APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) – Appleton is making steps towards boosting their downtown, following a long-term plan that was set in place years ago.
Downtown Appleton is on the way to offering more residential options. Mayor Tim Hanna says things are doing well downtown, but there is room and a need to grow.
“We are starting to see and starting to hear from developers that their phones are ringing off the hook, of people looking for opportunities to live downtown.”
He says if you bring the people in first, the businesses will follow.
“The market that it is going to open up in services like a pharmacy or a convenient store, and I predict that we will have a grocery store downtown.”
Mayor Hanna says office, retail and residential will offer a healthy downtown.
“People have said Why would someone move downtown, there is not a grocery store, but I respond with why would a grocery store open in a place where there are not people living?”
He says after all the planning, they are starting to see the response.
“Healthy downtown’s have all sorts of business sectors. Office, retail and residential is altogether. Having more people living downtown creates a market, ” Mayor Hanna says. “It is a different market when you have people living there 24-7.”
Some downtown development has already started to take place.
Some of the plans are to convert the old bank near Lawrence University and the School of Rock on East Washington Street. to a multi-use project with parking.
