It’s hard to imagine with the heavy volume of traffic cruising along Highway 6 today, but back in the heyday of Helper’s rail and mining industries, the twisting, narrow section of North Main Street that leads past buildings like the Rainbow Inn and Ron’s Meats was a bona fide traffic artery, the main drag through town.
Those days are gone, but during its last session Oct. 5, the city council took a step to take advantage of the historic value. On the recommendation of the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission, the council approved the creation of a North Main Street Historic District Overlay Zone to include the section from Janet Street to the intersection of north Main and Highway Six.
This is a far cry from inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places, but the city’s designation could lead to various suggestions on developments or potential grant opportunities.
Michael Bryant, Regional Planning Director for the Southeastern Utah Association of Local Governments, explained Monday that the new overlay zone could give the city some flexibility in meeting current residential and business needs in these parts of Helper.
One example could be easing parking requirements. An office with a certain interior square footage might ordinarily require two parking spaces, but in the new zone there could be an option to cut the requirement to one.
Helper turns to its history to address some present issues
The newly designated district will include the Rainbow Inn and Ron’s Meats, which was once Workmen’s Market. John Serfustini, Sun Advocate Editor