Mayor opens Laub Plaza to revive downtown Logan
A new addition to Logan’s historic downtown has been a long-anticipated project, and Mayor Holly Daines has made it her mission to keep Main Street active.
Daines was elected mayor six years ago, and one of her main goals was to keep Logan’s historic downtown at the forefront of the city’s attractions.
“Three years ago, downtown was struggling,” Daines said. “I mean, we had some great historic pieces like the tabernacle and the courthouse and the clinical theater, but that block was the emporium lot of the street — had a lot of vacancies and even broken windows. Center Street was where we first started in terms of our downtown revitalization efforts.”
The Carol and Jim Laub Plaza has been the brainchild of the mayor, and it brings new activities for residents to enjoy. This winter, an ice rink will be featured, and skating is now available to the public. The city will also host live music and other events in the spring and summer, making the Laub Plaza a year-round attraction.
“The construction started two years ago,” Daines said. “The goal was to open up that block and allow it to be much more friendly.”
Carol and Jim Laub donated one million dollars toward the project, and the city was able to raise another two million from other large foundations.
The Laub Plaza Ice Skating rink is now open downtown.
Economic development director Kirk Jensen estimated the project from start to finish cost about nine million dollars.
Jensen said the plaza was built to attract people downtown.
“Allow them to have a good experience, whether it be on the ice skating rink, using a splash pad or attending a movie or concert there,” Jensen said.
In addition to the plaza, both a Starbucks and local Grounds for Coffee have opened recently near the attraction in effort to bring people downtown.
Jensen said the project, including demolition, downtime and construction, took about three to four years.
‘I’ve been involved with the funding process, helping assemble and get approvals for the public funding for that project,” Jensen said. “As a liaison between the city and the downtown property owners and the voters in downtown, just managing some of the details as far as parking concerns and with all of the construction activity.”
According to Daines, the city is planning on selling two buildings adjacent to the current plaza, where they will require restaurants to be added.
“People have supported it and wanted to do something nice for their community,” Daines said.
According to Daines, numerous donations aim to bring more people and business toward Logan’s downtown.
The plaza officially opened on Nov. 25, the ice rink is currently up and running. The once-standing buildings were demolished due to the city leaving them vacant, and wanting to revitalize the “lacking” downtown.
“What brings people downtown? Things like entertainment, dining experiences and a second location to kind of hang out,” Daines said. “We really wanted to create that with the plaza.”