Announcement: Downtown Revitalization Meeting Nov. 9

The second public meeting on revitalizing Downtown Hamilton will be at 6:00 PM at City Hall on Tuesday November 9th. The meeting will focus on preliminary recommendations for improving downtown's physical environment, including:

• land use (institutions, retail and services, offices, housing, etc.)
• traffic
• pedestrian and handicap accessibility
• parking
• new development and redevelopment opportunities
• historic preservation

Comments Following Meeting No. 1

The  following comments were received after the first public meeting on October 12 in response to the discussions of that evening.

PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES: What locations would you choose to be included on a postcard for Hamilton?

• Jerry Brown, Missy Miles, and other local artists and their work
  

Public Meeting No. 1

Thanks to all those who attended the first public meeting last night at City Hall. For those who attended, please review the notes we took during the meeting and let us know if we missed anything. For those who weren't able to come, this is your chance to catch up. Feel free to add your opinion by commenting on this post.

ASSETS: What are physical characteristics at/above your own personal standards?

·         Marion County Courthouse

·         Churches

·         Local Businesses

·         Hamilton House

·         Restaurants

·         Coffee shop

·         First Street SW

·         Pocket park

·         The Ramp

·         Intersection of 3 highways

·         “Best KFC in world”

·         Safety

·         Banks

·         Hamilton Public Library

·         Schools

·         Bevill Center/Community College

·         North Mississippi Medical Center

·         Easy walk to neighborhoods 

·         Veterans Memorial

 

PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES: What locations would you choose to be included on a postcard for Hamilton?

·         River (near Indian Mounds)

·         Indian Mounds

·         Toll Gate Sign

·         Hamilton House

·         Waterfall (near old State Trooper HQ, needs clean-up)

·         Grist Mill

·         Veterans Memorial

·         Rankin Fite Airport

·         Marion County Courthouse

·         Local Art

·         What used to be (Ford building, old theater)

·         Bevill Community College

·         Old bank building

ISSUES: What are physical characteristics below your own personal standards?

·         Buildings/Facades

·         Parking around Courthouse

·         Telephone poles in sidewalk

·         No public restrooms

·         Drainage problems (1^st Street SW area)

·         Vacancy

·         Sidewalks

·         Cleanliness, maintenance

·         Handicap accessibility

·         City hall

·         Speed of traffic (esp. on Military St.)

·         Traffic lights on Military St., poor timing

·         Lack of lighting, maintenance

·         Power lines

·         Truck traffic (esp. making turns)

·         Some businesses close Wednesday afternoons

·         High gas prices

 OUTSIDE FORCES: What outside forces are affecting or may affect downtown revitalization?

·         ALDOT

·         Internet service providers

·         Emergent care (NMMC has only one)

·         Manufacturing sector

·         Two income families vs. 9-5 downtown business hours

·         County schools

 SACRED COWS: What community elements should we not propose to change too much or remove?

·         Churches

·         Marion County Courthouse

·         Hamilton Public Library

·         Bevill Community College

·         North Mississippi Medical Center

·         Rankin Fite Airport

 

DOWNTOWN MISSION: Why do you live, work, invest or visit Downtown Hamilton?

·         The people (of Hamilton)

·         Home

·         Family

·         Convenience

·         Business investment

·         Property investment

·         Beauty

·         Money

·         Weather

·         Pride

·         Potential

·         Growth

·         Safety

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES: What types of businesses are needed in Downtown Hamilton?

·         Grocery store

·         Clothing stores

·         Places to buy “new” items

·         Pharmacy with weekend hours

 

MISSING FROM YOUR VISION: What is missing today that is in your future vision for Downtown Hamilton?

·         Jobs

·         Better maintained buildings

·         Landscaping, greenery

·         Activity

·         People staying longer

·         Housing

·         Unique shopping experience

·         Comfortable, inviting environment

·         Better parking arrangement

·         Nighttime activity

·         Lighting

·         Thriving businesses

·         Meeting or gathering place

·         Activities for all ages

·         Bowling alley

·         Multi-purpose building/Civic Center

·         Tourism

·         Foot traffic

·         Sidewalk dining

·         Alcohol sales

·         Variety of retail

·         Better overall appearance

·         Dining options

·         Public transit, bus station

·         Weekend hours for courthouse

·         Friendly merchants

·         Welcome center

·         More personal services

·         Greenspace

 

WOW QUESTION: What would make you say “Wow. I’m glad we/they did that in Downtown Hamilton,” if looking back 10 years from now?

·         Utility poles gone

·         Ample parking, a parking deck

·         Lighting

·         Clean streets

·         Landscaping, greenery

·         Buildings occupied

·         Customers

·         Welcome signs

·         Gathering place(s)

·         Vibrant activity

·         Businesses open later, more

·         Documenting and telling the history of Hamilton

·         Street trees

·         Bakery

·         Street furniture

·         Better signage