Tomah Community Visit – March 19, 2010
crossposted from WDAC website
Time: 9:00am-2:00pm
Meeting Place: Tomah Tee Pee Restaurant – 812 Superior Avenue
RSVP’s must be received before March 12th, 2010 via e-mail to chanson@tomahwisconsin.com
Community Visit Agenda9:00AM Check in and networking 9:45AM Welcome by City of Tomah Officials and Jason Gilman, WDAC President 10:15AM OUR TOWN TOMAH- Joanne Westpfhal and Susan Holmes-citizens at work improving Tomah’s Downtown 11::00AM THE TOMAH CASH STORE- The challenges and successes of operating a downtown department store in the age of big box retailing-Mark Rose 11:45AM Lunch and Presentation- FAÇADE RENOVATION PROGRAMS- Kevin Pomeroy, Planning Director, 1,000 Friends of Wisconsin 1:00PM THE REDEVELOPMENT OF TOMAH’S DOWNTOWN RAILYARD- Scott Harrington, Vandewalle and Associates 1:45PM WALKING TOUR OF TOMAH DOWNTOWN- Chris Hanson, Tomah Chamber of Commerce. 2:15PM WDAC BOARD MEETING
Our Town Tomah is an active citizen’s group that works to leverage limited resources into big impacts in Downtown Tomah. Largely following the recommendations from a “first impressions” study, that was completed in 2004, this group has been able to identify projects that would improve the overall appeal of the community for visitors, businesses, and residents. They have implemented an annual City-wide clean-up day and organized a flower planting program to beautify the downtown area.
In a time when big box stores in fringe commercial districts have captured much of the retail demand and made it difficult for downtown retail to survive, it is rare to find a successful department store that is still operating in the downtown. The Tomah Cash Store has gone against the trend, serving the Tomah Community since 1900, offering 3 floors and 30,000 square feet of furniture, gifts, collectibles, men’s, women’s, and children’s clothing, and much more right downtown. This community visit will offer an inside look at the challenges and successes of this unique store.
This community visit will also offer an early look at a major redevelopment project that is in the works on the downtown rail yard. Canadian Pacific Railway currently owns the 61 acre property in the center of the City. However, they are looking to sell the property, and have hired Vandewalle & Associates to assist them with marketing and researching development concepts for the property. They are currently working with the City Long Range Planning Committee to identify and develop possible themes for the property, explore the potential for a mix of uses, and identify funding sources for the redevelopment. This project is really starting to gain momentum, as a public meeting was held in early February and businesses and developers are starting to take notice of this opportunity. This community visit will offer the opportunity for everyone to learn from the progress that has been made on this project, and also for the WDAC network to offer insight to the City of Tomah as they keep moving forward.
Please join us in the City of Tomah on March 19, 2010 for an exciting opportunity to learn, network, and work together to improve downtowns.
