Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Letter given to Duluth City Council expresses 'concern and 'dismay' over Downtown Development Authority member Shelly Howard's not being reappointed to board.
Some Downtown Duluth merchants, building owners and citizens are questioning the non-reappointment of long-time Duluth Downtown Development Authority member Shelly Howard. A letter expressing their “concern and dismay” was given to the Duluth City Council prior to its regular Monday (April 9) night meeting, but it was not brought up by council members during the meeting. The council reappointed Rob Ponder and appointed Greg Lindquist, owner of the Best of Brews, and Maxine Garner, a former city council member, to four-year DDA terms expiring in April 2016. No mention was made by city officials nor was it listed on the agenda whom the two new members were replacing. Besides Howard, DDA member Ed Gulesserian also was not reappointed. …
Monday, March 5, 2012
Duluth City Council calls joint meeting with Downtown Development Authority to discuss disposition of city-owned property in the historic downtown.
The Duluth Art Gallery, which has been a center of visual arts activity in downtwon Duluth for the past four years, is closing. Owner Beth Moody, who last Saturday was selling fixtures and returning consigned artworks to artists, said she is having to vacate the city-owned space by March 14. Moody, a painter, and her husband Glen Faulkner, a woodturner, displayed and sold their art in the gallery, too. The Duluth City Council has called a joint meeting March 20 with the Downtown Development Authority to discuss disposition of city-owned property in the Old City Hall Block. The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Duluth City Hall. Moody was also selling furniture, fixtures and frames from Wallace Reid Portraiture …
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Former Sensibly Chic shop on Main Street to be transformed into pub called 'Tavern on Main.'
More nightlife is coming to Historic Downtown Duluth soon. David Cossette and Shelly Howard plan to turn Sensibly Chic, their antiques and collectibles shop, into a pub called Tavern on Main. They recently closed the shop for renovation. Cossette, who appeared at Monday (Feb. 21) night’s Downtown Development Authority meeting to request the DDA’s assistance in obtaining a low-interest loan for façade improvements, said he and Shelly plan to have their new business open in about three months. The tavern will “fill the need for more entertainment venues downtown,” Duluth Economic Development Manager Chris McGahee said. McGahee reported that an interior design firm called Peace, Love & Decorating plans to open in the Main Street storefront …
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Membership pool for Duluth Downtown Development Authority not as limited as once thought.
The City of Duluth has issued a notice seeking individuals interested in serving on the Downtown Development Authority after Councilman Billy Jones discovered that three of the members aren’t restricted to living in the city. The terms of the current seven members expire on March 10, and they all are apparently willing to continue to serve. It appears, according to Jones, that there has been misinformation inadvertently circulated over the years about who is eligible to serve on the DDA, which is charged with revitalizing and redeveloping the city’s downtown (central business district) and creating employment opportunities. The DDA has the authority to finance projects to benefit downtown and issue bonds. It also reviews potential …
Friday, January 20, 2012
Duluth Economic Development Manager Chris McGahee updates Downtown Development Authority on new activity.
Things are a’ changing on the retail scene in Duluth both on Main Street downtown and on Peachtree Industrial Boulevard. Chris McGahee, the city’s economic development manager, updated the Downtown Development Authority on impending changes at its Jan. 17 meeting. These changes are to be expected with other businesses such as Pure Taqueria and Eddie Owen Presents at the Red Clay Theatre creating excitement and interest in the city. Some of the existing businesses, DDA Vice President Rob Ponder said, had been “placeholders” keeping storefronts from becoming vacant until the economy improved. Here are a few of the anticipated changes: Also, the city has received a request for a haunted house to be operated in the Old City Hall …
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Community Volunteer League to create courtyard in pocket parking lot on West Lawrenceville Street next to Wallace Reid Studio and behind Main Street shops.
Downtown Duluth shoppers will have a courtyard to rest their feet and restaurant patrons a place to wait for tables when the Community Volunteer League turns a pocket parking lot on West Lawrenceville Street into an inviting garden courtyard. The parking lot lies next to Wallace Reid Studio and behind Main Street shops in the Old City Hall Block. The city owns the property. The Duluth City Council on Jan. 9 approved revised plans for the courtyard with conditions developed during several months of discussion at meetings of the Duluth Downtown Development Association and council work sessions. The Community Volunteer League, led by DDA Secretary Shelly Howard, serves as an arm of the DDA. The league plans to create the courtyard with …
Monday, October 24, 2011
Agreement with Eddie Owen to manage Red Clay Theatre and book live musical acts on its stage listed on Duluth City Council agenda for called meeting Oct. 24.
Adoption of an agreement with legendary music promoter Eddie Owen, founder and former manager of Eddie’s Attic in Decatur, that would allow him to use the Red Clay Theatre in Duluth as a live music venue is listed for consideration on the agenda for a called meeting of the Duluth City Council tonight (Oct. 24). The agenda for the 7 p.m. special meeting also includes annexation of properties in the Blue Ridge Industrial Park adjacent to the city. The called meeting will occur during a regularly scheduled work session that begins at 5:30 p.m. Duluth Economic Development Manager Chris McGahee reported at the Oct. 18 Duluth Downtown Development Authority meeting that an agreement between Owen and the city that would allow him to manage the Red…
Thursday, July 28, 2011
DDA endorses promotion to celebrate influx of new businesses in Historic Downtown Duluth.
Colorful hot air balloons painted by the community will decorate Main Street Duluth in mid-September to celebrate the influx of new businesses downtown. The Duluth Downtown Development Authority at its July 26 meeting approved a $500 loan to DDA Secretary Shelly Howard to purchase the balloon forms and cover other expenses. The loan will be repaid with funds from individuals and businesses who purchase the forms to decorate and display. The promotion is similar to previous decorated dogs and violins projects in the city. “Seven new business are open,” Howard said. “It’s a cause for celebration.” The theme for the project will be “Historic Duluth is Taking Off.” On Saturday, Sept. 17, she also said, a real hot air balloon will be tethered …
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Mayor and council continue discussing ways to energize theatre and enliven downtown.
The Duluth mayor and city council’s discussion Monday night during a work session to determine the future direction of the Red Clay Theatre went around and around. Finally, they agreed on a multi-course of action with decisions to be made later. The work session after the council’s regular June 13 meeting was scheduled to further discuss a recent proposal by a team of local drama professionals to take over management of the theatre. “As a city, we need to decide where we want to be going before we put someone in place,” Councilman Jim Dugan said. The downtown theatre is presently operated as a rental facility by city staff after arrangements with previous management companies and booking agencies failed. “I don’t think the council is ready…
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Gardner Spencer Smith Tench & Jarbeau architectural firm shines in interviews.
The Duluth Downtown Development Authority recommended at its Tuesday (May 17) meeting that the Duluth City Council enter into a contract with the Atlanta-based architectural firm of Gardner Spencer Smith Tench & Jarbeau to design an addition to the Red Clay Theatre on Main Street. DDA Vice President Rob Ponder, who headed a DDA selection committee to interview the top two firms that responded to city’s call for RFQs to design the project, announced that GSST&J scored the most points in the interviews. “They had a lot of good examples of buildings and a lot of experience,” Ponder said. The fee for design and professional services was fixed at $40,000. “We’re absolutely excited to be a part of this (project),” said Leslie A. Spencer Jr., a …
Bobbie
7:28 pm on Friday, April 27, 2012
Thank you Faye for clearing that up. I have heard from a number of people that Shelly and her husband pulled Eddie into Duluth. Also, I agree it's crazy not to have staggering terms as well, but the question from the merchants was why Shelly? Not, why the change? You have members on that board that have been on there 20 years. Shelly was the only one I can name and that showed up on Main Street … more ›