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Home About Us B2B Club Breaking News Contact Donate Events / Programs Feedback Ideas Incubator Industry Clusters Links / Resources Progess Funds Progress Teams Public Art / Murals Publications		Breaking News August 20, 2007 - There's lots going on downtown By: Jerry Bach, for the Daily Tribune I wonder how many of our residents have noticed the four pedestrian crossing signs installed on Grand Avenue last month. These signs were put in place by the Downtown Development Cluster to help promote pedestrian safety and make our downtown more pedestrian friendly. Our police chief, Kurt Heuer, has organized three walkability seminars to encourage business owners and city staff to come together with ideas to make our downtown streets more pedestrian friendly. A recent survey done by the Downtown Development Cluster identified more than 120 businesses that operate in our downtown. We recognize that our downtown is no longer the retail hub that it was when I was growing up but rather a place to live, work and entertain with small specialty shops providing a unique shopping experience. The recent Downtown Study sponsored by the city and coordinated by Vierbicher points out the need for a more pedestrian-friendly downtown and also shows a demand for more downtown living space. The recent addition of River Cities Senior Village on the site of the old Lowell School has brought 19 more living units to our downtown. This fall, we will open the new community theater in the Centralia Center. This past year, Solarus and the Wisconsin Job Service moved into the old Johnson Hills Building, adding to the number of people working in our downtown. Our downtown is not only a place for people to live and work, but also a center for entertainment On Sept. 23, the City Centre Committee will host our Downtown Grand Affair. Every Thursday during the summer we have Lunch by the River. How many of you enjoyed Cinema Under the Stars this summer? The first Cranberry Blossom Fest was a real success. Tunes on the Terrace at Hotel Mead every Friday night provides food and fun. The Hogs to Bogs event this fall and the farmers market every Thursday and Saturday during the summer provide some more downtown activity. And the snow sculpture event warms us up in February. Learn a little about our local history by viewing the murals placed throughout our downtown. Thanks to the leadership class that constructed the two canoe/kayak launch areas that allow access to our beautiful river. If you like late night entertainment, visit the Barmuda Triangle on Friday night and you will find our sleepy little "River City" is very much alive and kicking. Enjoy the remainder of our summer and take a walk downtown and along our beautiful river trail, maybe even sit on the public dock in front of the Daily Tribune building and watch the river roll by. Jerry Bach is the Downtown Development Cluster co-chairman.
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