By Steve White swhite@nebraska.tv
Grand Island takes steps to improve a rundown industrial neighborhood.
An area along Anna Street in central Grand Island may be declared a blight. That would pave the way for incentives to fix up the neighborhood.
City leaders think that would lead to new development.
Regional Planning Director Chad Nabity said, "99.7 percent of structures in the area are more than 40 years old so it really does qualify. There are utility issues. It's one of the few areas in town where if you drive through have gravel streets still."
The Community Redevelopment Authority is also bringing warmth to State Fair livestock facilities to attract winter livestock shows since they were built without heat.
Nabity said there was some philosophical discussion if that fit the mission of the CRA. But since the State Fair campus is in an area declared a blight, members felt it was an appropriate project.
At their meeting this week, they also discussed plans to build a new pool at Lincoln Park in northeast Grand Island.
