GURDON — A plan to make Gurdon more attractive to new businesses and to help restore its main business district was presented to residents in December, but Mayor Clayton Franklin is unsure that such a project can be funded by the city.
A plan was unveiled Dec. 15 by Sean Garretson, president of Pegasus Planning, a public-planning-consultant firm in Austin, Texas.
The company was brought in to work on projects to spur economic development in communities in Clark County, said Wesley Kluck, who chairs the steering committee for the Clark County Strategic Plan.
Garretson and other members of the consulting firm visited Gurdon and other cities in the county in August and are developing ideas for retail development, recreation facilities and expansion of tourism in the area, as well as downtown revitalization projects.
“Gurdon needs to focus on what once made it thrive and reconnect with what made the town successful,” Garretson said. “That is the story you want to tell.”
The consultant said he outlined three possible goals for the community to pursue. The first is to work with the owners of existing buildings to enhance the structures for use as retail storefronts.
Garretson said in August that Gurdon has what he calls “very good building stock” in its downtown area.
“We have spoken to property owners, and they seem eager to work with the city,” Garretson said.
Mayor Franklin said during the initial community meeting in August that one project that interests him is revitalizing an existing bank building in the city.
“We think we can convert it to a community room and find funds for it from a local civic club,” he said.
Southern Bancorp has told the city that funding would be available for current property owners for enhancing the facades of their buildings in Gurdon.
Another goal is to improve the appearance of the entrance into the community along U.S. 67. Planners said the city might be able to attract jobs to the area with light manufacturing and warehousing operations.
Garretson also proposed efforts to preserve historic sites in the city, such as the old jail and the railroad depot.
Mayor Clayton said the proposals made by Pegasus were not new.
“We already know this, and we have been working toward these goals for some time,” he said.
The problem is finding the money needed to accomplish the preservation and rebuilding. Clayton said all of the plans proposed since the project began call for money the city doesn’t have.
Garretson said some of the projects being proposed could be started during 2011, and he called on the different communities in the county to work together.