Small Business Coordinator Amber Martin Community presented the Community Entertainment District to the community and economic development committee and community members Monday evening.
Precious Grundy | The Five News
LIMA – A new development is underway in the City of Lima. A newly granted community entertainment district could be coming to the area soon. The community and economic development committee met Monday evening to discuss the project.
The city of Lima proposed a district. According to Workforce and Small Business Development coordinator Amber Martin, a CED is defined as a border area that includes a combination of entertainment, retail, education, sports, culture or art in close proximity to shopping centers, restaurants and so on.
“CED is a tool for economic development,” Martin said. “It provides a boundary for an area dedicated to entertainment that includes retail, art, sporting events, theater, performing arts and film. All kinds of things that improve our quality of life and add vibrancy to our city.
According to Martin, the district will include the North and South ends of Main Street, Grand Avenue to the North and Fourth Street to the South extending to the city.
“We hope to provide a larger area for entertainment,” added Martin. “We’ve heard from property buyers on South Main who are interested in developing. We have lots of properties for rent and for sale in that area.”
If approved by Council, CED will expand the ability of businesses (within those limits) to obtain a D5-J liquor license. This license is a full beer, wine and spirit license, according to Martin.
Community members including Marc Bowker weighed in on future development.
“I would just ask the group to consider shopping at retail,” Bowker said. “I know this is part of the bigger picture but there is a lot of talk about liquor licenses and ‘bar-tainment’. A very big piece that is missing in the city of Lima is shopping.”
The next step for the district is to present it to Lima City Council for official approval.
“Right now we’re in the discussion phase,” Martin said. “Our next step is an application made to the mayor of Lima. From that point the mayor will take our Council members and the Council will then consider. There will be a public comment period and then we will move forward from there.
For more information, contact the Workforce and Small Business Development Coordinator at 419-223-7281.
Reach Precious Grundy at 567-242-0351.
