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Community and Economic Development Toolbox: Downtown Development Key Trends ... Page 2 of 4 <br /> encourage a broader mix of downtown shops, services, and <br /> • restaurants. <br /> Trend #2: Enhancement of Sense of Place. Most <br /> downtown development efforts now recognize the value of <br /> possessing a strong sense of place. A sense of place serves to <br /> create an inviting downtown that encourages people to linger <br /> and is distinctive from other settings that suffer from <br /> placelessness (i.e., shopping malls,big box retailers, strip <br /> malls).A number of strategies have been implemented to <br /> enhance downtown's sense of place. First, cities have made <br /> downtowns more pedestrian-friendly by widening sidewalks, <br /> making street-crossings easier and safer, and adding <br /> pedestrian amenities. Second,to take advantage of the <br /> distinctive older architecture found downtown, cities and <br /> downtown associations have established low-interest <br /> revolving loan funds for façade improvements and have <br /> instituted design guidelines or ordinances. Third, cities have <br /> added and enhanced downtown open space. Open spaces are <br /> important to a downtown because they encourage people to <br /> linger and provide a setting for community gatherings. <br /> Finally, cities fortunate to possess a downtown waterfront <br /> have worked to clear the waterfront of obsolete or <br /> undesirable uses, increase public access, and provide clear <br /> • pedestrian linkages to the commercial core. <br /> Trend #3: Development of a Community Vision. For <br /> many years planning for downtown development was a top <br /> down endeavor directed by government property owners, and <br /> businesses. The 199o[s ushered in a more community- <br /> inclusive approach. Downtown visioning sessions have <br /> become a popular starting point by identifying: 10 civic goals <br /> and objectives for the downtown, 2) assets upon which the <br /> downtown can build, 3) key problems, issues, and barriers <br /> that must be addressed, and 4) opportunities that can be <br /> taken advantage of. The key to successful visioning is to <br /> include a wide variety of downtown interests -including <br /> small businesses, residents, employees, and institutions - <br /> together with city government and other interested parties <br /> from the community at large. <br /> Trend #4: Use of Private/Public Partnerships. The <br /> partnering of private and public interests and resources has <br /> become a dominant feature of successful downtown <br /> development. An active and well-organized downtown <br /> association can help downtown businesses and property <br /> • owners work together towards their mutual benefit, serve as a <br /> unified voice representing downtown interests, and engage in <br /> marketing, promotions,business recruitment, and event <br /> coordination. <br /> http://www.cardi.cornell.edu/cd toolbox_2/tools/downtown_trends.cfm 6/21/2002 <br />