Major renovation awaits downtown McMinnville
Main Street McMinnville’s downtown revitalization project seeks to create a business-friendly environment that is more than just pretty streets and sidewalks, the organization’s director said Tuesday.
Chris Wilson, who took the lead over the non-profit organization just a few months ago, told members of McMinnville’s Noon Exchange Club when the estimated $4.8 million project is complete, McMinnville’s downtown area will not only be attractive, but will also be a place of pride designed to appeal to businesses.
Wilson touched on a variety of subjects about the goals of the Main Street McMinnville program. He said the area’s downtown is often the first place industry leaders look to, as the shape of the downtown area can give an indication of what the rest of the community will be like.
“It’s really important to revitalize your downtown. It is still the center of the community, no matter where you are. Another thing is, citizens need to be proud of what they have downtown,” he said. “Everything that happens downtown really affects the quality of life.”
He noted significant investments in the downtown area in the form of commercial, small business, residential and individual investments in the past few years after Main Street McMinnville was first organized in 1999.
Main Street seeks a variety of more businesses to locate downtown after construction is completed such as specialty recreation and gift shops, a gourmet coffee shop, fabric and garden stores, a copy store and maybe even another restaurant, he said, noting the potential for other major markets.
The streets and sidewalks portion of the project – major construction that will eventually yield decorative sidewalks, street lights, landscaping, decorative paving on the streets and many other infrastructure changes – is not that far off.
Although current projections are construction will begin in mid-May, Wilson said when construction does happen, the plan is to transform downtown one block at a time.
“It’s going to change the image of downtown and certainly change the image of a lot of people who are visiting. And there’s going to be a certain amount of disruption. There will be a few headaches along the way,” he said. “But the whole downtown won’t be blocked off at one time.”
When the project is complete, he added, the first phase of Main Street will not only have the decorative elements that make it visually appealing, but new utilities like sewer and water lines, electrical lines, gas and data lines and fiber optics that can support 21st Century businesses.
“It’s going to be exciting,” Wilson added. “All the investments have been happening, people are getting excited about what is to come, property owners want to see new businesses coming and business now are actually knocking at our doors and saying, ‘What’s happening here?'”