Manhattan to use downtown master plan, cites new businesses as signs of growth

The Mayor of Manhattan said the village completed a downtown master plan and held an open house in June that produced "tons of feedback" from residents. He said the next steps are to draft design standards to guide future downtown growth and to engage community members in that process.

The Mayor pointed to recent business openings as local economic momentum, listing Central Mufflers and Auto Repair, Hangar 51 Customs, McDonald's, Reap Vitality and Smoker's Kingdom 3. He said attracting new businesses increases revenue and helps the village improve services without raising taxes.

The Mayor framed downtown design standards as a means to "create a quaint downtown to bring the past and the future together." He also said the village will continue to add seasonal decorations and events to improve the downtown experience and encourage foot traffic. No specific regulatory changes or incentives were announced in the address.