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FOOD PLAZA, HISTORIC DISTRICT DESIGNATION TOP DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT TO-DO LIST
By Amy Widner/OF THE COMMERCIAL STAFF
Friday, November 13, 2009 12:37 AM CST
Pine Bluff Downtown Development is in the planning phases of a park-like food plaza that would be on Barraque Street between Pine and Chestnut streets.
Downtown Development Executive Director Joy Blankenship and Board President Janice Acosta reported projects past and future to the West Pine Bluff Rotary Club at Thursday’s meeting.
“Pine Bluff Downtown Development is alive and well as we have faced the many challenges, as many have this year, and are always looking for that opportunity to help make our downtown strong and vital for the citizens that live and work in this city,” Acosta said.
The group is also working on getting Historic District designation for downtown Pine Bluff and will be holding its fifth Old Towne Christmas Festival from 4-6 p.m. Dec. 5 at the Jefferson County Courthouse. The downtown painting project, which gives a fresh coat of paint to the facades of downtown buildings, is an ongoing effort that will continue in 2010, Blankenship said.
The fire that destroyed YNOT Charlie’s Nov. 3 highlights the need for more downtown eateries that would anchor future growth, Blankenship said. The food plaza is being tentatively called Barraque Place, and a building will be removed to make way for a park that would be designed with room for food vendors.
“It’s something that is still being talked about,” Blankenship said after the meeting. “It’s exciting. It gives us something that could work like a domino effect, [bringing other businesses to the area].”
Downtown Development is nearing the end of its 21st year, and Acosta gave Rotary members an account of its 2009 achievements.
Acosta said much of the group’s efforts in 2009 went into the Saracen Landing area. Phase one of the Lake Saracen Trail, a one-mile section, was completed. The groundbreaking was in April and the dedication ceremony was in September. Work was also completed on the southeast bank of the lake, making the lake visible from Pullen Avenue.
Four more trail phases are planned, and Acosta said they should be completed by 2012. Saracen Landing celebrated its second anniversary in June, and Acosta said its facilities continue to be booked every weekend.
Acosta also listed the following activities from 2009:
Pine Bluff has become a Preserve America city, which qualifies it for heritage- and tourism-promoting grants.
U.S. Rep. Mike Ross has located his office in downtown, and a CASA women’s shelter is moving downtown.
About 600 children attended last year’s Old Towne Christmas Festival.
The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Business Support Incubator received a $400,000 federal grant to help complete the first floor of a downtown resource building for businesses.
The Community and Economic Development Department moved to a more accessible building on Georgia Street.
The Downtown Development Board held a planning retreat in March to reassess its goals.
The Paint the Old Towne Committee received a $1,500 grant from the Pine Bluff Area Community Foundation.
First United Methodist Church completed an exterior renovation of its building and partnered with the Southeast Arkansas Economic Development District in tearing down nearby dilapidated houses, creating more green space.
Downtown Development was part of the second Harbor City Festival and Gumbo Cook-Off in April.
Downtown Development worked to bring a KIPP Charter School to Pine Bluff, but lost the bid to Blytheville. They have been informed that Pine Bluff will still be considered in the future.
The group continues to trim trees along Main Street and maintain seasonal beds. They have purchased new banners for Main Street and Second Avenue.
Dean Sikes is West Pine Bluff Rotary president and led Thursday’s meeting. He thanked Blankenship and Acosta for their presentation.
“Despite some of the prognosticators who would say that Pine Bluff has died or is dying, it’s good to see that that is not the case and that we have people who care and are working hard to make sure that never happens,” he said.
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