Wellington looks at options for revitalizing downtown

By Gary Raham
Wellington Correspondent

Wellington's business community hopes to beautify its downtown area along Cleveland Avenue and make it a destination for shoppers.

To that end, the town board will look at a proposal to modify construction requirements along Wellington's main drag. Most likely the town's planning commission will see a first draft in April.

A committee, chaired by William Schneider, owner of Vestige Press, has submitted recommendations for design considerations for renovations and new construction of all commercial buildings on Cleveland Avenue between First and Sixth Streets. Blake Larson of Larson Structural Design, Charles Mayhugh of CRM Architects and Sandee Miller of J R Engineering also sit on the committee.

After the town considers the proposal sponsored by the committee, it will hold two public hearings at least, said Town Administrator Larry Lorentzen. Those hearings will likely take place sometime this summer.

The committee's recommendations stem from efforts in recent years to define the town's strengths and weaknesses and plan for growth. "Enhancing the character and environment of main street (Cleveland Avenue)" was one of the recommendations to "keep Wellington special" that grew out of a community assessment process.

At a recent community seminar, Sue Piatt from the Colorado Office of Economic Development cited figures showing that Wellington's population doubled between 1990 and 2000 and can expect a 65 percent increase within five years.

The seminar also featured Vincent Martinez, representing the Colorado Community Revitalization Association. This organization gives guidance to communities looking to revitalize downtown areas. Martinez represents the Colorado version of a national Main Street program that provides guidelines to restore downtown areas to the classic appearance of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The goals of such a municipal project are to attract new investment and consumers, increase the unique identity of a town, demonstrate a community's commitment to the future and integrate the downtown area with nearby neighborhoods.

Many of the recommendations that will go to the town planning commission reflect guidelines set up in the Main Street program. Volunteers play a large role in getting such a program off the ground, so the cost for implementation is relatively low.

Communities in Colorado that have participated in Main Street include Brush, Greeley, Arvada, Berthoud, Lake City, Monte Vista and Steamboat Springs. Other methods of revitalizing downtown areas include a Business Improvement District method, an Urban Renewal Authority and a Downtown Development Authority. Fort Collins' Old Town area was developed under a DDA plan.

Information about CCRA and the Main Street program in Colorado can be found at www.ccraonline.org. For specific questions about recommendations that will be made to the Wellington Planning Commission, call Charles Mayhugh of CRM Architects at 482-8264.