Wireless access could help attract businesses downtown, the mayor said.
By AMANDA GARRETT
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN — Visitors to downtown Warren will soon be able to surf the Internet free of charge thanks to wireless service that will be installed next month.
The city plans to install five wireless transmitters by mid-May that will beam Internet access to Courthouse Square, Monument Park and the Warren Community Amphitheatre, Mayor Michael J. O'Brien said.
"This brings us into the same league as other larger cities like Cleveland, Akron and Toledo that already have Internet access," he said.
The $33,000 project was co-funded by the city and Trumbull 100 Community Foundation.
Trumbull 100 approached Warren about installing the wireless access about a year ago and the city immediately agreed, O'Brien said.
This will be the first time any wireless service will be available in the downtown. The signal is designed to cover the Courthouse Square area only, but it may reach farther, O'Brien said.
"We won't know exactly how far the signal will go until its in place," he said.
An attraction
Councilman Robert Holmes, who is chairman of the downtown revitalization committee, said he thinks the wireless service will attract more people downtown.
"I think it will change things drastically for the better," he said. "It will bring young people out who might not come downtown otherwise. On a sunny day, people will be able to come downtown and sit in the park or on the amphitheatre while they're on their computers."
Melissa Yohman-Murphy, who co-owns the Blue Iris Cafe on North Park Avenue with her husband, Stephen, said she was also enthusiastic about the access.
"It's a huge step forward," she said. "There's so many beautiful spaces in downtown Warren and the more people who enjoy them, the better."
Efforts such as Internet access and a tax incentives package recently passed by city council will help attract more businesses to downtown, O'Brien said.
"It's one more item that we can offer potential businesses," he said. "We've already got the historical buildings downtown. This gives us one more item we can put on the table."
Aiming for goal
Both O'Brien and Holmes believe the wireless service will help the city's goal of making the downtown a nationally recognized historical community.
In 2006, Warren, through the nonprofit organization Warren GROWs (Grassroots Revitalization of Warren), applied unsuccessfully for the first time to become a part of Heritage Ohio's Main Street Community Program.
Through financial grants and strategic planning, Heritage Ohio helps communities preserve historic sites while bringing new businesses into the community.
Warren GROWs plans to apply again in 2008 to become a Main Street community.
In the future, both Holmes and O'Brien said would like to look into expanding the wireless services throughout the city.
agarrett@vindy.com
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Wireless access could help attract businesses downtown, the mayor said.
By AMANDA GARRETT
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN — Visitors to downtown Warren will soon be able to surf the Internet free of charge thanks to wireless service that will be installed next month.
The city plans to install five wireless transmitters by mid-May that will beam Internet access to Courthouse Square, Monument Park and the Warren Community Amphitheatre, Mayor Michael J. O'Brien said.
"This brings us into the same league as other larger cities like Cleveland, Akron and Toledo that already have Internet access," he said.
The $33,000 project was co-funded by the city and Trumbull 100 Community Foundation.
Trumbull 100 approached Warren about installing the wireless access about a year ago and the city immediately agreed, O'Brien said.
This will be the first time any wireless service will be available in the downtown. The signal is designed to cover the Courthouse Square area only, but it may reach farther, O'Brien said.
"We won't know exactly how far the signal will go until its in place," he said.
An attraction
Councilman Robert Holmes, who is chairman of the downtown revitalization committee, said he thinks the wireless service will attract more people downtown.
"I think it will change things drastically for the better," he said. "It will bring young people out who might not come downtown otherwise. On a sunny day, people will be able to come downtown and sit in the park or on the amphitheatre while they're on their computers."
Melissa Yohman-Murphy, who co-owns the Blue Iris Cafe on North Park Avenue with her husband, Stephen, said she was also enthusiastic about the access.
"It's a huge step forward," she said. "There's so many beautiful spaces in downtown Warren and the more people who enjoy them, the better."
Efforts such as Internet access and a tax incentives package recently passed by city council will help attract more businesses to downtown, O'Brien said.
"It's one more item that we can offer potential businesses," he said. "We've already got the historical buildings downtown. This gives us one more item we can put on the table."
Aiming for goal
Both O'Brien and Holmes believe the wireless service will help the city's goal of making the downtown a nationally recognized historical community.
In 2006, Warren, through the nonprofit organization Warren GROWs (Grassroots Revitalization of Warren), applied unsuccessfully for the first time to become a part of Heritage Ohio's Main Street Community Program.
Through financial grants and strategic planning, Heritage Ohio helps communities preserve historic sites while bringing new businesses into the community.
Warren GROWs plans to apply again in 2008 to become a Main Street community.
In the future, both Holmes and O'Brien said would like to look into expanding the wireless services throughout the city.
agarrett@vindy.com
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Visitors to downtown Warren will soon be able to surf the Internet free of charge thanks to wireless service that will...
