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<br />Downtown Placemaking Initiative, Owensboro, Kentucky
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<br />In the fall of 2007, the residents of Owensboro identified downtown revitalization
<br />as an important community priority. This prm-ided the impetus for a comprehensive
<br />downtown planning initiative lead by the Gateway Planning Team \\iorking with
<br />partners TXP and Kimley-Horn and Associates, the Gate\vay Planrung Team
<br />"eventually produced a plan that not only will \y'ork, but also stirs the imagination
<br />and creates excitement," (1Iessenger-lncjlurer Edirorial, February 7, 2009) Bringll1g
<br />the \Vaterfrom IlHO dle luslOnc du\y'nw\y'n became the catic?.! fOCllS In addition,
<br />rell1venti.ng dH~ deSign of malor roadway corridors, 11l1king downtO\vn with odler
<br />parts of duwmown, created additional opportunioes One of dlese corridors
<br />emerged as a candidate for a Regional Streetcar Line
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<br />Public Process
<br />The Gateway Team's public participation approach built on dle successful "America
<br />Speaks - \'1't the People" community Ulvolvement framework already in place.
<br />Pubhc participation dunng this initiative was u.refully structured to pw\-jde appropriate community input
<br />throughout the process 1Iaximum public inpllf was collected at the outset with detailed meetings with key
<br />stakeholders and the project stcerlng conunitttt The input receivcd during this phase of the initiati\Te was
<br />used to identify issues, community pnonties, opportunities, and key aspects of the plan. The Community
<br />Design \'\'orkshop proY-ided for more open public
<br />feedback on the physical master plan for downtown as it
<br />was being den:lopcd FinaUy, a Comnl\ll11ry Validation
<br />meeting was held to present the hnallllustrauw master
<br />plan and dle package of catalyst projects. Community
<br />support for dlis initiative has ne\-er been stronger \\'ith
<br />public momentum building up for the upcoming phase
<br />of implementation
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<br />Based on extensive stakeholder input, analysis of t.'\:lStU1g conditions, focused
<br />public participation events, and buy-in from elected officials, dle team developed
<br />a market-based master plan and a comprehcnslve package of catalyst projects to
<br />jump start downtown revitalization. The package of catali'st projects was based on
<br />su-engthening existing destinations and planned tmpronments \y,lthin downtown
<br />\y"hile taking ady'antage of the community's roots - the Oluo River.
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<br />Master Plan and Form-Based Code
<br />The final Master Plan will provide an overall urban
<br />design framework widiln which dle conuuunity can
<br />come together and reassess priorities and initiatives as
<br />market conditions evolve. Facilitating rezoning, the 1\Iastel' Plan will be implemented by a form-based code
<br />This will enable Downtown Owensboro to once again be a linked collection of illban neighborhoods, each
<br />with its o\vn development and activity focus. \,\'ith severallal'ge-scale redevelopment opportunities, the
<br />Master Plan provides the comrmmity flexibility in evaluating a variety of redevelopment options.
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<br />Focus on Implementation
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<br />\,\'idl a strong focus on a practical but ambitious plan, the Design Team recommended a core set of catalyst
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<br />projects that built on dle existing commun.ity assets In addition to providing order-of-magnimde cost
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<br />estimates, dle Design Team identiEed fin:tnci2.! strategies to fund these initial projects. Wid1 tremendous
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<br />public support and ownership, dle City and County z,ppro\"ed _.., .,," -,-'Pe" 'i ....-' '/ . " ..
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<br />~he Master Plan and approxi111~tely ~100 million to fund the i-~~/~,,!jl'~ii.~~j~~/ /~:,.;r
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<br />l11frastructure for dle catalyst projects ll1 February 2009. Despite I.~_..ul:-~~~.~..~. :i~.!::J~II't.,:(:..~~~:~ ,-
<br />_1_ 1 .. dId ffi 1 I . .14;<i't.... .JII-""*~ -' -~. ,i/,., ,.,
<br />lile toUgl econonuc tlmes, le eecte 0 Clas saw tllS as an;l"'l!:~~i1,.t~r..~~-_: --~;~~.:.. .t.-
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<br />incredible: upportunity to invest in Owensboro's future. \Vith f;...O';"... ".,,~~.-t ::~"4.}~~ '.""':!l't:.. .!!..t
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<br />t s 0 un ert - g, lecommunlty,ior 1e rstwne,lstah.ing ., -~'r/'~"'~''''':I'''-;' '>'~'...."-?':
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<br />contro~ of its ~owntown d,estiny. Currcntly, Gateway Planning is"I/~.~?'' . ':;;~\~ .J~~~~t.tf/,""
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<br />managmg the unplementauon of the catalyst projects lI1cludmg a'~'ir..' / ";'.f'~" '...o.l,.J., f~'.' ;....!.'..... (. C-/i . V:-,. I
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<br />new convention center hotel on dle y'/aterfrol:.t as wcll as a new !~t.~.;'.;.:lltf'. ;;j~..,,~;.~~. :."~.~Jr..' '-;.f'~}').
<br />market plaza to anchor the hotel with the \\'aterfront and the /'${.:i.~ f:r~5~1'..r \i~ ;, J
<br />histone second street corridor ::.L "," :;:. "'!t; ~ ~ .;.' '.
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