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RRP Northampton Community Meeting 3_Final_09.23.2201Rapid Recovery Program Community Meeting #3 Prepared for the City of Northampton by Civic Space Collaborative September 23, 2021 Michelle Moon Principal + Co-Founder Claudia Paraschiv Director of Design Claudia LaFontaine Associate Planner Karl Alexander Project Planner At Civic Space Collaborative we engage people, of all ages and backgrounds, in the transformation of their public spaces. Through participatory planning and design with diverse partners, we create projects that offer a sense of belonging for everyone, integrate environmental resiliency into the everyday, and showcase genuine community identity. Who is Civic Space Collaborative? LRRP Overview “downtown Northampton” Study Area LRRP Process PHASE 1: Created list of 100 project ideas Review Business Survey Review Existing Plans & Studies Community Meeting #2 Review Baseline Data Stakeholder Interviews Focus Groups Phase 1 Analysis Matrix PHASE 2: Created list of 25 project ideas Subject Matter Expert Engagement PHASE 3: Final list of 12+ project recommendations Community Meeting #1 Community Meeting #3 Stakeholder Meetings Project Recommendations Project Recommendations Public Realm Assets which are publicly accessible to all such as sidewalks, parks, and plazas. Project Recommendations Public Realm •Implement interim crosswalk safety improvements on Main Street prior to its reconstruction •Make improvements to the underpasses on Main Street •Improve the quality and activation of the furniture zone on Main Street •Implement long-term permitting and operations mechanisms for outdoor dining and retail on public property Photo credit: Camilla Elizeu Description Budget Timeframe Project Partners Action Items Diagnostic Example: Implement long-term permitting and operations mechanisms for outdoor dining and retail on public property Description Outdoor dining and retail allowed businesses to stay open during the COVID-19 pandemic. This project will help the City of Northampton transition from temporary to permanent outdoor commerce permitting and operations. Budget Low (Under $50k) Timeframe Short-term (Less than 5 years) Action Items •Enact a new ordinance for outdoor dining and retail on public property. •Establish a streamlined permitting process and annual fee structure. •Maintain a healthy balance of public use and private enterprise on public property. •Enhance the quality and activation of the furniture zone to support more outdoor dining and retail. Select Diagnostic 72% of businesses surveyed believed that creating more opportunities for outdoor dining and selling were either important (34%) or very important (38%) to the downtown’s economic recovery. ¹ ¹ Source: LRRP Business Survey, April 2021 Photo credit: Camilla Elizeu Private Realm Assets in the physical environment which may not be accessible and have certain hours of access, such as retail stores, museums, and outdoor dining patios. Project Recommendations •Create an information guide for storefront and façade improvements •Draft and release a request for proposals guided by a ‘Developer’s Tour and Workshop’ for 33 King Street and other sites in downtown Northampton Private Realm Description Budget Timeframe Project Partners Action Items Diagnostic Example: Draft and release a request for proposals guided by a ‘Developer’s Tour and Workshop’ for 33 King Street and other sites in downtown Northampton Description 33 King Street is a landmark site poised for redevelopment in downtown Northampton. This project recommends that a request for proposals be drafted and released, guided by a ‘developer’s tour and workshop’ that could foster greater collaboration and catalyze opportunities for further redevelopment in the downtown. Budget Budget: Small (Under $50k) Timeframe Short Term (Less than 5 years) Action Items •Conduct a successful tour and workshop about the redevelopment of 33 King Street, promoting clarity and excitement about vision, next steps, and potential for financing + partnership opportunities. •Draft and release a request for proposals for 33 King Street Select Diagnostic The block of King Street including the 33 King parcel received a grade of “C” for private realm features such as windows, outdoor displays + dining, and lighting, impacting pedestrian perceptions of comfort and safety. ¹ ¹ Source: LRRP Business Survey, April 2021 33 King Street Revenue & Sales Programming and initiatives to help to improve conditions for local businesses and their workforce. Project Recommendations •Support small businesses and organizations by growing capacity and opportunities for digital marketing Revenue and Sales Source: northampton.live Administrative Capacity Structural and organizational improvements to facilitate efforts for economic and community development. Project Recommendations •Restructure parking management strategies to increase vacancy rates for on-street parking •Test feasibility for the reformation of a business improvement district (BID) •Create a comprehensive service to help entrepreneurs start, expand, and improve their Northampton-based businesses Administrative Capacity Photo credit: Camilla Elizeu Description Budget Timeframe Project Partners Action Items Diagnostic Example: Restructure parking management strategies to increase vacancy rates for on- street parking Masonic Street Lot (Photo Credit: Camilla Elizeu) Description The evolution of parking management in the City of Northampton will allow the city to better serve customers and employees in the downtown. Budget Low (Less than $50k) Timeframe Short (Less than 5 years) Action Items Improve parking vacancy for customers and employees of local businesses through a combination of •Parking management, •Transportation demand management, •Enforcement and regulatory mechanisms, and a •A Marketing campaign. Select Diagnostic Sixty percent of businesses believe that changes in parking availability, management or policy are “important” or “very important” to their continued operations following the COVID-19 pandemic. ¹ ¹ Source: LRRP Business Survey, April 2021 Tenant Mix Supporting a balance of space and activity among retail, dining, services, manufacturing, and office environments. Project Recommendations •Create a new space dedicated to the training and housing of start-up enterprises •Activate vacant storefronts with art or pop-up businesses Tenant Mix Photo credit: Camilla Elizeu Description Budget Timeframe Project Partners Action Items Diagnostic Example #4: Create a new ground floor space dedicated to the training and housing of start-up enterprises Description The future of work in the Commonwealth will require the incubating of new enterprises in expanding industries and the retraining of workforces from contracting industries. To address this trend, develop a successful incubator space with accessible and affordable programming, equipment, and materials for budding entrepreneurs. Budget Large Budget ($200k+) Timeframe Medium Term (5-10 years) Action Items •Form a partnership of organizations. •Offer recurring programming focusing on specific industries which will thrive in Northampton’s socioeconomic environment. •Found a brick-and-mortar innovation space in downtown Northampton. Diagnostic Seventy-six percent of businesses surveyed believed that the creation of new programs to attract additional businesses was either important (39%) or very important (37%) to the economic recovery of the downtown. ¹ ¹ Source: LRRP Business Survey, April 2021 Photo credit: Camilla Elizeu Cultural / Arts Promoting opportunities for artisans and creators to flourish while improving spaces for people. Project Recommendations •Create a public mural program for local artists •Implement a new lighting installation Cultural/Arts Mural by Sabrina Dorsainvil (Photo credit: Camilla Elizeu) Photo credit: Camilla Elizeu Description Budget Timeframe Project Partners Action Items Diagnostic Example #5: Implement a new lighting installation Anheuser-Busch Brewery, St. Louis Holiday Light Display Description Northampton currently has a seasonal lighting installation during the holidays. There is great interest in additional lighting installations that could include seasonal lighting, artistic lighting, improved parking lot lighting, and expanded lighting under the railroad bridges. Budget Medium ($50k-$200k) Timeframe Short Term (Less than 5 years) Action Items •Foster a sense of cultural identity and creativity in the community when highlighting artwork or holidays. •Support an increase in foot traffic and revenue for small businesses that meets or exceed pre-pandemic levels. •Support perceptions of public safety and visibility at night with improved lighting and more feet on the street. Diagnostic Seventy-seven percent of business owners who responded to the business survey identified the development of more cultural events/activities as “important” (40%) or “very important” (37%) for the attraction and retention of customers and businesses in the downtown. ¹ ¹ Source: LRRP Business Survey April 2021 Photo credit: Camilla Elizeu Discussion + Q&A •Support small businesses and organizations by growing capacity and opportunities for digital marketing •Pilot a program for storefront improvements •Conduct a ‘Developer’s Tour and Workshop’ to expedite the redevelopment of 33 King Street and other sites in downtown Northampton •Implement interim crosswalk safety improvements on Main Street prior to its reconstruction •Make improvements to the bike path and railroad underpasses on Main Street •Fix the missing bricks and empty tree wells on Main Street •Purchase and install planters •Implement long-term permitting and operations mechanisms for outdoor dining and retail on public property Public Realm Projects Private Realm Projects Revenue & Sales Projects Tenant Mix •Create a new ground floor space dedicated to the training and housing of start-up enterprises •Pilot the activation of vacant storefronts with a pop-up •Create a public mural program for local artists •Implement a new lighting installation Cultural/Arts Projects •Restructure parking management strategies to increase vacancy rates for on-street parking •Test feasibility for the reformation of a business improvement district (BID) •Create a comprehensive municipal service to help entrepreneurs start, expand, and improve their Northampton-based businesses Administrative Capacity Projects Next Steps •Presentation and Final Plan will be available at www.northamptonma.gov/plan >> Downtown •Subscribing to the City’s Planning newsletter at www.northamptonma.gov/plan. Photo credit: Camilla Elizeu Photo credit: Camilla Elizeu Thank You!