Downtown Revitalization

History

Since 2010, a group of Juneau citizens with concerns about the health and vitality of downtown Juneau met several times to discuss their concerns and options available to revitalize the downtown area. JEDC facilitated these meetings which were aimed at developing approaches to addressing the identified issues. Smaller groups of committed people have worked together to extend the work of the original group, defining a vision for downtown and understanding and researching four areas of particular interest to them. Below is a summary of these efforts to date.

Problem Statement

Increasingly fewer Juneau citizens consider downtown as a primary center for living, leisure and business.

Vision Statement

Our vision is that Juneau borough residents will utilize the downtown area as THE primary year-round hub for living, leisure, government and business.

Initiative teams are working on 4 active initiatives:
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Reports

One page graphic	June 2013 Report

Action Initiative: Develop a shared vision of Willoughby District Stakeholders

JEDC is working with neighborhood residents, land owners and business leaders to develop a shared vision for future of the Willoughby District. At JEDC we believe that creating a broad and inclusive dialogue among stakeholders in the Willoughby District results in investments and improvements made in a timely and consistent manner that will create greater overall value for all stakeholders, including citizens throughout Juneau and visitors to our Capital City.

Meetings	Documents
Willoughby District Development Meeting, September 14, 2016 Willoughby District Development Meeting, August 25, 2016 Willoughby District Development Meeting, August 27, 2014 Willoughby District Development Meeting, December 5, 2013 Willoughby District Development Meeting, August 29, 2013	Sept 14, 2016 Meeting Notes Sept 14, 2016 Willoughby District Meeting consolidated slides SLAM presentation – Developments with the project 12/5 DOT presentation – Plans for Egan Drive 12/5 Mental Health Trust Authority presentation – 12/5 CBJ Willoughby Plan overview presentaion 12/5 Juneau Storefront Improvement Competition coming Jan 2014. See the working document here: Juneau Storefront Improvement Competition (10/24/2013)
Resources / Notes
Link to CBJ Willoughby District Plan Link to SLAM Project site Link to DOT Egan Drive plan District Energy Initiative white paper “The role of arts in economic development“ – NGA Center for Best Practices “How the Arts and Cultural Tourism Spur Economic Development” – California Arts Council

Action Initiative: Improve Downtown Built Environment

The objective of this initiative is to improve the streetscape of downtown for a safe, clean and more pleasing, pedestrian friendly environment that reflects Juneau’s history and cultures and encourages people to spend time downtown.

Meetings	Documents
Meeting with Astoria Community Development Director, March 7, 2013 Rookery Meeting Summary, December 4, 2012 Built/Housing Meeting Summary, October 24, 2012 Meeting Summary, May 12, 2012 Tour of Willoughby District, October 8, 2012 Arranged for Portland Development Commission (PDC) Executive Director to meet with city officials. PDC Executive director met with group to lend insights on urban renewal and working groups	Juneau Storefront Improvement Competition coming Jan 2014. See the working document here: Juneau Storefront Improvement Competition (10/24/2013) Action Initiative: Improve Downtown Built Environment (6/7/12) Built Environment Recomendations, November 2012 Rookery Meeting Presentation, December 4, 2012
Resources / Notes
“Downtown Simpson Building to be revamped” – Juneau Empire Sprucing up vacant buildings a pane-staking process – Yakima Herald SLAM project website “Heritage Coffee Expands Juneau Headquarters” – Juneau Empire Downtown Corvallis Facade Improvement Loan Program (PDF) “Architect sees endless possibilities in Willoughby” – Juneau Empire “Creative teamwork fuels new public art piece downtown” – Juneau Empire Three part feature on the Willoughby District – Juneau Empire Portland Development Commission (PDC) Office Vacancy Rates in Juneau (Carlton Smith) “Putting a Good Face on Street Art, to Upgrade Atlanta.” – NY Times “Oklahoma City – A Plains City Calls on Design to Improve Quality of Life” – Architectural Record Top 10 Small U.S. Cities Growing Faster Than Their Suburbs – Atlantic Cities A Better Way To Measure Walkability – Sightline Daily How About Gardening or Golfing at the Mall? – New York Times In Winning Design, City Hopes to Address a Cramped Future – New York Times

Action Initiative: Enhance Downtown Transit Oriented Development

The objective of this initiative is to improve downtown district interconnection, encourage a better pedestrian transit experience and encourage downtown transit oriented housing development by providing an alternative to private vehicles.

Meetings	Documents
Meeting Summary, August 21, 2012 Meeting Summary, April 11, 2012 Circulator Notes from Greg Fisk (3/31/12) Circulator Preliminary Discussion Memo – from Greg Fisk (2/26/12) Conducted group walk-around downtown with PDC Executive Director who lent insight to all working groups	Action Initiative: Enhance Downtown Transit Oriented Development (6/7/12)
Resources / Notes
Once Nearly Extinct, Streetcar Gets New Life in US – Associated Press Commentary on Salt Lake by initiative team member, Ben Lyman What Happens When a Town Puts People Before Cars? – The Atlantic Cities “Action Off the Mountains in Salt Lake City” – New York Times Travel The case for caution in building streetcars – The Atlantic Cities Three part Juneau Empire feature on the Willoughby District Juneau Empire article Sept 15, 2012 “JEDC hosts revitalization talks for downtown” American Public Transport Association Glossary “How to Make Transit (and Biking and Walking) Sexy“ – The Atlantic Cities “Why We Pay More for Walkable Neighborhoods” – The Atlantic Cities “Why Streetcars? The Role of Streetcars in Portland” – Borough of Transportation Even American Drivers Like Mass Transit More Than They Think – Atlantic Cities Princess Cruises boosts Trondheim’s Streetcar Toronto’s Streetcar – a cold weather example American Transportation Agency San Francisco Public Transit Anti-Pollution Efforts (PDF)

Action Initiative: Increase Mixed and Residential Housing Uses Downtown

The objective of this initiative is to increase the availability of downtown residences. The group identified the main concern as the deficiency of housing and mixed use development, which includes limited investment capital and developers and a strong motive to upgrade or sell downtown property.

Meetings	Documents
Built/Housing Meeting Summary, October 24, 2012 Meeting Summary, August 16, 2012 Meeting Summary, May 30, 2012	Action Initiative: Increase Mixed & Residential Uses Downtown (6/7/12)
Resources / Notes
“Willoughby District will benefit from a performing arts complex” – KTOO News “The Future has mixed-use housing” – Juneau Empire Three part feature on the Willoughby District – Juneau Empire Article on the “creative class”, their positive effect on the economy and their need for housing Juneau Empire article October 8, 2012 “Parking versus pedestrian in the Willoughby district” Senior Needs Assessment (PDF) “For Developers, Apartments Still a Safe Bet” – The Atlantic Cities “Hottest Trends in Urban Housing” – The Atlantic Cities “CITY ROOM; City Solicits Prototype for a New Model of Tiny, Efficient and Affordable Housing” – NY Times Should Building Taller Be Much, Much Easier? – Atlantic Cities

Downtown Revitalization Agenda Team

Meetings	Documents
Downtown Revitalization meeting summary, November 9 (docx) Meeting Summary August 2, 2012 Meeting Summary May 22, 2012	Downtown Revitalization Project: Status Update (as of 6/7/12) Problem Analysis, Part One, December 2011 (docx)
Resources / Notes
“Are We There Yet? Creating Complete Communities for 21st Century America” – Reconnecting America

General Revitalization Resources

General Resources / Notes
It’s time for a downtown renaissance – The Anchorage Daily News, December 29, 2013 Read more here: http://www.adn.com/2013/12/29/3250898/andrew-halcro-its-time-for-a-downt… How to design a happier city – The Atlantic Cities, December 9, 2013 View Margo Waring’s notes on her visit to the South Nov. 2013 American Planning Association – National Planning Conference session summary (PDF) Waste Wattage: Cities Aim to Flush Heat Energy Out of Sewers – National Geographic IBM Helps Corpus Christi Build a Smarter City – IBM City of Namaino Downtown Plan 29.47.460. Debt for development and redevelopment projects(PDF) Aquarium lifts heat from ocean’s stored energy – Anchorage Daily News

General Resources / Notes

Attachment	Size
Willoughby District Mtg Summary 08272014.docx	65.05 KB