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Hutchinson EDA director outlines downtown strategy: preserve buildings, remove blight, add housing and build sense of place
Summary
Miles Sept, Hutchinson economic development director, described four pillars for downtown vitality—preserve building stock (grants and loans), remove blight (Cornerstone Commons example), add housing (The Landing, ~81 units), and craft a distinct sense of place through streetscape, events and historic preservation.
Miles Sept, Hutchinson economic development director, laid out a four-part strategy to sustain and grow downtown: preserve existing building stock, remove blight, increase downtown housing and create a distinct sense of place.
"When a downtown thrives, it usually sends the signal that our community is doing well economically and socially," Sept said, arguing the downtown functions as the city's economic engine, cultural hub and gathering space. He described multiple EDA tools used to preserve buildings, including a sign grant program, a facade improvement matching grant that can provide up to $7,500 toward qualifying work, and a loan program that partners with banks to finance repairs.
Sept cited Cornerstone Commons (Main Street and First Avenue North) as an example of eliminating blight and generating new economic activity. He also discussed a railroad-depot redevelopment that created one of the region's farmers markets; the EDA contributed approximately $100,000 for a pavilion, the rail authority refurbished the depot building, and the city added parking and a trail.
On housing, Sept highlighted The Landing, describing it as roughly 81 apartments expected to bring an estimated 120–130 residents into the downtown and help transform a 9-to-5 district into a more active neighborhood. He pointed to the example of Midwest Industrial Tool Grinding, which renovated a former Shopko building after a downtown zoning adjustment and brought about 70 employees into the downtown workplace.
Sept emphasized physical design and programming as central to a usable downtown: pedestrian-scale lighting, tactile sidewalk edges and seating to encourage lingering; pocket parks and public art; festivals, a farmers market and river-trail connections that draw visitors. He also noted a citywide investment in underground utilities—more than 90% of power lines are buried—which supports reliability for precision manufacturers and improves downtown aesthetics.
Why it matters: Sept presented the strategy as a coordinated approach—public investment, private redevelopment and active programming—to sustain property values, attract residents and workers, and boost tourism and community pride.
Next steps: Sept said more projects are in the pipeline but did not provide firm dates or funding sources for future initiatives.
