formulating what exactly that group will work on,” says Stanford.“But what’s probably more important is that it is being led by the community itself. The Uptown has always been the heart of the community, and everyone wants to make sure it remains that way moving forward.” The public square project is one example of how Plain City is bringing new vibrancy, while preserving the heritage of the community. At the center of this project is a historic 1880s railroad depot that was recently relocated from the Columbus area.“We have rebuilt it and are using it as an anchor for what was Plain City’s original public square. This was the center of community gatherings in the past, where the first churches, schoolhouse, and town hall were located,” Stanford details. “We’ve taken a big step forward, bringing in new to help preserve the old, and that’s got a lot of people excited.” EXPANDING UPTOWN AND BEYOND As efforts to transform Uptown progressed, it became evident that its historic regulations were limiting development opportunities.“We had a lot of historic guidelines,” recounts Village Planner Derek Hutchinson.“We took a look at our Uptown building stock, and we found that most of our buildings weren’t original. They had been through major renovations or had major fires and were reconstructed.” While only one of Plain City’s buildings is on the National Historic Register, this does not mean the community has lost its charm. Instead of focusing on stringent historic design standards, the village established an historic overlay district, making it easier and more appealing for developers to bring new life to the area while honoring the historic character of the downtown. Hutchinson asserts, “There will be new buildings, but they will still have historic characteristics. It won’t be like a modern style building in a historic district.” Beyond Uptown, Plain City is addressing growing demands for services while creating opportunities for businesses and industries to thrive. “In the village limits we have a couple sites that are being developed for commercial uses,” outlines Hutchinson. “We have a 15-acre commercial development with multiple lots that will host restaurants, fast food, personal services, and potentially a grocery store. 4 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 02
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