I don't foresee too much downtown new construction in the immediate future. There's just too much uncertainty, given the economy and the change and disruption soon to be caused by US 31 construction and its overflow effects on SR 32. I also don't see small businesses being able to afford the kinds of rents they'd have to pay for new construction. So in order to see some growth in downtown, it'll have to be achieved by businesses moving into existing structures.
Did you know that there are roughly 25 existing properties in Westfield's downtown that are vacant and available for sale, lease, or rent? I didn't--until recently. Anne Poynter, Executive Director of the Downtown Westfield Association, did the research and came up with a list. It would be great if we could entice some nice little restaurants like Keltie's and the late, Queso Blanco to relocate to the Grand Junction area. Other boutique businesses, some catering to the young-at-heart trail using crowd, would be ideal as well.
It'll take a concerted effort to attract such "talent." We can't just wait and hope that another Jan's Pizza will magically appear. The mayor has asked the Grand Junction Task Group to actively market our downtown to potential businesses. That effort is under way.
You too can help by talking up downtown Westfield to any business owners that you might know. Highlight the various activities that occur here during the year like the Grand Junction Derby, the Farmers' Market, Westfield Rocks the 4th, Westfield in Bloom, and the Christmas Tree Lighting. Also mention the Midland Trail, Old Friends Cemetery Park, the Natalie Wheeler Trail, the Red Man, and the mural on the Westfield Pharmacy building. There's also the City's Facade Improvement program that offers matching grants to encourage property owners to make improvements to their buildings.
I truly believe that a successful and vibrant downtown is an amenity that benefits all residents of Westfield. Businesses are much more likely to relocate to Westfield as a whole if there is a "happening" downtown. (See the previous post about economic development.) People like to live in communities that have a certain buzz to them. So lets get buzzing.
KK
4 comments:
It is sad to see so many empty spots, I agree. How do our business tax rates compare to Carmel and Noblesville? Are we competitive? And will those businesses be able to sustain through the coming road construction??
Businesses are getting hit hard throughout the state because of the tax caps. As you know, residential property taxes are capped at 1% of assessed value. However, businesses are capped at 3%. The state simply shifted the burden away from residential property taxes onto commercial. Because of the tax caps, tax RATE really isn't the issue once you get up to the cap.
We are less competitive, I believe, on such things as impact fees. Ultimately, we have to do our best to give them other reasons to want to come to Westfield. Hence the Grand Junction and Grand Park. Road construction will certainly be an issue and we will have to do everything we can to help accomodate our businesses. The mayor and his team are certainly working on that.
Ken, nice blog to get people talking. Doesn't the city rate still make a difference? I've heard that if you have an comparable business in both Carmel and Westfield, it costs more to run that business in Westfield. True? Just because the state has caps, doesn't mean the city should not try lowering its rate. If rate caps are not good for businesses, why did we ratify it in the state's constitution? Spending $ on Grand Park (partially city owned currently), the city does not pay taxes, therefore Westfield residents and businesses have to make up the loss.
Thanks for the comment, KJ. Yes, the city rate still matters to businesses. However, since most residential property owners in Westfield are at or near the 1% cap, rate isn't the issue for them. Why did we amend the state constitution to make the property caps permanent? Because residential property owners vote, businesses do not.
You're right, the city has spent $$ on Grand Park. But the whole idea there is to entice businesses to locate in the 1400 acres around the sports campus. We want those tax dollars to lessen the burden on the residential property tax payer. So if it generally costs more to do business in Westfield rather than some other municipalities (for a variety of reasons, not just taxes) then we need to give businesses some other compelling reason to want to locate here. The number of annual visitors to Grand Park is that compelling reason. We already have a senior care facility that has purchased land and will be locating directly across the street from the campus. So it has started--and it will continue.
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