Title
Briefing on the Downtown Strategy
Report
Issue:
Overview of the progress made on the Downtown Strategy and next steps
Staff Contact:
Amy Buckler, Senior Planner, Community Planning & Development, (360) 570-5847, abuckler@ci.olympia.wa.us
Presenter(s):
Amy Buckler, Senior Planner
Background and Analysis:
Last fall, the City kicked off the public process to form a Downtown Strategy, and hired MAKERS Architecture and Urban Design as consultants. The Downtown Strategy aims to forward our community's vision for downtown. It will establish priority actions for the next 5-6 years; illustrate desired design elements and future conditions; and guide City budgets, work plans and partnerships.
We have just completed step 2 of the process (attachment 1), and a framework to guide future steps has taken shape (attachments 2 & 3). This marks a major milestone in the process, as we have begun to transition from identifying strategic priorities to identifying specific implementation steps
The guiding framework chart (attachment 3) reflects priorities that have evolved out of the public process and technical analysis thus far. It communicates what tasks are yet to be completed in 2016 and some potential actions for future years that have arisen from the process. The character areas (attachment 2) have been well vetted with the community and provide a picture of the unique function and character people would like to see created or enhanced in various areas of downtown - a backdrop that will help us be more objective in our approach to implementation.
Most of the changes that will occur in downtown over the next 6 years will happen through private sector investment. In terms of implementation, the City's role will include: making strategic investments to enhance streets and sidewalks; ensuring our development and design standards align with community vision and are clear and realistic; forming partnerships and/or programmatic actions, development ...
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