Downtown Raleigh Peer Review

1
Downtown Raleigh Peer Review

• Brad Segal, Progressive Urban Management
  Associates, Denver CO
• Rich Bradley, Downtown DC BID, Washington DC
• Jeff Sanford, Center City Commission, Memphis TN
• Raleigh Downtown Alliance
• June 21, 2006

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Downtown Raleigh Peer ReviewObjectives

• Identify best practice planning development
  approaches that are relevant to challenges and
  opportunities in downtown Raleigh.
• Develop options for downtown Raleigh by
  discussing alternatives with local business and
  civic leaders.
• Create recommendations that can move quickly to
  implementation.

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Downtown Raleigh Peer ReviewProcess

• Review of recent plans and studies, including
  Livable Streets
• On-line survey
• Site orientation
• Roundtable meetings with downtown stakeholders
• Lunch presentation
• Summary report (to come)

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Initial ImpressionsDowntown Raleigh Strengths

• Energy/Momentum
• Emerging residential entertainment markets
• Adjacent neighborhoods
• Historic landmarks and public spaces
• Cultural venues
• Livable Streets Plan implementation

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Initial ImpressionsDowntown Raleigh Challenges

• Lack of compelling destination
• Lack of shared vision
• Lack of connectivity between activity areas
• Development rules and processes lack clarity and
  predictability
• Lack of concentration, focus and communications
• Lack of clear roles and responsibilities

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Initial ImpressionsDowntown Raleigh Challenges
(continued)

• Downtown not getting its share of regional job
  growth
• Lack of downtown-focused economic development
• Lack of incentives/deal-making orientation by all
• Lack of downtown brand identity marketing
• DRA has potential to lead, but lacks financial
  human resources
• Long term civic commitment to downtown?

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Initial ImpressionsDowntown Raleigh 2006

• Pace of momentum is overwhelming existing systems
  (reactive, not pro-active)
• Downtown has a window of opportunity (i.e.
  current market cycle -- 3 to 5 years?) to create
  a regional entertainment/cultural destination
• Civic commitment to downtown needs to be
  reaffirmed
• Downtown needs a stronger self-sustaining
  champion

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Initial ImpressionsRecommendations for Downtown
Raleigh

• Downtown Needs a Market-Based Strategic Land
  Use Plan
• Beyond Livable Streets
• Demonstrate benefits to the larger community
• Strengthen, expand connect activity centers
• Niche strategies, development districts,
  opportunity sites
• Environmental issues (parking, urban design,
  etc.)
• Regulatory framework (predictability
  expediency)
• Emphasis on implementation (tools toolbox)
• Measurable goals (5 year horizon)

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Initial ImpressionsRecommendations for Downtown
Raleigh Alliance

• Strengthen the Downtown Raleigh Alliance
• New emphasis on marketing, communications
  attracting investment
• Increase resources to be comparable with peer
  cities
• Less emphasis on clean safe?
• Deal facilitation orientation (activate CDC?)
• Engage motivate property owner, business
  civic leadership

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Initial ImpressionsSpecific Program Ideas

• DRA as Downtown Business Investment Support
  Office
• Parking system analysis
• best practices review, supply/demand analysis,
  pricing,
• on-street vs. off-street, management
• Branding initiative (promise of the experience)
• Hold city-owned sites until completion of
  Strategic Plan