Downtown Designation Paying Off for Village Investors

by Amy Kolb Noyes

If Vermont's downtown designation is meant to give incentives for locals
to revitalize their downtowns, it appears to be working in Morrisville.
It has been less than a year since Morristown was awarded downtown
designation for Morrisville Village proper. In that time, local business
people have begun to take advantage of some of the associated downtown
revitalization tax credits being offered by the state and federal
governments.
Chris Cochran, of the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community
Development's Downtown Program, has been working with Morrisville
commercial property owners. Cochran said he has helped Sonny Demars tap
into a 25% tax credit for code and facade improvements to his building
on Portland Street. He is now working to get some retroactive credits
for work already completed on the Jost Electronics building.
When asked what downtown designation is doing for village commercial
property owners Cochran explained, "It's rewarding the merchants who are
investing in their properties and improving the look and feel of
downtown Morrisville, with tax credits."
Cochran added he has gotten a lot of calls from Morrisville commercial
property owners interested in the program. "My sense is that Morrisville
will see a lot of downtown new construction in the coming years."
Morristown community coordinator Heidi Krantz echoed that sentiment. She
commented, "I think we're at the start of everything taking off."
Krantz has been working with Jeff Emerson who has plans to renovate the
old United Farmers creamery building down by the oxbow. Emerson said he
has a vision for that building which will involve first renovating the
existing space, then constructing a large addition. Four businesses are
currently using the creamery building. Emerson said he is looking for
other committed renters for the space.
Emerson's vision includes a health club, a restaurant on the upper level
overlooking the oxbow and Lamoille River, and a laundromat large enough
to serve, at least, the building's tenants. He said he would like to
speak to anyone who may have a compatible business and is looking for
space. Emerson has a model of how the completed project will look. He is
currently prepping the existing spaces for new businesses, and said the
space would work especially well for a business that might be looking to
take advantage of the recreation path planned for the LVRR rail line.
By the end of the year, Emerson said he plans to have the building's
basement available for climate-controlled records storage. By next year
he hopes to have an elevator installed to access the upper floor. Long
range plans include improving the parking situation for the building.
Emerson said of his overall goal, "We're just trying to spruce this end
of town up."
A new auto repair business just moved into the old Morrisville Water &
Light building beside the creamery, also owned by Emerson. The creamery
building currently contains both manufacturing and office space.
Krantz noted there is also local interest in purchasing the neighboring
Oriental Station building. In addition, Krantz said she has spoken with
a woman interested in purchasing and renovating property on Bridge Street.
Krantz has been working with the Morristown Alliance for Culture and
Commerce. She said MACC volunteers have been "very busy" on formulizing
a strategic plan for the downtown. She said MACC has included some very
specific projects in that plan, which will be presented to the
Morristown Selectboard next month.
Meanwhile, a merchant has yet to be pinned down to fill the large retail
space vacated by Ames in the north end of town. Property owner Murphy
Realty is negotiating with possible tenants, but has yet to secure a
commitment.
Rumors have been spreading around town that Morrisville is being
considered for a Super Wal-Mart. However, Wal-Mart Community Affairs
Officer Mia Masten assured the News & Citizen Wal-Mart was not currently
considering any store in Morrisville.