I also would like to say a job well done by the Mayor and all involved in the positive changes to the down town area.
I would also like to mention even though a few did not share the vision and may have made this progress even harder to achieve (JW) along with her small circle of friends...take a good look around and see the progress. It can not be denied. "Bulldoze the entire area down" we think not!
The driving force in bringing the downtown area back to life is Brenda Whitakar. She is invested and dedicated to making this area thrive once again. The Mayor is only as good as the team behind him, and he has surrounded himself with an excellent team. I copied a couple of paragraphs below, from the endorsement of Brenda Whitakar off the homepage...great article! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I cannot think of anyone more focused and knowledgeable about our efforts than Brenda Whitaker. Her tireless efforts and constant attention have managed to turn our devastated historic downtown into a unique and thriving area once again. She understands the value of a collective effort in promoting change and how to utilize the organizational structure of City Hall to make things happen.
For example, Brenda has assisted in securing lasting relationships with local community groups, unions and universities focused on the arts. Granite City, not just the downtown or Lincoln Place, will now benefit from these connections by drawing events and special projects into our city for years to come. I can honestly say that during my five years volunteering with the city on this revitalization effort, next to nothing would have been accomplished without the drive and vision of Brenda Whitaker.
Beyond the apparent changes to the street lights, planters and a new movie theater, Brenda's involvement has involved the downtown and City Hall as a place to hold events like at-risk student art exhibits, outdoor painting events, anti-gang graffiti initiatives, two iron pours which attracted over 20 different universities and 100 sculptors and artists.