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Middletown council explores Atlantic Beach District street fair; businesses and residents weigh tradeoffs
Summary
Council members and residents discussed plans for an Atlantic Beach District street fair, focusing on logistics, public‑safety costs and how the event dovetails with long‑term streetscape projects. Council directed follow‑up outreach and a workshop to test business support.
Council members on Monday began exploring a proposal to stage a street fair in the Atlantic Beach District as a way to drive year‑round foot traffic to local businesses and raise the district’s profile.
The discussion opened after the council received a memorandum and a draft fiscal‑impact statement prepared for the proposal. Members said the town should first gauge business support and logistics before committing public resources. The council noted a preliminary fiscal‑impact estimate prepared by town staff put public‑safety costs — police, public‑works support, barricades and emergency services — at roughly $12,000; members and residents cautioned that additional services such as shuttle buses or expanded parking would add to the tab.
Business owners and residents offered mixed views. Valerie Galb, who represents the Economic Development Advisory Committee, said the fair could promote both businesses and residents in the Atlantic Beach District but stressed the need for sidewalks, repaired streets and emergency access. A resident letter read at the meeting opposed placing the fair in that neighborhood and suggested holding it downtown instead. Several business owners — including Stathi Kirikitis, Mike Flynn and Beth (Alvis Attic) — said they supported a small, pilot event and suggested alternatives for parking and staging, such as satellite parking at Aquidneck School or using Dunlop Park for music and family activities.
Speakers also asked how a short‑term event would interact with a longer‑term Streetscapes project that is already in design and has been accepted for state funding. Town staff told the council the Streetscapes plan is at about 90% design and may reach construction in several years; the town will prepare cost estimates for possible undergrounding of utilities but cautioned that undergrounding would be decided separately and likely on a different timetable.
Rather than set a date now, the council agreed to continue planning with targeted outreach to businesses and possible formation of a working committee. The mayor’s office said it would schedule a workshop or special meeting after the holidays to map parking, safety and funding options and asked the Economic Development Advisory Committee to help carry out a business walk or survey to test interest.
