Phil Wieland, Times of Northwest Indiana
phil.wieland@nwi.com
VALPARAISO | Art galleries, additional entertainment venues and incentives to encourage development of more residential space are among the goals the city should strive for to continue to strengthen its downtown, a consultant said.
The city received the recommendations of consultants with HyettPalma last week and is asking its downtown implementation board to analyze and prioritize them for inclusion in the overall strategic plan for the next five to seven years. The consultants visited the city in June as a follow-up to a similar study done five years ago.
"What it tells us is that, while we've had much success in accomplishing the goals of the first plan, there is still much to do in terms of strengthening the downtown," Mayor Jon Costas said. "It also says we are on the right track with the downtown park."
The report urges the city to continue to seek restaurants to enhance its fine dining theme but also to bring in a greater variety of specialty retail shops, art and entertainment in order to classify itself as a dining and cultural center. Toward the goal of attracting more entertainment, the report says a new venue is needed in addition to the planned amphitheater in Central Park Plaza.
Costas said it would be something along the lines of the House of Blues but on a smaller scale with a catering kitchen. In addition to possibly attracting national performers, it would be a place for Valparaiso University students along with other local musicians and artists to display their talents.
The report said an art center should be considered that is patterned on the Torpedo Factory in Old Town Alexandria, Va. That facility has galleries, artist studios, working artists and art classes for the general public and attracts a million visitors a year.
To encourage development of more downtown housing and the improvement of the existing units, the report said the city should provide grants similar to those provided businesses to upgrade their buildings.
Working with the county to beautify the courthouse square, holding more downtown events, hiring a consultant to study the parking situation, adding bike racks, bigger banners and public art and trying to create a link with the university to attract students to the downtown are among the other recommendations.
"We are convinced the downtown is important to the success of the entire city and the whole county, and we are determined to increase its vitality and allure to Northwest Indiana and beyond," Costas said.