The Meridian Star asked members of the Meridian City Council to offer their thoughts on the future of 22nd Avenue. Their responses are below. 

 George Thomas, Ward 1

Do you consider the 22nd Avenue corridor a priority? Yes

What ideas or what would you like to see to improve that corridor?

Clean it up first of all. If we’re going to have a median down the middle, it needs to be attractive. Of course the Children’s Museum is going to help a lot, but that’s probably a couple years off. The vacated or empty buildings we need something in those… Mainly it just needs to be cleaned up.

What would you like to see go into the old mall site?

I would hope that we can get some private developer to come in. Of course for the community since half our budget is sales tax, if we get something in there that generates sales, it would help, but whatever is in there needs to be something attractive, it does not need to be just another plain old thing… The best benefit is to get people in there and get them to spend money, and of course that generates our budget — half of it — so anything like that.

 Tyrone Johnson, Ward 2

What ideas or what would you like to see to improve that corridor? 

It’s important to beautify 22nd Avenue because of the new businesses that will be adding to downtown redevelopment. We don’t want our tourist viewing some of the eyesore areas while visiting out great city. But in my opinion, every corner of this city should get this kind of attention. Our city is only as strong as our weakest community. 

In a nutshell, we must give our citizens here in our communities the same attention (even more) than what we are giving our tourist. When the dust settles, it is “us” who will still be here in this great city. 

What would you like to see go into the old mall site?

What I would like to see where the old mall is located…it would be a YMCA. This would open doors for many in our community and not attract only a select few. We are a diverse city with great potential.

Fannie Johnson, Ward 3

Do you consider the 22nd Avenue corridor a priority?  Yes.

What ideas or what would you like to see to improve that corridor? 

I would like to see the Children’s Museum come to its full potential. Anything in the area that we can do with the city to help with that: the economic development side; on the quality of life side; on the bringing more people into Meridian; on the tourism side. All that can work together for the quality of life for our citizens and the people who come to visit.

What would you like to see go into the old mall site?

I don’t know. There have been different ideas and different thoughts…The first thing…would be making it safe. I think that there’s asbestos and some other issues in the building. Tearing it down, rehabbing … that would have to be the first thing. Whatever goes there… the area needs to be safe for whatever goes over there. After that, it would just kind of depend on who’s ready to put something there, what their plan is for the future and how it would affect the city as a whole.

Weston Lindemann, Ward 5

Do you consider the 22nd Avenue corridor a priority? 

Otherwise known as the gateway to our city, the 22nd Avenue corridor should be a priority for economic development. For many, it’s the first impression visitor’s see as they are traveling into or through Meridian. We all know how important first impressions can be.

What ideas or what would you like to see to improve that corridor, and what would you like to see go into the old mall site?

There are many good ideas that have been floating around. From my perspective on the Council, I’d like to influence less what developements occur, and influence more the way in which development occurs.

So, with the case of the old mall, the idea of a sportsplex has been mentioned. I think that’s a good idea. But I think it’s less of a good idea if it’s only going to benefit a few people. Look at how the Green Bay Packers are owned by their community.

We can encourage a process by which more people are able to invest in new developments, and as a consequence the return on that investment will benefit more people in Meridian.

There’s a lot of excitement already around downtown, but that excitement isn’t finding it’s way into our neighborhoods.

We need to create opportunity where it’s currently limited, and I think that starts with opening up investment opportunities for more people via crowdfunding and cooperatively owned business ventures.

Kim Houston of Ward 4 was not available for comment on this article.