BY JANICE MORSE
The Cincinnati Enquirer
HAMILTON -- For as long as anyone can remember, Hamilton's extra-wide main thoroughfare -- crowned with the statue of a pioneer -- has been one of the city's most distinctive features.
But High Street, some say, is unattractive to merchants and intimidating to pedestrians who want to walk across it without being run over.
That's why a group of business leaders set out to change the situation two years ago. On Wednesday, ground was broken for the $4.8 million project known as "Street- scape," a face lift for downtown.
"This project is designed to literally make our downtown sparkle," Mel Less, president and chief executive officer of the Greater Hamilton Chamber of Commerce, said Wednesday.
Project architect John C.W. Grossmann of Akron says the idea is to retain and enhance downtown's features.
The changes will convert alleys into "wonderful people spaces" and will make the whole area "more user-friendly."
Trees, pedestrian plazas and specially surfaced sidewalks are among the features.
The project is expected to be finished late next year.
Some, however, are against the project. They argue the money could be spent in better ways and wonder if the face lift will draw more businesses and visitors.
Warren Klink, a registered landscape architect who has been critical of the project, worries it will destroy "the essence of Hamilton."
"The people I'm talking to would like to see a pause in the action," he said. "My biggest concern is that it will tend to remove Hamilton's uniqueness."
Dr. John Stewart, 78, has lived in Hamilton his entire life. He likes downtown as it is.
"I think it's a waste of money. If it would improve something -- and you could prove it was improving something -- I'd be in favor of it."
Other residents have expressed concern about emergency vehicles' access after a median is built in the middle of the road.
But Vice Mayor Adolf Olivas said those concerns have been addressed. And, he points out that the people who would most be affected by the project, the downtown business owners, are paying for it.
The project is being partially funded by a special property-tax assessment that downtown merchants agreed to pay.
Mr. Less, chamber of commerce president, believes the project is what the city needs to further boost downtown revitalization. "If you want to have people move into your neighborhood, you fix it up -- and not just one property at a time," he said. "That's what we're doing with this downtown neighborhood."
