Local leaders warned against complacency

0 Comments | La Crosse Tribune, Nov 08, 2002 | by Cahalan, Steve

Local leaders should continue their efforts to improve downtown La Crosse and not become complacent because of national and state! recognition this year, the president of Downtown Mainstreet Inc. told 180 people at the organization's annual meeting Wednesday.

In April, the city and DMI received the 2002 Great American Main Street Award, a prestigious award from The National Trust for Historic Preservation. La Crosse was one of five communities in the nation to receive the award this year for downtown revitalization through historic preservation.

And during its annual meeting Wednesday, DMI received an award from the Wisconsin Trust for Historic Preservation for its contributions to historic preservation.

Since the 1980s, DMI President Robert Bue told the audience, "We have had a massive turnaround in downtown La Crosse. And I think we can all be very, very proud of that.

"We have had all of these good things that have happened to us in terms of the recognition in 2002," Bue said. "And that is wonderful. But I think we also have to think about, are we done? And I think we all know that we're not done. There's a lot to be done."

Bue called for a "renewed sense of urgency" and said the city and DMI must continue to implement the City Vision 2000 downtown master plan. DMI and the city developed the master plan in 1992 and began implementing it in spring 1993. Bue said downtown has improved since the 1980s with the help of downtown property owners and businesses, DMI and its corporate sponsors and members, and government officials.

Another speaker, City Planner Larry Kirch, discussed a downtown market analysis project that the city, DMI and University of WisconsinExtension are beginning in cooperation with downtown business owners. The project, which could be completed in eight months, includes developing a building and business inventory, and analyzing the business mix, trade area and business opportunities that exist downtown.

Also, state Rep. Jennifer Shilling, D-La Crosse, discussed legislation she and state Rep. Dan Schooff, D-Beloit, plan to introduce in January to eliminate barriers to downtown development and to expand programs that promote development. The legislation is being developed with input from others.

At Wednesday's meeting, three people were elected to threeyear terms on DMI's board - Kenna Christians of the University of WisconsinLa Crosse, Cary Heyer of CenturyTel and Ed Przytarski of Xcel Energy.