Agenda. Background. Economic Enhancement Study Master Plan Concept. Implementation Plan

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2 Agenda Background History Regional Context of South Downtown Need to Plan Planning Process Economic Enhancement Study Master Plan Concept Vision & Goals Guiding Principles Components Transportation, Buildings, Housing, Open Space Implementation Plan Physical Recommendations Funding Mechanisms Policy Recommendations

3 Background - History 1984 Tax Increment Finance District $15 million in tax revenue generated over period For most part, investment was concentrated in historic district Original TIF District

4 Background - History Other Planning Efforts Downtown Strategic Action Plan, 1998 Downtown Streetscape Plan, 1998 Comprehensive Plan, 2004 These plans all spoke to a strong city center, infill development to conserve natural and fiscal resources, and improving the physical appearance of downtown Abilene

5 Background Planning Process Part I Economic Study, HyettPalma Identify market conditions and future orientation Part II Master Plan Recommendations

6 Background Planning Process Public Participation KEY DATES: MAY 2009: Issue Sessions South Downtown Users Focus Groups Stakeholder Interviews Community Visioning Session OCTOBER 2009: Open House presentation of plan components MARCH 2010: Presentation to and review by Process Committee

7 Economic Enhancement Study Study Areas WAREHOUSE DISTRICT TREADAWAY CORRIDOR SOUTH DOWNTOWN DISTRICT

8 Existing Building Uses Current Building Uses in South Downtown Abilene Use Number of Businesses Square Feet Percent Commercial Uses Retail ,000 15% Office 121 1,115,578 37% Other Commercial ,000 32% Vacant Commercial - 462,000 16% Residential Uses Single-family 78 dwelling units - 68% Multi-family 37 dwelling units - 32%

9 Warehouse District: Future Market Eclectic mix of cultural uses, institutional uses, offices, art production & classes, loft housing, dining establishments Phase out light manufacturing and warehouse uses

10 Warehouse District: Strategic Actions Convert traffic flow through the district to two-way Transform farmers market to year round market Repair structurally sound buildings Enforce screening requirements for outdoor storage areas Feasibility study for civic center hotel in northwest area of Warehouse District

11 South Downtown District: Future Market Developed as government and professional office center Convenience retail, personal services, and restaurants to accommodate employees Multi-family housing to support residential base Phase out manufacturing, industrial, warehouse, and outdoor storage uses

12 South Downtown District: Strategic Actions Massive clean up Enforce building, health, and safety codes Graffiti removal and police presence to improve public safety Consolidate Greyhound and CityLink bus facilities. Should be located on a major thoroughfare Enhance linkages between north and south sides of downtown Create and implement a Taylor County Master Plan Seek master developer to implement the South Downtown master plan

13 Treadaway Corridor: Future Market Will likely remain auto-oriented commercial corridor Entire corridor needs enhancement Treadaway Corridor: Strategic Actions Conduct corridor study to determine appropriate economic orientation, physical appearance, and traffic flow

14 Vision of the Master Plan A people place that entices you To play, shop, eat, To come during the day, To come in the evening, To come spend the weekend. A part of Downtown Abilene that Looks terrific and lives terrific It s fun, safe, open, and alive. A great destination It s cool and unique Friendly, vibrant, and diverse, Entertaining and fun. You ll want to come back next weekend You ll want to move right in and never leave. It s the heart and soul of West Central Texas!

15 Master Plan Goal Create a sense of community

16 Master Plan Goal Create a sense of place Austin Farmer s Market Plaza between buildings in Downtown Austin, TX Fort Worth Stockyards

17 Master Plan Goal Create a sense of value There were quite a few thousand people from all over Taylor and Jones counties who headed for the South Side as soon as they hitched their teams or got off the Abilene & Southern train. -Excerpt from A Personal Country by A.C. Green Photos courtesy the Abilene Photograph Collection at Hardin-Simmons University

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19 Guiding Principles

20 Guiding Principles Build off Existing Efforts Everman Park Taylor County Courthouse Events in Abilene Frontier Texas Museum North 1 st Street at Cypress Street South 1 st Street

21 Guiding Principles Clear hierarchy of streets Proposed Street Hierarchy helps identify appropriate street design recognizes that the street is a place

22 The Street Place Source: Project for Public Spaces Street activity Outdoor eating A Farmer s Market closes a downtown street every Saturday in Austin Source: Burden

23 Guiding Principles Character Subdistricts Proposed Character Subdistricts

24 Guiding Principles Network of public spaces framed by the character subdistricts and street hierarchy and connects to the regional network

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26 Guiding Principles Housing choices Small-lot single family Garden or courtyard homes Excerpt from Visualizing Density by Julie Campoli and Alex S. MacLean by the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, Julie Campoli, and Alex S. MacLean. Aerial photographs 2007 Alex S. MacLean Low-rise apartments Luxury housing in mixed-use Townhome/row-houses Historic warehouse lofts

27 Guiding Principles Mixed use development Don Mills Centre, Toronto, Ontario The Domain, Austin, Texas Saltillo Lofts, Austin, Texas

28 Guiding Principles Adaptive reuse of historic buildings

29 Guiding Principles A connected pedestrian environment Cesar Chavez Promenade in Austin, TX The Domain in Austin, TX Chicago, IL Victoria Gardens in Rancho, CA Washington, D.C.

30 Implementation

31 Implementation Recommended Physical Public Improvements Recommended Policy Actions Funding Mechanisms

32 Physical Recommendations Action Clean up entire area Improvements for Immediate Action S 1 st Street: Median and streetscaping Improve pedestrian underpasses $50k - $75k Install high-visibility crosswalks across S 1 st $275k - $325k General roadway improvements in all districts Potential Cost Range N/A $1-1.5 M $ $1.75 M

33 Clean up entire area Code enforcement Grant assistance might be appropriate to induce immediate action

34 S 1st Street: Median and Streetscaping Major gateway into South Downtown Abilene

35 Improve pedestrian underpasses Murals in an underpass Lights under a bridge in San Antonio Glowing fish along the Riverwalk in San Antonio Greater sense of safety Source: Burden

36 Roadway improvements in all districts Curbs and re-paving will help enhance quality of street and improve overall appearance of South Downtown

37 Physical Recommendations Action Improvements for Medium-Term Action Convert Warehouse District streets to two-way Establish more permanent Farmers Market location Develop park near Farmers Market Establish wayfinding system Enhance gateway intersections Create transit facility that integrates CityLink and Greyhound bus services Enhance gateway streets throughout district Improve pedestrian facilities along Treadaway Blvd Reconfigure Pine Street Underpass & convert Chestnut, Oak, and 2 nd Streets to two-way Renovate Historic Courthouse & improve grounds Potential Cost Range $30k - $50k $500k - $750k $400k - $650k $75k - $100k $550k $7 - $8M $2 - $3.25M $500k $450k - $725k $50k - $75k

38 Convert Warehouse District streets to two-way Traffic calming for pedestrians Improve traffic flow Increase accessibility to businesses

39 Establish more permanent Farmers Market location Dallas Farmer s Market Frontier Texas Jackson, MS farmers market

40 Develop park near Farmers Market

41 Establish wayfinding system

42 Enhance gateway intersections Gateway Markers Intersection Design Textured Crosswalks

43 Create transit facility that integrates CityLink and Greyhound bus services Option 1: Move bus storage out of South Downtown area and expand on current site (see below). Option 2: Identify location on major corridor Move bus storage out of the South Downtown area and build additional office space for CityLink and Greyhound. If necessary, acquire additional buildings on block to expand offices.

44 Enhance gateway streets throughout district Images source: Burden

45 Improve pedestrian facilities along Treadaway Blvd Auto-oriented does not preclude safe facilities for walking and bicycling

46 Reconfigure Pine Street Underpass & Convert Streets to Two-way

47 Chestnut Street: Two-way conversion example Example: Chestnut Street

48 Chestnut Street: Two-way conversion example

49 Renovate Historic Courthouse & Grounds

50 Physical Recommendations Improvements for Long-Term Action Potential Cost Action Range Create pedestrian and bicycle linkages to $150k - $200k Cedar Creek Enhance lawn in front of City Hall to be more usable and accessible as a public space $250 - $300k

51 Create pedestrian and bicycle linkages to Cedar Creek

52 Enhance lawn in front of City Hall to be more usable and accessible as a public space

53 Policy Actions Opportunities Public-Private Partnership: Infrastructure Financial Incentive Programs Grant programs Tax abatements Streamline administrative & approval process Land Assembly Program

54 Policy Action: Land Assembly Program City purchase (fee simple) and holds land till ready to be developed City gains bargaining power to ensure some public benefit is gained from development Funding options: Bond Tax increment finance revenue 4B sales tax revenue Major Property Owners in South Downtown Abilene

55 Within 1 year: Within 3 years: Within 5 years: Policy Actions Enforce health & safety code for exterior storage, condemned buildings, pick up stray animals, etc Review existing zoning and make changes where necessary to facilitate implementation Establish design guidelines for South Downtown Districts Update Abilene Register of Historic Properties Feasibility study for a new tax increment finance district Explore potential of creating a public improvement district Develop a formal Chapter 380 policy for South Downtown Re-institute façade enhancement grant Pursue grant opportunities to fund implementation Establish grant assistance program for property owners and business owners in the downtown area Conduct a corridor study for Treadaway Blvd If feasible, assist with the development of a civic center hotel Hire a professional, full-time Downtown Director Establish a strong marketing campaign for downtown Abilene Begin building relationship with Union Pacific & Lone Star railroad companies

56 Funding Mechanisms Tax Increment Financing Public Improvement District Bond Funding Grant Opportunities

57 Tax Increment Finance District What it s NOT: It s NOT a new tax It s NOT used to fund private development What it IS: It is a tool to direct City property tax revenue already collected back into the district It is used for public infrastructure projects

58 Tax Increment Finance District

59 Tax Increment Finance District Previous TIF generated $15 M in 25 years Current (2008) assessed value of South Downtown Abilene Area: $65,110,946 Potential growth in assessed value (assumes 5% annual increase): $144,878,362 Potential City property tax revenue generated over life of TIF (based on % tax rate) to be reinvested in TIF district: $20.9 million

60 Public Improvement District What is a PID? A new taxing entity that finances, constructs, and maintains public improvements or public services Can also be used as incentives/assistance for existing businesses How is a PID formed? With citizen consent! Property owners in the affected area must sign a petition approving it and passed in an election Development of a Service Plan

61 Public Improvement District Examples: Downtown Austin District Tax rate: $0.10 Funds security, graffiti and litter removal, wayfinding, street improvements and streetscaping Downtown Dallas District Tax rate: $ Funds Downtown Safety Patrol and assists with landscaping, streestcaping, trash, graffiti removal, and downtown marketing Downtown Fort Worth District Tax rate: $0.11 Funds maintenance, landscaping, special events, marketing, transportation, parking, and security Downtown San Antonio District Tax rate: $0.12 Funds streetscaping, maintenance, and ambassador program to assist visitors to downtown

62 Grant Opportunities U.S. Department of Transportation Grants Transportation enhancement grants Transit grants Pedestrian & bicycle mobility grants Historic Renovation Grants Parks & Open Space Grants Future Stimulus Grants

63 Potential Revenue Sources

64 Thank you! Questions?