Thanks to quality entrepreneurs like the Kilbourne Group, Fargo’s downtown is becoming more vibrant every day. This is another wonderful example of revitalization and better use of land and existing infrastructure in our cities core.
Acquisitions of unique structures like the Loudon and Ball buildings (most recently Fargo Rubber Stamp and Doyle Checker cab)and transforming them to reach their full potential add incredible value to the community on many levels.
Here’s the FRS building today. Can’t wait to see it come alive again when the facade is removed exposing the original architecture, bricks, and grand windows are revived.
Here are a few:
Downtown Fargo is continuing to gain national recognition as a most transformed neighborhood for our ongoing revitalization making it a more fun and vibrant place to visit, live, work, learn, and play!
The values hit a low in the 1990′s but by working together and growing with private and public investments are complimented with NDSU establishing a strong presence of almost 4,000 students at Renaissance Hall, Barry Hall, and Klai Hall since 2004.
Over 8,000 people logged in to Fargo GO 2030′s Town Hall Mind Mixer. The top 5 key initiatives are:
- Permanent flood protection
- Infill and Smart Growth
- Arts and Cutlure, more public art
- Bike and Pedestrian focus
- Quality design standards
Here’s a recent Forum editorial about the huge support for the Business Improvement District that garnered over 90% approval from downtown businesses to assess themselves to continue to improve.
Published October 16, 2012, 11:35 PM
Forum editorial: Making downtown shine more
It’s been at least two years in the making, but it appears the city of Fargo is ready to enter into a partnership with downtown businesses to enhance and improve maintenance.
It’s been at least two years in the making, but it appears the city of Fargo is ready to enter into a partnership with downtown businesses to enhance and improve maintenance. The Downtown Community Partnership advanced the idea some time ago and has been working with its members and city officials to establish an assessment district that would raise money to support stepped-up in-kind contributions to maintenance by the city. It’s a good idea.
Downtown certainly has changed since the incentives in the Renaissance Zone stimulated investment in restoration of classic historic buildings. Businesses and residential developments brought new life to a downtown that had fallen on hard times. Instead of the bleak, often dirty downtown of 15 years ago, today the old central city is vibrant, attractive and thriving.
But in order to keep it that way, special attention is required. If there is a rap on downtown, it’s that trash is left to blow around in gutters and storefronts, and decorative brick and masonry work on streets and other public installations are not routinely repaired and maintained. The aim of the private-public partnership is to address those concerns and others, like timely snow removal.
Businesses in the improvement district will be assessed according to a benefits-received formula. The city will revisit the arrangement in five years.
In addition to overwhelming support among business properties in the district, the Downtown Neighborhood Association, which is made up of homeowners who live downtown, is fully on board.
Fargo’s restored and rejuvenated downtown is an example for cities everywhere of what can be done when visionary business and government leaders go to work. Keeping that spirit alive and expanding is a full-time job. The new improvement district is the logical next step in preserving and enhancing what already has been accomplished.
~End Article~
While we’ve made a lot of progress working together to revitalize our city’s core, we are not even half done. There are several areas ripe for multi-use development that will continue to add value, diversity, and fun.
The focus of GO 2030 is complimented by the recent TED x events that feature city 2.0 to continue to get more people involved.
We don’t know where the best ideas will come from, but the premise of Fargo GO 2030and TED x is to hear your ideas and make the best ideas win!
