8(b) Downtown Plan Update - Executive Summary

Home Browse Search

The history of development in Pequot Lakes has been dominated by horizontal, decentralized growth with a strong automobile centric pattem. This pattem of development creates long-term liabilities for infrastructure maintenance. In addition, recent private sector investment has lagged behind public investrnent in the downtown area and surrounding neighborhoods. While these challenges may appear daunting the character of our community and the opportunities it affords its residents offer a foundation for success. To be successful the City must orient its initiatives to focus on obtaining a high retum on the public' s investments. Nowhere are these investments more important than the neighborhoods surrounding the histonc downtown. Revitalizing the downtown of Pequot Lakes and the neighborhoods that surround it is critical to the long-term financial health of the City. This plan details the rationale and strategy for renewing downtown Pequot Lakes and the surrounding neighborhoods. It is a practical plan that highlights the benefits of living and working in our city. We can start to see a path toward strong private sector investment by considering that a typical family spends thousands of dollars for each automobile they have. Meanwhile residents in our downtown neighborhoods are within walking distance of a wide variety of amenities and services, reducing the need for multiple vehides, and saving the typical family enough to afford the mortgage on a house in one of these neighborhoods. By focusing on what is required to inspire this family to live in Pequot Lakes we can plan for the future success of our downtown area. Pequot Lakes is already a great place to live with a downtown area that has much to offer. Building on this will not be difficult. Our greatest challenge is adapting to the changing world around us and embracing that— here in Pequot Lakes—we can build a future that is better than we have dared to dream.