Downtown as a destination

Vicki Jarvis, co-owner of Frames and Images in downtown Sebring, was shopping recently in a store in the Shoppes at Shelby Crossing on U.S. 27. Jarvis was standing near by when she heard a woman presumably from out of town ask the clerk if Sebring had a downtown area. The clerk's response was that shopping center was basically the downtown.

Jarvis was stunned.

"My mouth dropped," Jarvis said. "The clerk didn't know we had a downtown."

Although the uninformed clerk is probably part of only small number, Jarvis believes people do forget that Sebring has a downtown.

There are new efforts to help keep people aware of downtown and what it has to offer.

Casey Wohl of Gray Dog Communications has put together the Downtown Sebring CRA Business Recruitment and Retention Plan. The plan includes several recommendations for the Sebring CRA to consider implementing in 2010-11.

"We're trying to create downtown as a destination," Wohl said. "Any successful downtown is a destination and that's what we are trying to do."

In the report put together by Wohl, it states "Downtown is a pedestrian-oriented district, and as such, it also should be a pedestrian-priority area. Pedestrians who feel comfortable and safe will spend more time (and money) in downtown."

Wohl said downtown Sebring has a lot of potential.

"It has charm and a historic feel," she said. "Sebring is very unique and is one of the few downtowns with a circle."

Frames and Images, which originally started in business downtown, had operated on U.S. 27 for more than 20 years. The store moved back on Aug. 1 and is located at 108 Circle Park Drive.

"We're very glad to be back downtown," Jarvis said. "We're telling people where we are. I love the quaint, little town of Sebring."

Jarvis said the streetscape work is a "big improvement." She noted that lighting is an issue, but parking, which people have complained about, is not.

"There is plenty of parking downtown," she said. "There are four parking lots within one block of our store."

Wilson Shoes opened in downtown Sebring. Dave Wilson, who owns the store with his wife, Patty, opened a second store at Lakeshore Mall 16 years ago. Wilson left the mall in March of this year and consolidated the two stores into one at 233 N. Ridgewood.

He likes the convenience of the downtown store. Customers can pull up to the front of the store and walk right in.

Wilson thinks there should be more events like Heartland Idol and the car shows.

"We have a nice, clean downtown," he said. "It's a nice atmosphere and people feel comfortable. Crime is not an issue."

A downtown market analysis and marketing plan prepared by Swan Development Advisors said that downtown Sebring doesn't have an image problem to overcome. The complaints about downtown regarded "a lack of retail of variety and a need for longer, more consistent hours."

The survey that Swan conducted showed that for the stores that shoppers do tend to visit, they indicated they are most dissatisfied with the store hours. They would like stores to stay open longer, which makes sense since 70 percent of disposable income is spent after 6 p.m. and on the weekend.

Concerning the longer hours, Wohl said it will "be a slow, evolving process." She added that some stores stay open for special events and on weekends.

Pete Pollard, executive director of the Sebring Community Redevelopment Agency, said the city has two incentive programs to help businesses.

One program is to attract restaurants into the area of the Circle. A total of $50,000 has been included in a line item in the 2010-11 budget.

There is $50,000 in the development incentive program targeted for retail and professional businesses, according to Pollard.

The city is in the process of acquiring the small triangular piece of land at Lakeview and Ridgewood Drive. Pollard said he would like to see it turned into a park and have a gateway sign placed there that would provide information.

The city is also acquiring a parking lot with 21 spaces on South Ridgewood at Wall Street. Pollard said he would like to put in some landscaping after the site is cleaned up.

Pollard noted that he expects the city will close on both properties by the end of the year.