2016 e ter - ULI Boston/New England · 2016 1) How can Leominster ... • Ginny’s • Churches...
Transcript of 2016 e ter - ULI Boston/New England · 2016 1) How can Leominster ... • Ginny’s • Churches...
City of Leominster, Massachusetts
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About ULI – the Urban Land Institute
Mission
To provide leadership in the responsible use of land and in
creating and sustaining thriving communities worldwide.
ULI is a research and education institution with nearly
36,000 members worldwide representing the entire spectrum
of land use and real estate development disciplines, working
in private enterprise and public service.
ULI at the local level
• Boston/New England District Council covers nearly all of
New England
• Over 1,200 Members—developers, architects, planners,
public officials, financiers, students, etc.
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Technical Assistance Panels (TAPs)
City of Leominster, MA
ULI Boston/New England is committed to supporting
communities in making sound land use decisions and
creating better places. A TAP brings together of a group of
ULI members with a range of professional expertise to
provide focused, collaborative consultation to a local
government or qualifying non-profit organization.
This TAP
• Sponsored by the City of Leominster and
MassDevelopment.
• This panel looked at the full range of options from an
unbiased perspective.
• Panelists include experts in the fields of architecture,
planning, design, law, and landscape architecture.
• Panelists have donated their time
• Final Deliverable – Written report (8 weeks) will be
available at http://boston.uli.org
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The Panel
Jim Heffernan, Co-Chair
Attorney
Partridge, Snow & Hahn
Boston, MA
Emily Innes, Co-Chair
Urban Planner
The Cecil Group
Boston, MA
Heath Cody
Designer
SGA
Boston, MA
Sarah Eisinger
Vice President, Real Estate
MassDevelopment
Springfield, MA
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Andrew Starr
Strategist
Gensler
Boston, MA
Michael Wang
Principal
Form + Place
Newton, MA
ULI Boston/New England Staff
Ileana Tauscher
Associate
Boston, MA
Report Writer
Scott Van Voorhis
Boston, MA
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Panel Sponsors
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When you think of downtown Leominster, what’s the one word
that you think of?
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Panel Assignment – Address these questions
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1) How can Leominster see through the present assortment of stores and
determine what other type of stores and shops would be feasible that will
actually reflect the type of community we are so that shoppers will patron
and support the businesses?
2) How can the City of Leominster plan and design their downtown area
with the impression there is a lot of diversity, plenty of parking, public
transportation, and something for everyone so all are welcome to enjoy
the center of town for activities and shopping?
3) How specifically should the City of Leominster connect is assets and
advantages with the downtown area to benefit the existing small
businesses along with attracting more interested from patrons and new
shops?
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The Process
Briefing
• Panelists met with sponsor and
received briefing materials
Site Visit:
• Panelists toured downtown
Leominster
Panel interviewed stakeholders today
including:
• Town officials
• Local business leaders
• Private property owners
• Local merchants
• Developers
• Nonprofits
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Assets
• Strong municipal support & visible
mayor
• Strong architecture/buildings
• Anchor Institutions
• City Hall
• Court
• Library
• YMCA
• Financial
• Ginny’s
• Churches
• City Place/Piano Factory
Development
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Assets
• Festivals & Events
• Parking
• Ample Traffic
• Business Vitality/Business Core
• Regional Draw
• Distinct Town Center/Monument
Square
• Rail Trail/Brook Walk
• Diverse Demographics – age,
income, ethnicity
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Challenges
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• Business engagement & stewardship • Destination retail
• Bookstore, ice cream, hairdressers, clothing• Diverse food options
• Café, quick lunch, family restaurant• Unified streetscape• Festival Management/Coordination• Traffic
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Challenges
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• Parking management • Pedestrian safety & accessibility • Connectivity• Safety (reality vs. perception)• Downtown playground & park connections• Branding/Unified vision• Mall/National retail nearby• Cost to rehab buildings• Inconsistent Signage
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What did we hear?
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Common themes
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Commonwealth
Connectivity Coordination
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RecommendationsConnectivity
• Reimagining Monument Square• Traffic calming, adding greenspace,
accessibility, pedestrian safety• Move bus stop off square
• Connecting City Place• Phase I – streetscape (sidewalk updates) • Phase II – easement & playground
• Brook Walk & Rail Trail• Phase I – Green connection (temporary)• Phase II – Park connection
• Parking Management & Signage• Phase I - Inventory public & private • Phase II - Create map of availability • Phase III – Conduct parking study
• Unify wayfinding for pedestrians & cars• Gateways to downtown
• New signs, lighting, streetscaping
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Mechanic St.
Monument Square/Common – One-way Option
Mechanic St.
Monument Square/Common – Attachment Option
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Recommendations
Coordination• Unify downtown businesses
• Create a mechanism for
engagement (BID or strengthen
existing associations)
• Institutionalize regular business
meetings with city (small business
liaison)
• Festivals
• Develop community calendar
• Avoid back-to-back scheduling
• Coordinate impact and timing with
businesses
• Parking Management
• Encourage city partnerships with
private and institutional
• Designate parking for city staff and
business employees
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Recommendations
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Commonwealth• Civic Engagement
• Use festivals to engage diverse population
• Conduct regular community surveys
• Stewardship of small business
• New structure offers joint branding, ability to create value,
share services
• Small businesses lead streetscape improvements, façade
improvements and beautification efforts
• Identity & Vision for the downtown
• Capitalize on regional draw
• Community survey – specific to identity & vision
• Embrace historical and cultural assets
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Recommendations
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Commonwealth
• Retail Planning
• Inventory current retail & vacancies
• Target retail, daytime & evening restaurants
• Develop and market a portfolio of vacant spaces
• Innovation
• As START evolves, move to street level
• Activate TD Bank site – pop-up windows or store
• Create holiday market/retail incubator
• Create community window decorating competition
• Add public art – temporary and permanent
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Questions?