NEWS FROM DOWNTOWN CHIPLEY

Chipley CRA views Downtown Revitalization excerpts courtesy Foster Folly News

Chipley's Redevelopment Agency and downtown business people had the opportunity April 13th to see what Chipley might look like if planners carry out suggestions made by students from the University of Florida.

Five different approaches were put forth by the students who had been working on plans for several months.  Although current restrictions do not allow for residences in the downtown area, each plan was directed toward attracting both residential and business operations to the downtown area.

In all of the plans developed by the students a mixed-use approach (where people could live and work in the same building) was taken to carry the city ahead 20 - 30 years and revitalize the downtown area.

Emphasis was placed on incorporating "green" spaces within the business and residential districts; improving the availability of parking; and even having "green areas" on the tops of buildings.

Additional emphasis was placed on making the entire area pedestrian friendly.

The plans also looked at the possibility of one way streets in the downtown area, along with hotels and a variety of businesses and restaurants.    Suggestions were made to keep some of the existing facades and increase the structure of those buildings to add more stories to the buildings.  The students even considered a vision of night life and weekend events in downtown.

Chipley officials, downtown business people and the Chipley Redevelopment Agency will be looking at the proposals as a guide to how downtown Chipley will be planned for the future.