TACTICAL REVITALIZATION PLAN FOR DOWNTOWN ALBANY NY

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Project Approach, Scope of Work, and Deliverables In this regard, we believe that the experience of our team will prove to be very relevant to the Albany situation. At the same time that Albany was beginning its focus on downtown housing, downtown Louisville was doing so as well. Using a similar residential market analysis, a major initiative was undertaken to stimulate the downtown housing market, also focused as much on the supply side as the demand side. A series of mechanisms was put into place - including an innovative public /private partnership that created highly attractive secondary financing, the Louisville Downtown Housing Assistance Fund – that indeed served as a catalyst for its downtown housing market. The Downtown Housing Fund has been used as a model for similar efforts in other mid-sized downtowns struggling with the same issue, and was honored by the International Downtown Association and the Council of Development Finance Agencies as the nation’s best revolving loan program. 9. Finding Wow! Signature elements that solve real problems (the Wow factor as an iconic structure): Focus on the connection between the riverfront and downtown, which is a genuine need and must be addressed through the overall planning process. However, we suggest that we avoid thinking of this as merely a pedestrian connection, but as a signature element that becomes an iconic and celebratory element in and of itself, especially since the span across the highway is very long. Building on unique assets to avoid Anywhereville (finding the roots of Wow in the Now): Cities that try to replicate elements attempted in other cities are destined to fail in their efforts. People today, especially younger, tech-savvy ones with mobility as to where they choose to live and work, are seeking interesting places that are authentic. All cities have their own set of tangible and intangible “assets” that help define their character, though often they are not easily identified by visitors. A process that investigates exactly what Albany’s assets are and develops innovative ways to highlight and celebrate them, both in terms of development projects and the public realm, will result in a far more sustainable downtown. We have done this with great success in a number of cities, including in Louisville (developing Glassworks, Louisville Slugger, Bourbon Trail, etc.) and Pittsburgh (Three Rivers Park, river taxi system, new stadia and casino intertwined with post-industrial re-use). Celebration of Albany’s assets can also serve as a bonus for tourism. While perhaps not viewed holistically as a prime tourism destination, downtown Albany is well situated as a base for a variety of tourism activities, whether as a port of call for Hudson River excursions, as a gateway to Saratoga to the north and the Berkshires to the east, the growing culinary and wine region to the south, etc. And tourism could provide the necessary additional activity to stimulate more vibrant retail and entertainment activity in the downtown. Focusing more attention on this market segment, and integrating its needs into both the overall downtown and riverfront revitalization effort, including an iconic wow factor – be it the riverfront connection or something else – would be a significant part of our efforts.
2 Section Concert below an inner-city street bridge Zagreb, Croatia Reflect changing lifestyles in the urban design (Wow in daily life): Cities and downtowns are being utilized today in ways much different from their traditional roles. Those predisposed to living and working downtown – a growing demographic – are less interested in housing types, retailing, food, entertainment, etc. that were the norm even a decade ago. The rise of social media, food trucks, locavore eateries, smaller and more innovative housing units, access to bike and pedestrian trails, outdoor entertainment and fitness opportunities, all impact how downtowns are developed and the atmosphere they provide. Our process is designed to engage these populations in means of communication with which they are most comfortable, in order to insure that the plan developed accommodates these new trends and anticipates those that are likely to grow stronger in the future. Our communication plan will include social media and will help us identify quality of life goals that provide some Wow.
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TACTICAL REVITALIZATION PLAN FOR DOWNTOWN ALBANY NY

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