Downtown revitalization showing life in Chestnut Street District

By ERIC W. NORRIS

Hays Daily News

It takes time to restore a building. It is a long and arduous process to purchase the property, submit a building permit and secure the proper contractors. The process is lengthened further if the building is of any historical significance and reconstruction guidelines must be met.

This all before a hammer even touches the structure to perform any actual demolition or reconstruction.

Changes and renovations in downtown Hays might seem slow to the casual observer but behind the scenes is a flurry of activity.

Sabrina William can attest to this. She is the Downtown Hays Development Corp. coordinator for the Hays Area Chamber of Commerce.

Her desk at times is filled with piles of forms and grant applications that must be filled out before serious talks can begin about such projects as refurbishing buildings downtown to attract businesses.

“There is a tremendous amount of work and planning that goes into turning a vision into a reality,” William said. “Especially when looking at the Chestnut Street District.”

The Chestnut Street District constitutes an approximate 12-block area between Oak and Fort streets, running from Sixth to 13th Street.

“That is the core of the district,” William said, “though it does extend past those bounds to include several outlying areas and properties.”

This general area is where the DHDC has been concentrating most of its efforts for improvement projects.

One of the most significant projects the DHDC has undertaken in the past year is working with the Kansas Historical Society in an attempt to turn that general area into a historic district.

Last October the city agreed to front $3,100 in matching funds for the DHDC to hire a grant writer to pen the nomination for a historic district downtown.

William has in hand a survey conducted by a Kansas City architectural and historical research firm. The survey examined over 100 properties in the downtown area with which a soon-to-be hired grant writer will use to set the boundaries of the district.

Establishing a historic district will, among other opportunities, open up tax incentive programs to property owners of contributing structures within the district for the funding of building preservation construction.

“We have to hire a grant writer because the nomination request is complicated and involved,” William said. “A professional grant writer ensures that it is written correctly and follows procedure.”

William said that though steps are currently being taken to secure a grant writer, the nomination still needs to be written and it will be sometime before the state historical society makes its decision.

“It will be 2006 before we even know if the nomination has been approved,” William said.

The DHDC is also in partnership with Liberty Group LLC in undertaking structural and property enhancements to help generate interest in downtown shopping.

Liberty Group was created in 1999 by Chuck and Shirley Comeau with the intent of looking to the past of the downtown area to stimulate future economic growth.

The DHDC selected Liberty Group as the developer of the first six projects in downtown, charging them with the responsibility of renovating the buildings.

Eli's Room, 112 W. 11th, opened the third week of November and plans have been in the works for other downtown buildings.

Liquid Bread Brewing Co. & Gella's Diner hope to open doors in May on the 100 block of East 11th and Semolino Coffee & Eatery, 110 W. 11th, also plans to to open this spring.

Renovations are also underway at 110 Main Street to bring in Jack & Jill and Kids Again sometime this coming year.

“We are in the process of developing a downtown with a real reputation for being entrepreneur-oriented,” Chuck Comeau said. “We want the downtown to be the place where start-up businesses can find a home and thrive.”