Willmar City Council gets update on the activities at Design Center
West Central Tribune June 20, 2006

WILLMAR — A master plan envisioning proposed improvements and uses for downtown buildings and spaces is expected to be completed by the end of October, the Willmar City Council was told Monday night.

Beverly Dougherty, project coordinator for the Willmar Design Center, said the master plan being prepared by Design Center urban planner Tom Ososki will be used for fundraising and “so everyone knows what we’re going to do.’’

Dougherty reported on the Design Center’s activities for the first six months of 2006. The City Council gave the Design Center $50,000 for the center’s budget in 2006.

Dougherty said the lack of attention to downtown probably started in the 1970s after the U.S. Highway 12 downtown bypass was opened. She displayed a full-page ad from a 1976 issue of the Tribune, which said the bypass was open. The ad pictured an artist’s concept of what downtown could look like with a plaza and plantings.

“Even though we’ve lost a few years in here, we know that the decline probably started when the bypass was opened,’’ said Dougherty. “We’re trying to reopen downtown, and we just know that we’re on the right track, and we ask you to not think that we can do this in one year; that other towns have taken from 10 to 20 years on a plan, and that’s why we want a master plan so that everything gets done in a proper order and that money isn’t wasted.’’

Dougherty said Ososki will explain his concepts, discuss schematic drawings and take public comments on the master plan during an open house at the Design Center from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday. A second meeting will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on July 13 at the Design Center.

Dougherty said Ososki will present schematic drawings to the City Planning Commission and the City Council by the end of August.

Among other Design Center activities listed by Dougherty were:

• Continued discussion of the best way to open access downtown.
• Placement of historic downtown Willmar signs, with the new Design Center logo.
• Planning for a Kandiyohi Area Transit downtown bus stop.
• Booklets planned for a walking tour of downtown features and historic buildings.
• Planning for biking and hiking trails linking downtown in all directions.
• Repainting of The Barn Theatre “Shed’’ with a paint grant from Valspar, funding from United Way and workers provided by Youth As Resources program.
• Becker Market, now in its third week, has grown to 40 vendors.

“As visitors and new residents to Willmar point out, we have a great downtown that will be even greater with all of us working together,’’ said Dougherty. “We ask for your patience and cooperation.’’

Council member Denis Anderson applauded the Design Center’s efforts.

“When we look at how really young this organization is and how many things you’ve got going, it’s pretty incredible. We’ve got some formidable challenges out there. I think we’ve got a really good start,’’ he said.

Council member Jim Dokken asked how many downtown store fronts are owned or occupied by minority businesses. Dougherty didn’t know for sure, but Mayor Les Heitke said a survey by the Willmar Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce found the city has 30 minority-owned businesses.