Friday, January 27, 2006

Consultant rallies chamber on downtown plans

'Designfest' will be held in early March


By REBECCA MEANY
Express Staff Writer

Economic development consultant Tom Hudson, of Moscow-based The Hudson Company, speaks Thursday to attendees of the economic outlook breakfast, sponsored by the Sun Valley-Ketchum Chamber & Visitors' Bureau. In his presentation, Hudson outlined the framework for a downtown master plan that seeks to revitalize Ketchum's core. He has completed the plan's first of three phases. Photo by David N. Seelig

With pictures of what Ketchum could be, economic development consultant Tom Hudson infused a sense of hope in residents who feel the city is on a downward slide.

Approximately 200 people, double the typical number, attended the Sun Valley-Ketchum Chamber & Visitors' Bureau's economic outlook breakfast Thursday, Jan. 26, where Hudson was the guest speaker.

"You've had a lot of challenges and a lot of opportunities that place you at a crossroads," Hudson told the group. "You have a number of things you're facing. This isn't your average day."

Hudson, under contract with the city of Ketchum, presented the framework for a revitalized downtown, incorporating ideas he's gathered over the past few months and making them fit within the comprehensive plan.

Pressing issues cited by Ketchum residents, and being reviewed by Hudson and Ketchum city staff, are a dwindling retail and restaurant sector, diminishing sense of community and lack of affordable housing.

"Your middle class is actively engaged in leaving," he said. "You're losing your year-round community. You're losing your sense of community."

Funding and implementation for downtown revitalization can be achieved by forming non-profit groups, establishing an urban renewal district and by partnering with existing entities such as historic preservation groups, the chamber and civic organizations, he said.

"One of the most important things you have to have is a common vision," Hudson said. "This isn't going to happen automatically."

A "designfest" will be held in early March, wherein residents' creative skills will be tapped.

Ideas for a central plaza, a Fourth Street corridor and pedestrian-friendly environments will be solicited.

Carol Waller, the chamber's executive director, said the breakfast session represented a shift from study to action.

"The focus of past (economic outlook breakfasts) has been about what our competition is doing," she said after the meeting. "I hope it's been a process of educating our community, and now we're taking action. I think (Hudson) understands the tools, and he thinks big."




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