• Expanded Facilities: The construction, expansion, and improvement of community facilities is a costly but essential component of
4. DOWNTOWN ENHANCEMENT • Public Realm Design: Place-making is a fundamental goal for
Downtown livability; therefore, it is recommended that projects are
Downtown, and key to attracting new residents and businesses
prioritized to fill service gaps, especially for underserved populations,
that are in search of a vibrant and appealing urban environment.
and coordinated with redevelopment projects to address population
To enrich the visual quality of Downtown and its districts, a
increase. Shared use of civic, educational, and non-profit facilities is
coordinated program of public realm improvements is recommended,
another appropriate strategy for Downtown.
encompassing: gateway, streetscape, and public space
• Neighborhood Amenities: Day-to-day services and urban amenities are instrumental in attracting Downtown residents; access to convenience shopping is especially important. In conjunction
enhancements; a comprehensive public wayfinding and signage system; and a public art program. • Community Reinvestment: Property improvement programs
with housing development within mixed-use transit nodes, local
provide visual evidence of Downtown’s resurgence, and should
government should employ incentives to achieve integration of
receive local government investment and support. Measures include
desired neighborhood services and amenities; zoning incentives,
financial and technical assistance for façade improvement, property
community benefits provisions, and joint development ventures are
and building code compliance, and adaptive reuse. Clearance
among the means to augment market forces.
of blighted properties that pose a special nuisance may also be
• Community Partnerships: Facing limited resources, it is
warranted if the community would be better served through land
recommended that local government obtain and coordinate with
banking or accommodation of an interim use until redevelopment is
the private and non-profit sectors in the provision of community
ready to proceed.
services and facilities for Downtown. Available public sector funding
• Neighborhood Improvement & Conservation: Downtown will
should be amplified with private and non-profit sector participation
profit from a coordinated strategy of improvement and conservation
in the development and operations of community facilities, pursued
of peripheral residential neighborhoods. Local government should
through such measures as shared facility use, a community benefits
encourage rehabilitation and repair of single family homes and multi-
program, or other forms of public-private agreement, as well as BID
family dwellings, coupled with infill development to stabilize declining
services, corporate partnerships, and philanthropic funding.
residential areas. Mature residential neighborhoods will benefit from zoning standards and code enforcement that protect them from commercial encroachment, incompatible development, and the resultant decline.
264