'Welcome to Historic Downtown Loudonville' — Proposed new look would mean big changes
LOUDONVILLE − The downtown revitalization plan, in the works for a year, was introduced Monday to about 40 people at the Ohio Theatre.
The plan also will be outlined on six large posters that will be placed across downtown Loudonville in the coming week, Mayor Jason VanSickle said.
“The posters will include a QR code on them so persons reviewing the proposals can immediately make comments, or complaints, about them," he said.
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The presentation was made by Jordan Lance, president of the Mohican Area Growth Foundation (MAGF), which to date has covered all costs of the revitalization study, and Arthur Schmidt of the consulting group OHM.
The meeting strictly involved presentation, with no questions or comments taken.
What could downtown Loudonville look like?
Concepts unveiled in the plan include:
Placing arched "Welcome to Historic Downtown Loudonville" signs over Main Street at the east and west end of the downtown area. Several sign configurations were presented.
Streamlining West Main Street, including narrowing the traffic lanes; creating space for trees and other plantings at the street-edge of sidewalks; creating curb extensions at crosswalks and using different types of paving materials on the crosswalks; and leaving space for on-street parking through the entire area.
Converting alleyways, including Birch Drive and South Brentwood Drive, into pedestrian walkways with landscaping and useable outdoor spaces. Part of the reason for this is to create a pedestrian connection with Riverside Park, and to blend with plans to create greenspace proposed by the American Legion on Brentwood Drive.
Radical changes were suggested for South Water Street between Main and South Park Place, either to make it a one lane, one-way street or close it to traffic entirely and create space for public activities, like a farmers' market or outdoor theater, and add picnic tables to landscaped areas.
To rationalize proposed changes to Central Park, Schmidt presented comparative figures showing Loudonville’s Central Park — which measures 3.7 acres with streets included — is much larger than most central squares. The well-known Medina square, for instance, is 2.2 acres.
His first proposal made the two northern quadrants of the park into a single one by eliminating North Market Street between Main and North Park streets. He suggested moving the veterans memorial to a more prominent location, and to add water features to increase interest. He also suggested a playground in the northeast quadrant, along with an amphitheater-like stage for performances.
Schmidt's suggestions included eliminating streets in the park and rerouting traffic onto Bustle and Union streets. He said the veterans memorial could be moved to where Main Street leads into the downtown area.
Schmidt said because the Central Park proposals were so radical, they could be implemented over time.
“Our goal is to create a downtown that not only improves everyday life for residents, but encourages growth, development and opportunities for the community as a whole,” he said.
“We encourage you to review one of the posters we have placed in businesses across the downtown and provide feedback through the QR codes on the concepts presented,” Schmidt continued. “We hope you can consider them with an open mind and be willing to share with us your reactions.”
This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: Concepts for Loudonville's new look unveiled; feedback wanted
