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Wednesday September 1 2004 Sanpete Messenger Sanpete Redevelopment sets good example in Mt Pleasant Main Street project Off the Wasatch By By Kathy Eggleston Roger Baker Staff writer IT MT PEASANT— The term “redevelopment” some- Good Samaritan Vv Maybe Sanpete is getting big enough that we don’t know each other like we used to There was a time when we knew each other’s kids and horses and cars and bad habits “No I haven’t seen Pete today but I saw his truck at the post office” We used to remember all the names and faces and could greet everyone we saw on Main Street Not so these days at Ace Hardware where I have shopped for paint since Doyle Larsen used to require a note from my wife allowing me to choose the color I was in Ace briefly on Saturday for a paint fix It usually takes more than one trip per project and I count on the people there to act as my hardware bartender and refuse service when I’ve had enough Hermansen’s Hardware does the same thing when I get going on a plumbing project They offer to give me a ride home when I’ve had too much Last Saturday I picked up the paint at Ace and got right to work remodeling the only part of the house that I was allowed to design the garage I’m subdividing to make a small shop that should be first class with paint and all At least it should be first class if I can round up all my missing tools The only debate we’ve had about the new shop is whether the lock should be on the inside or the outside of the door I think there is a plot afoot to lopk me in on occasion and my goal is to at least have the option of locking people out so I can listen to NPR and work on my own thing for a while I might even help Santa make secret presents My wife Pam went into Ace Hardware later in the day following me by a couple of hours The clerk remembered that I had been in and greeted Pam with “Your dad was just in here a little while ago” Pam’s father has been dead for a few years now so he probably had not been in the store recently The clerk was referring to young virile hard working me as Pam’s father — unforgivable It isn’t the mistake by the clerk that is unforgivable It is the gloating wife who now insists that she can pass for my daughter in any social situation Ace has created a monster a young one at that And she reminds me I’d be healthier if I exercised more and knocked off the Diet Coke and spent less time at the computer Why in another five years I’ll be just what she wants And herein lies the unkind problem in marriage He marries her hoping she will never change She marries him thinking that she may modify him a bit In my case it played out exactly as predicted Pam hasn’t changed She can pass for my daughter I have been modified over the years as the sands of time have settled in the bottom The facts of aging are true I just don’t need a reminder when I go to Ace Hardware It’s almost Almost enough to make me shop at ' V V? V times has a negative connotation It may conjure up images of eminent domain and bulldoz- etiquette i '1 opment can preserve a town’s historic character while meeting diverse human and economic needs In 1994 Mt Pleasant became one of the original communities to join the National Main Street Program under the auspices of the National Trust for Historic Preservation That was the year when Utah began participating in the program “We are the only one of the communities still in the although others have program original f I stSl I a J&a 'VS J t‘ fy AJ WfyVLi bank Ron Richmond prominent Sanpete artist uses the upper floor of this building for his studio The Mt Pleasant RDA is committed to finding uses for old buildings and retaining the historic character of the town’s Main Street The street is listed on the national historic register Monte Bona a driving force in the RDA’s work The National Main Street proProgram is a 4 jjjaiuarti nalffe k3l'I EiLmhv 3K With assistance from the the city and property program owners teamed up to restore Mt Pleasant’s Main Street and get it listed on the national historic HtllA ?! NPETE RENTALS ? Mt Pleasant’s RDA is looking at three more on Main Street Bona says the goal is to renovate one of the buildings to house Central Utah Telephone and another for IHC Home Care The upper buildings one of the buildings could also be used for an historic Main Street apartment of level - j inntjrnj and organization According to Bona Mt Pleasant has successadded senior citizen and fully youth programs as well as housmix the to ing register Currently r' r gram of designrestoration promotion economic development £ JhHm ’i'v mi This building was once one of the first JC Penney stores In the nation The Mt Pleasant RDA would like to see a restaurant on the first level and an apartment above project which is multiplied sev- eral times by private sector vestment in the park” The RDA also is working to develop the heritage Another building one of first J C Penney stores in America would also have an upper level apartment The the ' RDA would like to see the lower level of the building house a village at the south end of town which includes the old railroad depot the caboose and a log cabin which will serve as an mloima- tion center for the hentnge vil- - Ae'pu'hnnt ’Histone cr 1 TJu( development is at the industrial and Meanwhile manufacturing park by the airport Bona stated “We have 26 lots in Phase One that have been sold and are either developed or in the course of being developed and we have a waiting list Council acts as the board of rectors for the RDA 1 he board seems committed to continue is now finish- second phase of infra- structure improvements at the park at a cost of $4 2000 The ing a work done in Phase One totaled $416000 Bona explained “We will have over $800000 in that Street and U S 89 Restoration of the old high school gym and the histone industrial arts building onTI S 89 and 100 North center and the senior cilieit apartments along with other affordable housing projects are being discussed The Mt Pleasant City of seven people” Mt Pleasant Inge property Additionally the RDA is overseeing restoration oi the veterans’ memorial on Main is also on the agenda The agency is also involved with the development of the culinary arts and motel management school at the Horseshoe Mountain Lodge and Restau-- i ant The senior community restaurant continuing Plaque e (with considerable defacement) gives history of the JC Penney building restoration of Main Street and other areas of the city to maximize the economic base of the community VI SION VALLEY CLINIC Richard Luekenga 433 Certified ’Sstjv subsequently come aboard since the program commenced” says City Councilman Heating and Air Conditioning (8278) a) y §1 O P T & 69 S Main Mantl Licensed and Insured NATE and RSES v vy t ers clearing blighted structures But over the past decade the Mt Pleasant Redevelopment Agency (RDA) has served as a role model in how redevel- If you get a tuffy nose and cough every winter you may be suffering from respiratory ailments caused by poor Indoor Air Quality and low humidity in your home Call Todd now for a free estimate on a quality humidifier and other solutions for Indoor Air Quality problems Senior citizens get an additional 10 discount) COPY A5 Valley Edition Messenger-Gnniso- 145 &96-- S 143 OD Specializing in Kindness North 100 East in Richfield I C A & David L Graf OD and Vision excellence ioieruc tjou 75 No 100 East in 20 Gunnison |