The Warrenton Downtown Association is enlisting the help of a specialist design service from Maine to envision what the future of the Warrenton’s Main Street might look like.
The downtown …
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The Warrenton Downtown Association is enlisting the help of a specialist design service from Maine to envision what the future of the Warrenton’s Main Street might look like.
The downtown association recently recruited Kalback Design, a landscape architecture and streetscaping service, to provide renderings and a conceptual plan for what a revitalized Warrenton Main Street might look like.
Downtown association President Stacey Blondin said the renderings will provide an updated look based on what the public and downtown businesses have said they want.
“You have to have a plan in place, you’ve got to know what you’re doing, how much it’s going to cost,” Blondin explained.
The streetscape plan will include more greenery, outdoor seating, parking, sidewalks, and possibly even miniature park-like spaces, Blondin said. It will also provide guidance on a unified aesthetic for the downtown area.
Blondin said Andy Kalback, the owner of Kalback Design, came highly recommended from partner organization Missouri Main Street Connection, a nonprofit that helps with small town revitalizations.
“He’s done some really amazing things in different cities,” Blondin commented.
Of course, private businesses won’t be able to make many of the improvements to public streets and sidewalks. That will fall to the city of Warrenton, which is partnering with the downtown assocation.
Warrenton City Administrator Terri Thorn said city staff deferred to the downtown association and Missouri Main Street to recruit the streetscape architect. The concept plan he creates will guide the city’s long-term projects and spending on downtown improvements, Thorn said.
In a sense, the renderings will become a shared vision between the city government and Main Street businesses who want to see the area thrive.
“The drawings say ‘This is what we want this to look like, this is the agreed upon plan,’ and will give us direction in how we need to move forward,” Thorn commented.
She added that the city will provide $6,000 to help pay for the streetscape plan. The downtown association will cover any cost beyond that.
Award nominations
The Warrenton area has been nominated for several awards through Missouri Main Street Connection. The organization annually celebrates community revitalization efforts around the state.
Blondin said Warrenton is a semi-finalist for three awards: Outstanding City Official for Terri Thorn; Best Housing Development, for the renovation of the Nieburg Building; and Most Creative Event for the FruhlingFest held downtown last year.
The awards will be announced Thursday, July 30.
“Missouri Main Street Connection are who got the Washington downtown where they are,” Blondin commented. “I’m hoping, maybe 10 years from now, we’ll be a small version of that.”
