Business View Civil and Municipal | January 2021

104 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL JANUARY 2021 something the residents are starting to enjoy more and more.” To make Huntington’s downtown even more accessible, the city has entered into a public- private partnership to develop a downtown arts centre that also includes market-rate apartments. Of the 35 apartments, 27 are now occupied. Having more market-rate housing available at the right price is a great positive development for the core area. Over the past several years the city has been working to review its downtown zoning to make sure it isn’t hindering any development. The goal is to broaden the downtown’s appeal as a great place to live, work and play. Strick explains, “We are seeing more and more the dynamic and trend where young couples are looking at spending their time and their dollars downtown, rather than trying to get a larger yard and having to put time into maintaining that. We have the apartments opening up this year and renting that space out, and other individuals who