BEATRICE – Beatrice elected officials will be asked for their position on moving forward with a Court Street corridor redevelopment plan, at a meeting Monday night.


"There'll be a resolution to adopt the concept, or the end of the study plans. That will be a vote to say, yes or no...we're going to adopt those. If we would say yes, we do adopt this concept, it doesn't mean we're going to stick a shovel in the ground the next day. It means that then we take the next steps of how to do the design process and what that's going to cost."


Mayor Bob Morgan and several council members have mentioned downtown redevelopment as being high on their list of objectives for the future.
"I think it's time to vote on whether we're going to approve, or not approve a plan for downtown revitalization. Because, we've studied it enough times. Is it something we can at least agree on that this is the best way to try to move forward. And, it also gives us the opportunity of where can we go apply for federal funding and grants....because we know that project would take some funding."


This year, the City of Beatrice and consulting firm Olsson Studios hosted two public open house events to get feedback from citizens on what is needed in the downtown area.  Officials are seeking to make the area more pedestrian friendly on Court Street between Second and Eighth Streets, by proposing to move heavy truck traffic a block south to Market Street.


The concept is to use a combination of two entrance round-a-bouts to the downtown area, bump-outs, both diagonal and parallel parking along with landscaping and informational signs, decorative sidewalks and other features to improve the area for walking traffic.  "It's something that you don't do overnight. It may be something we don't even get started or accomplished in four years. But, at least we have a direction of where to go to revitalize downtown."


The City of Beatrice has utilized two downtown redevelopment grants through the State of Nebraska to cost-share building façade improvements with private property owners, improving the appearance of downtown structures.


The Beatrice City Council will meet at seven, Monday night.