Each month, the Downtown Development Authority sets aside time to hear ideas from the public. The DDA web site suggests:
These ideas should embody innovative thinking, cool and exciting project concepts, creative solutions …. The idea [need not] have existing financial backing.
Here are ideas presented to the DDA board this year (also see more in Comments below):
- “A global village museum.” This would reside in the Carnegie Library building, soon to be vacated by the History Museum. We’d fill it with artifacts collected by locals in their travels.
- “Renovation for the old piano at the Elk’s club.” This is a beautiful instrument. Unfortunately, they found it could be preserved or restored. But not both. It’s going to the History Museum for preservation.
- “A charter nature school.” Kids. Dirt. Bugs. This would sit next to the Raptor Center, on Vine.
- “Downtown botanical gardens.” Adults. Dirt. Bugs.
- “Recycling facilities.”
- “National newspapers to fill our news racks downtown.” Perhaps in partnership with Al’s newstand.
Some neat ideas.
Then, there’s this idea from Geoff Robinson, a Lost Fort Collins reader. Thinking about the abandoned Steele’s Market, which replaced the Franklin school, downtown:
- Found school. “Wouldn’t it be interesting if the building that replaces the Steeles could have elements of the old [Franklin] School?” Geoff writes.
Franklin School
Yes I think so. As for me, I’d like to see an
- Outdoor Organ Pavilion. Like this one in San Diego. We’ve got some awesome players in this town. And think of Halloween!
[Photo: University Historic Photograph Collection, http://lib.colostate.edu/archives/historic_photos.html, Colorado State University, Archives and Special Collections]
