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DDA presents downtown update, touts 20 new businesses and planned parking-lot repairs
Summary
Garden City’s Downtown Development Authority told council it captured roughly $21 million in TIF value and operates on about $629,000 annually, highlighted 20 new downtown businesses and outlined near-term projects including a Northeast parking-lot seal-and-restripe and alley drainage work.
Matt Miller, the DDA director, told the Garden City City Council on Nov. 17 that the Downtown Development Authority’s funds come from tax increment financing established when the DDA was created in 1983 and are used for business attraction, streetscape maintenance and community events. Miller said the DDA’s captured taxable value is roughly $21 million and listed an annual DDA budget figure of about $629,000.
The presentation described grant-supported programs and a revised business incentive program that offers tiered façade, architectural-assistance and signage grants (presented as $7,000, $2,000 and $1,000 tiers). Miller said the DDA used funds for brick-wall repairs, streetscape maintenance, pothole and crack sealing, holiday decorations and security cameras downtown, and that it had supported about 20 new businesses this year.
Council members praised recent downtown improvements and suggested promotional ideas such as a restaurant week. Miller said DDA priorities for the coming year include negotiating a Fo k er TIF agreement, developing a restaurant-week marketing plan, applying for placemaking and Safe Streets grants, and completing a master-plan update. He also outlined near-term capital work: replacement and drainage repairs at the Northeast parking lot behind Garden City Cafe and alley repairs behind the Lucky Squirrel vendor area.
Miller said the DDA will continue to administer the business incentive program and described the façade and architectural-assistance elements (helping businesses get permits and design assistance) and a signage grant intended to bring non-compliant signs into compliance. He invited council and residents to contact the DDA with questions and noted the DDA’s role coordinating ribbon cuttings and other downtown activations.
The presentation closed with images and a short drone clip from the recent chili cook-off and a photo montage of businesses that the DDA said have been in Garden City 30 years or longer. Miller and his assistant, John Prasch, offered to answer follow-up questions by email or phone.
