Ordinance No. 20564 - Laserfiche WebLink

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(i) A loss of population and reduction of proper utilization of the area, resulting in its further deterioration and added costs to the taxpayer for the creation of new public facilities and services elsewhere. A total of 76 or 70% of properties in the Downtown Urban Renewal District are determined to have blighted conditions. In addition to the 76 properties, 19 locations have blighted conditions found in roads and sidewalks. These conditions are so prevalent and consistent in the Plan Area that the City concludes that the entire Plan Area is blighted. The blighted conditions impact the safety, health, and welfare of the community through decreased property values and taxes, potentially unsafe conditions for accessibility through deteriorating public right-of-ways, lack of seismic stability, and maintenance in public buildings and open spaces, vacancy and outdated structural designs that are deteriorating. The evidence of blight and blighting influences reduces the economic activity in the Plan Area, leading to lowered value and a disincentive to invest. Urban renewal funds that are directed at improving or reducing the blighted conditions will attract positive activity downtown, stimulate economic development and private investment, promote downtown revitalization, and enhance the value of the Plan Area as a whole. As the number of businesses and opportunities for investment increases, existing businesses and development will also benefit, including restaurants, retail and housing, leading to improved conditions, and higher property values within the Plan Area. Chapter 5: Relationship Between Existing Conditions and Each Project Activity Undertaken in the Plan All Projects set forth in Section 600 of the Plan are intended to correct the existing defici- encies in the Plan Area as described in this report (see Chapter 2). The proposed 2016 Amendment Projects are: 1) Infrastructure improvements to parks, plazas, Farmers' Market, open space, and streets to provide an inviting civic space aligned with the Willamette to Willamette Initiative for the community, better opportunities for the Farmers' Market, and inviting and accessible connections between the public spaces; 2) Construction of critical high-speed fiber utility; and 3) Redevelopment of the Old LCC Building. 1) Improved Parks, Plazas, Farmers' Market, Restrooms, Open Space, and Streets: Improvements to the parks and plazas in the Plan Area benefit the growing community of employees, commercial and cultural uses, visitors, and residents, as well as the community at large with a revitalized, attractive, safe, and economically healthy downtown core. Improvements to the parks and plazas would be undertaken after a robust public engagement effort to determine what changes are most desired and effective to enhance their function during programmed and non -programmed times. The goal of the public engagement effort would be to draw on the experience and expertise of a wide group of community members to clarify the community's Report on the 2016 Amendment 9