Business owners target south side for improvements

The Milford Village Council listened to a presentation on streetside improvements in a section of downtown Milford at its meeting on Monday, June 6.

In what’s being called the “Southside Revitalization Project,” the Milford Downtown Development Authority (DDA) has agreed to enter a partnership with five downtown business owners in order to improve sidewalks, street pavers, planting areas and driveways adjacent to their businesses on the west side of South Main Street between Clinton Street and Huron Street.

“There will also be the restoration of the existing irrigation system,” said Ann Barnette, the DDA’s executive director.

The business owners are Regis Hitch of Press-0n Printing, Skip Basil and Lyle Tyler of the Blacksmith Shop, Jeffrey Heyn of State Farm and Gina’s Bridal, and Jimmy Eggl of The Bar.

“I think this is a nice project and it’s nice for the DDA to work with the property owners,” Village Manager Arthur Shufflebarger said. “We’ve approved the concept, but bid packages haven’t been opened. This is a DDA project.”

According to a memo from Tyler, the Southside group spokesman, the five business owners will team up to contribute $15,000 toward the project. The memo also states that the Milford DDA has budgeted $25,000 for the project contingent upon the business owners’ financial support.

Barnette said the total cost of the project will be $40,000 and that she hopes the project will begin on July 5 and conclude on Aug. 3.

Tyler added in his memo that the group wants the project to make the south side area more attractive to prospective tenants and village residents, and in keeping with recent improvements made on Main Street.