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Dedicated
'Old Towne' tax idea gaining support
Parkville
alderman swayed by Gangai's presentation
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by Nick
Dupont
Landmark reporter
Angelo Gangai of Parkville Main Street,
Inc. presented proposals to the Parkville Board of Aldermen
Tuesday night on how to make the Old Towne Market Community
Improvement District (downtown Parkville area) more visible
and accessible.
“Our research shows the CID has many
strengths,” said Gangai. “It has a quaint friendly
atmosphere, close proximity to Kansas City, unique shopping
and dining options, and a beautiful historic downtown.
But our focus groups tell us we need more public restrooms,
a cohesive look and feel, and more historical information
available for visitors.
Gangai said in order to make Parkville
look a lot bigger than its population of 4,000-plus, the
group plans to market the city through print media, radio,
and signage. He also said directional signage in surrounding
areas like Zona Rosa and other areas north of the river
could play a major role bringing people in who don’t
know Parkville exists.
“Travelers must be able to quickly
and easily identify the way to our town from the major
arteries around us,” he said.
Other proposals included burying power
lines and installing kiosks to help visitors gain information
about stores and services.
If passed, the price tag for the proposals
would be a 1% sales tax increase starting in January,
2007. The extra 1% tax would only be charged on retail
purchases made within the community improvement district.
Alderman Brian Atkinson said the group’s
presentation changed his mind about where he stood on
the issue.
“I was a ‘Doubting Thomas’
at first,” said Atkinson. “I was concerned about
the increase in public taxes for a private businesses
area. But after I saw what their plan can do for the city,
it convinced me it’s the only way to go. It’s
a tremendous program to get word out about us and do a
lot of the things we need to get done.”
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