Village Association of Batavia

Q1. Why do we need a formalized Main Street Program? Why can’t we just do all of this ourselves.

A. In reality, we are doing it ourselves. We organized the Village Association of Batavia to bring some structure to the process and to enable us to use restoration approaches that have been successful throughout the USA. The Village Association is comprised of one paid, half time manager. Beyond that, everything is done through a network of volunteers. Most of these volunteers have full time jobs and work on VAOB activities after their workday, on weekends and whenever they have time. Volunteers attend training and networking sessions offered by the Main Street organization and can learn how to organize and implement design, economic restructuring and community promotional techniques. This level of support and experience is not something that we can teach ourselves in timely fashion. The Main Street effort has a proven 4 point process that will help us realize a successful revitalization, avoiding time consuming trial and error. By following the Main Street blueprint, Batavia was able to gain acceptance into the Ohio Main Street Community in just 11 months where the average length of time is +/- 5 years.

Q2. You started the Main Street Program in 2004. Why isn’t there more progress?

A. Initially, it took time to get a Board of Directors in place, hire a manager, organize volunteers for the committees, and to begin to raise funds for projects. If progress is defined as the execution of the streetscape, quite candidly, progress for a project of this magnitude takes a little more time to organize. If progress is defined as renovating historic structures and residences within the village, there have been several private projects completed….some minor and some major. All of those initiatives contribute to a face lifting in Batavia. In this regard, the VAOB understands that some of these renovations might have occurred at the self initiative of the property owner. However, the VAOB provides visible recognition of those initiatives with the hope that it provides incentive for others to do the same. Our committees have evolved and defined their priorities. Much has gone on behind the scenes. For instance, it took a year just to work out a concept for the streetscape. We are working on an update to the website. We are assisting the Village in writing historic design guidelines, have completed a regional marketing study and consumer survey, and are organizing another amazing Taste of Clermont event. We are setting deadlines to complete our objectives. We have also completed a restoration project of the Main Street Bridge lights. We are finally at a point where our projects will become much more visible in Batavia.

Q3. We hear references to the DART report. Exactly what is it and what does the report have to do with Batavia?

A. The DART report was prepared by Downtown Ohio, Inc. on June 17, 2004. The acronym stands for Downtown Assessment Resource Team, representatives of which spent 1.5 days in Batavia. It was commissioned by citizens within the community. As background, the assessment process was needed to identify some of the commercial district’s challenges and opportunities; to provide the community with information about the Main Street Approach; to determine if the Main Street Approach was an appropriate strategy for Batavia, and to determine Batavia’s readiness and potential to embrace the Main Street Program. Downtown Ohio, Inc. was the administrator of the Ohio Main Street Program (now known as Heritage Ohio Inc.) It is ”dedicated (to) empowering each community within the state to maintain, strengthen and revitalize the unique physical, economic, historical and cultural characteristics of its own downtown or city center”.

Q4. Why is West Main Street being ignored? The DART report said that this was the number one priority.

A. The DART report contained 11 recommendations. Listed first on the list of recommendations was “the number one challenge identified by Batavia citizens at the DART visit was the ‘eye sore on State Route 32’ which leads to the entrance of the town”. DART went on to say that this is an issue that the whole town needs to confront. DART said that “ being this a high priority issue for the community, the design committee, with all of its other potential projects and issues concerning the revitalization of Main Street itself, would not be able to do it on its own. It needs the cooperation of the whole Village, citizens, government, organizations, township, county entities and Clermont College”. West Main Street will not be ignored. If Batavia is to grow its economic base, we know that large businesses most likely will locate in that sector of town. Thus, West Main Street is an important area to the economic vitality of the Village of Batavia. The Village Association of Batavia will initially focus on the designated historic district as that is the scope of the Main Street effort. Other entities, as mentioned in the DART report, have already begun to address West Main Street Issues. The roadway has been resurfaced and new curbing installed. Clough Pike now attractively ends at West Main Street. The Village Council is addressing some of the businesses that appear to meet the definition of “eye sores”. So this truly is a cooperative effort. The Village Association of Batavia is merely one element of the overall revitalization of the Village. In this instance, it is not the principal driver of West Main Street improvements. We want to clearly state for the record that this is not an “East Main Street at the expense of West Main Street” project. It is an overall revitalization of Batavia, with all agencies and organizations doing their part cooperatively and collectively. Currently, the Community Development Block Grants place an emphasis on Main Street communities, which will help revitalization to be facilitated on East Main Street.

Q5. Please define the Batavia Preservation District.

Q6. Why wasn’t a local firm selected to prepare the streetscape?

A. The development of a preservation district requires a high level of expertise. Requests for proposals were extended locally as well as regionally; however, EG&G, an Ohio-based organization, was selected to perform the study. It was our judgment that this firm had qualifications that best met our selection criteria. Their selection should in no way be construed as a slight against local firms. An analogy might be the selection of HOK architects to design the Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati. They have an expertise that only a handful of other firms possess.

Q7. What is the cost of the streetscape? Why are you focusing on the most expensive segment of this project?

A. Exact costs cannot be determined to an accuracy of plus/minus 5% without detailed design engineering. If, as an example, we started with the Courthouse block, this segment could have the most private investment from the block’s largest property owner, Clermont County. The final details have not been worked out for our funding; however, let’s assume that we pursue a CDBG grant for four hundred thousand dollars. That grant requires a minimum of a 1:1 match from investors. Since the County, as a property owner, regularly invests maintenance and improvements in this block, and is planning on an extensive building project there, we can count on comfortably exceeding the private match required for the grant. Our design consultants, who are providing financial consulting for the project, are recommending a supplemental grant from the Ohio Department of Transportation to cover some costs not covered by the CDBG. Public investment by the Village of Batavia to repair and improve any infrastructure exposed during construction will also count toward investment in the streetscape. The Village can also secure loans similar to those used on the West Main Street improvements to cover the leftover costs. The West Main loans will be retired by the time we are ready to begin the East Main Streetscape. We will begin in the fall of 2007 to get a financial plan in place for the streetscape. Once again, at this stage of our planning, there is a logical process that must be followed to determine the bottom line cost. Only then can an informed decision be made.

Q8. We saw renderings of the Streetscape and we hear bits and pieces about it such as lane reduction and bump outs for landscaping. What are the facts?

A. The Streetscape is nothing more than a concept at this time. That concept was reviewed by Village Council and renderings have been put on public display. However, it must be clearly stated that nothing is cast in bronze. It is merely an expression of a design that is possible in Batavia. It is a vision. The concept does call for a possible reduction in lanes to reduce speed through the downtown and make the area more pedestrian friendly. Prior to proceeding to the design engineering phase of the project, all Village agencies such as police, fire and ambulance will have ample opportunity to comment on the concept. In fact, those reviews have already taken place or are now in progress. Any major concern will be addressed. Under no circumstances will Batavia’s emergency providers be ignored. The streetscape concept also includes widening the sidewalks for street furniture such as benches, trash receptacles, and light fixtures. Parking will be realigned, but will still retain parallel parking on both sides of the street. A small number of spaces will be sacrificed for bump-outs at the crosswalks. These bump-outs will allow a shorter distance for pedestrians to be in the line of traffic, creating a safer crossing, and will allow for easier turning radii at the intersections for larger vehicles, trucks, and buses. Period lighting fixtures and traffic signals will be added to carry out the historic theme. Landscaping, decorative paving, and way-finding signage will round out the concept. A committee of local design professionals reviewed several design concepts for about a year to come up with one all-encompassing revitalization concept. This concept and some illustrative renderings are on display at the VAOB offices at 120 N. Market Street, Batavia.

Q9. What is the status of the design guidelines, why do we need them and who will enforce them?

3rd Edition Design Guidelines

A. The draft of the design guidelines was submitted to the Village Planning and Zoning Committee on July 18, 2007. Their suggestions for additions or modification will be incorporated into the guidelines prior to submittal to the Village Council. Regarding the need for guidelines, Batavia has many historic structures, some dating to the mid 1800’s. Simply stated, renovation and restoration cannot be left to chance. Do the guidelines tell you what you can and cannot do with your property? Within the designated preservation district, the answer is absolutely yes. In this regard, Batavia is no different than most historic communities throughout our nation. If a village or municipality cares about preserving its historic past, it will have such guidelines in place. If investors want to be assured their investment properties will be protected, they will have a document that insures their rehabilitation efforts. Typically, individuals who either own or purchase such structures do so because they care about its unique architecture. Thus, compliance is relatively easy. Enforcement procedures are included in the overall preservation design guidelines. We believe that a failure to comply will be the exception rather than the rule. In those rare cases where there are deviations from the guidelines, the Village would enforce penalties in the same manner that it does with other deviations from its ordinances. The design guidelines arguably are the most important element of Batavia’s preservation initiatives.

Q10. How will we attract businesses to locate in Batavia?

A. This is a team effort as it is in all communities throughout the USA. The VAOB has the primary task of historic preservation. The economic restructuring team is one component of this mission but not the leading component. The Village Administrator, Village Council, the Clermont County Economic Development office, real estate developers, and the Clermont County Chamber of Commerce provide other leads. Batavia is no different than any other community that wants to expand its tax base. Leads come from everywhere. The key is for all Village entities to understand how to handle a lead once it is obtained and how and who can help pull a deal together. Also, by creating a clean, attractive, pedestrian friendly environment, we can begin to attract businesses that want to be located here. The VAOB will do its part to create opportunities to bring greater numbers of people to our Village. The Taste of Clermont is one of those opportunities. Eventually, we believe that greater numbers of people and investors will discover Batavia and will be convinced that this is the place for their business to locate and to thrive.

Q11. How can the business and property owners get involved in the revitalization process?

A. Business and property owners are a vital part of economic revitalization. Without their participation, this project will not come to fruition. It is crucial that the business and property owners become active on committees and projects that Main Street is undertaking. Learn how to promote your business, attract tenants, and create a vibrant, safe and friendly environment to increase the volume of visitors and customers. We need greater participation of business and property owners on our Board of Directors to help shape and influence the growth of this community. Success comes to those who work for it. It will not happen if you stand by and hope that others will create it for you. TAKE THE TIME TO UNDERSTAND THE VISION. Get involved. Create your own destiny. Be a part of success.

Q12. What does the Taste of Clermont have to do with the revitalization of Batavia. Do you really believe that attendees at the Taste will select Batavia as the place to invest in a business?

A. The Taste of Clermont has been a success, by anyone’s definition. The VAOB created the Taste as an event where families can come together and have fun. It also helps to fund the organization’s programming. We believe that people will see the Village of Batavia, and our businesses, as a unique place, and as they stroll along Main Street, they will appreciate the historic character of the buildings. Will it directly result in investments? Maybe, but it will definitely expose Batavia to a regional audience. In that regard, it could set the stage for future investment. View it as one small element in an overall plan to showcase the Village.

Q13. There appears to be a lot of disagreement within the Village and bickering which is not healthy. What’s wrong?

A. There is no question that some of this exists. Given the magnitude of the project in Batavia, differences are understandable. It is easy to criticize and we can see some of the communication mistakes that were made by us and by others. It serves no practical purpose to focus on the negative and dwell on mistakes. A more constructive approach is to celebrate successes and to realize our vast potential. The DART report states that “although there are a number of negative influences that are working against downtowns nationwide, it is important to focus on the positive elements that downtowns have to offer”. The Village Association of Batavia stands ready to meet with any individual or organization so that any differences might be aired and discussed for a resolution. Within a Village of this size, it is unlikely that there will be universal agreement on all issues. In the future, there will be bumps in the road. We hope that everyone will take advantage of our availability to find out how this beneficial program can improve the village and our quality of life. By working together, we can move toward the common goal of making Batavia the very best that it can be.