With the upcoming June 26 workshop to envision a new Chestertown Master Plan, the Spy will be showcasing several interviews with local stakeholders. Today, we offer the second interview with Bryan Matthews, Dixon Group Community and Government Relations.
“Main Street is embarking on a Downtown Master Plan with our local partners and a consulting firm to plan the future of Chestertown’s Historic District. Working in concert with the Town’s Comprehensive Plan and the Town’s Strategic Agenda, the Downtown Master Plan will focus on multiple aspects, including infrastructure, streetscape, utilities, tourism, and more. The purpose of the Downtown Master Plan will be to develop a vision, strategy, list of projects, and implementation plans to bring this goal to fruition. As Chestertown prepares for its future, the Master Plan will be the guiding document for all major downtown decisions, as well as a beacon for private owners and investors to utilize as they prepare to market their properties or plan improvements.”~Mainstreet website.
On Wednesday, June 26, 2024 at 5:30 pm, Main Street Chestertown will be co-hosting a public workshop with representatives from Design Collective, Inc. at the Chestertown Volunteer Fire Company. Main Street Chestertown has been working with local community partners and a team of Certified Planners and Landscape Architects from Design Collective, Inc., and engineers from GMB, LLC to create a Downtown Master Plan.
This video is approximately three minutes in length. For more about Main Street ad the Master Plan, go here.
Roy Potter says
As somebody who enjoys living in town, I wish there was a downtown grocery store I could use for some basic food needs. This would eliminate some of my car trips. While it may be possible to walk to Redner’s or Acme, the walk is not convenient or particularly pleasant and I rarely make it. I do use the natural goods store on Cannon Street but their selection sometimes falls short of what I am looking for.
My understanding is that there was once a small grocer where the Dollar General is on Philosophers Terrace. This might be the only feasible location for a downtown grocer, yet none of the proposed plans include one.
The Dollar General currently serves the needs of people who do often walk there for some basic needs. The success of the weekly farmers market is another example of the interest or demand for a walkable place in town to buy groceries. Was this considered in the Master Plan? Some neighbors may not drive or choose not to drive. Clearly Dollar General is serving a need. However, once apartments are built on the site as planned, these neighbors and I will need to shop elsewhere. So under the plan, for some residents, the downtown will be less convenient and walkable.
New apartments and variety of boutiques and restaurants are nice, but a Master Plan should consider the needs of current residents and a walkable downtown should be able to meet some of the daily needs of current residents. A downtown grocer would do so more than the planned 45 apartments.