June 2009
May 2009
Better Middlebury Partnership wins another grant for Middlebury
The Better Middlebury Partnership is thrilled to announce that it has secured the $240,000 to help the Town of Middlebury improve the area at the base of the Otter Creek Falls in the Marble Works. The project was one of the priorities identified in the Creative Communities program that engaged Middlebury area residents in discussion about how to use creative activities to generate economic and community vitality. Making better use of the riverfront area of the Otter Creek was the top priority of area citizens participating in that process, which was led by Nancy Malcolm. The project will result in a fully handicapped accessible path leading from the Marble Works side of the footbridge to the Printer’s Alley entrance to the Marble Works. A naturally bowl shaped area of the Marble works will also be improved for pedestrian access. This will improve one of the best vantage points from which to enjoy the Falls.The grant is the fourteenth grant that the Better Middlebury Partnership has sought and won for the Town of Middlebury. This grant is the largest the Better Middlebury Partnership has sought and is twice the amount of any previous grant. The grants have ranged in size from $1500 to the current $240,000. In the past 15 years the Better Middlebury Partnership has garnered nearly $1,170,000 in grants and donations for planning and capital improvement projects in the downtown area. The grant activity focuses in that area because a Downtown Improvement District tax on commercial property in that area provides a regular source of matching funds for the projects. Many grant sources are available only for designated downtown areas or give priority to projects in historic downtown area.Over the life of the Downtown Improvement District local funds have leveraged over $4 for every local dollar spent. Local matching funds from that district tax total just under $320,000. Other donations and funds bring the total local matching funds to $360,000. Many grant sources also are available only for designated downtown areas or give priority to project in historic downtown area. In addition to the public improvements that have been funded in the designated downtown, private property owners within the district have benefited from the availability of tax credits for specified work in commercial property. Tax credits have been used in housing projects, Town Hall Theater and commercial buildings.
Construction News
The riverfront project will not begin construction until 2011. There is some construction underway right now. As many of you know construction started on the Cross Street bridge a few weeks ago. There has been some temporary loss of public parking and noise associated with the project. We will try and keep you up to date on the progress of that project. Look for future emails on the project - the subject line will say "Cross Street Bridge". I just received notification of a week long construction project on Merchants Row. The content of that notice follows:"Replacement of a water main near Soldiers Monument to the railroad overpass will begin on Monday, May 4, 2009. The project begins near the monument and ends at the fire hydrant near the overpass. Traffic control will be provided. On Monday, the contractor will excavate near the monument to find the main. On Tuesday, a valve vault will be installed. New water main will be laid on Wednesday and Thursday.Traffic will be reduced to one lane at times on Merchants Row so expect delays. This is a very important project as it will eliminate an old water main that runs under Steve's Diner."
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