Lima talks about entertainment: the objective is to provide a larger surface for the combination of activities

LIMA — New developments are underway in the city of Lima. A newly featured community entertainment district may be coming to the area soon. The Community and Economic Development Committee met Monday evening to discuss the project.

The city of Lima proposed the district. According to Workforce and Small Business Development Coordinator Amber Martin, DEC is defined as a bounded area that includes a combination of entertainment, retail, education, sports, culture or of art near shopping centers, restaurants, etc.

“CED is a tool for economic development,” said Martin. “It delineates a specific entertainment area that includes retail, art, sporting events, theatre, performing arts and film. All kinds of things that improve our quality of life and energize our center- city.

According to Martin, the neighborhood will encompass the north and south ends of Main Street, Grand Avenue to the north and Fourth Street to the south, extending into downtown.

“We hope to provide more space for entertainment,” added Martin. “We’ve heard from landlords who have purchased property on South Main and want to expand. We have many properties for rent and for sale in this area.

If approved by the Board, the CED will extend the ability of a business (within this limit) to obtain a D5-J liquor license. This license is a full license for beer, wine and spirits, according to Martin.

Community members, including Marc Bowker, weighed in on the future development.

“I would just ask the assembled group to consider retail shopping,” Bowker said. “I know it’s part of the bigger picture, but there’s a lot of talk about liquor licensing and bar-tainment. The very big piece that is missing in downtown Lima is shopping.

The next step for the district is to present it to the Lima City Council for official approval.

“Right now we’re in the discussion phase,” Martin said. “Our next step is a request to the mayor of Lima. From then on, the mayor will take our council members and the council will then consider. There will be a public comment period, and then we’ll move from there. »

For more information, contact the Workforce and Small Business Development Coordinator at 419 223-7281.

Contact Precious Grundy at 567-242-0351.