The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Downtown supporters discuss goals
Broadway target area for redevelopment
Plans on paper and projects in reality have created the foundation for redeveloping downtown Lorain.
Now, it is time for local community groups, merchants and public staff to draw up the list of the next goals for Broadway between West Erie Avenue and 10th Street.
At least two dozen people came out Oct. 24 for the Lorain Downtown Prepared Workshop.
The four-hour session was guided by Vita Nuova LLC, an economic and community development firm.
The Connecticut-based consultant is working with the Lorain County Community Development Department, the Lorain Port Authority and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to market five publicly-owned sites along Lorain’s waterfront.
Meanwhile, the company and public agencies aim to help the revitalization efforts for downtown Lorain.
“This is part of the larger project that we’ve been on … for the last year,” said Mike
Taylor, president of Vita Nuova. “There’s been plenty of planning here in town.
“And now, the idea is to get everybody together and say, what are the next steps? Either for me individually, for us as a city, or group of people to say, OK, how do we actually make some things continue to happen?”
The goal was to create the next to-do list for the county economic development staff and for the participants.
Jim Rocco, a risk management consultant for Vita Nuova, outlined a nine-step process for downtown Lorain to
be “prepared.”
The steps are to identify and organize stakeholders, establish goals and conduct a reuse assessment for underused lands and sites, Rocco said.
Local officials and groups must select property recovery actions to consider; those actions relate to ownership and leasing of properties to be redeveloped.
After that, comes gathering of information about the sites.
Those involved must identify obstacles that would affect redevelopment of a property
and evaluate legal, financial and community risks. Once identified, there must be risk management and then selection of a recovery action, which involves moving forward with a plan for an actual site.
Sarah Kackar, planning practice manager for Vita Nuova, emphasized the importance of broadband communication for communities of all sizes to attract new businesses and residents.
Telecommunications to move and store large amounts of data are not a luxury, they are an essential utility
that become a predictor of growth, Kackar said. The goals Attendees were to break up into smaller groups to discuss goals, then the opportunities and obstacles for action items.
The groups discussed how to develop broadband, attract investment, support sustainable development and create public-private partnership to help the city.
The meeting was held at the Charleston Coffee House, an intentional location, because it is in the center of the revitalization area.
Consultants noted the city is planning the Broadway streetscape project to replace the lights and sidewalks in that area.
The session included time to describe projects that found success in Lorain.
Radhika Reddy, a partner with Ariel Ventures LLC, said construction has started to make the Broadway Building into the new Ariel on Broadway hotel and event center.
Lorain Historical Society Executive Director Barb Piscopo described the charrette process used to brainstorm ideas about improving Lorain.
The Lorain Better Block event in May drew at least 700 people to Broadway, said Katherine Bray, health education specialist of Lorain County Public Health.
Rob Levit, a board officer of the Lorain Rotary, talked about the continuing effort to create the new Rotary Sunset Pier off Lakeview Park, which has become a destination in Lorain.
Ron Mantini, board president of the Lorain Lighthouse Foundation Inc., said the lighthouse has attracted at least 800 visitors a year.
The Black River Kayak-AThon, BrewFest Waterfront District and Waterfront Winterfest are among the events that add to the efforts of the Lorain Palace Theater, and Rockin’ on the River to bring people to Lorain, said Don Romancak, Lorain County director of community development.