3 - Downtown Master Pland & Park Plan Discussion

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i III. The Assets and Challenges of Downtown In 2003,the businesses in Pequot Lakes had over$16 million in taxable sales and retail and service businesses represented over $7 million of those sales. The majority of the retail and service businesses in Pequot are located in downtown. The location of these businesses has created a unique situation in downtown. Anchored by Government Drive, the east side of downtown has developed to cater more to the tourist and visitor population. Many of the business located in this area are considered destination retailers. They include gift and boutique type retailers, restaurants, and other specialfty retailers. The majority of businesses on the west side of downtown cater to the daily needs of Pequot Area residents including banks, a grocery store, and many other services. The natural segregation of businesses creates some interesting challenges and opportunities to developing a cohesive plan for downtown. Strengths and opportunities; Comment[CLMl]:Add some more With the park as a buffer between the highway and businesses,downtown is laid out in a information go n t e west side°f town. happening on the west side of town. manner'that__grants Government Drive a high level of visibility from Highway 37i and Comment[ctM2]:Put information Main Street. This visibility equates to increased desirability for business, which Js on the number ofpermits issued for the evidenced in thequality of investments and construction along the_Drive.Although the last years. accele rating. ----------------------------- --------- -------- -------- - ------------- ---- --- ...show that it is accel businesses along Government Drive continue to thrive there,there are other businesses Deleted:can be seen downtown that struggle to get traffic. Finding ways to get visitors from Government Deleted:new Drive and other popular downtown locations to other,less known,locations downtown would be a benefit ,Government Drive should serve as a gateway into-the East-side-of Deleted: many of the downtown ---------------------------------------- - businesses downtown,welcoming foot traffic. Deleted:Infrastructure along Providing infrastructure that invites visitors into downtown along Main, Butler and Oriole Streets from Government Drive should increase foot traffic. Infrastructure improvements could include improved crosswalks, trees,.planting§, and 1 finches. Deleted: and Signage wquld help__increase the visibility of_businesses not on_Government Drive. Deleted:, Kiosks with maps of business locations and types could also be used to introduce visitors Wes;B to what downtown has to offer. Deleted:could Downtown Pequot, especially the east side, has many unique destination type retailers. These businesses share many of the same customers and each customer will typically, Deleted:,whom visit many shops during Avisit to_Pequot.__Destination ion_businesses_feed off the traffic _ - Deleted:their generated by each other. An increase in the number of these businesses 11 only create -- Deleted:should more traffic and sales for Downtown Pequot. With a grocery store, four banks, a hardware store and a variety of other services,the downtown,o fers the basic services Pequot area residents and businesses need on a daily �Deleted:is home to many businesses ----------------------- ------------------------------------------------------- - t or weekly basis. The service�ased businesses on the west side toll led with the more--- ---------- - pdestination type business generally located on the east allows the downtown to offer a i° full spectrum of services. his-spectrum of services creates traffic downtown during the Deleted:offering a full slower seasons of the destination retail businesses. While the service based businesses share many of the needs as the more destination or tourist based retailers, their customers expect a higher level of convenience in their shopping experience Pequot Lakes Downtown Plan—Updated December 2007 6