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Streetscape, Open Space, and Public Amenities <br />Upgrading streets, parks and other public facilities is the most direct way cities <br />can influence private development and shape urban form. Not only do <br />improvements to these elements upgrade the function and attractiveness of a <br />downtown in themselves, they can be the most powerful incentive for developers <br />to undertake quality redevelopment projects. <br />This section describes recommended improvements to the City's physical <br />infrastructure. While each street park or public feature can be considered as an <br />individual element, the intent is that they act as a system to strategically connect <br />and enhance the various downtown sub -districts and to serve as a better setting <br />for priority redevelopment. The recommendations follow directly from the plan's <br />concept as described in Chapter 4 and support the land use and circulation <br />elements. <br />Street Improvements <br />Summary <br />The recommended design for streetscape improvements were driven by the <br />transportation needs (including transit, pedestrian, bicycle and parking), land use <br />objectives (including the desired uses and design characteristics of adjacent <br />development) and urban design concepts (including the need for connectivity and <br />amenity, view potential, visibility of the street and opportunities afforded the ROW <br />configuration). Seen in this light, the streetscape designs are primarily a <br />response to the functional and aesthetic considerations set by the land use, <br />transportation and redevelopment goals. The design team considered each <br />street in downtown with respect to these considerations and evolved a street <br />network that works as an integrated system. <br />PLAN ELEMENTS <br />Think of a city and what comes to mind? Its <br />streets. If a city's streets look interesting, the <br />city looks interesting; if they look dull, the city <br />looks dull. <br />Jane Jacobs: <br />The Death and Life <br />of Great American Cities <br />Figure 70. Street life is a critical part of the <br />urban experience. <br />� 1 ' <br />Figure 71. The street design recommendations <br />respond to requirements of transportation <br />systems, desired adjacent land use, and urban <br />design concepts. <br />EVERETT DOWNTOWN PLAN — DRAFT 6/29/2006 79 <br />