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Home My WebLink AboutItem 01 NEDCO Springfield Main Street Program, Design Committee Priorities for Downtown Revitalization AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY Meeting Date: 2/13/2012 Meeting Type: Work Session Staff Contact/Dept.: Linda Pauly/DSD Staff Phone No: (541) 726-4608 Estimated Time: 30 minutes S P R I N G F I E L D C I T Y C O U N C I L Council Goals: Community and Economic Development and Revitalization ITEM TITLE: NEDCO SPRINGFIELD MAIN STREET® PROGRAM: DESIGN COMMITTEE PRIORITIES FOR DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION ACTION REQUESTED: Ted Corbin, a representative of the Springfield Main Street® Design Committee and the NEDCO Board of Directors, will provide the Council with a summary of the Design Committee’s priorities for downtown revitalization. The presentation will provide suggested actions that the City may take to improve the downtown and support business success. ISSUE STATEMENT: The Design Committee of the Springfield Main Street® program held a Downtown Design Charrette in November of 2011 to facilitate conversations and hands-on design collaboration among local citizens, business owners, design professionals and university students relating to the Downtown. The goals of the Charrette process were to advance the following items: Develop design ideas to improve the pedestrian experience by enhancing building facades and corresponding streetscapes. Provide business and building owners with convenient and financially feasible design solutions. Draw from a wide range of experiences to collaborate on design ideas customized for the target area. Based on the dialogue facilitated by the Main Street® Design Committee process and the results of the November Charrette, the Committee has developed recommendations that will support incremental improvements to the Downtown. ATTACHMENTS: 1. Letter from the Design Committee Chair John Lively and Committee Members 2. Charrette Report Highlights (a hard copy of the report will be provided at the meeting) 3. Charrette Attendees List 4. Media Coverage 5. Main Street Committee Chairs DISCUSSION/ FINANCIAL IMPACT: On November 11, 2011, Clair Carpenter-Seguin from the Neighborhood Economic Development Corporation (NEDCO) and staff provided the Council with updates on NEDCO’s Downtown Springfield economic development and revitalization activities. The Council requested a follow-up work session with the Main Street® Design Committee, one of four committees organized and implemented under NEDCO’s leadership to revitalize downtown Springfield. The Design Committee’s charge is to get downtown into top physical shape to create a safer, more inviting environment for shoppers, workers, and visitors. Last year, the Council adopted a resolution to support NEDCO’s successful application to nominate Downtown Springfield for the Oregon Main Street® Program (National Trust for Historic Preservation). The Main Street Four-Point Approach® is a unique preservation based economic development tool that enables communities to revitalize downtown and neighborhood business districts by leveraging local assets - from historic, cultural, and architectural resources to local enterprises and community pride. It is a comprehensive strategy that addresses the variety of issues and problems that challenge traditional commercial districts. Main Street® provides an organizational structure for community- initiated business district improvement efforts. These activities provide support for the strategies outlined in the City’s adopted Downtown District Urban Design Plan and Implementation Strategy. Downtown revitalization is a key strategy for fostering Springfield’s community pride, livability and economic development. To: Mayor Christine Lundberg Councilmember Sean VanGordon Councilmember Hillary Wylie Councilmember Sheri Moore Councilmember Dave Ralston Councilmember Marilee Woodrow Councilmember Joe Pishioneri From: John Lively, Design Committee Chair Main Street Design Committee Date: February 13th, 2012 Re: Springfield Main Street Design Committee Priorities for Downtown Revitalization Dear Mayor Lundberg and City Council: On behalf of the Main Street Design Committee, I would like to recommend for your consideration the priorities that we have established to improve downtown and attract businesses that would help re-establish a retail Main Street in Springfield. We would ask that you look for any opportunity to devote the necessary staff time and resources, support incentive programs whenever possible, and continue to provide the political leadership necessary to create a downtown we can be proud of and that businesses, citizens, and visitors flock to. Building Maintenance – Effective City ordinances should guarantee that downtown tenants and owners maintain their building exteriors, awnings and landscaping. Fund a Main Street Manager – Dedicating City support is vitally important to all concerned about our downtown. The ongoing efforts to improve Main Street will require coordination and resources. Funds for Façade Improvement – Support any Urban Renewal or CDBG funds available for downtown building facades. Matching funding or providing incentives will make a difference on many of the needed improvements being identified on Main Street. Signage – Retail business districts rely on signage that is legible and attractive. The sign code must be clearAtoAbusinessAandAconsistentlyAappliedAforAallAMainAStreetAtoAbenefit.A nyAconfusionAonAtheAcode’sA intent or on enforcement breeds unnecessary ill will. Business Registry – A City staff maintained accounting/licensing for all new businesses within the Downtown Redevelopment Area would provide a much needed barometer for our commercial mix and vexing vacancies. Attachment 1-1 System Development Charges – Continue to look for a way to reduce SDCs for downtown business starts. This positive impact cannot be emphasized enough. Our committee continues to meet on a monthly basis looking for ways to improve downtown. We continue to recruit business owners and building owners into our efforts. We look to reach out to others making the same efforts. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, John Lively Attachment 1-2 Downtown Design Charrette Final Report Highlights Link to Complete Final Report: http://www.box.com/s/q04fn4vlvxkfifn2y8vq Attachment 2-1 Attachment 2-2 Attachment 2-3 Attachment 2-4 Attachment 2-5 Attachment 2-6 Charrette Attendees, by Category American Institute for Architecture: 15 American Society of Landscape Architects: 4 Students: 1 City of Springfield: 2 Business Owner: 4 Citizens: 13 TOTAL: 39 Attachment 3-1 Charrette News Press Announcements List of Printed Media: Main Street makeover proposed A workshop will focus on ideas to improve a stretch in Springfield By Saul Hubbard The Register-Guard Published: (Saturday, Nov 12, 2011 05:01AM) Midnight, Nov. 12, 2011 http://www.registerguard.com/web/newslocalnews/27160699-41/design-downtown-improvements- main-springfield.html.csp Downtown designs to be discussed Saturday Springfield Times November 11, 2011 Downtown plans and designs discussed Springfield Times November 18, 2011 Links to TV news announcements: http://kezi.com/news/local/229452 http://klcc.org/Feature.asp?FeatureID=2873 Other Media: Posted on Downtown Springfield Facebook and NEDCO Twitter accounts. Attachment 4-1 Main Street Committee Chairs Organization Committee: Dan Egan, dan@springfield-chamber.org, (541) 746-1651 Design Committee: John Lively, john@cawood.com, (541) 484-7052 Promotion Committee: Karen Hageman, karen2106@msn.com, (541) 736-0352 Economic Restructuring Committee: Courtney Griesel, cgriesel@ci.springfield.or.us, (541) 736-7132 NEDCO Board Liaison: Bethe Hayes, bethe.hayes@usbank.com, (541) 747-6712 Attachment 5-1