Advice given after EL walking tour
By MICHAEL D. McELWAIN (mmcelwain@reviewonline.com)Article Photos
As an employee with the Downtown Entrepreneurship Project, D’Aprix made the trek from his Washington, DC headquarters to East Liverpool and walked along the streets and sidewalks steeped in history.
“You have absolutely amazing architecture here,” D’Aprix said. “You have what we call ‘great bones.’”
Brian Kerr, city councilman and local business owner, hosted D’Aprix’s visit, and the goal was to take a look at the opportunities for economic development and a revitalization of the downtown area.
“I think of downtown as a gem that can be polished everyday,” Kerr said before introducing D’Aprix at a briefing at the East Liverpool Motor Lodge.
“We are in a new economic development era,” D’Aprix said. “Cities in distress need to be nimble, ahead of the curve and cutting edge.”
He acknowledged the fact that downtown East Liverpool is a “distressed area” but pointed to some factors that could stem the tide and help turn the page of a new chapter.
D’Aprix pointed to educational opportunities, the state of housing, health care availability and the upkeep to the infrastructure as areas that need to be monitored, maintained and, if necessary, improved upon.
City officials, business owners and residents must also have “an absolute commitment to downtown” in order to make a difference, according to D’Aprix.
As he embarked on his one and a-half day tour, D’Aprix said he received a lot of feedback and made some observations that are important to any thriving downtown environment and some unique to East Liverpool.
D’Aprix said:
- The parking situation in East Liverpool is all right. “It’s going to take care of itself.”
- A concern should be noted about the many empty store fronts.
- There’s room for improving the housing conditions in the city. There is a need for some type of outreach.
- The idea of East Liverpool being a college town is “something you need to embrace.”
- Roadways downtown could “use a little help” and is “not particularly attractive.”
- The lack of signage helping to guide visitors around the city is a significant problem.
- East Liverpool has an “interesting mix of stores.”
An all-out effort is needed to guide the downtown into a more prosperous, entrepreneurial area, according to D’Aprix.
He suggested the city get involved in the Main Street Program and develop funding to pay for a Main street manager — a person who will work everyday to coordinate efforts to improve the downtown area.
“You need someone every single day working the downtown,” D’Aprix said. “A good Main Street manager will address the problems and work with all the wonderful assets you have here. I recommend that to be your next step and go ahead and do it.”
East Liverpool is facing the same problems as most distressed communities around the country, D’Aprix said. “East Liverpool needs something like the Main Street Program more than any other community I’ve been to recently.”
One key to the success or revitalizing downtown will be in infusing new life into the entrepreneurial spirit and spurring small business development. Getting banks to cooperate with a low interest loan program, working with the Small Business Development Center or developing small business incubators will help spur the process, according to D’Aprix.
“I think you have a great community here and a great downtown,” D’Aprix said.
A more in-depth analysis of the findings is expected to be a topic of conversation 7:30 this morning at Crockery City Cafe.
The consultant’s visit to East Liverpool was sponsored by the East Liverpool Chamber of Commerce, 1st National Community Bank, A&I Studios and the Hancock County Savings Bank.
