5.0. 6.0. 7.0. HRSR 02-23-1998 - Laserfiche WebLink

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• Civic uses, like City Hall, the post office, the library and religious institutions,can stand as a symbol of communityy pride and identity. In Monticello, these uses are scattered and lack a coherence that yields a • � {► sense of strength and community presence. 1. > y> • Street corners in a downtown are precious, and every corner should be • - '` occupied by a significant use. Parking lots on corners, regardless of 4 '�►=21' = �; the demand, break down the sense of street edge and density (critical r = ,� ! i { factors in a downtown's identity). Even small buildings on corners 1� can be important in continuing the feeling of a vibrant downtown. 414114: i .' , • Wide streets are a significant point of Monticello's character, and when coupled with the low scale of the buildings, provides a character • Neighborhoods ! Downtown's neighbors... that begins to say "Monticello." Wide streets promote higher traffic • surrounding down- town have as much to do with its char- speeds, which in turn degrades the pedestrian environment. A balance atter as its buildings,its businesses,or must be struck between the two. the river. The scale of the streets and the styles of the homes are reminiscent of a time when downtown was the • Parking in downtown is primarily behind buildings (where it should most vital part of the community. be). But most downtown buildings have front doors that are not con- When planning for enhancements to venient to the rear parking areas. New connections are important to downtown, strategies to maintain the vitality of these neighborhoods must create a shorter distance between a parked car and the first destination be considered. on the shopper's list. • Neighborhoods surround Monticello's downtown and commercial areas, providing a significant population within walking distance of downtown. That walk should be made interesting to encourage people • to walk from those neighborhoods into downtown (and humane by providing sidewalks rather than streets for people to use). The neigh- borhoods should encourage reinvestment to create a high quality stock of housing in a downtown neighborhood. This may require the acqui- sition and removal of sub-standard buildings, but that would be con- sidered a positive act by those who are committed to the quality of these neighborhoods. • The railroad that crosses Pine Street and separates downtown from the newer commercial areas is rarely used. It might be considered a third corridor in Monticello (along with the River and the interstate), with uses that make it a more important feature of the community. • Ferrellgas is one of the most prominent parts of the entry to downtown from the freeway, and one of the least attractive uses in the area. Its relocation should be a goal, and the use that replaces it should be one that capitalizes on its location (such as a civic facility or a local institu- tion that could stand as a symbol of the Monticello community, or a retail use that provides life to a block that has more propane tanks than people). • Entering Monticello via Broadway provides an introduction to the community that reveals significant neighborhoods and important corn- - munity institutions (the school and hospital), culminating in one's •A New Bridge - Revitalizing Monticello's Downtown and Rlverfront Page 1:16