When Rob Hansen first opened his restaurant, Mezzaluna, he was distraught by the state of downtown.
"The saddest thing they ever did was tear the old courthouse down," Hansen said.
He wasn't the only one that noticed.
Over the past four years, city officials and private business owners have been working to rebuild downtown. The project includes restoration of 13 buildings, new streetscapes, increased parking and a federal grant of $2 million.
"We're creating an atmosphere that's unique," said Brian Lough, executive director of the Downtown Development Partnership. "When we look at recruiting businesses ... one thing they want to see is the quality of life downtown."
Several businesses have recently opened, including a grocery store, a bike shop and several gift shops.
"We had a lot of vacant store fronts," Mayor Dan Canan said. "(The business) came a lot quicker than we expected; the interest just blossomed."
The improvements have also helped the downtown restaurants Mezzaluna, White River Landing and Vera Mae's, which are all locally owned, Lough said.
Hansen said the improvement has brought more customers.
"It's a whole lot better than when we first came down," Hansen said. "We're getting more and more new people all the time."
Hansen said that though he hasn't been directly helped by the city, they have helped by keeping the city clean.
So far, the city has focused on Walnut Street. Six months after the project began the sewers were replaced, and one year ago the city started the facade program, mayor Dan Canan said.
Lough said that property owners have spent $2.5 million on restoring the interior and $2.5 million on the exteriors of buildings on Walnut Street.
Owners have received financial aid from the Historic Preservation Commission.
Gretchen Cheesman, historic preservation officer, said the commission provides block grant money, which owners can use to pay back loans.
In the last year, the commission has awarded $1.5 million, she said.
"That's 15 years of impact in one year," Cheesman said.
Hansen has also joined in the restoration effort. He's been working on another restaurant downtown, The Spot.
"It's gone into disrepair; no one's giving it love," Hansen said. "It's going to be beautiful."
In addition to the restoration, $1.5 million has been spent on new sidewalks, flowering and landscaping on Walnut street, and a roundabout at the intersection of Walnut and Seymor streets, Lough said.
"We've encouraged and created an environment that encourages development," he said.
Money from taxes set aside for city improvement has helped pay for the improvements, along with rent pay and increased property taxes, Canan said.
Lough said the city has also focused on using festivals to generate interest in downtown.
The biggest festival is Mardi Gras, which has drawn crowds of more than 8,000 people, Cheryl Crowder, special event coordinator said.
The city also has a St. Patrick's Day parade, a beach party where the Jackson and High streets parking lot is filled with sand, a rib fest, and the End of Summer Jam music festival.
"The festivals bring awareness of what is there and it's a great marketing tool of ridding people of perceptions that aren't correct," Crowder said.
Many people think that downtown is dirty, lacks parking and isn't safe, she said.
"In the course of having an event, you can show 10,000 people found a place to park," Crowder said.
She also said that the streets are swept weekly and the more activity there is, the safer downtown is.
Crowder said she believes that the festivals also help the atmosphere.
"Any time you can get a lot of people together, there's a lot of energy," she said.
While downtown has seen much improvement, parking has brought out some contentions.
"Parking is still an issue," Canan said.
The city improved a parking lot on High Street and one at Mulberry and Jackson streets, he said.
While parking is free for residents and customers, employees have to rent a spot.
Hansen said if the city really wanted to encourage more business, they wouldn't make business owners and their employees pay.
Canan disagrees.
"Our focus is on customers and residents," Canan said. "People shopping should get free parking."
Canan said he hopes to create the "ideal situation like Ball State University with parking convenience for everyone."
While the facades are expected to be wrapped up in the next few months, and other projects are being finished, the restoration won't end any time soon, Lough said.
He said that a $2 million improvement grant from the federal government hasn't even been used yet and there are plans on expanding the improvements in all directions of Walnut Street.
"Downtown will be an evolution," Canan said.
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