The city of Galesburg and the Galesburg Downtown Council are holding a public meeting next Thursday to continue discussion on a major downtown beautification project.
The meeting will be from 5 to 7 p.m. July 21 in the Kensington Grand Ballroom.
City Associate Planner Steve Gugliotta says the Downtown Council and the city are looking to set up guidelines for ways to make downtown Galesburg more attractive.
Gugliotta tells WGIL he hopes to promote business development, residential spaces, activities “and is basically just creating an urban center that can attract people for tourism or entertainment and commerce.”
No dollar amount will be landed on until a plan has been developed. Input from community members and business owners was taken in April, giving the project a direction to start assembling possible improvements.
“We’re looking at streetscape improvements, sidewalks, lighting, any type of aesthetic improvements,” Gugliotta says, “which would include trees or plants, benches, trash containers. All of those items that would provide some aesthetic improvements to the downtown area.”
Consultant work is provided by Massie Massie & Associates. Feedback from Thursday’s meeting will be used in developing a final project report.
