Cd'A Downtown Association sets 2010 calendar

COEUR d'ALENE - Summer's coming.

And that means downtown's going to be active.

The Coeur d'Alene Downtown Association has added some events to this year's calendar too, outlining its schedule at the Lake City Development Corp. meeting on Wednesday.

"You've done an outstanding job," said Jim Elder, LCDC board member. "Not only in the events but by adding" to them.

New this year will be a Sunday farmer's market at Sixth Street and Sherman Avenue beginning June 6 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and running through October.

The staples will be there too, including Friday Art Walks, Car d'Lane, Fourth of July Parade and Art on the Green, among others.

The goal is to keep downtown vibrant, said Terry Cooper, DTA director. Downtown's occupancy rate for restaurants and bars is around 90 percent, while other commercial space is around 70 percent filled. Commercial occupancy rates were around 80 percent to 85 percent filled in recent years before the economy slumped.

The association spent $67,000 this year, and added a Cinco de Mayo and Mom's Day Out events in May.

The new and improved Midtown could join the DTA in some events too, Cooper said. Business owners there have expressed interest in forming a committee with the association to help structure outdoor events in the central section of town.

"We've extended the invitation," Cooper said. "We hope we can help structure Midtown so they can have some events like we have downtown. We're excited about it, and we have 100 percent from our board to help guide Midtown as much as they would want from us."

Plans for Midtown events are still in the preliminary stages, he said.

Meanwhile, JUB Engineering Inc., the company which revamped Midtown, won first place in a statewide contest for the completed project.

JUB presented LCDC a plaque recognizing the agency's support for the top spot on Wednesday.

DTA event info: 667-5986