Downtown Pittsfield Looks To Craft New Five-Year Plan
 Downtown Pittsfield Inc. President Kate McGuire gave the City Council a mid-year report on Tuesday. |
That's according to the mid-year report given to the City Council on Tuesday by Downtown Pittsfield Inc. President Kate McGuire on the non-profit advocacy group's efforts to improve business activity.
She says downtown businesses have been growing but there is a lot more to be done.
A total of 16 businesses closed but 22 opened, she said, during a period of time with a "difficult economy."
The organization's membership grew from 167 members to 181 and McGuire says she anticipates nine more to sign on this week.
The organization is now calling for new eyes to help the organization put market studies into action to attract more businesses. The group is also calling for the development of a new five-year plan.
"We feel we need to create the new plan for the next five years," McGuire told the City Council. "We need to bring new businesses downtown."
The organization hopes to grow with some 20 new members each year and in the last year, it has taken steps to reach out to prospective businesses, perform research, re-examine special events, and start an ambassador program to improve safety.
"We needed to continue work on special events. We eliminated some that weren't bringing in dollars or good will," McGuire said.
The group has advocated for and worked with entities on the new parking plans, streetscape, the former Stetson Cleaners demolition and the new Hotel on North, and has identified a number of ways to help the downtown. It has done a market study to find ways to do more.
"It is really about outreach and constant conversation," she said of the organization's efforts to attract new businesses.
But still there is a perception that North Street and the surrounding areas are in a "lull," according to Ward 6 Councilor John Krol.
McGuire agreed and said the organization is now looking for new people to sit in on meetings to help understand the root of that. Understanding that will lead to a more targeted effort to revitalize downtown,she said.
"We need to invite new people to the table," McGuire said. "We cannot do it without the help of the city."
Ward 5 Councilor Jonathan Lothrop suggest an stronger emphasis on restaurants. While there many part of the organization, not many of the downtown restaurant owners are board members.
"Restaurants seem to be under represented in membership," Lothrop said. "Somehow we have to engage the restaurants more. On a day to day basis, those are our No. 1 traffic generator."
He said the days of a large retailer being a traffic driver are gone or refocused to other areas like Berkshire Crossings or Allendale. But restaurants still provide foot traffic downtown.
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Councilor Jonathan Lothrop suggested the organization work closer with restaurants to drive foot traffic. |
The City Council also voiced concern over snow removal and the use of police funds for patrol downtown and not in other areas.
Krol said he has heard many complaints from businesses owners about snow removal and accidents, leading to a decrease in customers. McGuire agreed that the snow removal has not been good for business.
"We fielded a lot of calls at our office regarding street cleaning," McGuire said.
Ward 3 Councilor Nicholas Caccamo suggested the organization look to find ways to help the businesses that will be affected by the next phase of the streetscape project, which McGuire said it has already been doing.
At Downtown Pittsfield's urging, the mayor requested the Police Department use overtime to fund additional patrols on North Street last summer. Ward 7 Councilor Anthony Simonelli voiced concern for the non-profit's advocacy on that, suggesting other areas of the city were being ignored.
McGuire said she believes the Police Department should use patrols as it feels fit. The initiative began prior to her hiring as president in September but she cited the ambassador program as a fitting what the organization was seeking.
"If that is the plan, to have that consistent downtown presence, we have to allocate funding for that," Krol said of the additional police patrols.
Downtown Pittsfield worked with the Police Department and Berkshire Community College to start an ambassador program.
The program, which helps orient visitors around North Street, is expected to return in the spring and the organization wants to grow that to other areas of the city, McGuire said.
While the City Council said there is still more work to be done, they are happy with McGuire's leadership.
"I think you have reinvigorated the organization," said Councilor at Large Barry Clairmont.
McGuire said she sees the downtown as the center of not only Pittsfield but the entire region.
"I have grown so in love with this community and really understand that this is the center of our region," she
said.
said.
Tags: business development, downtown, Downtown Pittsfield, North Street, police,
