New life for an old town
Payette explores downtown revitalization options
PAYETTE — Payette was the place to be in the 1950s, when Main Street was crowded with glistening new cars and there was not an empty parking spot in sight.
Now there are more than a few empty spots, but Payette is looking to change that through downtown revitalization.
The city is weighing several options, one of which would involve joining a pilot program run by the Idaho Department of Commerce, according to Mayor Jeff Williams. The department runs a Main Street program that aids districts in revitalizing their downtown areas. There are just three participating cities — Nampa, Lewiston and Driggs — that joined when it started in 2012.
The program, which aims to serve as a bridge to the National Trust for Historic Preservation, focuses on four main areas — organization, design, economic reconstructing and promotion — in its mission to improve downtowns.