Developer discusses revitalization

Educating government officials about down towns and development, coupled with patience, are two key processes needed to revitalize flag ging
city centers, according to a developer who unveiled a multi-million-dollar development in Helena.

By Leslie McCartney, of The Montana Standard

“ The main ingredient in developing in down town is persistence,” said Alan Nicholson, who started the Great Northern project in Helena some
years ago.
The 11-acre parcel features office buildings, a planned restaurant and hotel, green space and a carousel.
Nicholson was one of several people featured Friday on the second day of the Reinventing Historic Downtown conference in Butte.

As a result of Nicholson’s persistence and a unique partnership with the City of Helena, around $60 million has been invested in the heart of the city.
This includes nearly $30 million worth of private construction, a $25 million fed eral building and $6 million in public construc tion — namely a
parking facility.

The city helped make it a reality by paying for a parking area and also granted a low-interest loan to help with infrastructure.
“ It certainly has been a big boost,” Nicholson said. “ It’s a good investment to the city.”
However, how to draw such development to strug gling centers like Uptown Butte is challenging, partici pants acknowledged.

Nicholson advised people to educate government offi cials as to what they have in their midst, which is difficult because cities and towns are
struggling to get by with less and less dollars. Cities can, however, encourage develop ment given tools and incen tives.

Especially helpful tools are tax increment districts, and Nicholson is hopeful that they will remain.
“ Given our present politi cal atmosphere I’m not sure what will happen to the tax increment statutes,” he said. “ I hope they are left alone.”
Housing and Urban Development Community Development Director Larry Gallagher of Helena also touted tax increment financ ing and the effect
of having cities and towns partner with developers to make things happen.

“ Developers do not want to be out there all alone,” he said.
A panel discussion during the conference Friday cen tered on what has and has not worked in Uptown Butte redevelopment.
Panelists agreed that the city has a unique treasure in its Uptown buildings, but dif ficulties remain in making the Uptown work.

“ It is hard to come up with the money to maintain (older buildings),” said Joel Broudy, a past president of the Mainstreet program and owner of
Wein’s Men’s Store in Uptown Butte.
He said several efforts over the past two decades have been effective, namely facade, sidewalk and roof programs that help owners with those
expenses. He also said that Uptown ventures, such as the Christmas Stroll and Farmer’s Market, are well received.

A common theme running through the discussions is the lack of money to conduct needed aesthetic work and also discovering Butte’s mar ket niche.
Carefully using limited resources and efficiency are important, said Don Peoples, a former chief executive for Butte who now oversees MSE.
He also urged groups to begin to work together toward common goals.

“ It’s become somewhat splintered,” he said. “ We’ve got to work together to main tain our community spirit.”
That can be difficult given tough economic times, he said.
“ Despite Herculean efforts, we continue to see setbacks,” Peoples said.
However, he reminded people that the Uptown is a great place, and encouraged them to work toward its revi talization.

— Reporter Leslie McCartney may be reached at leslie.mccartney(at)(at)mtstandard.com

http://www.mtstandard.com/newslocal/2news.html