Staff report

Residents can get an update on the city’s progress revitalizing downtown Suffolk and the East Washington Street corridor this week.

The Mayor’s Greater Downtown Development Committee is sponsoring two community meetings at Metropolitan Baptist Church on Wednesday to give residents a chance to learn more about the ongoing efforts.

Urban Design Associates, the Pittsburgh-based consultants designing the plans, will be at the meetings.

The first session is at noon and will focus on downtown’s progress in three basic parts of that community: Constant’s Wharf, the renovation of the former Suffolk High School into a cultural arts center; and the downtown renaissance, which revolves around the renovating the Professional Building, said Elizabeth McCorey, the city’s downtown development coordinator.

Issues surrounding the post office will also be discussed, she said.

The second meeting begins at 2:30 p.m. and will looks at plans for East Washington Street, including the latest on the Fairgrounds.