finalists for the Stellar and is in the process of fine-tuning its blueprint and gathering both vocal and financial support for the project.
Matt Schriefer recalled community and business leaders first meeting with consultants on Dec. 19, 2011 at Otis Park Bath House to learn about the planning process. Two workshops, one each in January and February of 2012, welcomed citizens to brainstorm ideas for downtown enhancement and then prioritize them.
Community and business leaders gathered Feb. 17, 2012 to contemplate goals and objectives. Then, on April 4, 2012, they reconvened to consider alternatives and establish priorities.
The group reassembled on Aug. 10, 2012 to finalize the plan and begin implementation.
The revitalization plan consists of 10 basic projects:
1. To provide incentives to grow downtown business. These may include a business incubator and free WIFI.
2. Renovation of the courthouse square.
3. Multi-use trails and sidewalks.
4. Streetscape improvements.
5. Downtown parking.
6. Upgrades to Harp Commons.
7. Relocation of the Milwaukee Depot.
8. Development of a multi-purpose facility. Girgis explained a renovated JC Penney could serve this purpose.
9. Public art displays.
10. Theme and branding.
Schriefer said a final version of the plan will be submitted to the council for adoption on May 14.
Girgis said she was excited about the ideas and enthusiasm that emerged from the planning workshops.
“As you know we applied for a Stellar Grant two years ago and were named a finalist but were not chosen as a Stellar community,” she explained. “We didn’t make finalist the second year, but we are a finalist this year.
“We decided to hone in on our downtown plan. Really, every project in the Stellar you can see reflected in the Bernardin plan. The ideas in our Stellar proposal came from input from public workshops. I’m proud of that, because these are the things our community identified as the things we need.”
She noted the city is partnering with groups such as Radius, West Gate, Ivy Tech and others to upgrade education and workforce development.
“We’d like to expand our impact not just in Bedford, but throughout the region,” she said. “We want to present an inviting downtown, where people want to be. We want Bedford to be a place people come to live, not just work and leave.
“This is where I want to be, and I want other people to feel the same.”
Purlee thanked Girgis and Marla Jones, assistant director of the Lawrence County Economic Growth Council, for their tireless work in crafting the Stellar proposal.
“I’ve watched this on a daily basis,” she said. “These gals were in there on Sunday and they’ve worked nights and weekends. I think their work has brought the entire community together.”
Stellar action
The council accepted the $10,000 the city received for earning finalist status for Stellar. It also OK’d committing $100,000 from the city’s Economic Development Fund to Hoosier Uplands for the purpose of constructing the Stonecutters Place Senior Living apartments at the site of the old Carriage House Furniture Store on 16th Street.