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JUNE 3

Community Meetings

May 22 – 23, 2019

La Junta Main Street

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Main Street La Junta Community Input Feedback for Main Street

On May 22 and May 23, La Junta Main Street held a series of meetings to ask for

community input. The focus of the input was on downtown La Junta:

What does the community want to see in the downtown?

What types of specific businesses would be great for La Junta?

How about events, facilities, amenities and activities?

Are there specific projects or area of focus for Main Street moving forward?

The conversation focused around the four pillars of Main Street:

Design, Organization, Promotion and Economic Vitality

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Results of the feedback The community members heard a short presentation about Main Street and then

started brainstorming around the four pillars. The organization pillar was not included

in the conversation as it was not pertinent. A long list of possibilities was considered

and discussed, and then each group chose the most important areas for Main Street to

focus time and attention. Some specific business ideas were also captured. The

complete list is appended to the end of this report.

Design Ideas

Public Art

Public bathroom

Splash Park

Game center (outdoor or building)

Promotion Ideas

Living History Art Walk Oral histories of residents and visitors Build and promote trails: bike, walking (need bike rental and bike racks) Multi-generational events (family/youth friendly) Professional musicians/concerts Outdoor directory Youth events/tours

Economic Vitality Ideas

Reduce empty storefronts – bring in new businesses Attract nighttime businesses (not bars) that would be open from 7:00 pm – 10:00

pm Grant/share program to assist new businesses with rent (example in Trinidad) Incentives and grants, respond to RFP’s Retail business incubator Gathering/community place for teens (indoor building, outdoor area)

Specific Business Ideas

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Hobby Lobby KFC Noodles Starbucks Local coffee shop Sephora Hallmark Penny’s Target Shoes Ice Cream (local) soda shop ColdStone Sporting goods Fire baked pizza Print shop/copy shop with business supplies Family Italian Comfort food Art galleries Jewelry store/jewelry repair store Distillery Brew house/kombucha brew house Children’s Place for celebrations (expand the bowling alley??) BBQ

Grandma’s restaurant (like a co-op) Community kitchen/restaurant Etsy type shop with homemade crafts and products Locally-owned bakery Bookstore Local butcher Tea shop Steakhouse Restaurant open later Olive Garden Food coop Boutiques (gifts, clothing) Kitchen stores Greek restaurant Fabric shop Chick-Fil-A Bingo Burger Dairy Queen Buffalo Wild Wings Lumber yard Arcade (indoor) Bike rental Uber Teenage hangout (under 18)

Next Steps With this information, La Junta Main Street will create a work plan listing specific

information, dates, and volunteers to begin addressing the most important priorities

identified by the community. Many of these issues will require partnerships, resources

not currently available, and often will need a longer period of time to complete. That

Work Plan will offer some additional detail.

Ongoing input and feedback are encouraged, and if you have any

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comments or thoughts please contact

Cynthia D. Nieb, Director

Economic Development & Urban Renewal, City of La Junta

CORE CENTER/207 ½ Colorado Avenue

La Junta, CO 81050

Office: 719.384.3601

Cell: 303.518.8261

cynthia.nieb@ojc.edu

Long List of Ideas These are the ideas that did not become priorities but were discussed during the

meetings.

Economic Vitality Ideas

Out of town building owners need to do something

Presbyterian Church

Old TIO’s building

Variety of businesses

More cultural events (music, arts, crafts, theater)

Residential/living units in downtown

Streets and sidewalks in good repair

Create an Opportunity Zone prospectus for rehabbing four buildings downtown. Need help to identify

owners and people that may have capital gains who could benefit from this program

More inviting downtown: flowerpots on poles, globe lights, paint

Pride in downtown

Retail that allows full time employees (both to employ and to shop)

River attraction feature

Commercial kitchen

Jobs

Dog Park

Space sharing

Businesses that are open on the weekend to capture Amtrak delays

More green space

More gathering space with shade or water feature

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Outside eating for restaurants

Community Garden

Somewhere to dance that isn’t a bar

Skating rink (roller and ice)

Outdoor gym (like Swink has)

Lake to fish

Bike ride vendor for tours

Uber/Lyft

Makers’ space

Design Ideas

Banners

Lamp posts advertise events

Colorful crosswalks

Diagonal crosswalk

Phone charge station

Bike racks

Bike lanes

Fix sidewalks

Parking outside of the downtown area

Code enforcement, especially with the vacant buildings

Window displays and art, especially in the vacant buildings

School kids’ art on display

In kind

Bodies downtown (youth especially)

WIFI

More color

Fresh paint on all buildings (except brick)

Wash the buildings

Accessibility

Benches

Murals

Sculptures

Night lighting

Trees (State Bank example)

Outdoor eating

Dress up the vacant lot at Colorado and 2nd

Kit Carson mural

Misting stations

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Awnings

Shade (green)

Floral arrangements/pots

Limited time parking/meters in downtown

Sound system

Open alcohol carry in downtown during events

More trash and recycle bins

Drinking fountains

Ways to get around: bike rentals, Segway, scooters, golf carts

Bike lane/paths

Walking paths

Utilize the river

Pet park and pet trails

Colorful flags

Highway 50 trees

Develop and landscape Train Hill

Trolley downtown

Promote events over City PA

Parking: off street, city lots, address employee parking—do not monopolize retail parking space

Updated City signs

Wayfinding signs

City Theme

Car Charging Stations

Fire Pit

Promotion Ideas

Tarantula promotion

Gold Panning in the Arkansas River

Tour service from the train

Promotional pamphlets in other areas

History reenactment downtown

Dino Tracks

Old building tours (for Halloween as example)

Ghost tours

Food truck day

Farmer’s Market downtown

Website and social media

Connection to tourism

Sand volleyball

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Treasure and scavenger hunts to promote local businesses

Outdoor weightlifting competition

OJC events brought into downtown

Outside calendar

Social media

Music at the Junction

Party at the Plaza

Taco Fest

Car Shows

Cook off (holiday, chili, soups, gingerbread, BBQ)

Out of town breakfast

Trick or Treat Street

Koshare’s downtown

Rafting

Holiday fest

Ticker Board (bigger event board, changing constantly_

National Art show (travelling)

Musical events

Dancing in the Streets

Promote Highway 50 and the Valley

LJ Historical Tours

Sporting tournaments

Club sports training

Halloween event tour

Annual events/seasonal events (Settlers Day)

OJC involvement

Sidewalk sales

Festival Friday’s

Weekly Events

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