WHITEWATER, Wis. — Whitewater is developing the first update to the city's development plan in nearly a decade. It's shaped by advice from residents, many of whom want Whitewater to revitalize its downtown.
"If you think about what our lives were like before COVID and how much has changed since then, it's quite different," said Whitewater manager of economic development Mason Becker.
The city has spent more than a year developing Whitewater Forward, which includes ideas such as turning First Street between Main and Center streets into a year-round pedestrian event space.
"Residents really want us to continue refocusing on our downtown," Becker said. "We've heard that a lot over the past year."
Those residents include Lynette Gmer, who has lived in Whitewater since 1986 and is director of the downtown non-profit arts space Studio 84.
"It can be pretty quiet on Center Street some days," Gmer said. "There's not a lot here going on and it makes it hard to have foot traffic."
Gmer said she has noticed more empty storefronts downtown than she is used to and hopes Whitewater Forward addresses the center of the city.
"It's one thing to talk about it, it's another to actually make it happen."
The city hosted its last Whitewater Forward open house Wednesday night to collect even more feedback on what residents want the city to look like.
Attendees included Dave Stone, who wrote down his advice for future development.
"I'd like there to be landscaping included in the plans so that when new developments occur, there's landscaping instead of just concrete," Stone said.
Becker said the Whitewater Forward comprehensive plan could be approved by Whitewater Common Council as soon as this November.
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