Our community mission must be to dramatically improve the quality of living and working in Elyria in every way possible.  We must provide the kind of wow-factor that grabs the positive attention of the region and gets people saying:  “Have you seen what’s happening in Elyria?”  “You need to check out Elyria!”  

We need to make these our new headlines!  This is the only reasonable strategy to bring economic prosperity to Elyria and avoid being permanently defined as an impoverished city.  I know what needs to be done to lead that effort.

The capacity for this centerpiece of launching Elyria’s new economy is created by extending Issue 6, with voter approval, to a 25-year-temporary income tax.  The extended period is necessary to make long-term debt payments on the large construction projects.  This will directly and indirectly fund approximately $500,000,000 of improvements in and around Downtown in a five-year period.

Our walkable historic downtown, surrounded by our magnificent river, two waterfalls, and Cascade Park, collectively, has the potential to be one of the most enjoyable small downtowns in America.

Specific Downtown public facilities and commercial facilities to be pursued will be determined by a formal community engagement process.  The following ideas are intended to show the scale of what needs to be considered and to prompt community discussion.

Public facilities:

• Family Recreation Center
• Public Market (Pike Place Market)
• Elyria Business Center (WTC)
• Public Auditorium
• Outdoor Aquatic Facility
• Downtown transit loop
• Hopkins Airport transit loop
• Neighborhood transit loops
• Downtown Riverwalk
• Bicycle Museum & Shop

Commercial facilities (subsidized to entice them to locate in Downtown):

• Major Corporate Offices
• Elyria City School District Offices
• Bookstore
• Office Copy Center
• Bakery
• Ice Cream Shop
• Grocery store
• Movie Theater
• Hotel and Banquet Center
• Residential apartments & condominiums

Improvement on this scale is necessary to reclaim Elyria’s standing as a city families and companies desire to call home.  Imagine how wonderful our Downtown will be with $500,000,000 worth of additional public and commercial quality-of-life amenities.  Imagine how uplifting and transformative this will be to the neighborhoods that surround Downtown.  Imagine how uplifting and transformative this will be to our entire city.  Imagine…