Fairbanks mayor reflects on successes, challenges with downtown revitalization

FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTUU/KTVF) - The City of Fairbanks initiated a plan to revitalize its downtown this summer in an effort to bring tourists and locals to the area and create an attractive environment for businesses, and while Mayor Mindy O’Neall said many of these efforts have been successful so far, others have come with challenges.

Among the different programs started under the campaign, O’Neall said the skate park installed near the Starter Block once used for the Polaris building has seen all-day use from skaters from seven to 47 years old.

“We have seen a lot of participation from businesses and organizations that are participating in the walking challenge, so that is getting employees who work in the downtown area out and about,” she said, adding that 40 employees from the Fairbanks North Star Borough have signed up, as well as 15 from the city itself.

Meanwhile, between 25 and 30 volunteers have agreed to take part in the city’s ambassador program, roaming downtown in two-hour shifts, “directing tourists, answering questions, keeping an eye out on, you know, what’s happening and being a person of resource if there is something that needs attention,” the mayor said.

However, the six chalets erected at the Starter Block, which were meant to house small businesses and satellite locations for established businesses, have encountered issues being filled.

“We’ve had an issue with getting electricity to those chalets, so once that is there, then we will be able to offer those chalets at a more, I guess, sophisticated presence,” O’Neall said. “They are open and they have been open throughout the summer, Golden Days or a retail shop here or there, but without electricity, a lot of folks are limited, so once we get that electricity in there, we’ll be, we’ll be ready to go.”

Overall, she said the community has responded well to the intention and care put into the project.

“We’ve seen very little vandalism. We’ve seen very little graffiti or abuse of the park or the items that are left there at any time of the day, and so that’s a really positive experience,” the mayor explained. “That’s something we were testing, is, ‘Will people react if we change the feeling? If we show respect ourselves, will the community react with respect?’ and the answer so far has been ‘Yes.’”

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