Mayor John Hicks and residents reviewing plans for the water infrastructure project that were available during the meeting.
Gillespie city officials, volunteers, and consultants unveiled ambitious plans to revitalize the downtown business district, retain and attract businesses, maintain the population and attract tourism during a pair of public information meetings held Monday, Jan. 21, at the Gillespie Civic Center. Approximately 50 people attended an afternoon session with nearly twice that many attending a second session in the evening.
City Treasurer Dan Fisher said the effort to revitalize the business district “makes perfect sense” at this time because of an upcoming $10 million water infrastructure project that will replace water transmission lines throughout the city over the next two years. As part of that project, sidewalks along the Macoupin Street business district will be removed or damaged. City officials and members of Grow Gillespie, a group of volunteers who want to spearhead redevelopment, want to take advantage of that opportunity to implement a Streetscape program to beautify the business district.
“The water project will require replacement of some, if not most, of the sidewalks downtown,” Fisher said. He said the city has set aside about $500,000 over the past several years with the intent of using it to leverage grants, such as those available from the Illinois Department of Transportation to fund streetscape efforts. Moreover, the downtown area is a part of the city’s Tax Increment Financing district, meaning the city can use TIF funds to underwrite some of the planned improvements.
In addition to improving downtown aesthetics, Grow Gillespie plans to initiate programs to encourage entrepreneurship, retain and grow existing businesses, and encourage new businesses to open downtown.
“A number of key events are converging to give us a once in a generation opportunity” to revitalize the city, Fisher noted.
“A number of key events are converging to give us a once in a generation opportunity” to revitalize the city, Fisher noted.
The meeting featured the presentation of a 15-minute video outlining plans Grow Gillespie and the city are considering, explaining how they could be financed and the benefits likely to accrue to the community as a result.
Dan Fisher addressing those attending the meeting.
The presentation noted that the water infrastructure project, financed through a combination of USDA Rural Development grants and loans, is central to revitalization efforts. Some of the water transmission lines that will be replaced are as much as 100 years old. Most are cast iron pipes that are prone to breakage in extreme weather. According to the film, narrated by Fisher, each water main break costs the city an average of $1,200 each to repair, with annual costs to repair breaks amounting to about $40,000 annually. The new infrastructure, he said, will drastically reduce those costs.
The new water lines also will allow the city to completely fill the water storage tower, increasing water pressure throughout the city. The city currently avoids filling the tower to reduce pressure on fragile, aging water lines. “It will dramatically improve water quality and reliability,” Fisher said.
While the bulk of Monday’s presentation focused on Grow Gillespie’s ambitious revitalization plans, it was clear that many of those attending came to learn more about the water project, how it will affect them and how much it will increase their costs. Responding to questions after the presentation, Fisher said minimum water bills will be increased by $1.50 per month. A combined water/sewer bill for 4,000 gallons of usage will increase from $47.44 to $48.94. Even with that increase, he said, in-town water bills will be $20.30 less than the area average of $69.24 paid by water customers in surrounding communities.
Grow Gillespie’s objectives include making the downtown area more appealing aesthetically; making downtown a center for cultural experiences such as performances, art shows, farmers markets and other events; expanding tourism, encouraging entrepreneurship, retaining and expanding the population, and retaining and expanding local businesses. The video presentation cited Ageless Fitness Center and the newly opened Dingers batting cages and golf simulator as examples of successful entrepreneurship in the city.
Speaking in a recorded interview, T.J. Allan, owner of Ageless, said people encouraged him to give up on the concept of a local fitness center after a tornado destroyed their original location only weeks after opening. Instead, he chose to rent another building for a year while building a new location just off Macoupin Street. He said he was determined to stick with the concept. “That’s what small towns are,” he said. “Small towns are about relationships and community.”
Grow Gillespie also plans to work closely with the Macoupin County CEO program, a high school-based program headed by Pete Visintin, to encourage young entrepreneurs to dive into the local market by opening businesses locally. In recent months, the group has consulted with facilities dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship, including The Incubator, a downtown business in Springfield that offers office space, advice and encouragement to fledgling businesses.
The group foresees the Illinois Coal Museum as a key component in attracting tourism. Conceptual drawings for the Streetscape plan show the museum sporting neon signage and a mural on a side wall to use as a background for “selfies.” Part of the concept is aimed at enticing Route 66 travelers to stop in Gillespie, and spend time shopping and patronizing local restaurants. Also included is a plan to designate the first block of East Chestnut Street as a cultural area that can be used for farmers markets or performances, often in conjunction with live performances of movies playing at the nearby Canna Theatre, which is undergoing an ongoing restoration effort.
“The Streetscape is a key part of our efforts,” Fisher said.
The Streetscape is a key part of our efforts,” Fisher said.
The group enlisted the services a Layne Knoche, a landscape engineer originally from Dorchester, to advise and direct the group in developing the Streetscape plan. His plan includes planting trees in the downtown area, along with plantings of native flowers and ornamentals. The plan utilizes “dead” areas at intersections defined by the current crosswalk and diagonal parking spaces to install curbing and dirt for plantings. Those newly created planting areas will reduce the crosswalk from 76 feet to 46 feet, not only improving aesthetics but pedestrian safety as well. The trees recommended for the downtown area are low maintenance native species as well. Responding to a question, Knoche said the trees will not result in damage to sidewalks as did trees planted downtown several years ago.
Roger Mensing (far left), water project engineer, fielding questions from residents.
“They were the wrong trees,” he said. Moreover, the openings in the sidewalk were too small to accommodate root growth, according to Knoche. Under his plans, the sidewalk openings will be adequate for growth, plus a grate system in the sidewalk will direct stormwater to the plants to improve drainage and ensure the plants are adequately watered. The trees recommended can reach heights of 20 feet, but Knoche said they can be pruned and maintained to keep them at an optimum size.
Knoche acknowledged that not all merchants are happy about the idea of having trees near their places of business, but he insisted that research has conclusively shown that “green spaces” stimulate economic activity.
The Streetscape plan also includes provisions for reconfiguring parking spaces on side streets to expand the number of parking spaces available to downtown shoppers, as well as the installation of LED street lights to improve lighting and aesthetics. Knoche said eventually, overhead electrical wires will be moved underground not only to improve the appearance of downtown but also to reduce the chances of devastating power outages after inclement weather.
For the city, improving the business climate is a win-win, Fisher said. Already, Gillespie businesses generate a surprising $23 million in sales every year. Sales tax revenue from that economic activity accounts for 20 percent of the city government’s budget. Improving the business climate is expected to stimulate the economy and result in additional sales tax revenue the city can invest in services and amenities for city residents. He said traffic studies show that about 10,000 vehicles a day pass through downtown Gillespie. The Streetscape plan and other plans by Grow Gillespie are aimed at ensuring that more of that traffic stops to spend time in the Gillespie downtown area.
Overall, the expected price tag for the Streetscape project is estimated at $1 million to $2 million. If the city decides to implement the program, he said it will likely overlap the water infrastructure project, starting sometime in the second year of the water project. For the Streetscape project, Fisher estimated a completion cycle of up to five years.
Fisher said Grow Gillespie is actively seeking input, as well as volunteers, from the public. Interested persons may visit growgillespie.org for more information, provide input or volunteer their services.
Implementing the Streetscape project is not a “done deal,” according to an information sheet provided to persons attending Monday’s meeting, but it is “under serious consideration” by the city. Additional public information meetings will be scheduled in the future to gain public input, feedback and guidance.