The Herald-News - News Story

Plans to renovate downtown Dayton are taking shape as officials expect up to $1 million to pour into the city over the next several years to revive the area around the historic Rhea County Courthouse.

Downtown merchants and city leaders reviewed the master plan for the courthouse square revitalization initiative on Tuesday. The project is being funded through a state pilot program that will return a portion of tax proceeds collected at businesses in the downtown district back to the local area.

Dayton is one of seven cities in the state that was accepted into the program, which will be funded over an eight-year period.

"We're very excited about the future," said Kerry Nabors, chairman of the design committee for MainStreet Dayton.

Nabors said the master plan unveiled Tuesday is the product of a series of meetings with city residents and downtown stakeholders.

The downtown master plan calls for more lush landscaping, updated park benches and, eventually, an irrigation system in downtown.

There are also plans to update entranceways into downtown, specifically with an archway over Third Avenue - similar to the structure greeting motorists on Main Street.

A plaza to highlight the front of the courthouse is also planned, along with renovations to Rotary Centennial Park.

A committee will also form a list of design guidelines for downtown buildings that will create "a common theme" in the six-block area from Third Avenue to Main Street and Railroad Street to Church Street.

The guidelines will not be a form of zoning, and Nabors said officials are studying ways to provide incentives for building owners who invest in remolding.

"We don't want every building in downtown painted brown," Nabors said after unveiling the master plan to the Main Street Merchants group during a meeting at Pooh's Place.

"We realize the individuality of the buildings. We want to come up with a central theme and work in a common direction," he said.

Those attending Tuesday's meetings appeared supportive of the plans to update downtown.

Clyde Caldwell of the Masonic Lodge said his organization is eager to see suggested design guidelines to update the exterior of its building across from the courthouse. The building houses the lodge, as well as Main Street Music and The General Store.

"We don't want our building to stand out like a sore-thumb," Caldwell said. "We want it to be an asset and we would like some direction."

Kathy Griffin, president of MainStreet Dayton, said the master plan will be an asset to the entire district and will make downtown more inviting, especially for pedestrians.

"It's looks very 'let's-go-down-there' friendly," she said.