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Design Quality <br />Well designed projects create an inviting urban experience and strengthen the overall <br />desirability of downtown in the regional marketplace. Design quality is not dependent on <br />a particular architectural style. It requires an understanding of the elements of buildings <br />necessary to create public spaces that contribute to urban vitality and civic life. <br />Successful project designs typically demonstrate the following principles: <br /> <br />· Use high quality materials, particularly on the first floor; <br />· Incorporate works of public art; <br />· Promote active first floor uses; <br />· Provide prominent entries facing public streets; <br />· Place buildings close to the sidewalk; <br />· Respect the context and character of adjacent historic buildings. <br /> <br />Design regulations are currently in place in the Land Use Code for commercial and multi- <br />family residential projects. Incentives may be needed to assist high quality development <br />in downtown. Examples include a loan fund for awnings, outdoor seating, historic <br />renovation, specially designed or coordinated signs, or additional streetscape amenities. <br /> <br />Policies <br /> <br />1. Actively pursue public/private development opportunities to achieve the vision for an <br /> active, vital, growing downtown. <br /> <br />2. Use downtown development tools and incentives to encourage development that <br /> provides character and density downtown. <br /> <br />3. Facilitate downtown development by re-designating and rezoning underutilized <br /> properties, such as surface parking lots, to commercial land use designation and a <br /> commercial zone such as C-2 or C-3. <br /> <br />Implementation Strategies <br /> <br />A. Facilitate desired development by providing financial incentives and resources. <br /> <br />B. Amend the Riverfront Research Park Urban Renewal Plan to expand the boundaries <br /> and extend the district's life. Use it to facilitate desired development, particularly in <br /> the Courthouse and riverfront areas. <br /> <br />C. Expand the use of revenues in the Downtown Urban Renewal District in order to <br /> provide financial tools and incentives for desired development within the district. <br /> <br />D. Establish a new Downtown Urban Renewal District to better capitalize on <br /> commercial and housing development opportunities in the areas immediately outside <br /> of the existing core-area downtown urban renewal district, and between the <br /> downtown core and the emerging Courthouse development area. <br /> <br /> 14 <br /> <br /> <br />