As Westport”™s Planning and Zoning Commission begins to consider revitalization efforts, a local property owner has organized a group called Downtown Activist to voice concerns of small-business owners.
“We”™re here to voice and hear the concerns of other downtown business and property owners and residents,” said Drew Friedman, the founder of Downtown Activist and owner of multiple buildings including 42 Main St., which houses the restaurant Bobby Q”™s.
Friedman said the group is seeking an overall view on development, primarily looking at downtown traffic, parking proposals and funding possibilities. He said the group will also be weighing in on beautification efforts, the riverfront, recreation facilities, public toilets, reducing sidewalk obstructions, and the arts and events. Downtown Activist is conducting an anonymous survey on its website, downtownactivist.com, and has a newsletter.
Friedman said he plans to use video interviews, graphics and other media to communicate the suggestions to the town officials and residents.
“We”™d like to hear what the business owners, property owners and residents really think about the state of downtown,” he said.
Friedman is no stranger to community development groups; in 1971 he co-founded the still active Westport Downtown Merchants Association.
The Planning and Zoning Commission is considering suggestions made last winter to reinvigorate the downtown. The extensive plans call for the creation of additional paid parking spots, expansion of paths along the river, construction of a small ”˜village”™ of buildings on Parker Harding Plaza and an overhaul of zoning regulations to promote restaurants, additional business tenants and a movie theater. The commission is also looking at the prospect of building a parking garage to accommodate workers and shoppers downtown.
“There is no question there is a widespread community sentiment that the downtown area needs a makeover,” said Ron Corwin, chairman of the commission.
The commission has scheduled a public meeting Sept. 8 to discuss creating an overlay zone to offer incentives to attract a movie theater to the downtown. The initiative is part of the current town plan to promote nightlife, additional restaurants and evening activity.
The nonprofit Westport Cinema Initiative is the foremost advocate for a movie theater and would be working with a yet to be determined property owner if the initiative gets zoning approvals.
“There are some very strong initiatives that we are working on,” said Larry Bradley, director of the Planning and Zoning Commission. “A theater would mean more people and therefore we will need more parking. A parking garage has been proposed.”
Bradley said the town is not looking to attract a massive commercial theater, rather a facility like the Jacob Burns Film Center in Pleasantville, N.Y.
Bradley said the commission is aware of the many opinions coming in on the various projects and it values the input of Downtown Activist.
“Drew has ideas of his own about what should be done downtown,” said Bradley. “He brings the informed voice of an interested property owner who knows the town and knows the history.”
This is a revised version of an article that was posted Aug. 26.
Correction:
Ron Corwin, chairman of the Westport Planning and Zoning Commission, is not a member of Downtown Activist. This story published in the Aug. 29 edition of the Fairfield County Business Journal stated he was a member.
