Sulphur Springs Mayor, Gary Spraggins, welcomed about 250
Sulphur Springs residents to the Hopkins County Civic Center, on
Monday night, to discuss the Downtown Square Design.
Residents Hear Outline For Designing
Downtown Square, Monday Night
by: Bobby McDonald
"We're extremely pleased with the number of residents that have come-out tonight to hear about the the Downtown Square and be a part of designing it," exclaimed Sulphur Springs Mayor, Gary Spraggins, as he welcomed the approximately 250 people gathered in the Hopkins County Regional Civic Center, on Monday night. "We want you to know that no design has been approved and that we are working with a designer who is seeking your input in the process!"
Spraggins introduced City Financial Director Peter Carstens, who explained that it was an opportunity for everyone to participate in something that is much bigger than any one individual. "We're in the 'discovery' phase of this project and we're looking for ideas and input into how it should proceed," explained Carstens. "We need the input from everyone and your ideas!"
City Financial Director, Peter Carstens, introduced speaker Ian Lockwood,
at Monday Night's meeting.
Monday night's crowd was comprised of members of city and county government, downtown business owners, church representatives, and interested citizens, who all have a stake in the flow of traffic through the downtown area.
Carstens then introduced Ian Lockwood, the designer who created the Main Street Project, who gave a presentation of ideas and things that everyone should consider when designing a downtown business area. "You, different from many areas, have an outstanding foundation to start the process," exclaimed Lockwood. "Contrary to many areas of the country there is actually building and construction already happening in Sulphur Springs. When I look at the historic Hopkins County Courthouse and then the construction already being completed by the two downtown banks, I'm excited. You have things already happening in the area!"
Lockwood explained that "nothing was in concrete." "We're in the discovery phase of this design and we're looking for ideas, solutions to problems, and input from you the citizens that have lived here and actually do business on the downtown square," related Lockwood. "It's imperative that we get the fundamentals right, on this project, as it will be something that will identify the city of Sulphur Springs and the focal point of Hopkins County for a number of years!"
Designer of Main Street and Professional City Designer, Ian Lockwood, presented
a number of ideas and challenges to those gathered at Monday night's meeting in
the Hopkins County Civic Center.
Lockwood presented a number of slides, that reflected the outstanding improvement on Main Street, and then showed a number of slides of different angles of the downtown square. Then, he presented a detailed picture, showing the individual pixels in the picture, that was hard for people to identify. Then, he showed the same picture, "blurred." You could make-out the photographic image of Abraham Lincoln, in the blurred edition of the picture. "This shows that the blurred vision is more identifiable," explained Lockwood. "and, it illustrates that we shouldn't become so focused on 'details' that we miss the main objective of this design. Sitting back and analyzing the 'big picture,' sometimes helps us to attain our goal, rather than focusing on all the little details! We don't want to get 'bogged down' with minor details, of a project that will identify your city for many years to come!'
"I want you to try to imagine what the needs will be 50 years from now, and then 100 years from now," expressed Lockwood. "Not, the need of today or tomorrow! We need your input of where you envision this city going in the years to follow. I challenge you to have the same vision that the builders of the Historic Hopkins County Courthouse had some 115 years ago!"
"Most of us in this room will be dead and gone in 50 years, but the decisions that we make on this project, will likely be still in use, at that time," related Lockwood. "The legacy we leave behind will be how well we plan on this project and the fundamentals that we put in place!"
A large crowd of Sulphur Springs citizens gathered to voice concerns, ideas, and input into
the Downtown design.
Following a number of photographs of other cities that Lockwood and his partner, Fabian De La Espriella, had been associated with, and a description of the methods used in their design, Lockwood opened the meeting for a question, answer, and comment period. Several citizens voiced concern about the downtown area, from adequate parking, to traffic flow, and the narrow lanes on Main Street.
One downtown businesswoman asked about having the design to accommodate delivery trucks, to businesses in the downtown area. The County Judge was concerned about deliveries to the Courthouse being represented in the design. Lockwood addressed each of the issues and related that the process of design was on-going and would meet these concerns as it was planned.
Lockwood's associate, Fabian De La Espriella, fields questions during
Monday night's comment period.
Many citizens met with Lockwood and De La Espriella, following the meeting, as well.
Citizens are encouraged to meet with Lockwood and De La Espriella, during the hours of 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights, and meanwhile, local businesses, groups that have a stake in the downtown area, and city and county officials will be meeting during the day with the designers, as they go about receiving input and applying it to models.
"Be a part of the creation of your downtown!" was Lockwood's closing challenge to those present on Monday night! "It's exciting to be a part of something that has such an impact on your community!"
"We want this to be the City of Sulphur Spring's slogan, when this
project is completed," challenged Lockwood.
______
