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• ter a number of years, the city should have a Develop design guidelines. Some measure of
<br /> more viable and attractive downtown. Large public control—beyond basic zoning—is neces-
<br /> development projects are seldom the panacea sary to ensure that new building development
<br /> their advocates make them out be, especially in and the redevelopment of older buildings inte-
<br /> smaller cities. grates with the character and fabric of the
<br /> Do not suburbanize the downtown. Down- "The most effective way to downtown as a whole. A design review process
<br /> towns that try to compete with the suburbs by helps ensure this integration.A poorly designed
<br /> erecting large, modem, suburban-style struc- maintain and enhance a building may do more damage than good. For
<br /> tures (i.e., large setbacks, surface parking lots in strong sense of place in example, a new building set back from the
<br /> front, blank walls) are rarely successful and usu- street with ample parking provided in front will
<br /> ally damage the traditional downtown fabric. downtown is to preserve the probably interrupt the continuity of the .
<br /> The focus should be on solutions that result in a historical character that streetscape, rendering it less pedestrian-friendly
<br /> compact, high density, and pedestrian-friendly makes downtown distinctive and compromising the integrity of the sur-
<br /> downtown core, amenities generally not associ- rounding traditional buildings.
<br /> ated with suburbia. and unique compared to Strive for a multi functional downtown. The
<br /> Emphasize historic preservation. The most other environments." healthiest downtowns are those that include the
<br /> effective way to maintain and enhance a strong most varied types of activities such as shopping,
<br /> sense of place in downtown is to preserve the services, work, government, culture, the arts,
<br /> historical character that makes downtown dis- recreation, entertainment, dining, housing, and
<br /> tinctive and unique compared to other environ- tourism. Different functions bring different
<br /> ments. Many small city main streets, for in- types of people downtown at different times of
<br /> stance, contain architectural gems that are hid- the day and week, thereby increasing the vol-
<br /> den beneath 1960s aluminum slipcovers (false ume and distribution of downtown activity lev-
<br /> facades). Cities should work to encourage els.
<br /> building owners to uncover these original Final points to consider
<br /> facades. A healthy downtown is a worthwhile pursuit
<br /> Do not overemphasize parking. Most cities for most cities for reasons related to a com-
<br /> • think that parking is their greatest problem munity's economy, heritage, and image. More
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<br /> when, in reality, it rarely is. Providing more
<br /> parking spaces will not bring more people over, many cities consider a vital downtown as
<br /> downtown. Certainly the amount, type, use, an intrinsic element for a strong sense of com-
<br /> and location of parking should be examined and munity. It is important to remember, however,
<br /> parking considerations should be integrated that each downtown is distinctive and that these
<br /> with all proposed downtown projects. But re "The healthiest downtowns guiding principles should be applied to best take
<br /> member, parking is only one part of the total advantage of local amenities, heritage, and op-
<br /> member, Y P are those that include the portunities. While it is often helpful to visit
<br /> downtown puzzle and not the exaggerated jug
<br /> gernaut downtown interests claim. Surface most varied types of other downtowns to observe their efforts and to
<br /> stimulate ideas, keep in mind that simply repli-
<br /> parking lots,where absolutely necessary, should activities such as shopping caring other cities' success stories is generally
<br /> be handsomely landscaped and located behind services,work,government, not advisable. Not only might the circumstances
<br /> main street buildings rather than directly on the leading to the effective implementation differ
<br /> main street. culture,the arts,recreation, from one city to the next, but you may corn-
<br /> Make better use of upper floors. Traditional entertainment,dining, promise your opportunity to make your
<br /> main streets often contain too much vacant or
<br /> underutilized space above street level that could housing,and tourism." community's downtown area unique. t
<br /> be converted into offices or apartments. The
<br /> more effective utilization of upper floors makes
<br /> buildings more valuable, increases downtown Kent Robertson, professor of local and urban affairs
<br /> activity levels and densities, and can add to,the with St. Cloud State University in St. Cloud,
<br /> amount of affordable housing in the city. All Minn., has studied downtown issues for the past
<br /> new development in downtown should be en- 18 years. Robertson has written extensively about
<br /> couraged to include multiple stories. Cities can downtown.development, including two articles re-
<br /> assist both new development and the rehabilita- cently published in the Journal of the American
<br /> tion of existing space by amending zoning and Planning Association. His current research.focuses
<br /> building codes where applicable, providing fi- on the downtown areas of cities between 25,000 to
<br /> nancial assistance, and streamlining the building 50,000 population. Robertson can be reached at
<br /> permit process. p20)255-3184.
<br /> 10 MINNESOTA CITIES OCTOBER 1997
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