The Hamilton County Planning+Development Department recently notified the City of Harrison it would be the recipient of a $10,000 grant for downtown district planning. The County is managing a total of $100,000 in Federal Community Development Block Grants for community planning projects.
The City’s Economic Development Department met with Hamilton County representatives and planning firm McBride Dale Clarion to discuss implementation of the grant.
In 2018, the City updated its Comprehensive Plan to set long-term growth strategies for the City. That plan recommended that one of the major priorities for the City be downtown revitalization.
In 2019, the City engaged McBride Dale Clarion to initiate a Downtown Redevelopment Strategy. “Phase I” of that strategy is nearing completion, and includes identifying the properties that are prime candidates for new or revised uses. The recent grant award will fund “Phase II” and round out the Downtown Redevelopment Strategy. The second phase will review the potential needed improvements, such as sidewalk enhancements, street lighting, pedestrian safety, open spaces and wayfinding. The final report should be complete by the end of 2021, culminating in an open house to share information with the community.
Pictured (left to right): Dominique DeLucia and Steve Johns of Hamilton County, and Greg Dale and Elizabeth Fields of McBride Dale Clarion.
Pictured (on homepage): Harrison residents and other stakeholders attended a meeting led by Emily Crow of the planning firm of McBride Dale Clarion in 2019.