After many years of discussion and planning, Hailey officials are hoping to upgrade River Street with sidewalks and street lighting. The project is designed to create jobs locally and revitalize a downtown area primed for business development.
"This would help to slow business creep in Old Hailey," Councilwoman Carol Brown said.
On Monday, the City Council directed city staff to pursue a $500,000 U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development grant that would help provide funding for the project.
The council's decision followed a presentation by Jeff McCurdy, Region IV Development Association grant administrator, who told the council about the available federal grant money and advised it to prepare a "revitalization plan" to qualify for the grant.
The Region lV Development Association is a nonprofit corporation based in Twin Falls.
"The deadline for the grant application is coming quickly," said McCurdy. He advised the council to consider matching the funds with $500,000 from the city's coffers to complete the project.
McCurdy said the project would create low- and middle-income jobs and provide a "living document" for the city's planning department to plan for the future of River Street.
"River Street has been the new Main Street ever since we opened up the north end," said Mayor Rick Davis, who congratulated city staff for being "proactive" in pursuing the grant.
City Administrator Heather Dawson said the required revitalization plan will include repairing and building new sidewalks and installing street lights on unfinished portions of River Street between Empty Saddle Road and Walnut Street.
Dawson also said city staff would benefit from the project, if the grant is procured, by taking some of the jobs it creates.
"Everything from administrative work to trenching and backhoe work," Dawson said.
The Hailey Planning Department will draft the revitalization plan over the next 30 days. A public hearing before the City Council on the progress of the revitalization plan and the HUD grant application process is scheduled for Nov. 16.
Tony Evans: tevans@mtexpress.com
