For More Information
Contact: Kitty Clemens
Economic Development Director
719-685-9741
CELL (719)-321-8561
May 14, 2004
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Manitou Springs Open House to be held in December
Residents invited to see the future of Manitou Springs
Manitou Springs, Colorado - The City of Manitou Springs , the Colorado
Department Transportation and the Central Manitou Springs Business Improvement
District will host an open house in December for residents to learn more about
the city’s downtown improvements.
“This will give everyone an opportunity to see the plans, to speak to the people
who put the plans together, and really ask questions one-on-one,” said Manitou
Springs Mayor Marcy Morrison. “This open house is an opportunity to come in and
visit and also to realize how important this effort will be to the entire
community.”
The open house meeting is scheduled from 5 to 8 p.m. Dec. 2, at The Manitou
Springs City Hall, 606 Manitou Ave. The purpose is to educate residents about
preliminary plans for improvements in Manitou Springs’ historic downtown.
Representatives from the Colorado Department of Transportation, Nolte &
Associates of Colorado and Manitou Springs City staff will be available at
“information stations,” where residents can view plans and see computer
simulations of traffic flow and other improvements to the downtown area.
“We must move forward and redevelop the downtown - it’s absolutely critical to
the economic health and vitality of the entire community,” Morrison said.
The improvements are the result of a voter-approved sales tax in 2003 that
raised nearly $2 million for downtown improvements, including an enhanced street
design, pedestrian safety measures, burying utility lines and improvements to
storm water drainage systems. The city submitted more than 17 grants for
additional money, and has leveraged the tax dollars to raise $2.2 million in
dedicated matching federal grants.
The El Pomar Foundation and the Gay and Lesbian Fund of Colorado also pledged
grant funds to the project. Voters in 2003 also approved the formation of the
Manitou Springs Business Improvement District, which has raised additional money
for downtown projects. Morrison said it is the first time that she can recall as
a resident, the city will be receiving significant federal funding for the
downtown redevelopment.
The improvements will make Manitou Springs’ downtown a more “walkable” city with
pedestrian-friendly improvements, such as wider sidewalks, new streetlights,
enhanced traffic flow and decorative flower beds. Making the downtown area a
more pedestrian friendly environment is a cornerstone of a master plan adopted
by the city of Manitou Springs in 1998. These improvements will have numerous
economic and health benefits for the community, according to research by the
Center for Community Economic Development.
The improvement process has included participation from downtown business
owners, government agencies and Manitou Springs residents. The Manitou Avenue
Liaison Group was formed earlier this year to ensure community stakeholders
could contribute to the planning process. The committee met more than a dozen
times to discuss the construction plans. Those members included members from
groups such as the Manitou Springs Art Commission, the Historic Preservation
Commission, the Open Space Advisory Board, the Park and Recreation Board, the
Business Improvement District, the Economic Development Council, the Chamber of
Commerce, the Mineral Springs Foundation and staff from the City of Manitou
Springs.
The Manitou Springs Economic Development Council developed a website earlier
this year to provide the community with progress reports on downtown projects.
Meeting agendas, detailed meeting minutes, press releases and other information
can be found at the website:
www.manitouspringsahead.com.
# # #
Manitou Springs Ahead is a citizen driven
volunteer effort to implement the Manitou Avenue Master Plan. Citizens from
numerous community groups formed Manitou Springs Ahead to submit
charitable grant requests, solicit individual legacy gifts and work with
government agencies on final design and construction in historic downtown.
Progress updates can be found at
www.manitouspringsahead.com.