The document discusses challenges facing Main Street in Columbia, Illinois and proposes a three-phase plan to revitalize the area. Phase I focuses on basic improvements like streetscape work. Phase II involves further enhancing the streetscape by addressing parking, facades, outdoor spaces and signage. Phase III develops a long-term strategy through zoning changes, financing options and business recruitment to establish Main Street's identity and sense of place. Recommendations include pursuing the streetscape project, analyzing parking and reviewing programs to catalyze private investment and activity along the corridor.
Congress for the New Urbanism President and Chief Executive Officer Lynn Richards delivers the Forum keynote: How Do We Accelerate the Change We Need to Make? What are the opportunities and barriers to successful redevelopment?
New Urbanism is Blooming
Perhaps the most valuable tool in the Smart Growth toolkit is New Urbanism. While Smart Growth principles support higher density, mixed-use, walkable environments, New Urbanism is proving to be the most successful method for making these Smart Growth goals achievable.
This document provides policy recommendations for urban areas based on a survey of images related to development. Key recommendations include rehabilitating existing buildings, developing infill housing and commercial spaces, improving streetscapes with sidewalks and parks, and increasing transit, biking, and pedestrian connections. The highest rated images focused on creating urban plazas, rehabilitating housing and streets, and developing neighborhood parks. The lowest rated images showed large surface parking lots, and the document states these areas have the greatest potential for redevelopment. Simulated images of redevelopment options were also analyzed to help identify preferred development patterns.
This document provides a summary of a Masters of Planning student's individual research project analyzing street typologies on the Halifax Peninsula using the Urban Transect Model. The student investigated the streetscapes of Gottingen Street and Agricola Street as examples of "Urban Centre" zones, and downtown Halifax as an "Urban Core" zone. The student found that while policies outline elements for attractive streetscapes, many are missing from the study areas. Recommendations include implementing street trees, supporting infill development, and design elements to promote pedestrian use. Improving streetscapes per these recommendations and international examples can help Halifax encourage walking and reduce automobile use.
This document summarizes a final year project that proposes redeveloping a series of old warehouses under the Sydney Harbour Bridge into a mixed-use development called "the urban commune." The project features a variety of residential and commercial uses integrated to foster community. It aims to activate the surrounding streetscape and support an integrated model of urban living. The conceptual approach treats the project like a micro-town within a building, with a central "main street" connecting uses and promoting interaction between new communities and existing neighborhoods.
New Urbanism is an urban planning movement that promotes the development of walkable neighborhoods with a variety of housing and mixed uses. It advocates for compact, mixed-use development that contains housing, jobs, shops and amenities within walkable neighborhoods in order to reduce dependence on cars. New Urbanist developments include features like street grids that facilitate walking and cycling, a defined neighborhood center and edges, and publicly accessible open spaces.
Creating Resilient Town Centres: Delivering Large-Scale Changefutureoflondon
Session on delivering large-scale change, from Future of London's 23 June conference.
Speaking in this session were:
* Ellen Greenberg, Director, Integrated City Planning, Arup
* Roger Madelin CBE, Partner, Argent LLP
* Peter O'Brien, Area Regeneration Manager, Tottenham Hale, LB Haringey
* Lucinda Turner, Head of Strategy & Policy, Transport for London
* Chair: Lara Kinneir, Director, Public Place Agency; Programme Manager, London Festival of Architecture 2015
www.futureoflondon.org.uk
Congress for the New Urbanism President and Chief Executive Officer Lynn Richards delivers the Forum keynote: How Do We Accelerate the Change We Need to Make? What are the opportunities and barriers to successful redevelopment?
New Urbanism is Blooming
Perhaps the most valuable tool in the Smart Growth toolkit is New Urbanism. While Smart Growth principles support higher density, mixed-use, walkable environments, New Urbanism is proving to be the most successful method for making these Smart Growth goals achievable.
This document provides policy recommendations for urban areas based on a survey of images related to development. Key recommendations include rehabilitating existing buildings, developing infill housing and commercial spaces, improving streetscapes with sidewalks and parks, and increasing transit, biking, and pedestrian connections. The highest rated images focused on creating urban plazas, rehabilitating housing and streets, and developing neighborhood parks. The lowest rated images showed large surface parking lots, and the document states these areas have the greatest potential for redevelopment. Simulated images of redevelopment options were also analyzed to help identify preferred development patterns.
This document provides a summary of a Masters of Planning student's individual research project analyzing street typologies on the Halifax Peninsula using the Urban Transect Model. The student investigated the streetscapes of Gottingen Street and Agricola Street as examples of "Urban Centre" zones, and downtown Halifax as an "Urban Core" zone. The student found that while policies outline elements for attractive streetscapes, many are missing from the study areas. Recommendations include implementing street trees, supporting infill development, and design elements to promote pedestrian use. Improving streetscapes per these recommendations and international examples can help Halifax encourage walking and reduce automobile use.
This document summarizes a final year project that proposes redeveloping a series of old warehouses under the Sydney Harbour Bridge into a mixed-use development called "the urban commune." The project features a variety of residential and commercial uses integrated to foster community. It aims to activate the surrounding streetscape and support an integrated model of urban living. The conceptual approach treats the project like a micro-town within a building, with a central "main street" connecting uses and promoting interaction between new communities and existing neighborhoods.
New Urbanism is an urban planning movement that promotes the development of walkable neighborhoods with a variety of housing and mixed uses. It advocates for compact, mixed-use development that contains housing, jobs, shops and amenities within walkable neighborhoods in order to reduce dependence on cars. New Urbanist developments include features like street grids that facilitate walking and cycling, a defined neighborhood center and edges, and publicly accessible open spaces.
Creating Resilient Town Centres: Delivering Large-Scale Changefutureoflondon
Session on delivering large-scale change, from Future of London's 23 June conference.
Speaking in this session were:
* Ellen Greenberg, Director, Integrated City Planning, Arup
* Roger Madelin CBE, Partner, Argent LLP
* Peter O'Brien, Area Regeneration Manager, Tottenham Hale, LB Haringey
* Lucinda Turner, Head of Strategy & Policy, Transport for London
* Chair: Lara Kinneir, Director, Public Place Agency; Programme Manager, London Festival of Architecture 2015
www.futureoflondon.org.uk
This document discusses place-making and management through a multidisciplinary approach. It provides examples of how place-making can make cities more livable through architecture and public spaces (Times Square) or lovable through vibrant streets and public spaces (La Ramblas). Place-making is now essential for innovation and real estate. Efforts by the Urban Redevelopment Authority include street closures, car-free Sundays, and supporting community projects, with outcomes like community champions and increased street vibrancy. A business improvement district (BID) model is proposed, where stakeholders vote to invest in business plans to deliver supplementary services, as seen in successful overseas models like Times Square Alliance. A pilot BID program aims to test this
The document outlines a concept plan to revitalize downtown Big Spring, Texas. The goals are to preserve historic resources, implement a cohesive design theme, and provide safe pedestrian connections, parking, and links to surrounding development. Currently, downtown lacks pedestrian amenities and walkability. The plan recommends constructing new public spaces, improving sidewalks and streetscapes, upgrading utilities, and enhancing a coordinated parking system to create a vibrant downtown that attracts people and businesses. Redeveloping the historic Settles Hotel is seen as a key project.
The document summarizes discussions from a community planning charrette in Tucumcari, New Mexico about revitalizing the downtown area. Key opportunities discussed include redeveloping the historic train depot into a railroad museum, renovating vacant buildings on Main Street, and improving wayfinding and branding to attract more visitors. Challenges include declining population and needing public-private partnerships to fund catalytic projects that can spur further redevelopment momentum.
This document discusses economic development opportunities and challenges in Groton, Connecticut. It outlines learning objectives around land use policy, regulatory audits, and obtaining funding for planning. It then provides an overview of Groton's demographics, major employers, and attractions. Issues facing Groton include loss of tax revenue and an unfriendly business environment. The document recommends conducting a regulatory audit and market analysis to identify opportunities for targeted industry, redevelopment areas, and regulatory reforms. Next steps include implementing the market analysis, beginning regulatory revisions, and building community support.
1-20-15 Urban Land Institute (ULI) Downtown Visioning Week Recap Memo.pdfJimBarnes48
This document provides a recap of a week-long visioning process held by the City of Manhattan Beach in collaboration with the Urban Land Institute to evaluate and engage stakeholders on the future of Downtown Manhattan Beach. Over the course of the week, events were held including a public reception and a record-breaking 123 stakeholder interviews conducted in one day. On the final day, ULI panelists presented implementation strategies to over 100 stakeholders. Key recommendations included creating a downtown specific plan, improving parking management, developing design guidelines, and forming a property business improvement district.
Downtown Helena Master Plan Executive SummaryJeremy Keene
The Downtown Helena Master Plan document provides a summary of the planning process and vision for Downtown Helena over the next 20 years. The planning process involved identifying issues, developing goals and a vision, and establishing implementation actions. The vision sees Downtown Helena as walkable, connected, and a desirable place to live, work and visit. It identifies two districts - the Great Northern District and Fire Tower District - that will have distinct identities but be connected by the retail core on Last Chance Gulch. The implementation actions establish priorities and categories to achieve the vision and guide future growth, including improving aesthetics, developing housing, updating codes, and investing in infrastructure.
This proposal aims to preserve Asheville's local culture while making it a more sustainable city through implementing a form-based code zoning overlay for downtown Asheville. This would create an environment for living, working and playing in a localized economy. The form-based code would balance development and affordability by setting clear guidelines for developers. It would also ignite community discussions about the future of downtown. The proposal seeks to reverse gentrification trends by requiring architectural quality, promoting walkability and mixing uses while respecting the city's character.
The document discusses the concept of urban green infrastructure. It defines urban green infrastructure as the parts of a city that contribute to natural processes like keeping water and air clean and recycling waste. This includes parks, stream corridors, utility corridors, and vacant lands. These green spaces, if viewed as a single interconnected system, can help keep cities clean and provide recreational areas. The green infrastructure works with engineered systems to manage resources like energy, waste, and stormwater runoff in a balanced way, analogous to natural ecological processes.
Wheels of Progress: Downtown Planning 2.0 Beyond the VisionOHM Advisors
The document outlines a Downtown Advance plan for Wooster and Medina, Ohio to guide redevelopment. For Wooster, the plan identifies redevelopment opportunities through community engagement and market analysis. It recommends projects like streetscape improvements, converting alleys to greenspace, and developing a downtown park. For Medina, the plan conducted outreach and identified target redevelopment sites. The market assessment found demand for apartments and office space. The plan recommends developing these sites to advance the cities' goals and catalyze continued private investment downtown.
These suggestions from the market study were completed by MetroEdge in 2010 and updated in January of 2012. MetroEdge is the nation’s leading market study product for understanding markets in underserved communities
The document reviews the Main Street program, an economic development strategy that embraces merchants organizations, local development, design, and monitoring. It originated in Canada and the US in the 1980s. The American model follows a private consulting format, while Quebec's Rues Principales operates out of Quebec City and works with communities. Several case studies of Main Street programs are presented, including examples from Virginia, Quaticook, Contrecoeur, and Saint Romaud that implemented business funding, marketing campaigns, and online business directories. Collaboration with these groups could provide new ideas for the SDBSL program.
The document outlines a presentation for a neighborhood plan on Broadway Avenue in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. It includes an introduction to the study and process, key outcomes from a community summit, observations from experts on the area, and existing conditions. Challenges to address include defining the area's character, appropriate new development forms, enhancing pedestrian experiences, transitions to adjacent neighborhoods, parking issues, and traffic strategies.
The document summarizes a public meeting about placemaking in Newark, Ohio. It defines placemaking and its principles. It discusses how placemaking is not a new idea and focuses on improving public spaces and prioritizing people over cars. The meeting covered creating a streetscape plan to guide investment in downtown Newark streets. Preliminary concepts were presented, including designs for primary and secondary streets, the courthouse square, and a square rendering. Next steps and enhancing the farmers market were also discussed.
This project proposes empowering women in the Manyatta area of Kisumu, Kenya through inclusive development policies and strategies. Currently, women make up 75% of the informal workforce but lack organization, resources, and access to land and capital. The proposal includes forming a Women's Collective to foster economic collaboration, gaining legal recognition and funding support. A key strategy is implementing a gender inclusionary development policy where 10% of new development land and buildings are owned by the Collective. This would bridge gaps between women, the economy and access to land. The proposal would also transform land by building infrastructure, connecting social spaces and creating inclusive socio-economic zones for commercial, production and support activities.
The document discusses alternatives to traditional economic development strategies and barriers to community revitalization. It provides a case study of Cumberland, Maryland, which lost its manufacturing base but reinvented its economy through heritage tourism, arts, technology, and building restoration. While progress has been made through various initiatives, limited capacity has hindered full implementation and some projects have stalled.
The document discusses alternatives to traditional economic development strategies and barriers to community revitalization. It provides a case study of Cumberland, Maryland, which lost its manufacturing base but reinvented its economy through heritage tourism, arts, technology, and building restoration. While progress has been made through various initiatives, limited capacity has hindered full implementation and some projects have stalled.
Main Street De Pere is an organization established in 1990 to promote and enhance the downtown area of De Pere, Wisconsin. Their mission is to serve as downtown managers, assist with building design and renovation, and liaise between businesses and government. Over $62 million has been invested in the downtown area since 1990 through public and private funds. Main Street De Pere focuses on organization, promotions, design, and economic restructuring to continue revitalizing the downtown.
This document summarizes a presentation for the Pacific Beach Community Planning Group regarding a Specific Plan being developed for the Balboa Avenue Trolley station area. The presentation includes an overview of the Specific Plan process and team, existing conditions analysis of land use, mobility, economic context and the environment. Community input is gathered on defining character, challenges, and priorities. Mobility opportunities and constraints are discussed, including parking, pedestrian, bicycle and vehicle access.
A presentation summarizing the evolution and trends of development in the Elmhurst community, with a specific focus on Downtown Elmhurst. Slightly modified versions of this were presented to the communities of Overland, Missouri in November, 2007, and Woodson Terrace, Missouri in March, 2008.
This document discusses place-making and management through a multidisciplinary approach. It provides examples of how place-making can make cities more livable through architecture and public spaces (Times Square) or lovable through vibrant streets and public spaces (La Ramblas). Place-making is now essential for innovation and real estate. Efforts by the Urban Redevelopment Authority include street closures, car-free Sundays, and supporting community projects, with outcomes like community champions and increased street vibrancy. A business improvement district (BID) model is proposed, where stakeholders vote to invest in business plans to deliver supplementary services, as seen in successful overseas models like Times Square Alliance. A pilot BID program aims to test this
The document outlines a concept plan to revitalize downtown Big Spring, Texas. The goals are to preserve historic resources, implement a cohesive design theme, and provide safe pedestrian connections, parking, and links to surrounding development. Currently, downtown lacks pedestrian amenities and walkability. The plan recommends constructing new public spaces, improving sidewalks and streetscapes, upgrading utilities, and enhancing a coordinated parking system to create a vibrant downtown that attracts people and businesses. Redeveloping the historic Settles Hotel is seen as a key project.
The document summarizes discussions from a community planning charrette in Tucumcari, New Mexico about revitalizing the downtown area. Key opportunities discussed include redeveloping the historic train depot into a railroad museum, renovating vacant buildings on Main Street, and improving wayfinding and branding to attract more visitors. Challenges include declining population and needing public-private partnerships to fund catalytic projects that can spur further redevelopment momentum.
This document discusses economic development opportunities and challenges in Groton, Connecticut. It outlines learning objectives around land use policy, regulatory audits, and obtaining funding for planning. It then provides an overview of Groton's demographics, major employers, and attractions. Issues facing Groton include loss of tax revenue and an unfriendly business environment. The document recommends conducting a regulatory audit and market analysis to identify opportunities for targeted industry, redevelopment areas, and regulatory reforms. Next steps include implementing the market analysis, beginning regulatory revisions, and building community support.
1-20-15 Urban Land Institute (ULI) Downtown Visioning Week Recap Memo.pdfJimBarnes48
This document provides a recap of a week-long visioning process held by the City of Manhattan Beach in collaboration with the Urban Land Institute to evaluate and engage stakeholders on the future of Downtown Manhattan Beach. Over the course of the week, events were held including a public reception and a record-breaking 123 stakeholder interviews conducted in one day. On the final day, ULI panelists presented implementation strategies to over 100 stakeholders. Key recommendations included creating a downtown specific plan, improving parking management, developing design guidelines, and forming a property business improvement district.
Downtown Helena Master Plan Executive SummaryJeremy Keene
The Downtown Helena Master Plan document provides a summary of the planning process and vision for Downtown Helena over the next 20 years. The planning process involved identifying issues, developing goals and a vision, and establishing implementation actions. The vision sees Downtown Helena as walkable, connected, and a desirable place to live, work and visit. It identifies two districts - the Great Northern District and Fire Tower District - that will have distinct identities but be connected by the retail core on Last Chance Gulch. The implementation actions establish priorities and categories to achieve the vision and guide future growth, including improving aesthetics, developing housing, updating codes, and investing in infrastructure.
This proposal aims to preserve Asheville's local culture while making it a more sustainable city through implementing a form-based code zoning overlay for downtown Asheville. This would create an environment for living, working and playing in a localized economy. The form-based code would balance development and affordability by setting clear guidelines for developers. It would also ignite community discussions about the future of downtown. The proposal seeks to reverse gentrification trends by requiring architectural quality, promoting walkability and mixing uses while respecting the city's character.
The document discusses the concept of urban green infrastructure. It defines urban green infrastructure as the parts of a city that contribute to natural processes like keeping water and air clean and recycling waste. This includes parks, stream corridors, utility corridors, and vacant lands. These green spaces, if viewed as a single interconnected system, can help keep cities clean and provide recreational areas. The green infrastructure works with engineered systems to manage resources like energy, waste, and stormwater runoff in a balanced way, analogous to natural ecological processes.
Wheels of Progress: Downtown Planning 2.0 Beyond the VisionOHM Advisors
The document outlines a Downtown Advance plan for Wooster and Medina, Ohio to guide redevelopment. For Wooster, the plan identifies redevelopment opportunities through community engagement and market analysis. It recommends projects like streetscape improvements, converting alleys to greenspace, and developing a downtown park. For Medina, the plan conducted outreach and identified target redevelopment sites. The market assessment found demand for apartments and office space. The plan recommends developing these sites to advance the cities' goals and catalyze continued private investment downtown.
These suggestions from the market study were completed by MetroEdge in 2010 and updated in January of 2012. MetroEdge is the nation’s leading market study product for understanding markets in underserved communities
The document reviews the Main Street program, an economic development strategy that embraces merchants organizations, local development, design, and monitoring. It originated in Canada and the US in the 1980s. The American model follows a private consulting format, while Quebec's Rues Principales operates out of Quebec City and works with communities. Several case studies of Main Street programs are presented, including examples from Virginia, Quaticook, Contrecoeur, and Saint Romaud that implemented business funding, marketing campaigns, and online business directories. Collaboration with these groups could provide new ideas for the SDBSL program.
The document outlines a presentation for a neighborhood plan on Broadway Avenue in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. It includes an introduction to the study and process, key outcomes from a community summit, observations from experts on the area, and existing conditions. Challenges to address include defining the area's character, appropriate new development forms, enhancing pedestrian experiences, transitions to adjacent neighborhoods, parking issues, and traffic strategies.
The document summarizes a public meeting about placemaking in Newark, Ohio. It defines placemaking and its principles. It discusses how placemaking is not a new idea and focuses on improving public spaces and prioritizing people over cars. The meeting covered creating a streetscape plan to guide investment in downtown Newark streets. Preliminary concepts were presented, including designs for primary and secondary streets, the courthouse square, and a square rendering. Next steps and enhancing the farmers market were also discussed.
This project proposes empowering women in the Manyatta area of Kisumu, Kenya through inclusive development policies and strategies. Currently, women make up 75% of the informal workforce but lack organization, resources, and access to land and capital. The proposal includes forming a Women's Collective to foster economic collaboration, gaining legal recognition and funding support. A key strategy is implementing a gender inclusionary development policy where 10% of new development land and buildings are owned by the Collective. This would bridge gaps between women, the economy and access to land. The proposal would also transform land by building infrastructure, connecting social spaces and creating inclusive socio-economic zones for commercial, production and support activities.
The document discusses alternatives to traditional economic development strategies and barriers to community revitalization. It provides a case study of Cumberland, Maryland, which lost its manufacturing base but reinvented its economy through heritage tourism, arts, technology, and building restoration. While progress has been made through various initiatives, limited capacity has hindered full implementation and some projects have stalled.
The document discusses alternatives to traditional economic development strategies and barriers to community revitalization. It provides a case study of Cumberland, Maryland, which lost its manufacturing base but reinvented its economy through heritage tourism, arts, technology, and building restoration. While progress has been made through various initiatives, limited capacity has hindered full implementation and some projects have stalled.
Main Street De Pere is an organization established in 1990 to promote and enhance the downtown area of De Pere, Wisconsin. Their mission is to serve as downtown managers, assist with building design and renovation, and liaise between businesses and government. Over $62 million has been invested in the downtown area since 1990 through public and private funds. Main Street De Pere focuses on organization, promotions, design, and economic restructuring to continue revitalizing the downtown.
This document summarizes a presentation for the Pacific Beach Community Planning Group regarding a Specific Plan being developed for the Balboa Avenue Trolley station area. The presentation includes an overview of the Specific Plan process and team, existing conditions analysis of land use, mobility, economic context and the environment. Community input is gathered on defining character, challenges, and priorities. Mobility opportunities and constraints are discussed, including parking, pedestrian, bicycle and vehicle access.
A presentation summarizing the evolution and trends of development in the Elmhurst community, with a specific focus on Downtown Elmhurst. Slightly modified versions of this were presented to the communities of Overland, Missouri in November, 2007, and Woodson Terrace, Missouri in March, 2008.
1. Securing a Place for Main Street
Presentation to Civic Progress Committee
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Columbia, Illinois
2. Securing a Place for Main Street
Challenges for Main Street:
Limited eligibility for grant programs
Proximity to St. Louis metropolitan area
High traffic volume on Main Street does not promote
pedestrian activity along street
Corridor development inconsistent—lots of gaps
Business/property investment is lagging
Merchants have steadily lost market share
Main Street organization lacks focus
Streetscape funding is very limited
Lack of overall plan, investment strategy
3. Securing a Place for Main Street
“Any community unable to attract and hold
talent will join a growing number of
economically doomed places where economic
development is impossible.”
- Mark Lautman
When the Boomers Bail: A Community
Economic Survival Guide
5. Securing a Place for Main Street
What will draw people to our Main Street?
6. Securing a Place for Main Street
Two Concepts—Both Hard to Define:
‘Charm’
The term “Main Street” evokes visions of Norman Rockwell’s America, a kinder,
gentler place of charming small towns, where neighbors watch out for one another
and mom-and-pop businesses anchor the local economy. “Main Street” is such a
powerful symbol of old-fashioned American values that the Walt Disney Company
positions “Main Street, U.S.A.” as the first attraction visitors encounter when they step
inside the gates of the company’s Magic Kingdom-style parks around the world.
‘Sense of Place’
A distinctive place embodies a character, look, flavor, and heritage that are not found
in other locations, especially within the surrounding region. To best enhance its
distinct qualities, Main Street should build upon its intrinsic historic, economic,
natural, and cultural amenities. Main Street may serve as a place for employment,
shopping, worship, tourism, housing, government services, dining, entertainment,
lodging, and cultural attractions, with all of these activities usually situated within a
compact area that is easily walkable.
7. Securing a Place
for Main Street
Partners in Promotion:
Main Street Merchants
Brochure
Decorative banners
Highway signage (I-255)
Joint advertising
Billboards (?)
City of Columbia
Partner on above
Social media
Special events
Streetscape maintenance
Streetscape project
12. Securing a Place
for Main Street
Primary Goals
Streetscape project will
bring:
Bump-outs
Wider sidewalks
New light standards
Street trees
More crosswalks
The items above will be incorporated into the project
13. Securing a Place
for Main Street
Collateral Issues
Streetscape project won’t
(by itself) bring:
Adequate parking
Common area furniture
Consistency (no gaps) to
rows of buildings
Outdoor seating
Pocket parks
Public art
Signage that works
These items will require
Updated facades further discussion and,
ultimately, action…
15. Securing a Place for Main Street
Step Up the Buzz:
Continue to promote Historic Main Street Columbia,
complete Phase I streetscape work, assemble
data/public input on collateral issues
Step Forward the Vision:
Craft an overall revitalization strategy for Main
Street (see next slide)
Step Into the New Main Street:
Put the strategy to work—work with property
owners to retain/recruit tenants and improve
properties
16. Securing a Place for Main Street
Next Steps:
Identify where we need more parking, locations that might
allow shared parking, opportunities (if any) to deploy transit;
Review the façade grant program (including amounts granted,
procedures, and ways to make a closer tie between purpose
and funding);
Analyze current and potential uses (especially vacant
properties) to identify opportunities or problems;
Explore how and where outdoor seating might be permitted;
Consider how art & green space might be added;
Evaluate potential impacts from allowing sign regulations
peculiar to Main Street (e.g., permitting sandwich boards)
17. Securing a Place for Main Street
Longer Term:
Consider potential changes to zoning and/or development
regulations (unique to Main Street);
Identify common area improvements and/or services (this
would include evaluation of the Main Street organizational
model);
Explore innovative financing mechanisms (e.g., tax increment,
business district)—or new ways to combine programs
Identify complementary businesses and recruit target
businesses
These strategies will be part of the Main Street investment
strategy section of the revised Comprehensive Plan
18. Securing a Place
for Main Street
Co-working: the power of
collaboration
Entrepreneurs have conceived
and nurtured startups from coffee
shops, libraries, garages--any
place they can find to work.
Recognizing the need for places
that are flexible, social and
inexpensive, collaboration
centers are sprouting up as
popular work spaces for
entrepreneurs in cities around the
globe. These centers offer a place
to collaborate with fellow
entrepreneurs, build
partnerships, find mentors and
gain advice.
19. Securing a Place
for Main Street
NextSpace (Santa Cruz, CA)
sells membership into a
collaborative community.
Members come from a wide
variety of industries: software,
design, marketing, legal
services, architecture, and
engineering, just to name a
few. Some are lifelong
freelancers, while some have
been downsized from bigger
companies and are just
beginning to venture out on
their own. Some telecommute
to bigger companies on the
other side of the country or the
other side of the world. Some
are startups, just beginning
companies with dreams of a big
exit, while some are using their
skills simply to earn a living.
20. Securing a Place for Main Street
Recommendations:
Pursue construction of streetscape project (Phase I)
Begin parking analysis for the targeted Main Street district
Review current façade program
Catalog development gaps along Main Street to identify causes
Seek examples of outdoor seating regulations from other communities
Begin working with the Play Commission & Art on the Bluffs to identify
places on Main Street for pocket parks and public art
Seek examples of signage regulations from other communities that
promote local businesses without violating historic preservation or “sense
of place”
These efforts will build on the Geographic Information System (GIS) work
already begun to form the foundation for the Main Street section of the
revised Comprehensive Plan