Lincoln Park has plenty of space for new businesses in its historic downtown. However, today's economy isn't doing much to help fill that space.
So the city has decided to help itself. Lincoln Park officials are working on plans to turn one of the downtown's vacant buildings into a business incubator.
"Ideally, I’d like to get some of these home-based businesses and offer them this as a place to do their business," says Gib Turner, economic development director for Lincoln Park.
The building is 1673 Fort St., a vacant single-story structure that the city's Downtown Development Authority owns. Turner estimates that the mid-20th Century building would be big enough for four or five spaces that could be used as anything from an art gallery to a professional office.
"They would have to have a business plan," Turner says. "We're not just going to give the space away."
These businesses would have access to the space at little to no cost. Turner is also looking into the possibility of renovating the building to make it environmentally friendly, possible going for a high LEED certification.
He is putting the plan together right now and hopes to make a presentation to City Council early next year. Construction could begin as early as next summer.
Source: Gib Turner, economic development director for Lincoln Park
Writer: Jon Zemke
Enjoy this story?
Sign up for free solutions-based reporting in your inbox each week.