Published: January 27, 2007 12:43 am            

Lyons is unique, close-knit

Though Clinton annexed the towns of Chancy, Lyons and Ringwood in the late 19th century, only one of those communities has maintained its identity into the 21st.

Brenda Thornton, owner of Homer’s Deli and Sweetheart Bakery, spoke at Thursday’s Clinton Area Chamber of Commerce Business Forecast Luncheon to explain the results of an assessment of the Lyons Business District.

Because Clinton was chosen as an Iowa Great Place, she said, a business district assessment was provided at no cost. City leaders suggested Clinton have Lyons assessed as well as the downtown district.

The Lyons assessment was performed by Debi Flanders, a downtown center consultant for the Iowa Downtown Resource Center, Iowa Department of Economic Development; and Cary Anglum, executive director of Community Main Street in Cedar Falls. The two-day assessment visit took place in the Lyons district on June 20 and 21.

Flanders and Anglum participated in a familiarization tour of the community and a walking tour of the district and interviewed community leaders and 66 individuals representing a cross-section of the community.

Thornton said the people were divided into small groups and asked to provide one-word descriptions of Clinton. Responses given multiple times included caring, potential, friendly, home, hometown and great town. Of the Lyons district, interviewees described the area with words like potential, eye-appealing, disjointed, unified, unique, friendly, close-knit, growing, neighborly and caring.

Eagle Point Park, the riverfront and events such as the farmer’s market and Christmas Walk were named assets to Clinton and the Lyons district. Thornton said the responses indicated heritage is an important aspect of the district and interviewees said the stability and longevity of businesses in the district is appreciated. Student responders said Clinton is a close-knit community and many replied they had a good childhood here.

Interviewees indicated challenges to the district include the economy, keeping young people in the community, high property taxes, the condition of city streets and a history of animosity between Lyons and the downtown area. Students saw declining education quality due to budget and program cuts as a main challenge. Suggestions for improvement of the district included providing better access to the river, the need for a unifying streetscape and more activities for young adults.

The assessors offered an opinion that the district is fortunate to have a public library and a branch post office. They noted there are seven vacant commercial properties on Main Avenue that are not contributing to the economic value of the district. Thornton pointed out that the more reasons people have to come to Lyons, the more opportunities they have to spend money there and support local businesses.

Thornton highlighted short- and long-term recommendations. Short-term suggestions included planning a more aggressive annual fund-raising approach for the next year and making more references to the Lyons district on the city Web site. Thornton said those suggestions already are being acted on.

The assessors also encouraged a more aggressive membership drive for the Lyons Business and Professional Association to raise more funds for special events, consensus building between stakeholders in the district and more effective communication.

Long-term ideas included developing grant and low interest loan incentive programs to encourage improvement in targeted areas, improving the streetscape, researching and promoting the history of the district, encouraging local shopping and giving people more than one thing to do.

The assessors also suggested performing a physical needs assessment to look at the condition of parking lots, buildings and the streetscape from the viewpoint of a customer or visitor. Thornton said the report showed that one interviewee suggested that a “big tree” be planted where the previous one stood — the unofficial dividing point between Lyons and Clinton — to link the present and the past.

Thornton said the report stated Clinton has an advantage over other cities because not many communities can boast they have two downtowns. The assessors wrote it is important for everyone to feel at home in the district because it is the heart and soul of the community, a place to play, gather and live.

        

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