A plan to improve the appearance and functionality of Sweet Home’s business district is done. All that remains is putting it into place, Ron Moore, president of the Sweet Home Economic Development Group said Thursday morning.
During the monthly business breakfast, Moore introduced Vicky Dugger of the Oregon Downtown Development Association.
Dugger was a member of a team from the ODDA that spent three days in March studying the business community, it’s strengths and pitfalls. A master document is now available at the Chamber of Commerce focusing on that group’s findings and recommendations.
Dugger said the review focused on building facades, street scapes, parking and energy efficiency.
“The goal is to create a mixed-use downtown district,” Dugger said.
That would include rehabilitating buildings, creating inviting pedestrian walkways, strengthening existing businesses and attracting new businesses to fill in gaps.
“Sweet Home needs to build off its recent successes,” Dugger said. “Examples include this community center, the police department and private office buildings.”
She said the community’s special events are outstanding including the Oregon Jamboree and the Highland Games.
Suggestions included adding a park-like feature to the Ames Creek restoration project and connecting to Main Street with a pathway.
The community should consider creating an entry-way approach at the East Linn Museum, perhaps moving the old train depot building there to create a visitor entry.
The downtown could be tied with a theme via complementary benches, trash receptacles, bike racks and trees.
“The goal,” Dugger noted, “is to create people gathering places. The parking bulbouts could become pedestrian areas with the planting of flowers and addition of benches and lights.”
The open area next to The New Era building could be turned into an attractive park, Dugger suggested.
While perceived as a problem, Sweet Home actually utilizes only 34-36% of its parking spaces. Dugger said that survey though should be re taken during the summer tourism months rather than during the height of winter.
“Too many open parking spaces gives the impression that it’s vacant,” Dugger said. “You also need to mark spaces, cooperative on parking spaces, create special use spaces and larger spaces specifically for large RVs.”
Stores should consider more uniform blade signage versus flat signs against buildings, Dugger said.
“The goal is to create a synergy within the business district,” Dugger said. “You need to create a destination downtown district.”
Sweet Home has an extremely long business district, Dugger said, so the goal needs to be park once and walk often.
The number of vacant buildings in the downtown core is a problem, Dugger said.
“Vacant spaces create issues for shoppers,” Dugger said. “Too many spaces and shoppers will move to the other side of the street or leave altogether.”
Dugger said that although 17 percent of residents within a five mile radius of the community are age 65 or older, 23 percent are 19 or younger.
She asked if any stores in the community are catering to the younger demographic and noted that teens have considerable amount of disposable income and are willing to spend it.
Dugger said the retail sales potential for Sweet Home is more than $94 million per year and the average daily traffic count is 5,000-6,000 vehicles.
It is estimated that once the Resort at Salmon Run is completed, some 40,000-60,000 rounds of golf will be played here annually.
“Your market is already here,” Dugger said. “You just need to get more business from them. This community is filled with great, well-kept secrets.”
Merchants need to “think big and bold” in providing quality, unique shopping experiences.
“There is no magic bullet,” she said. “But, there is enormous potential.”