Revitalizing Downtown Utica
By: Chelsea Rarrick
Updated: January 16, 2012
For one group of people, Monday night was all about starting to
brainstorm ideas to bring back Downtown Utica at the first Downtown
Utica Development Association Meeting.
The president of the group says they are looking to make downtown look clean, attractive, and safe for the people there.
Longtime Utica resident, Emmett Martin just moved his business to a newly renovated building downtown.
Martin hopes that people will soon follow his lead, and join him in the spaces in the area.
"Whether it's retail, offices, or whatever, there are a lot of great buildings down here that need to take a second or third look at where people can put some money in them and really develop Downtown Utica," said Martin.
And brainstorming ideas Monday night is exactly what the Downtown Utica Development Association did.
"There's got to be some innovative things that happen downtown. We're looking at promoting more of the arts and entertainment, and trying to draw people in," said the group's President, Regina Bonacci.
Bonacci says part of the planning includes attracting younger people to the area.
"They're the ones that seem to be wanting to gravitate to a downtown urban environment. I believe the need is there. We just need to create it, and promote it," said Bonacci.
Like Bonacci, Sam Phou sees the potential that downtown has.
"As more and more people begin to come back, whether living in downtown or conducting a business in downtown, it will give it more strength and more excitement," said Phou.
The president of the group says they are looking to make downtown look clean, attractive, and safe for the people there.
Longtime Utica resident, Emmett Martin just moved his business to a newly renovated building downtown.
Martin hopes that people will soon follow his lead, and join him in the spaces in the area.
"Whether it's retail, offices, or whatever, there are a lot of great buildings down here that need to take a second or third look at where people can put some money in them and really develop Downtown Utica," said Martin.
And brainstorming ideas Monday night is exactly what the Downtown Utica Development Association did.
"There's got to be some innovative things that happen downtown. We're looking at promoting more of the arts and entertainment, and trying to draw people in," said the group's President, Regina Bonacci.
Bonacci says part of the planning includes attracting younger people to the area.
"They're the ones that seem to be wanting to gravitate to a downtown urban environment. I believe the need is there. We just need to create it, and promote it," said Bonacci.
Like Bonacci, Sam Phou sees the potential that downtown has.
"As more and more people begin to come back, whether living in downtown or conducting a business in downtown, it will give it more strength and more excitement," said Phou.
