E
FOCUS AREA E
GOVERNMENT DISTRICT BIG IDEA: Transform Government District into a full service, mixeduse neighborhood
Context and Rationale The Government District Focus Area includes the area located between South McDowell Street, East Trade Street, Brevard Street and 3rd Street (see Figure 6.E.1). Dominated by large blocks and buildings and civic uses including City and County offices, the County courthouse and Sheriff’s office, the area no longer has the original street grid or urban fabric of the historic Second Ward. Today, however, it does enjoy proximity to new investment and amenities, including the Blue and Gold Lines and new development along Stonewall Street. It is also adjacent to the former Brooklyn neighborhood which was razed during urban renewal in the mid-1960s. As plans evolve for a new, mixeduse Brooklyn Village, the Government District itself is ripe for change. Government District is dominated by civic buildings and functions, lacking other uses like restaurants or shops nearby. Many properties do not generate tax revenue that supports City and County improvements. The area is not very
114
CENTER CITY 2040 VISION PLAN
pedestrian friendly, with large buildings and long blocks, and most street-level activity stops at 5pm. Infusing new life into this strategically-located neighborhood in the near-term can be accomplished with new uses, more active ground-floors, and improved connections that add energy to the area’s streets and sidewalks. Over the next several years there is opportunity to consolidate civic operations into more dense buildings. This would allow the City and County to use or leverage publicly-owned land for neighborhood improvement, including affordable housing, and to increase the tax revenue generated by these properties. The City and County should continue collaborating to share facilities and coordinate development plans to ensure related uses (e.g., jail and courthouse) are located near each other.
Figure 6.E.1: GOVERNMENT DISTRICT
FOC US AREAS
Objectives • Transform the Government District into a mixed-use
neighborhood that is lively during the day and evenings
• Improve walkability by adding connections through the district to Brooklyn Village and Trade Street
• Take advantage of publicly owned land to create a dynamic, high density mixed-use neighborhood
• Improve existing parks and public spaces such as the
Government Center plaza and the space in front of old city hall
Strategies and Recommendations
|6
E-2. ENSURE NEIGHBORHOOD LAND USE AND URBAN DESIGN SUPPORTS A MIXED-USE 18HOUR NEIGHBORHOOD • E2-1 Create multiple activity nodes including pedestrianoriented ground floor environments • E2-2 Install engaging art and consistent lighting throughout the district • E2-3 Identify and incentivize new land uses that complement nearby civic, hospitality and entertainment destinations • E2-4 Ensure design anticipates and respects adjacent development and change, including plans for the Brooklyn Village neighborhood and Marshall Park
E-1. ADD CONNECTIONS BETWEEN BLOCKS AND DESTINATIONS TO INCREASE WALKABILITY AND CREATE A SAFE, COMFORTABLE PEDESTRIAN ENVIRONMENT • E1-1 Require new development to provide mid-block pedestrian and bicycle connections • E1-2 Re-establish north-south vehicle connections between MLK and Trade Streets where possible
Vibrant urban areas include active public spaces, transparent ground floor uses and landscaping
CENTER CITY 2040 VISION PLAN
115
6|
FOC US A RE AS
E-3. ESTABLISH PARAMETERS AND CONDITIONS FOR REDEVELOPMENT OF MUNICIPALLY OWNED PARCELS ALONG TRADE STREET • E3-1 Establish land use and design expectations consistent with E-1 and E-2 • E3-2 Increased density and improved streetscape design • E3-3 Substantial neighborhood investments including affordable housing and childcare facilities for government district workers • E3-4 Relocation and / or consolidation of civic uses into smaller footprints and mixed-use developments E-4. ENGAGE IN A MASTER PLAN AND VISIONING PROCESS TO ESTABLISH A LARGER VISION FOR THE GOVERNMENT DISTRICT AND THE GREATER SECOND WARD • E4-1 Create a task force / subcommittee to establish a ward-wide land-use program • E4-2 Perform a feasibility study for major program recommendations • E4-3 Engage displaced Brooklyn Village residents and their families
116
CENTER CITY 2040 VISION PLAN
Figure 6.E.2: GOVERNMENT DISTRICT - EXISTING CONDITION
Figure 6.E.3: GOVERNMENT DISTRICT - PROPOSED CONDITIONS