Downtown Revitalization Workshop - Bridgewater, MA

Downtown Revitalization Workshop

Bridgewater, Massachusetts

Michael Dutton, Town Manager

Strength: Compact & Walkable Downtown

Bridgewater, MA Town Council Workshop - April 11, 2023

Strength: Beautiful Historic Buildings and Neighborhoods

Bridgewater, MA Town Council Workshop - April 11, 2023

Strength: Bridgewater State University

Bridgewater, MA Town Council Workshop - April 11, 2023

Strength: Transit Service/Connections

Bridgewater, MA Town Council Workshop - April 11, 2023

Strength: Demographics and Market Trends

o Demographic with purchasing power already lives in Bridgewater and surrounding community's median income is $110, 924.00

o Demographic changes in housing types

▪ Empty-nesters seeking to shed large houses (which cycle to younger families)

▪ Early-stage professionals favor lowcar or no-car lifestyle

Bridgewater, MA Town Council Workshop - April 11, 2023

Strength: Great Planning is Done

• Bridgewater Comprehensive Master Plan, 2022

• Bridgewater Downtown Community Development

Master Plan, 2014

• Bridgewater Complete Streets Prioritization Plan and Pedestrian Safety Assessment

Bridgewater, MA Town Council Workshop - April 11, 2023

Strength: Great Planning is Done

• Bridgewater Housing Production Plan, 2017

• Bridgewater State University (BSU)

Institutional Strategic Plan, 2018

• MBTA Communities Program, adopted in 2021 – Bridgewater has approved Action Plan

Bridgewater, MA Town Council Workshop - April 11, 2023

Strength: Great Planning is Done

Challenges to Revitalizing Downtown

• Perception of disconnection between destinations

− Lack of Walking, Bike/Pedestrian Infrastructure

• Existing MBTA location is underutilized

• Downtown properties are underutilized

Challenge: Existing MBTA Station Location

Bridgewater, MA Town Council Workshop - April 11, 2023

Existing Platform

Total households within 0.5-mile

MBTA Communities radius: 377

Challenge: Under-utilized Properties

Accelerating from Plans to Implementation

Bridgewater, MA Town Council Workshop - April 11, 2023

Downtown Revitalization – Central

Square

• CDBG Funding (Façade Improvements, Downtown Revitalization Plan, Revolving Loan Fund)

• MassDevelopment - Community Planning Grant Program

• MassDevelopment – Massachusetts Downtown Initiative

Bridgewater, MA Town Council Workshop - April 11, 2023

Downtown Revitalization – Central Square

Bridgewater, MA Town Council Workshop - April 11, 2023

Downtown Revitalization – Old

Town Hall

Downtown Revitalization – Direct Action

• Outreach, engagement and education

• Business owners

• Stakeholders

• Residents

• Downtown storefront rehab program

• Downtown Bridgewater advocacy organization

• Improve pedestrian corridors/connections

• Streetscape improvements

• Placemaking projects

• Recruitment of new businesses

• Marketing of Downtown

• Transportation infrastructure improvements

Bridgewater, MA Town Council Workshop - April 11, 2023

Downtown Revitalization - Partners

• Partners/Resources

• Massachusetts Downtown Initiative

• Main Street America

• Supporting actions

• Relocate MBTA platform

• Adopt new zoning bylaw including:

• Form based code

• MBTA densities

• Cooperative agreement between BSU and Town

• Collaborative programming

Bridgewater, MA Town Council Workshop - April 11, 2023

Downtown Revitalization - Funding

• Massachusetts Housing Partnership - $20,000 Initiate zoning amendment scope

• Housing Choice Grant Program - $100,000 - $300,000 Complete Zone Amendment and Form Based Code

• Congressional Directed Spending Request - $2,000,000

Renovations to Old Town Hall

• Complete Streets Program - $400,000

Pedestrian and Bicycle Improvements

Downtown Revitalization

Precedent: Greenfield, MA

• Population: 17,768

• Key elements: − Visit Greenfield org.

− City economic development department

− Complete streets projects with State transportation $

− Anchor building redevelopment

Bridgewater, MA Town Council Workshop - April 11, 2023

Downtown Revitalization

Precedent: Hudson, MA

• Population: 20,092

• Key elements:

− Hudson BID

− Transportation improvements

− Events

−

Marketing/Advocacy

− Business recruitment/retention

Bridgewater, MA Town Council Workshop - April 11, 2023

Downtown Revitalization

Precedent: Biddeford, Maine

• Population: 22,569

• Key elements:

− Heart of Biddeford org.

− Maine Main Street program

− Events

−

Marketing/Advocacy

−

Business recruitment/retention

− Housing redevelopment

Bridgewater, MA Town Council Workshop - April 11, 2023

Zoning/Form-Based Code

Bridgewater, MA Town Council Workshop - April 11, 2023

Zoning Amendment with Form-Based Code

Form Based Code: What is it?

• Form Based Code (FBC) is an alternative zoning district that allows for the regulation of development that helps a community realize its vision for a specific area.

• While existing zoning focuses on separating land uses (i.e., residential, commercial, industrial) it does little to encourage an integrated approach to development.

• FBC helps regulate land development and redevelopment by setting careful and clear controls on building form, rather than focusing strictly on types of land use.

• FBC typically allows for more density than existing zoning districts.

Bridgewater, MA Town Council Workshop - April 11, 2023

Zoning Amendment with Form-Based Code

Form Based Code: What is it?

• FBC clearly defines requirements for building heights, building and parking placement, architectural features, as well as standards for sidewalks street trees, parking and public spaces.

• A mix of affordability is required for housing units.

• It also can provide a less intensive/ expensive option than current Planning & Zoning Review.

• FBC can also provide financial incentive by offering a faster and more streamlined approval process.

• Benefits to FBC include a more predictable outcome due to form-driven zoning requirements.

• The Town and the community each benefit from managed growth and public improvements that are aligned with a collective vision for the future.

Bridgewater, MA Town Council Workshop - April 11, 2023

Zoning Amendment with Form-Based Code – Implementation

• April

• Town Council Workshop

• Form based code scoping

• Begin Public Engagement

• May – Expand Public Engagement

• June-August – Development of Zoning Amendment and Form-Based Code

• September – Council Workshop

• October – Initiate approval and adoption process

Bridgewater, MA Town Council Workshop - April 11, 2023

Transit-Oriented Development

Bridgewater, MA Town Council Workshop - April 11, 2023

Transit Oriented Development (TOD)

Bridgewater, MA Town Council Workshop - April 11, 2023

Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Precedents

• In planning, transit-oriented development (TOD) is a type of development that maximizes the amount of residential, business and leisure space within walking distance of public transportation. It promotes a symbiotic relationship between dense, compact urban form and public transportation use. In doing so, TOD aims to increase public transportation ridership by reducing the use of private cars and by promoting sustainable growth.

• TOD typically includes a central transit stop (such as a train station, or light rail or bus stop) surrounded by a high-density mixed-use area, with lower-density areas spreading out from this center. TOD is also typically designed to be more walkable than other built-up areas, by using smaller block sizes and reducing the land area dedicated to automobiles.

• The densest areas of TOD are normally located within a radius of 1⁄4 to 1⁄2 mile (400 to 800 m) around the central transit stop, as this is considered an appropriate scale for pedestrians, thus solving the last mile problem.

Bridgewater, MA Town Council Workshop - April 11, 2023

Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Precedents

• Massachusetts MBTA Communities who are developing residential/mixeduse zones near MBTA stations:

− Canton

− Mansfield

− Attleboro

− Beverly −

Many more Bridgewater, MA Town Council Workshop - April 11, 2023

Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Precedent: Canton, MA

• Population: 24,370

• Key elements:

− New zoning bylaw, Canton Center Economic Opportunity

District − Streetscape Improvement

Project

−

Public Works Economic Development (PWED) Grant

Bridgewater, MA Town Council Workshop - April 11, 2023

Redevelopment of Under-Utilized Properties

Foster redevelopment of key under-utilized properties

• Existing factors impacting redevelopment and TOD

o Under-utilized properties appropriate for redevelopment

o 233 Broad Street - Campus Plaza and adjacent sites

▪ 60-86 Broad Street - Former Friendly’s and adjacent sites

▪ 180 Broad Street - Foundry site

▪ 0 Hale Street – Technical Recycling

▪ 106 Hale Street – (concrete foundation site)

Bridgewater, MA Town Council Workshop - April 11, 2023

Potential properties for redevelopment

Under-utilized properties appropriate for redevelopment

60-86 Broad Street

Former Friendly’s and adjacent sites

Former Friendly’s

Bridgewater, MA Town Council Workshop - April 11, 2023

Best Practices in Redevelopment

Bridgewater, MA Town Council Workshop - April 11, 2023

Under-utilized properties appropriate for redevelopment

Best Practices in Redevelopment

Bridgewater, MA Town Council Workshop - April 11, 2023

Under-utilized properties appropriate for redevelopment

Bridgewater, MA Town Council Workshop - April 11, 2023

0 Hale Street

Technical Recycling

Best Practices in Redevelopment

Bridgewater, MA Town Council Workshop - April 11, 2023

Under-utilized properties appropriate for redevelopment

180 Broad Street

Foundry site

Foundry Site

Bridgewater, MA Town Council Workshop - April 11, 2023

Best Practices in Redevelopment

Bridgewater, MA Town Council Workshop - April 11, 2023

Under-utilized properties appropriate for redevelopment

Campus Plaza

Campus Plaza and adjacent sites

Bridgewater, MA Town Council Workshop - April 11, 2023

233 Broad Street

Campus Plaza Existing Conditions aerial

Bridgewater, MA Town Council Workshop - April 11, 2023

233 Broad Street - Campus Plaza and adjacent sites

Bridgewater, MA Town Council Workshop - April 11, 2023

233 Broad Street - Campus Plaza and adjacent sites

Bridgewater, MA Town Council Workshop - April 11, 2023

233 Broad Street - Campus Plaza and adjacent sites

Bridgewater, MA Town Council Workshop - April 11, 2023

233 Broad Street - Campus Plaza and adjacent sites

Bridgewater, MA Town Council Workshop - April 11, 2023

233 Broad Street - Campus Plaza and adjacent sites

Bridgewater, MA Town Council Workshop - April 11, 2023

Best Practices in Redevelopment

Bridgewater, MA Town Council Workshop - April 11, 2023

Best Practices in Redevelopment

Bridgewater, MA Town Council Workshop - April 11, 2023

Town & Gown Collaboration

Bridgewater, MA Town Council Workshop - April 11, 2023

University/Community Collaboration Best Practices

• Cooperative Agreement

• Community Partnerships

• Multi-discipline service-learning collaboration

• Bike/pedestrian infrastructure collaboration

Bridgewater, MA Town Council Workshop - April 11, 2023

Discussion Prompts

• What examples do you like and see as applicable to Bridgewater?

• Which examples do you have concerns about?

• What actions/implementation do think can be priorities for action?

REFERENCE SLIDES

Bridgewater, MA Town Council Workshop - April 11, 2023

• NJ TOD economic research

TOD and Populations

• Norwalk, CT TOD –

− 367 units in 5 market rate multi-unit properties

− 7 Norwalk Public School

Students in residence

− Ratio: 1 student per 52 units

Bridgewater, MA Town Council Workshop - April 11, 2023

Under-utilized properties appropriate for redevelopment

Under-utilized properties appropriate for redevelopment

Bridgewater, MA Town Council Workshop - April 11, 2023

Under-utilized properties appropriate for redevelopment

60-86 Broad Street Former Friendly’s and adjacent sites

▪ Map-Parcel: 21-98; 21-97; 2196; 21-95 ▪ 91,816 Sq. Ft.

Bridgewater, MA Town Council Workshop - April 11, 2023

Under-utilized properties appropriate for redevelopment

0 Hale Street Technical Recycling

▪ Map-Parcel: 21-188

▪ 52, 055 Sq. Ft.

Bridgewater, MA Town Council Workshop - April 11, 2023

Under-utilized properties appropriate for redevelopment

106 Hale Street

Concrete foundation site

▪ Map-Parcel: 34-233

▪ 63, 360 Sq. Ft.

Bridgewater, MA Town Council Workshop - April 11, 2023