Comments on: Want to retain more youth? Offer them downtown housing

By: Merkel Community Foundation | 12 Ideas for Solving an Empty Building Problem

Wed, 20 Aug 2014 03:19:10 +0000

[…] 7. Use the upstairs for apartments. Here are some downtown housing resources. […]

By: Small Biz Survival

Small Biz Survival — Thu, 31 Jul 2014 15:27:40 +0000

In reply to Caleb Mast. Caleb, congratulations on getting started with a big, big project. Nappanee is famous to all of us who have owned Hoosier cabinets! I'll put your info out on our newsletter, and invite smart folks from all over to make their suggestions.

By: Caleb Mast

Caleb Mast — Thu, 31 Jul 2014 15:16:05 +0000

Thanks for your articles! We are working on renovating an old factory building in Downtown Nappanee. We’re having a hard time getting businesses to fill all our space. It is growing but our town is pretty small for such a big project. http://www.coppescommons.com
Let me know if you have specific advice for us.
Thanks!

By: Becky McCray

Becky McCray — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 16:06:18 +0000

It won’t ever be easy to get a commercial developer to “get it.” I think there is more promise in sharing and exposing the potential spaces, and in encouraging non-traditional development. Those commercial developers will come around, but they will wait for others to prove the concept first. You have to try other methods.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 15:11:02 +0000

Great Ideas, the hard part is finding a developer in a rural town who wants to build or refurbish downtown apartments. We’ve been trying to get that for Kitanning PA with no luck yet.

By: Becky McCray

Becky McCray — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 03:05:57 +0000

Thanks for sharing your own experience, Robbie.

By: Robbie Johnson

Robbie Johnson — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 18:15:17 +0000

I could not agree with you more about the potential of downtown living. My wife and I own an old theater in Waitsburg, a small town near Walla Walla. Phase 1 of our remodel was to make the apartment a great place to live. We lived there for 7 years and loved it.

By: Becky McCray

Becky McCray — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 22:11:07 +0000

Jennifer, there are some funding pools that can be tapped for this, but it definitely takes a partnership of the public and private.

By: Jennifer Brooks

Jennifer Brooks — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 22:03:24 +0000

Absolutely!! There’s also the possibility of accessing funding to help with retro-fitting work, etc. for older spaces – but talk about a revitalization initiative if folks were encouraged to live in downtown areas! Make a use case for your community and get people talking about it …

By: Becky McCray

Becky McCray — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 16:12:39 +0000

Thanks, Maesz. For a little more confirmation, look to this bit at Planetizen:
"People increasingly are moving back toward the center of cities and into apartments and condominium complexes. The trend is driven by rising transportation and energy costs; fewer people living in the average U.S. household; fewer people willing and able to afford a big, suburban house; and more focus on transportation planning, including mass transit system."
That's from a presentation to the National Association of Real Estate Editors conference.