Railroad Square takes step in right direction

Railroad Square is leaving the station.  Finally. The reluctance of some nearby merchants to jump on board immediately is understandable, given the starts and stops over the past five years. The on-time record for this pedestrian-friendly project in New Port Richey makes Amtrak look efficient.

But we are hopeful enthusiasm will supplant skepticism as the city embarks on the first phase of a plan to add decorative sidewalks, benches/planters and lighting to the stretch of Nebraska Avenue between Grand Boulevard and Adams Street. The estimated cost is $370,000, less than a quarter of the projected expense unveiled in spring 2006. Eventually, the railroad-themed amenities will extend east to Madison Street, west to Bank Street and south to include Missouri Avenue.

The improvements are welcome as the city attempts to turn the area one block south of Main Street into an entertainment and shopping district. Already, there are four restaurants and taverns offering outdoor seating on Nebraska, though three are west of the first stage of improvements. Cooperation from other businesses will be key, as they will be encouraged to dress up the rear of their Main Street addresses.

Adding a mural on the blank, windowless exterior of the multistory Verizon Building is an attractive idea and a railroad scene there would be an appropriate way to continue the theme. That is important because the city previously scuttled plans to add a railroad caboose and there is no restored depot nor train-tracks-turned-bicycle-path to accentuate the historical significance the railroad played in the city's early development.

The City Council's unanimous approval Tuesday of Railroad Square's first phase comes after five years of consultants, conceptual drawings and cost considerations that evolved into carping about the council's mission as the Community Redevelopment Agency.

Moving forward on Railroad Square signals to merchants that the city will try to lure more pedestrians to support retailing in a downtown dominated by professional offices.

It also is a positive step for the overall downtown redevelopment, which has had its share of disappointments over the past two years, including a stalled Main Street Landing development along the Pithlachascotee River, a developer dropping planned participation in a similar mixed-use project at Orange Lake and the as-yet-unrealized plan to turn the former Hacienda Hotel into a downtown destination.

At least at Railroad Square, redevelopment is back on track.

[Last modified November 15, 2007, 20:49:18]