Meet 6 Amazing Cities Trying to Make the Case for Great Places!
Announcing the Giveaway Winners
(We're a data-driven decision making tool, but in this case, we couldn't decide...Sooo...)
We chose ALL semi-finalists as WINNERS! Congratulations to all six cities; we can't wait to start working with you and help you lay a data-driven foundation for your future plans and developments! Thank you to all who applied.
On today's blog, read about how our six WINNERS want to use State of Place to make the case for great places. From helping make the case for complete streets applications to showcasing the economic benefits of revitalizing car-oriented main streets, we're honored by your excitement and enthusiasm for State of Place. We can't wait to help not only these communities make the case for great places. Scroll below to find out more about these six amazing projects, and sign up for a demo to get a personal tour!
Have FOMO?* No worries, we can help you too - see the State of Place platform in action!
*fear of missing out
1. Kilbourne Group from Fargo, North Dakota
Project:
They aim to breathe new energy into and expand their downtown residential, commercial, and retail spaces on Main Street - a perpendicular street to Broadway. By creating downtown infill projects that allow residents and visitors to walk, bike, live, work, play, shop, learn, explore and create, they would contribute to the health and well-being of the entire metro region.
How they want to use State of Place:
Kilborne Group wants to use the State of Place analysis to study several blocks of Main Avenue and a couple blocks of Broadway. This in-depth analysis would allow them to show the fundamental differences in walkability between the great, pedestrian-friendly and vibrant Broadway versus the car-centric Main Avenue. Kilbourne Group is an outspoken champion of walkability and mixed-use design, but also heavily focuses on the economic benefits that urban style development provides in generating higher property values, increased property tax revenues, and more efficient use of public infrastructure. They hope the ability to show the livability and economic development opportunities of a walkable section of downtown versus the car-centric existing design of Main Avenue would be eye opening for businesses, citizens, and elected officials to help guide the redesign of Main Avenue into a walkable street with high economic development opportunities.
Fargo's Broadway in 1975: The Red River Mall design aimed to replicate an indoor mall - all on-street parking was removed, which stifled the success of the ground floor retail.
Revitalized Downtown Fargo today
Main Ave 1922, Fargo, ND
Main Street today, Fargo, ND
2. Asbury Park Planning Board from new jersey
Project:
Asbury Park, NJ is experiencing a renaissance of sorts after years of neglect and disinvestment. The city is working to adopt a Complete Streets resolution, which strives to make streets safe for all users – pedestrians, bicyclists, the elderly, the mobility challenged and drivers.
How they want to use State of Place:
A State of Place analysis would greatly benefit the city by helping identify strengths and weaknesses in their growth and development.
3. Velocity Group (DNA of Place) from Springdale, Arkansas
Project:
Springdale, Arkansas is a dynamic and diverse city located in Northwest Arkansas. The recent downtown revitalization effort has been a community-wide engagement that included over 500+ people during the master planning initiative! The recent passage of a comprehensive master plan vision, which also includes a form-based code, is a testament to the momentum generated in that process. These efforts, along with some catalytic municipal investments in the 475 acre downtown district, is preparing the stage for enormous opportunity. While that opportunity is exciting, it is vital to know the current economic landscape to help focus both public and private next steps efforts and ensure those efforts include opportunities for a diverse body of people.
How they want to use State of Place:
Velocity Group believes that the State of Place analysis is going to provide the needed understanding to help align city, civic and private efforts, create efficiencies in investment areas, generate a resource for investment recruitment and sculpt ongoing planning efforts. The State of Place analysis would be shared with the City, Downtown Springdale Alliance, Springdale Chamber of Commerce, local investors, small businesses, multiple service based non-profits, the Jones Center for Families, and Velocity Group.
4. Madison County Council of Governments from Indiana
Project:
Fortville is a small town of approximately 4,000 residents on the urban fringe of Indianapolis, Indiana. While most residents commute to Indianapolis and development continues to spill over into Fortville, the community wants to maintain its small-town charm and build on its own walkable core. Residents, community leaders, business owners, and regional partners are highly motivated to see Fortville develop in a way that promotes walkability and community connections.
How they want to use State of Place:
Residents have highlighted Broadway as the key obstruction preventing community connections and limiting walkability, especially along the core half-mile stretch. The State of Place analysis would provide in-depth analysis of its existing quality of place and assess proposed changes aiming to increase walkability. The City has identified a need to illustrate how improvements would economically benefit businesses and community leaders to help justify the significant costs associated with road reconstruction projects.
5. Downtown Sacramento Partnership from sacramento, CA
Project:
Downtown Sacramento is a hotbed of new development anchored and aided by the recently constructed Golden 1 Center - the world's first indoor sports venue to earn a LEED Platinum designation and home of the Sacramento Kings NBA team. Among the numerous tourist spots in Sacramento, the Old Sacramento Historic District has been a staple for Sacramento tourism. By assessing the development of the area and working closely with the community, the city can find ways to create value Downtown.
How they want to use State of Place:
A State of Place analysis of Old Sacramento would further assist the effort to find ways to increase business sales revenue and also identify other development options that would contribute to the overall local economy.
6. Lee Highway Alliance from Arlington, VA
Project:
The Lee Highway Alliance is a citizen-led effort to replan and redevelop a fading, auto-oriented commercial strip in a high-profile, smart growth county. The anticipated result will be a joint community vision for a more economically vibrant, walkable, attractive Lee Highway corridor – one that benefits neighborhoods and the business community.
How they want to use State of Place:
Lee Highway Alliance wants to proactively engage with the County of Arlington and various stakeholders involved in doing a scoping plan for the Lee Highway corridor - to better communicate the considerable redevelopment opportunities along the Lee Highway corridor. A State of Place analysis, focusing on one of the four main commercial nodes along the auto-centric corridor, would enable them to identify the opportunities to optimally transform the corridor and increase its walkability.
Got FOMO?* No worries, we can help you too - see the State of Place platform in action!