Visions of Third Street Downtown Corridor

["bill london" <bill_london@hotmail.com>]

The meeting held last night (10/27) sponsored by the city, EDC, and 
Moscow Food Co-op--from the perspective of one who organized the meeting 
and served as moderator--was a good one.

As a public forum, continuing the dialog about downtown revitalization, 
the meeting served to share the Co-op's plans and to facilitate 
discussion about related civic issues.

The Co-op representatives described the new store (the Co-op is moving 
to the site of the former Third Street Market, 221 E. Third) as the new 
anchor business for that eastern side of downtown.  As a million dollar 
business (annual sales of about $1,100,000) with strong customer 
loyalties, the Co-op is expected to bring new life to that part of town.  
In addition, the Co-op is (with its own time and money) beautifying the 
exterior of the new building--especially the south or Fourth Street side 
of the building that faces the Post Office.  Benches, trees, and other 
plantings will change the feel of that street and connect it better to 
downtown.

The Co-op Board members there suggested to Dale Pernula (Moscow econ. 
dev. director) that together the Co-op and city might be able to do even 
more beautification projects or look into grant support for more 
beautification.  We'll see what happens with that.

The liveliest discussion centered on the challenges to pedestrian 
crossings of Washington Street at Fourth.  It was agreed that the amount 
of pedestrian traffic was bound to increase (especially on Farmer's 
Market days).  Several ideas (from blinking warning lights to  yellow 
flags for pedestrians to carry to creating more slow-down curves in the 
highway) were suggested.  There was no obvious answer to that one.

I would appreciate hearing a discussion on this list from anyone who 
attended the meeting, or who has opinions on these matters.  BL

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