Vision on track for railroad district

Mar 9, 2010 — Independent Record

Trent Makela

Mar. 6, 2010 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- With a mixed-use development at the Caird Engineering property still hanging in the balance, the Midtowne-Sixth Ward Neighborhood Association continues to focus its sights on the future of the historic railroad district.

The group, still Helena's only neighborhood association after roughly three years in existence, met on Thursday in the University of Montana-Helena College of Technology Lecture Hall.

"We have a vision for the railroad district, rejuvenating it kind of like the way downtown has done by bringing in Silver Star (Steak Co.) and businesses like that," said newly elected vice president Rose Casey, who is acting as president until absent electee Bonnie Lorango returns from vacation.

A big part of that is waiting to see whether the Department of Commerce approves Rocky Mountain Development Council's bid for Neighborhood Stabilization Program funds to help build a joint low-income senior housing and commercial project. Many members of the neighborhood association have steadfastly opposed the project, saying it doesn't fit in their long-range vision for the historic district. Others in the community have argued it would be a great opportunity to remove the blighted property and would provide needed senior housing.

"Now we're moving forward with attempting to stabilize and nourish our vision for the neighborhood," Casey said.

The third, and last, representative elected at the meeting was former president Mary Cheryl "M.C." Beeby, who took on the group's secretarial duties. Beeby also became the treasurer, when members voted to combine the two offices.

No candidates were found, nor elected, for four vacant board member positions.

In terms of the positive activity Casey was hoping to refocus on, she said the group's primary goal is to complete and present their neighborhood plan to the city.

"We're in the process of writing it right now -- it includes transportation, economic development, and other areas of community interest," Casey said. "We want it to be officially recognized (by the city), so they can look at that when they make decisions that impact the Sixth Ward."

Casey added that the area needs a written plan for future development because it is not one of the "protected residential neighborhoods up against Mount Helena."

"We want to make sure no group can come in with growth that doesn't fit in with the vision of the neighborhood," she said.

The group's other main goal is to find ways to begin the revitalization of the railroad district, with a controversial proposed tax increment financing district at least a year from being realized -- if the idea can even begin to gain traction in the community.

TIF districts, which have been used in other parts of the city, provide funding for redevelopment in "blighted" areas.

The district's city, county and school tax revenues are capped during the first year. And any increase in those revenues from the district during the life of the TIF are diverted to a fund to pay for improvements that would benefit the area.

"(A TIF district) would really help, but that may be too much of a complicated process right now," Casey added. "We're not sure we'll go ahead and try to do that just yet."

Paul Putz, the county historic preservation officer, opened the meeting by providing a presentation on the history of various lots in the Sixth Ward to illustrate how homeowners in the area could research the history of their own properties.

Putz later added that he has an official sign from the National Register of Historic Places meant to point out the 143-acre "Helena Railroad Depot Historic District" in the Sixth Ward, which was added to the register in 2004. He asked for input from the neighborhood association and area residents in determining where the sign should be placed.

Newstex ID: KRTB-0084-42718749