City officials highlight current projects
By Adam Bennett, Three Rivers Commercial-News - 10/9/04. Note: This is a shortened version of the original article. THREE RIVERS - The key to growth and development in the community, Three Rivers City Manager Joe Bippus said Friday, is in the city’s willingness to invest in itself. That approach has been instrumental in bringing recent development to Three Rivers, Bippus told a crowd of more than 75 local dignitaries and business owners at the Three Rivers Chamber of Commerce’s Early Bird Breakfast in the Community Center. His overview of the city’s projects, ranging from the building of upscale apartments to an expansion of the municipal airport, highlighted the impact that investment has on the landscape of Three Rivers. While other communities draw up plans for major projects that hinge on the financial backing of grants, Bippus said, Three Rivers has taken an active approach, putting money into the venture. "A community can’t rely on grants alone," Bippus said. "In order to grow, it has to invest in itself. And many of the grants we did get because the city first said that we will invest here anyway." A fitting example of the city’s approach to development is the East Parking Lot project, a $1.8 million update to fill in a 20-foot depression behind the downtown buildings up to the level of Main Street as well as the addition of 76 parking spaces. The city’s contribution to upgrade water and sewer utilities and the roadway enables the massive undertaking, which officials hope will boost involvement in the downtown area. Also outlined was the addition of more than 200 acres for an Airport Industrial Park (AIP) near Haines Municipal Airport. The city also received a $1 million grant for site clean up at the 20-acre Essex Wire. The city demolished all the buildings at the brownfield site and set it up for revitalization, looking for future occupants. Bippus added to the development list the 50,000-square foot expansion to American Axle and Manufacturing to accommodate the factory’s production of Hummer 3 axles. The city manager said that it is the only AAM facility in the U.S. that has currently seen expansion. But, with the emphasis on growth, one basic element of development at the forefront is roads. And, as residents on Broadway Street and Portage Avenus have seen throughout the past few months, the city has been active in updating the roads. The market for homes has also seen development in the city. Bippus said that $300,000 investments for public utilities were made at two recent project development sites. Bentwaters, a 20-acre site for upscale apartments, and Welton Development’s Meadowbrook Farms subdivision and the Meadows condominiums have developed living areas for families with each catering to a different demographic. The final aspect of Bippus’ overview was on community recreation, focusing on the changes at Scidmore Park and the Riverwalk.
