LOCAL POSTAL CUSTOMER
Caldwell, Idaho
Edition FOURTEEN
JANUARY 2016
Look Who’s Caught In The Act
Basque Support Community
Chuck Is Back!
Parade Winners Shine!
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Revitalization Pioneers – Ahead of the Game!
L to R: Karen & Matt Kelly (owners), Mitchel Kelly (son), Shasta Perkins (employee) on December 23rd during a busy evening at the Birdstop
Matt and Karen Kelly, owners of “The Bird Stop” began one of those businesses. When Matt told people that he was going to open a business in downtown Caldwell, people told him not to do it. Well, he forged ahead anyway
and located in a small building along Indian Creek. After a couple of years there, he decided to move to his current location and did an amazing renovation on the old Commercial Bank building (702 Main Street), creating a fantastic coffee/sandwich shop that also serves local wines and microbrews on tap. They also have entertainment and special events. This is most likely the first business in town that has drawn young people downtown after having had a “drought” of activity and fun for them for many years. Matt says his numbers are up 100% from last year and everyday he hears, “We can’t wait to see what more will be done with downtown.” He says all economic levels come to his place and he’d like to see our money stay in Caldwell. Matt took a “leap of faith” by putting his money into his building and his efforts to help spur a beginning for some revitalization in the downtown core before any promises have been made to business owners from Urban Renewal or whatever may come from the Destination Caldwell’s plaza’s project. It just didn’t seem to be enough for many other owners of empty buildings located in his area. Another business “ahead of the game” is Indian Creek Steakhouse (711 Main). Dillon and Jennifer Wickel, coowners of this business, modeled it after the Wolfe Lodge Inn, a favorite restaurant near Coeur d’Alene owned by Dillon’s Uncle Wallace. It has a great western atmosphere with western artifacts and displays of taxidermy animals of the northwest.
By Leora Summers, Caldwell Perspective Editor
At the last city council meeting, Dillon said that people told him that they didn’t think that he would “make it.” He said that he now has people coming from Boise, Mountain Home, Oregon and all over to eat his steaks, but they want something more to do after they eat. Dillon has busily remodeled the empty Indian Creek Steakhouse owner, space connected to his Dillon Wickel, behind the bar in restaurant as a great the newly renovated addition to his restaurant entertainment/bar area to be able to have bands and dances to provide some well-needed entertainment for downtown. It looks fabulous. The Kellys and the Wickels have invested in our community and are “ahead of the game.” They are truly the “Revitalization Pioneers” that have spurred our community on in its quest to become more vibrant. They are the example to the rest of our community to invest in their buildings and to give people more reasons to spend their money in Caldwell.
“A Long and Winding Road” to Plaza Site Approval On December 7th Kelli Jenkins, Chair for Indian Creek Plaza committee, presented the progress of the committee to City Council earnestly stressing the need to officially designate a site so the committee could move forward. Dan Senftner, the hired organizer of the successful Rapid City, South Dakota plaza project, would soon be coming to meet with them during December 14th and 15th to customize the “Main Street Square” plan used for Rapid City to meet Caldwell’s needs. Kelli Jenkins, Indian The committee wants to be able to present a Creek Plaza Chairwoman time table by March 1st. Jenkins reported that there is plaza interest beginning in Boise and Nampa and that we need to secure Caldwell’s plaza so no one will jump in ahead of us. During the Urban Renewal meeting on December 14th, Senftner addressed the group. A “Public-Private Partnership” needs to be put into place to subsidize the first 3 years of operation. Destination Caldwell’s goal is to raise 2 million dollars to do just that. When Senftner was asked how to get the “mom and pop” shops downtown, he said, “The first thing is to designate a site, and then the “mom and pop” shops will come to you.” Jenkins appeared before the group and again asked for action from Urban Renewal so the committee could move forward. It was then moved and approved for the Plaza Committee to present their resolution at the council’s December 21st meeting. During that meeting, Mayor Nancolas said to the group attending “Inaction is not an option. Things improve when someone dares to do something. Our residents want a reason to come downtown.” After taking his granddaughter down to see the “lighting” of Indian Creek and wanting to get her cocoa after, he saw how busy and crowded the Bird Stop was. He said, “It is my humble belief that we are primed for something like this (the plaza) in our community.” He went on to say, “This is the right thing
By Leora Summers, Caldwell Perspective Editor
for the right reasons and it’s the right time.” Caldwell’s economic developer, Steve Fultz, spoke to the group telling them that as he has met with future business developers who were interested in setting up shop in Caldwell. They all wanted to see Caldwell’s downtown. He wanted to take them at night when the creek was lit up and avoid showing them the daylight version of Caldwell. Caldwell’s downtown core, with its inactivity and empty old buildings deterred many of them from coming to Caldwell. They told Fultz, the town wasn’t “vibrant” enough. He said, “Developers want to see the commitment the downtown is making to the community.” He thinks a plaza would positively affect attracting industrial projects to our community. After 3 years in the planning, Destination Caldwell and the Designated site for Indian Creek Plaza Indian Creek Plaza planning committee were finally given the green light. The council passed the resolution to designate the site for the proposed plaza to be at the old King’s building lot, the corner of Arthur and Kimball. Now a sign officially designating the King’s lot as the “Future Site for Indian Creek Plaza” can be placed there and the hard work can begin. This has been a “long and winding road,” with many more twists and turns to come, but at least the plaza committee can now begin the journey.
Photo by Leora Summers
Photo by Leora Summers
Some downtown business owners have been holding their breath waiting, to invest in remodeling their buildings to see how this all panned out, but there are two special business owners (that provide dining options downtown) that I am highlighting that took the leap, remodeling their buildings before they ever heard about this plaza plan.
Photos by Leora Summers
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Caldwell Brand Accepted!
By Leora Summers, Editor
City Council approved a “brand” for the City of Caldwell during its December 21st meeting. This brand has been in the works for the past 3 years since Roger Brooks’ visit. Since its initial presentation, the Owyhee Mountains and an apple have been added to it to better represent our area. Destination Caldwell will be writing a “style guide” to guide the parameters for its use. It will be owned by the city and trademarked. The city’s official stamp will be used for legal documents and this logo can be used along with it for other purposes as they see fit.