Ordinance 2921-06 - Laserfiche WebLink

2. A Vision for Everett's City Center We have heard through the public outreach process that establishing a vision for Everett's downtown is the most important priority for the Downtown Plan. Previous downtown planning efforts have included a statement of goals, but perhaps without an overall vision for what the community wants the city center to become. Deciding what we want downtown to be, the role it plays within the overall context of the city, and how it is supposed to look will help determine what land use strategies, infrastructure priorities, public service investments, and development standards should be endorsed. At right is an attempt to state a vision for Everett's City Center compiled from the comments collected from the Downtown Plan public participation process, or statements from the 2004 Vision Team effort, and from the City's Growth Management Comprehensive Plan. It is written from the perspective of a person in 2025. Everett's City Center is a compact, unique and attractive urban center. It is home to quality high-density housing, a variety of entertainment venues and cultural facilities, historic buildings, unique shopping and dining choices, offices, city and county government services, financial and professional services. Downtown is a pedestrian friendly, active neighborhood where people are prioritized over accommodating the automobile. Businesses, residents, employees, institutions and property owners have created a clean, safe and active environment to which visitors return often. The city center is connected with convenient transit, pedestrian, bicycle and vehicle access to surrounding neighborhoods, Everett Station, and the waterfront. People enjoy tremendous views from buildings, streets and public spaces. Streetscape and public open space improvements have dramatically transformed many parts of the city center by stimulating private sector investment. Significant historic buildings have been preserved and rehabilitated. New buildings have incorporated quality designs and materials to be compatible with older buildings. The city center has a lively atmosphere on weekends and in the evenings, as people come from surrounding communities to enjoy the arts, entertainment, cultural offerings, dining and shopping opportunities year round. Downtown's regeneration accelerated following a summit in which stakeholders formed a proactive organization advocating for downtown with a unified voice. This organization endorsed the vision for downtown and partnered with the City to adopt a strategy prioritizing redevelopment with quality development standards, public infrastructure improvements and public services. This organization has been a constant champion for improving the appearance of the city center and promoting it as a business district and neighborhood. The private sector and the greater Everett community responded to the enhanced environment with unprecedented commitment in the form of new and renovated buildings, new businesses, activities, and events. The growing cultural arts scene flourished and bolstered downtown's image as a desirable place to live, visit, conduct business, shop and enjoy a wide variety of attractions. EVERETT DOWNTOWN PLAN — DRAFT 6/29/2006 11