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ATTACHMENT M Great Streets – Update Great streets are special places that transcend a transportation function and become destinations in themselves. The Great Streets concept helps connect special places, concentrate investment and activity, and characterize our downtown as an active and inviting city center. When the Downtown thth Plan was adopted in 2004, four Great Street were identified (Willamette, Broadway, 8, and 5) based on historical importance, development pattern and redevelopment opportunities. Willamette and thth Broadway are oriented to cultural activities and retail; 5 is retail focused, and 8leads from downtown to the Willamette River. The Great Streets concept was one of the most widely supported ideas to emerge from the Downtown Vision project and is a key feature of the adopted policies and aspirational goals of the Downtown Plan. The concept continues to guide decisions and discussions on the future of downtown. The proposed downtown revitalization projects reinforce the Great Streets concept and take advantage of existing investment and current momentum for redevelopment. For example, the Arts & Entertainment District project works to establish a creative, active pedestrian area on Willamette and Broadway. Other projects, including those located on other streets, will also positively impact activities and development potential along the Great Streets. Elected officials, committee members, and residents have asked about the current implementation of the Great Streets concept, specifically related to government office space. While moving City offices thth away from 8 does not contribute to the concept of 8 as a civic street, this action could be seen as an interim step, potentially reusing the existing City Hall for publicly supported uses. In addition, efforts to support the Park Blocks, through improvements, activities, and expansion reinforce the civic presence along this key street. The importance of 8th and potentially 5th avenues reaching to the river, and the role of the other Great Streets continue to be supported by the community and a viable decision-making framework to focus investment, stimulate desired activity and revitalize downtown.