Many of those who attended the latest open house for the M2M: Main to Mississippi Plan praised the idea of improving Main Street in Festus and Bailey Road and Mississippi Avenue in Crystal City.
Several dozen people attended the open house, which was held June 14 at the First Baptist Church of Festus-Crystal City and was billed as the final one in a series of meetings to inform the public about the proposed improvements and get feedback about the project.
Local officials and representatives from RDG Planning & Design, the project facilitator, gave presentations at the open house. In addition, posters were displayed showing different ways to improve the Festus and Crystal City downtown areas.
Cory Scott, RDG senior partner, said he was looking for public comments about the various proposals.
“We like feedback,” Scott said. “We want to hear from folks.”
Scott said the improvements would benefit both cities.
“We see how the two communities can connect with each other and how the neighborhood can become stronger,” he said.
Scott said that improvements could lead to the area becoming “a destination in Jefferson County.”
Marty Shukert of RDG said proposed improvements at the Bailey Road-Truman Boulevard could make the intersection “a bridge rather than a barrier,” saying its current configuration is not conducive to foot traffic. He said it should be “tightened up” to make it easier to cross.
Shukert also said vacant lots could be converted to townhouses.
During a question-and-answer session at the open house, an attendee asked if eminent domain would be used to complete the plan.
“There’s none of that,” Scott said.
Topics ranged from possibly naming the area the “The Glass District,” promoting more use of lots south of Main Street and Bailey Road for visitor parking, widening the sidewalks in front of businesses to promote foot traffic and walling off dumpsters located in the parking areas.
Speakers stressed that the ideas are just proposals, not necessarily what would occur if the cities move forward with the project.
Crystal City Mayor Mike Osher said he supports the potential improvements.
“I think it’s great,” Osher said. “It’s developing a plan to look forward to the future. I like the idea of mixed-use development.”
Among the attendees were Corin and Christian Roth, owners of the Backbone Home store on Main Street, who also said they like the proposed plan.
“We’re excited for this,” Corin Roth said.
“I like what they’re doing with the storefronts,” Christian Roth said. “We could use more sidewalk space.”
Festus Ward 2 Councilman Brian Wehner said he is receptive to the ideas presented at the open house.
“With what’s been presented, hopefully, there will be a way to utilize the assets we have,” Wehner said.
The M2M: Main to Mississippi Plan is part of the Great Streets Initiative, a federal 80-20 grant program administered through the East-West Gateway Council of Governments, which coordinates road projects in the St. Louis region.
RDG will be paid $424,109 to facilitate the plan. The federal grant will cover $339,287.20 (80 percent) of the RDG fee, while the two cities will split the rest of the cost based on their populations, with Festus paying $59,375.26 and Crystal City paying $25,446.54.