Beatrice elected officials move forward on concept for Court Street redevelopment

BEATRICE – The Beatrice City Council has voted 6-1 to move forward with a concept to make the downtown more pedestrian-friendly and reroute truck traffic off Court Street. But the body amended its resolution to state it’s only a concept at this point. Mayor Bob Morgan says the design process, working with local business owners, is yet to come.

"I will tell you this process will take place...as we found out today, it could be anywhere from three to ten years in the process. We know that we want to make sure we do this right. Because, if we don't do it right, you only get one shot at construction."

Despite the clarification, some opponents criticized the consulting firm’s initial concept as not being good for the downtown. Katie Thies manages The Rail, a downtown bar that would be near one of the new entrance points to a renovated downtown, proposed as a round-a-bout.

"We will be losing direct access to 136 and landscaping will be placed in front of our building....blocking us from passing vehicles. While we do support making downtown more pedestrian friendly, we can't support a plan that feels so detrimental to our business."

Local officials met this week with seven NDOR representatives about the prospect of redirecting a short stretch of U.S. Highway 136….State Senator Myron Dorn setting up that meeting.  "It's nice to have support of the city council, but if they don't have support of this community and this thing gets derailed...it will be because the support of the community is not there. So, as the people of Beatrice...as they look at this project and as they look five years, ten or twenty years out in the future....what is the future of Beatrice, where is it going to be at? Where will be the areas that they grow, what will bring people into the community? Those are the critical things you need to look at."

Local restaurant owner Kate Ratigan fears the concept of moving truck traffic a block south, could take lighter traffic with it.  "While you may be trying to make this pedestrian friendly by reducing the traffic count, you're also reducing the number of people that are traveling down highway 136 to and from the Homestead...that are going to be able to see and stop at our thrift stores, our outdoor dining area, our bars, the restaurants, the brewery, etcetera. You have to think about how this is going to impact people. I like to think about positive things and I like unicorns and fairies, too...but, I don't necessarily think that routing traffic down to Market Street is going to accomplish that."

Michael Sothan, Executive Director of Main Street Beatrice, says it’s a tough challenge having a downtown split by two major highways. He says the organization supports the concept, knowing it may not be the final design.

"There are a lot of goals, ideas and aspirations for downtown that I think this plan helps us carry forward. From being more pedestrian friendly, but also providing the space for our businesses that are currently here, to thrive. Certainly, to provide future investments as well. There is no doubt that our downtown does impress a lot of people. It has some awesome architecture, it has some amazing businesses. But, it's not everything that it could be or we want it to be. This plan, by itself, doesn't provide a miracle cure. But, it does provide us an opportunity....it helps better set the tone for what our downtown can be. Right now, it's dominated by two major highways, and that brings both positives and negatives."

Monday night, the city council approved using a $400,000 State of Nebraska grant for downtown redevelopment, focusing on reducing Ella Street between Fourth and Sixth Streets to two-lane traffic and providing support for business improvements along that stretch.