Ravenna - Downtown District Plan (Highlights)

RAVENNA DOWNTOWN

DISTRICT

PLAN

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Consultant Statement

Ravenna Residents, Business Owners, Advocates, and Civic Leaders, First, I want to thank Main Street Ravenna and the supporters of this project for the opportunity to work on this plan for my hometown, a place I feel very rooted in and influenced by more and more each day. Growing up in Ravenna, I did not always understand or appreciate all that our town has to offer in terms of both history and future potential. Returning to town in a professional capacity and spending the last year working and talking with so many long-time residents and new business owners demonstrated the values that hold the community together and the ambitions so many of us have for Ravenna and Portage County’s future.

This project started with the charge of developing a plan that would demonstrate the potential of focusing the interests and efforts of local residents, business owners, and civic leaders. What follows is our team’s summary of observations and proposals that illustrate how some of the ideas and strategies generated through local research and community outreach efforts might translate to the familiar spaces of the downtown from parking lots and alleyways to streetscapes and public spaces. While these proposals look detailed and complete, their intention is simply to show how the objectives and strategies outlined in the plan might eventually be translated to built projects, operational methods, and even organizational relationships. That’s what plans of this type do, they identify ideas and concepts that ultimately have to be prioritized and fully developed by a design development process that considers the broadest range of perspectives and balances available resources.

The plan and the process of its development are not perfect nor complete. Our hope is that the District Plan starts discussions, raises debates, and energizes participation and investment in and about Ravenna’s downtown and the community as a whole. We welcome any on-going or future opportunity to expand or focus aspects of the plan as it moves forward.

Regards,

Jason Kentner, RLA IMPLEMENT Design Principal RHS Class of 1994

Ravenna Downtown District Plan

>> RAVENNA DOWNTOWN DISTRICT PLAN The Downtown District Plan is a 4-part project focused broadly on the potential of landscape and public space to shape the character, function, and quality of Ravenna’s downtown.

Landscape and open space is a priority in the downtown plan because of the broad and affordable impact of each. Urban trees effectively reduce heat-island, stormwater runoff, and air pollution. Additionally, urban trees and open space have been shown to improve property values and business profits.

Placemaking, or sense-of-place, is a multifaceted idea that emphasizes the history, character, businesses, and community that make Ravenna unique. The district plan includes strategies for new wayfinding signage and outdoor seating to small flexible spaces that allow and encourage new activities and amenities.

Civic Spaces are sources of community pride and identity for downtown as well as all of Portage County. The district plan illustrates the potential of spaces like the courthouse lawn as a place where the community can gather, honor, and participate together.

Bike Routes & Trails offer residents and visitors new mobility and easier access and direction. The downtown district plan illustrates potential connections within town while also incorporating necessary bike safety and parking infrastructure into the downtown creating a bike-safe and bike-friendly downtown.

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Key Tenets The District Plan focuses on the importance of having a plan AND an on-going collaborative/inclusive planning process where priorities are weighed, opportunities seized, and resources maximized.

Development of the plan focused on proposals and strategies that were both achievable and ambitious; based on four key tenets.

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Ravenna Downtown District Plan

Work Together The District Plan requires that civic departments and agencies work together so that efforts can be shared and are not duplicated or divisive. Additionally, regular efforts need to be made to build consensus between area citizens, businesses, and civic agencies and administrations.

Spend Smart The District Plan proposals and strategies illustrate how financial resources can be used to the greatest and mutual benefit.

This is done by focusing on maintenance as a transformative tool and editing existing amenities so long-term costs are limited.

Be Flexible The District Plan illustrates how spaces can be made more functional by increasing their flexibility. Parking and open spaces are significant places where functionality can be improved through organization, wayfinding, and facilitating multi-user flexibility.

Look Ahead The District Plan identifies approaches to phased development of both networks and sites. Trails work within existing ROW while site projects are careful to leave developable footprints within park and parking projects.

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IDEA: ACTIVATE CIVIC SPACES BEYOND WORKDAY HOURS Creating spaces in the downtown that are welcoming, multi-functional, and offer programming opportunities for both formal ceremonies and casual community events will help the downtown develop as a destination.

Consider this: • focusing open space development on existing civic spaces, like courthouse and library, maximizes impact of available resources in short and long terms; • re-organizing elements within existing spaces allow civic spaces to be made more visible, secure and functionally larger for a broad range of users; • routing PARTA buses around the Courthouse Square better connect to riders and limit traffic congestion on Main Street; • using pavement to define pedestrian and vehicular spaces improves safety and allows for multi-use spaces surrounding the square; • adding elements such as gazebo offer opportunity to celebrate shared histories while activating space and anchoring downtown programming.

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Ravenna Downtown District Plan

DESIGN CONCEPT The Courthouse Square proposal focuses on organizing existing elements and spaces to accommodate multiple functions while celebrating the history and values of Portage County. A generous Main St. plaza and flexible-use parking allow the square to be functionally larger while incorporating a memorial gazebo, flagpole monument, and cafe/vendor terrace.

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IDEA: CREATE PARKS FROM PARKING This proposal is not a literal one but does highlight how large expanses of pavement/parking limit the quality and quantity of open space in the downtown and negatively impact its overall character and function.

Consider this: • Main Street contains ONLY 104 spaces in the Downtown District study area; • of the 3040 spaces accounted in the downtown district study area ONLY 15% (455) are public (lots or one-street); • large surface lots act as barriers between the downtown and surrounding homes, businesses, and services by discouraging walking and biking to and from; • when it comes to parking/paved areas reducing size = reducing cost of installation & repair; • street trees and open space have been shown to positively impact property values and business revenues.

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Ravenna Downtown District Plan

DESIGN CONCEPT Sites like the municipal parking lot along Locust Lane, offer opportunities to create multi-use and multi-user spaces. Generous green spaces surround the lot allowing trees to mature while shaded sidewalks encourage park-once habits.

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IDEA: ACTIVATE SECONDARY SPACES Just beyond Main Street, back lot spaces and alleyways are full of opportunities for businesses and the public.

Dedicated to inefficient parking and services, these spaces could redefine and energize the downtown.

Consider this: • small businesses that have access to outdoor spaces can add revenue generating spaces and attract new customers; • developing rear lot spaces encourages visitors to explore the downtown increasing foot traffic and repeat visitation; • activating secondary spaces doesn’t have to be permanent or costly and can test event and business ideas; • pop-up spaces and unique experiences attract families and young visitors to the downtown introducing them to the area and illustrating its potential; • community events that activate secondary spaces add diversity and activity to local social calendars.

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Ravenna Downtown District Plan

DESIGN CONCEPT By programming secondary spaces for both temporary and permanent uses, local businesses can feature informal spaces that are quiet and layered with history and unqiue character of the downtown. Secondary streets also offer a lot utility for small street sales and festivals without streets.

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IDEA: RESTORE FUNCTIONAL SIDEWALK SPACES There are several spaces in the downtown where sidewalks have been narrowed to accommodate dedicated turn-lanes. Sidewalks need to consider how businesses can utilize pedestrian space for cafe & sales.

Consider this: • narrowing of streets will calm traffic and improve pedestrian safety in the downtown core; • improved streetscape space encourage visitors to explore the downtown and discover local businesses; • wider sidewalks reduce clutter and increase visibility of storefront signage; • accessible alleyways improve wayfinding and pedestrian connections to and from public parking; • creating larger landscape spaces reduce cost of installation & maintenance while extending life of plants; • simplifying and organizing streetscape materials improve functionality and reduce maintenance cost without need for extensive reconstruction.

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Ravenna Downtown District Plan

DESIGN CONCEPT Reclaiming pedestrian space along Main St. in front of library, courthouse, and Phoenix Block provide space for businesses and special events to welcome pedestrians to linger while allowing landscape to be more impactful and beautiful.

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IDEA: POINT TO & CONNECT WITH THE DOWNTOWN The Portage County Multi-Use Trail is a fantastic recreational amenity but it is also an opportunity to draw more visitors into the downtown. The District Plan makes proposals for new connections and amenities.

Consider this: • downtown is near the end of the trail so amenities and connections are imperative to increase trail use; • providing safe routes and clear signage are key factors to increasing trail use; • as the existing trail extends new dedicated lanes to and through town need to be planned including East to West safe-street routes connecting schools; • abandoned railroad ROW extend and connect the multi-use trail to downtown and potential loop with KSU trail; • developing youth and family recreational and educational amenities on municipal properties along the trail are accessible and attractive.

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Ravenna Downtown District Plan

DESIGN CONCEPT By adding simple safety and wayfinding features to the existing trail we can highlight local history, events, and businesses. Additionally, by partnering with and developing sites along the trail and dedicating bike lanes and trails leading to downtown new levels of connection between the trail and downtown are possible. Long-term create a expandable network of trails and safe-streets will encourage bike business and culture to develop.

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IDEA: MAKE ALLEYWAYS WELCOMING & FUNCTIONAL The majority of spaces that have the ability to support Main Street are located on the blocks behind it. The connecting alleyways are functional and offer an opportunity to positively impact visitor experience.

Consider this: • improving alleyways offers chance to impact impression of visitors coming and going from Main Street; • concentrating brick/unit paving in alleyways reduces maintenance of Main Street by eliminating small areas of pavers in favor of larger areas that help with wayfinding; • widening sidewalks would require minimal construction by using the depth of curb to install brick/unit paving on top of existing asphalt; • dedicating the alleyways to bike parking provides safe functional space and avoids cluttering Main Street with bike racks in random locations; • improved alleyways area easily closed for special events and expanded outdoor seating as was needed during the summer of 2020.

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Ravenna Downtown District Plan

DESIGN CONCEPT Simple edits like widening sidewalks, adding signage, providing lighting, and installing bike racks are modest investments that offer great impact.

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Project IMPLEMENT, llc.

Consultant 1119 Mt. Pleasant Ave. Columbus, OH 43201 Jason Kentner, RLA Design Principal implement-studio.net

Project Main Street Ravenna Sponsor 267 W. Main Street

Ravenna, OH 44266 Board President: Todd Peetz Design Committee Chair: Bill Barber Executive Director: Julie McLain email: info@mainstreetravenna.org Tele: 330-235-9509

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ravennadowntowndistrictplan.com

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