Downtown fix-up plan to be explained at Tuesday meeting

A public discussion and information session concerning a local committee's plans to revitalize and beautify downtown Fort Scott is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at The Courtland Hotel and Day Spa, 121 E. First St.

During the meeting, guests will be able to listen and provide feedback on the Streetscape Project, a plan that has been researched and organized the last few years by the Mayor's Phoenix Downtown Redevelopment Committee, whose 16 members are working to restore and revitalize portions of historic downtown Fort Scott. The city has received a little more than $2 million in federally earmarked funds that will be used to pay for the downtown restoration project.

The informational meeting is mainly geared toward people who live or work downtown and businesses that exist in that area, but it is also open to the general public, Fort Scott Economic Development Director Dale Bunn said.

"The meeting is targeted at people downtown, but the public is invited to come and hear about what's going on and what we're doing, if they like," Bunn said.

The Tuesday meeting will also provide downtown business owners with the chance to learn about how they can become involved in the downtown beautification process, and benefits such as grants and tax credits that will be available to them upon their participation in that process, according to a written statement from Bunn.

Bruce Remsby, an engineer with Professional Engineering Consultants, a firm that regularly works with the city, and Catherine Richards, a representative of the Pittsburg State University Business Development Council, will be on hand at the meeting to provide information and answer any questions from those who attend, Bunn said. Remsby has been working closely with the city on the downtown Streetscape Project.

The Streetscape Project will address the area near Main and Wall streets that was affected by a March 11, 2005, fire that destroyed several historic buildings and other areas downtown. The project involves the installation of new 1920s-style lighting, appealing landscaping, hanging flower baskets and banner displays, matching benches and trash receptacles, and other amenities that will be coupled with necessary infrastructure improvements in water pressure and sewer service, wastewater and drainage, Bunn said in the written statement.

About 75 percent of the federal grant funds will be used to improve safety and sanitation in water and sewer services downtown, while the remaining 25 percent will fund some aesthetic improvements, officials said.

The project is expected to begin in mid June, following the annual Good Ol' Days Celebration, and will involve the repair of brick streets, curbs, gutters and sidewalks, water lines and sanitary sewer lines in the downtown area from Second Street north on Main Street to Skubitz Plaza. It is expected to be completed before the 2008 holiday season, officials said.

Bunn said the city will begin accepting all work bids for the project the last week of May. One contractor and several sub-contractors will ultimately be chosen to complete all aspects of the project. The city will also soon begin advertising the Streetscape Project throughout the community and the region, he said.

The U.S. Congress awarded the grant money to the City of Fort Scott following the March 2005 fire, and it will be used for the downtown restoration project. The city has to come up with $350,000 in matching funds for the project. The Kansas Department of Transportation is helping to coordinate the project at the local level on behalf of the federal government, Bunn has said.

During the Tuesday meeting, attendees will also be able to hear information on grants available to help with storefront facade repair; rebates on property taxes for major improvements that increase the valuation of the property; sidewalk repair grants; energy efficiency improvement grants and loans; business financing and loans, and many others.

Contact information about people and agencies responsible for administering the grants and loans will also be available at the meeting upon request, Bunn said.

Programs that are still in the early planning stages include possible tax credits for deteriorating or crumbling buildings that are located in a portion of the historic downtown district -- an area that has been proposed to be placed on the National Register of Historic Places; grants to facilitate the creation of residential lofts or second-story housing downtown; grants that will help ease the cost of storefront rehabilitation projects; and loans that come with special reduced interest rates, Bunn said in the statement.

For more information on any of the programs or the Tuesday meeting, contact Bunn at (620) 223-0550, or by e-mail at dbunn@fscity.org.