Quincy seeks input on downtown revitalization plan

QUINCY — Quincy City Council members will hold a public hearing during the May 17 council meeting to get public opinion on the city’s proposed downtown revitalization plan. The meeting starts at 7 p.m.

A draft of the plan is available on the city’s website, www.quincywashington.us.

City officials contracted with SCJ Alliance out of Wenatchee to do research options and write the draft of the plan. While there are recommendations for actions, Quincy city officials and business owners to do, there’s no timeline attached.

The plan focuses on the four blocks between Highway 28 and Division Street, from First Avenue SE to First Avenue SW, as well as the block between First Avenue SE and Second Avenue SE. A streetscape redesign in the 1990s widened some sidewalks and added bulbouts, upgraded pedestrian crossings and additional landscaping in sections of downtown.

While there is brisk business in the downtown area, some storefronts are outdated and others need repair, the report said. Downtown is not very visible and business owners may be losing out on customers since travelers stopping at the Highway 28 traffic light don’t know downtown is across the intersection. In addition, a lot of semi traffic uses Central Street to access Highways 28 and 283.

The SCJ staff talked to Quincy residents at a variety of events and held public meetings. Respondents said attracting new businesses downtown, redeveloping vacant buildings, improving the area’s visual appeal and adding downtown events were the most important current projects.

The plan proposes four revitalization goals. Among them are adding public amenities like event spaces which should be adaptable as traffic and parking needs change. Business owners and city officials should work to enhance downtown’s visual appeal, according to the draft plan, with updated facades and properly maintained landscaping. Downtown should be a gathering place for residents and visitors alike with efforts should be made to support businesses already in the area and to attract new ones.

The planners recommend upgrading the streetscape on Highway 28, making downtown more visible and the area more inviting. The plan also recommends a redesign of Central Street to make it more appealing and pedestrian-friendly. The plan recommends adding a park somewhere in the area.

The plan further recommends updating streetlights and items like benches and garbage cans. The city should pave and formalize existing alleys and parking lots, and fix cracked sidewalks and curbs as needed to enhance appeal downtown. The plan also recommended replacing sidewalks, adding bulbouts and upgraded crosswalks in places that don’t have them.

The surveys showed respondents think there’s a lack of downtown parking, and planners suggested addressing that. At the same time city officials should look for ways to make downtown easier for pedestrians to access, the plan said.

The planners recommended more public art downtown and said city officials also should emphasize maintenance of downtown landscaping and public facilities. City officials should reroute heavy truck traffic around downtown, the report said.

The planners wrote that the current downtown zoning prohibits residences in the area, although there are some single-family homes. The planners recommended changing zoning laws to allow multi-family residences in the downtown area.

Cheryl Schweizer may be reached at cschweizer@columbiabasinherald.com.