Shop downtown during construction
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Change is a good thing. And the changes being made to Polson’s Main Street are a very good thing — not only for downtown, but for the entire community.
As Main Street undergoes a major improvement project, please remember to support downtown businesses by continuing to shop in their stores.
While Main Street is closed for construction, many businesses have rolled out the red carpet to their back alley entrances and have saved the parking spaces closest to their back door for the convenience of customers. Many are also having big sales to entice their customers to continue shopping during Main Street’s revitalization.
Shopping downtown keeps money circulating in our local economy, and by supporting neighborhood businesses, you are also supporting a myriad of other local groups, activities, events and causes those businesses donate to. Additionally, these businesses employ our neighbors, family and friends. The goods and services they provide keep product diversity alive and consumer choices fresh. Above all, you can’t beat the great customer service.
According to Polson’s City Manager Todd Crossett, the renovation project is currently on schedule. If the weather continues to cooperate and work crews don’t encounter underground “surprises,” work could be completed by the end of October.
When the dust settles, a beautiful new Main Street will be revealed with improvements that include new sidewalks with bump-outs at the corners, landscaping, a new storm water system, new lighting and newly paved streets.
Improvements you may not notice, but will appreciate, are a new water main and connecting lines. Lastly, a newly-paved public parking lot on the corner of Fifth Avenue and Main Street is an added bonus.
Manager Crossett has emphasized during several meetings and on the chamber’s streetscape update postings that pedestrian traffic through construction areas has become a major concern. Although it’s inconvenient to walk around, it’s incredibly dangerous not to. So, as construction continues, be sure to stay out of work zones on Main Street and warn your friends and family to do the same. Remember, heavy equipment operators aren’t looking for pedestrians.
The initial drive behind the renovation project was a much-needed upgrade to the city’s water main as well as the need for a new storm sewer system. With the impending project in mind, in 2007, the city council appointed a streetscape task force to look at the costs and engineering of giving the first five blocks of Main Street a facelift while the streets were torn up for water line repair. Thus the streetscape project was born.
Streetscape is funded through a variety of sources including the water and storm water district, property owners, a Special Improvement District (SID) assessment, Community Transportation Enhancement Program (CTEP) funding and Tax Increment Financing (TIF) (specifically directed tax funds).
The city provided an initial burst of monetary support in 2009 by allocating $100,000 from sidewalk funds to preliminary engineering reports.
Through the SID assessment, business owners will help foot the bill to enhance the beauty of Main Street. The streetscape project is far from their first improvement effort. Polson’s active business community has fundraised for years to beautify downtown. Their efforts brought benches, trees, flowers, trash receptacles and bike racks to Main Street and most recently, a newly constructed staircase connecting Riverside Park to First Street West. All improvements are for the enjoyment of local residents and seasonal visitors.
Please show your support for downtown businesses by continuing to shop with our local merchants during this exciting time of change.
