Prescott 2050

Downtown Planning Report

DOWNTOWN PLANNING

FINAL REPORT

PRESCOTT VISIONING 2050

SUBMITTED 12/16/08

The Arts and Entertainment Component

 Any successful downtown that you visit maintains a great emphasis on arts and entertainment. Visitor and local dollars flow into the downtown as a result of that emphasis.
• A variety of arts and entertainment in downtown Prescott are fundamental to its long term health and viability.
• We must insure that in the future, we have things like amphitheaters, jazz clubs, art galleries, theatres and museums.
• The historic Elks Theatre must always be a protected and treasured Prescott asset.
• It will be beneficial to identify art districts, antiques districts, and other entertainment venues, as areas or buildings come up for development or redevelopment.
• Points of interest must be easily located and directional signage to them must be provided.
• Public art and sculpture should be pursued with an eye to our territorial heritage.
• It is important to insure a good mix of arts and entertainment venues in the downtown when thinking about business diversity.
• It’s important that we cultivate and continue events held on the courthouse plaza and on our downtown’s streets and sidewalks – such as music in the park, food and entertainment festivals, dancing, arts and crafts shows, and socializing.
• Events such as poetry walks, art walks, film festivals and square-dancing are national favorites that should be encouraged and supported.
• We can envision an amphitheatre located near the downtown where we could someday applaud the superstars of music, sports, and stage shows.
• We should also offer a future with more choices for young people – miniature golf, skate parks and aquatic centers are some tried and true ideas.

PROPOSED TARGET START TIME:
O=ONGOING (Currently under way and recommended forever)
I=IMMEDIATE (2008 – 2020)
S=SHORT-TERM (2020 – 2030)
M=MEDIUM TERM 2030 -2040)
L=LONG-TERM (2040 – 2050)
O I S M L
Protect the historic Elks Theater as a treasured Prescott asset X
Identify districts critical to downtown; arts, antiques, entertainment venues, and re-development X
Provide directional signage to easily locate points of interest X
Pursue, acquire, and install private/public funded art, including sculpture representing our heritage X X
Cultivate and continue to hold events on the courthouse plaza and on our downtown streets and sidewalks, such as music in the park, art shows, festivals, etc. X
Encourage and support favorite national events, such art walks, poetry walks, film festivals, and square-dancing X X
Build an amphitheater near downtown for medium sized venues showcasing nationally known musicians, stages shows, etc. Promote Prescott as “Music City” X
Promote local museums, World’s Oldest Rodeo, and other organizations that educate, demonstrate, and otherwise showcase our Western heritage X
Develop an entertainment district downtown that would include movie theaters, sidewalk cafes, live theater, music venues, and other activities for all ages X

The Commercial Component

• Prescott will have a diverse population, including those both too old and too young to drive, that will depend more on alternative transportation, both public and private, than on automobiles.
• Public and private transportation alternatives including buses and bicycles should be encouraged and supported to insure a prosperous economic downtown.
• Infill housing will and should occur, making downtown more residential than it is at present.
• In order to support this new residential population, downtown Prescott must offer a broad spectrum of goods and services to its residents.
• Prescott must encourage attraction and retention of grocery, drug, clothing, entertainment, education, and medical services within the downtown.
• Prescott must encourage and incentivize any new commercial development in the downtown to have a strong residential component, and alternately, that any new residential development have a commercial component.
• Prescott must strive to make downtown greener, with more vegetation and less asphalt, and more pedestrian friendly. A happy resident will frequent downtown businesses.
• We must insure that the downtown remain a center of government by retaining some aspects of the City and County governments.  Government employees and the citizens who use the services provided by the governments in the downtown are major factors to consider when planning for commercial vitality.
• Arts and entertainment are also critical for a commercially healthy downtown.  Planners and developers should always consider the importance of arts and entertainment when considering projects for development, or especially, redevelopment.
• Internet connectivity should be established and then maintained in the downtown so that people can readily have access to all forms of information.

PROPOSED TARGET START TIME:
O=ONGOING (Currently under way and recommended forever)
I=IMMEDIATE (2008 – 2020)
S=SHORT-TERM (2020 – 2030)
M=MEDIUM TERM 2030 -2040)
L=LONG-TERM (2040 – 2050)
O I S M L
Establish and maintain internet connectivity downtown so that the citizenry and tourists have access to all forms of information X
Encourage that all projects for development and redevelopment include some aspect of arts, entertainment, and residential related retail X
Retain core aspects of the city and county governments to ensure that downtown remains the center of government X
Reduce asphalt, increase vegetation, and create a pedestrian friendly environment in the downtown area X
Encourage and support alternative public transportation, including buses, bicycles, and re-introduce trolleys and horse drawn carriages to the downtown area X X
Encourage and support all new commercial development downtown to have a strong residential component X
Encourage plans to attract and retain grocery, drug, clothing, entertainment, education, and medical services downtown X

The Government Component

• First, we wish to emphasize what many cities around the country have learned the hard way—that it is extremely important to have and retain a governmental presence in your downtown.  The City of Prescott and Yavapai County must maintain a presence at the city’s core.
• The downtown would suffer a dramatic and sustained economic blow if all of the employees and customers of government no longer came down to conduct business.
• When facilities become obsolete or have been outgrown it is easy to make the mistake of moving to the periphery for more room.  Instead we believe that the city and county should adopt a “satellite facilities” method of expansion. They can maintain a strong administrative presence in the downtown, and locate size intensive facilities to other areas.  We feel that it is important to always maintain government activity in the courthouse, rather than letting it revert to a museum or some other use.  A large part of the appeal of our courthouse square is inspired by respect for the institutions that operate within the stately building.
• We must keep as much of the police department and sheriff’s department downtown as possible.  A government campus or an intergovernmental campus could be built in an area ready for redevelopment.
• It is equally important to keep the post office open on Goodwin St.  A healthy downtown has a strong residential component, and a post office within easy walking distance will help facilitate long term downtown residency.
• We must keep our competitive edge and status as a regional hub by remaining the center of government, and by protecting our beautiful, unique and thriving downtown and surrounding topography. 

PROPOSED TARGET START TIME:
O=ONGOING (Currently under way and recommended forever)
I=IMMEDIATE (2008 – 2020)
S=SHORT-TERM (2020 – 2030)
M=MEDIUM TERM 2030 -2040)
L=LONG-TERM (2040 – 2050)
O I S M L
Ensure that the City of Prescott and Yavapai County maintain a presence in the city’s core by building an intergovernmental campus in an area ready for redevelopment X X X
Ensure that the city retains the downtown Post Office X X
Retain as much of the police department and sheriff’s department downtown as possible X
Establish a governmental “satellite facilities” policy for necessary expansion, while maintaining a strong administrative presence downtown, and locate size intensive facilities to other areas of the city X

The Transportation Component

• Increased means of public transportation will be a must as we progress.  Bus, light rail, (let’s bring rail back to Prescott), Pedi-cabs, trolleys and carriages would be good modes of downtown and connective transportation.  Multi-modal transportation corridors, to and from other communities, must be considered and planned with consideration toward aesthetics, connectivity and future growth – without circumventing downtown Prescott.
• The city must take the lead and work with other organizations on sidewalks and streets maintenance and cleanliness issues.  Pedestrian connectivity must be maintained to the downtown from surrounding residential and commercial development.
• Intersection crosswalks should be clearly marked.  Traffic lights should be bicycle friendly so that sensors in the street are tripped by bicycles and not only larger vehicles.
• We must provide secure and protected bicycle parking in the downtown. 
• An increased use of bicycles in the downtown will necessitate enhanced police enforcement of traffic laws as they relate to bicycles and bicyclists.  We must institute grade school, high school and college education “rules of the road” programs for bicycling.  Prescott should then apply to the League of American Bicyclists to become a nationally recognized bicycle friendly community.
• A stronger and more comprehensive noise ordinance must also be adopted to discourage loud vehicle noise in the downtown. 
• We must consider some of the downtown’s alleys for conversion to pedestrian walkways and / or bicycle paths.

PROPOSED TARGET START TIME:
O=ONGOING (Currently under way and recommended forever)
I=IMMEDIATE (2008 – 2020)
S=SHORT-TERM (2020 – 2030)
M=MEDIUM TERM 2030 -2040)
L=LONG-TERM (2040 – 2050)
O I S M L
Increase the availability of public transportation, including bus, light rail, pedi-cabs, trolleys, and carriages X X
The city should take the lead in completion and repair of sidewalks in the downtown area X
Implement public transportation plan to include routes from the airport to downtown X X
Clearly mark intersection crosswalks and install sensors in the streets that are tripped by bicycles as well as larger vehicles X
Institute “rules of the road” bicycle and pedestrian education programs from grade school through college X
Adopt a stronger and more comprehensive noise ordinance to discourage loud vehicle noise downtown X
Convert some of the downtown alleys to pedestrian walkways and/or bicycle lanes X X
Complete several miles of pedestrian friendly sidewalks and bicycle friendly lanes in the downtown area X
Apply for bicycle friendly community designation X

The Residential Component

• There are few things as important to the success and viability of a city’s core as a strong residential component.  People walking their dogs, strolling, sitting on benches reading and in conversation are evidence that your downtown is safe and occupied by happy citizens.
• Conversion of vacant or underutilized second and third floors into productive residential properties will boost the downtown’s economy in every sector, and insure its long-term viability. It is necessary to develop and implement an infill housing policy that encourages utilization of these spaces and encourages infill development at higher density with a mix of uses – including work-force housing
• We must encourage housing and lofts by amending or reducing code impediments to redevelopment.  Assistance and education should be provided to property owners in applications for grants, low cost loans and design and redevelopment planning.
• Some existing commercial properties without upper floors must be examined for the feasibility of adding another floor as a residential component.
• Affordable workforce housing for the service industry will insure that employees will live near businesses, and therefore a more robust economy and sales tax base.
• Residences mixed into or over commercial businesses provide “eyes on the street” and a greater sense of safety for visitors and residents.  At night, the downtown must be well-lit and feel safe.  A commitment must be made by the city to insure a visible and effective police presence – friendly and helpful without being omnipresent.
• The downtown must always be kept graffiti free, visitor friendly, and clean. A benchmark should be set and maintained that downtown Prescott is safely walkable at all hours.
• Future parking plans and implementation must always take the residential component into prominent consideration.  Fewer spaces will be required because of increased pedestrian and bicycle transportation. 
• Future parking planning – especially pertaining to parking lots – should also consider green ideas so that the final product is a shaded, cool and visually friendly one. Incentives should be provided for redevelopment into greener and cooler lots. 

PROPOSED TARGET START TIME:
O=ONGOING (Currently under way and recommended forever)
I=IMMEDIATE (2008 – 2020)
S=SHORT-TERM (2020 – 2030)
M=MEDIUM TERM 2030 -2040)
L=LONG-TERM (2040 – 2050)
O I S M L
Promote and provide incentives for the conversion of vacant or underutilized second and third floors into productive residential properties that will boost the downtown economy X
Provide assistance and education to property owners regarding applications for grants, low cost loans, and design and redevelopment planning X
Promote workforce housing for the service industry X
Insure that the city is kept graffiti free, visitor friendly, clean, and safely walkable at all hours, with a visible and effective police presence X
Provide incentives for conversion of existing parking lots into landscaped, shaded, and pedestrian friendly parking lots X
Investigate the feasibility of adding another floor to some commercial properties as a residential component X
Implement future plans with the residential component considered X

The Historic and Preservation Component

• The historic architecture and ambiance that tourists, visitors and locals find attractive are the features that lend to the idea of Prescott as “home”, and give us a distinct advantage in the region.  Many business owners are relocating their companies to our city as a result of a visit to our downtown area.
• Historic buildings in Prescott’s downtown must continue to be preserved through Historic Preservation Districts.  We know that these districts are formed at the request of property owners as a method to protect their property values, and formation of additional districts must be encouraged to help maintain the historic integrity and architectural style of the downtown.
• Administrative review or Preservation Commission review must be required when and where a project will have an impact on the aesthetics of the downtown.
• Architectural features involved in the review process should include building height, setbacks, scale, mass, window types, materials and colors.  Special attention must be given to signage and lighting for businesses.
• We suggest that the review and approval process should hinge on the form of the building, but not the use, and follow zoning guidelines.
• We absolutely must maintain our ties to the World’s Oldest Rodeo, and support of our local museums which maintain Prescott’s historic artifacts and archives.

PROPOSED TARGET START TIME:
O=ONGOING (Currently under way and recommended forever)
I=IMMEDIATE (2008 – 2020)
S=SHORT-TERM (2020 – 2030)
M=MEDIUM TERM 2030 -2040)
L=LONG-TERM (2040 – 2050)
O I S M L
Encourage the formation of additional historic districts to help maintain the historic integrity and architectural style of downtown X
Require a Preservation Commission or administrative review when and where a project will have and impact on the aesthetics of downtown X
Encourage museums, galleries, and stores to promote our western heritage in the downtown area. X X
Work with Yavapai County to ensure that the courthouse becomes listed on the registries of historic buildings X
Take the lead - renovate and/or provide “facelifts” to all downtown government buildings so that they comply with the new smart codes and enhance the historic downtown area X
Expand our ties to the World’s Oldest Rodeo and increase support our local museums X X