West Fargo backs downtown redevelopment plan
By: Kristen Daum, INFORUM
December 20th, 2011
WEST FARGO – This city’s downtown could look drastically different in 10 years if community and business leaders follow through on a detailed vision adopted Monday.
After more than a year of study, West Fargo commissioners backed recommendations that set the tone for revamping Sheyenne Street and Main Avenue in what’s considered the old core of the city.
But the revitalized downtown won’t come easily or overnight.
Consultants presenting the recommendations said it will require long-term commitments from city leaders and landowners to redevelop the image of downtown and entice new businesses.
The makeover will also demand substantial physical changes to the Sheyenne Street layout to promote a more “Main Street” atmosphere, which residents indicated that they want from the area.
“The physical environment will need to change to get the type of environment you want,” said Jamie Licko of Centro Inc., the Denver-based company that spearheaded the redevelopment study.
Such changes potentially include increasing the density and height of buildings along Sheyenne and moving buildings closer to the sidewalk to create a “welcoming streetscape.”
Under the recommendations, Main Avenue would mostly retain its current feel of a business thoroughfare but would be upgraded aesthetically to accommodate midsize retailers and other businesses.
Licko said the study area off Sheyenne Street and Main Avenue has the market potential to handle an additional 500,000 square feet of business space.
If fully developed to that level, Licko said West Fargo could stand to gain an extra $1.5 million in sales tax each year, not including additional property tax revenues that would come along with it.
“We think you have something really special, which could become something even more special if some efforts were taken,” Licko told city commissioners.
Licko and the study team proposed a variety of short-term and long-term steps to move forward with the recommendations, including forming a public-private task force to implement the plan.
The group would include city and business leaders working in partnership to shape specific plans to redevelop West Fargo’s downtown, Licko said.
Licko called the public-private partnership “critical” to making the downtown more appealing to investment and growth.
City leaders praised the plan before unanimously adopting the recommendations Monday night.
“This has a lot of merit,” West Fargo Mayor Rich Mattern said. “It’s a good plan, and above that, it’s a doable plan, which is most important to me.”
Commissioner Mark Simmons specifically supported the idea of moving the city’s offices to Sheyenne Street – a move Licko said would create more excitement by showing the city’s commitment to the area.
“We’re completely out of room (in City Hall), and now is actually a very good time to start looking into that,” Simmons said.
Readers can reach Forum reporter Kristen Daum at (701) 241-5541
http://www.inforum.com/event/article/id/344616/
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