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Alego • • <br /> Opinions <br /> Vitaldowntown• <br /> •helps businesses <br /> .entirecommunity ' ; <br /> The Christian Science Monitor reports that around <br /> the country, suburban communities are actually <br /> building downtowns-special community places. i <br /> Here in Elk River we have a quaint downtown along <br /> the Mississippi .River. This.is a treasure,;but our <br /> leadership is content to' let'it evolve into what the <br /> marketplace will allow. <br /> This downtown has been studied to death;.there are <br /> at least two plans .for development along the river. <br /> • The Housing and. Redevelopment Authority got <br /> leaders together and developed an expanded central <br /> business district. That movement has lost momen- <br /> tum. <br /> Last Monday night the 'Economic Development <br /> Authority (EDA) listened to a proposal from,a com- <br /> • mittee of the Elk River Rotary Club. The committee <br /> • wantsto put a replica of a river paddle-wheeler at <br /> the foot of the hill where Elk River Hardware once <br /> stood. The Rotary Club asked the EDA to front-end <br /> the cost, promising to pay it back. <br /> The EDA in chorus, except for one, said that's a nice <br /> idea, but it needs to fit the plan. What plan? <br /> The downtown merchants several years•ago agreed <br /> they want the downtown to have a historic river city <br /> look. They were assessed for those improvements. <br /> The city has been more than generous with its sup- <br /> port. The downtown is carrying out the historic look <br /> which some merchants have been trying to carry out <br /> in their business: Diamond City Bread, Olde Main <br /> Eatery and Sweet Shoppe, Antiques Downtown, the <br /> Haberdashery, Tony Mikols "photo shop, the Nook <br /> Gift Shop and Natural Expressions. <br /> Contrary to what Council Member Paul Motin <br /> believes, that decision has been made.A past council ' <br /> agreed with installing "Historic Elk River" signs and <br /> with putting up a replica of the bandstand of which <br /> everyone in Elk River was so proud. <br /> The delay is convincing the EDA and the city coun- <br /> cil that there is a payoff in historic and artistic.devel- <br /> opment. Other communities have demonstrated that <br /> • the arts and history can combine to bring economic <br /> dividends. <br /> Elk River won't ever be another barren suburb with- <br /> out a downtown. The question the leadership has to <br /> adidress s: Can ourslow1towl1*be'the best .it can be?'-'' <br /> A strong, vital, attractive downtown can benefit the <br /> whole community and every business in it. - Don <br />