The City of Clearwater and Clearwater Main Street have been working to ensure that downtown businesses and stakeholders are informed of progress and engaged in the process as the Streetscape project continues. The list is a long one. Main Street has provided each merchant with a Streetscape Toolkit, a resource binder filled with information about the streetscape and some public relations/marketing ideas. The City created a post card with the image of the new streetscape for merchants to send out to customers advising them of sale opportunities and showing them what the finished streetscape will look like. Hard Hat Meetings are held monthly to provide merchants with information about the month ahead. A monthly newsletter keeps merchants informed as to what is happening, and a website updates site visitors about the project. An e-mail list serve keeps those who are interested updated about the project, and displays have been installed in seven locations (AmSouth Bank, Bank of America, SunTrust Bank, Starbucks, Main Library, Municipal Services Building and City Hall) that contain brochure racks for newsletters. Three vacant storefronts have displays on easels to alert passersby about the project. More renderings are being created to show how the streetscape will look. Displays for area recreation centers will be created with the new renderings. A new dining and shopping guide has been created to distribute to downtown employees during Main Street employee appreciation events. A business assistance brochure has been distributed to merchants providing them with information about resources that are available to them. Signs have been created and installed to direct customers to the Garden Avenue garage where they may take advantage of two hours of free parking as they shop or dine. A downtown ad has been created for the Ironman Event guide. The Main Street program requested promotional material to distribute at the Jazz Holiday festival. Information tables have been staffed at recent events with streetscape project information and downtown merchant information available for distribution. An art stroll is scheduled for November 18 to bring people downtown to see the streetscape construction and view images of what the project will look like. Attendees will also be able to view demonstrations by local art groups, see a children's art exhibit, and participate in a drum circle.
This week, Gibbs & Register crews are concentrating on the installation of the water main on the north side of Cleveland Street and the large storm drain from Osceola Avenue to the bluff. The intersection at Cleveland Street and East Avenue remains closed for the water main installation, and Cleveland Street at Osceola Avenue will be closed for approximately two weeks while crews install the storm drain beneath the roadway at the intersection. The remaining stretches of Cleveland Street downtown will be open to two-way traffic.
Those seeking the latest information on the Streetscape project are invited to attend Hard Hat meetings at 8 a.m. the last Thursday of each month. The Cleveland Street Café, 615 Cleveland St., will be the site for the Oct. 26 meeting. Free coffee will be offered and breakfast items will be available for sale. Hard Hat meeting details are posted along with other downtown construction information on the city's website at www.myclearwater.com/downtown.
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