PORT CLINTON DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION PLAN

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1 The City has been awarded a $2.34 million Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT), Small Cities Grant for the complete reconstruction of Madison Street AWARD WINNING PROJECT Best of Lake Erie Award Lake Erie Living Magazine Location Port Clinton, Ohio Population 5,957 (2015 Census) Downtown Planning, Community Visioning, Transportation, Grant Administration Project Funding $2.34 million ODOT Small Cities Grant $300,000 CDBG Grant PORT CLINTON DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION PLAN Project Team Lauren O. Falcone, Project Manager Paul Z. Tecpanecatl, AICP, Project Planner Julie L. Thomas, P.E., Project Engineer City of Port Clinton/Main Street Port Clinton Downtown Revitalization Plan The City of Port Clinton commissioned a Downtown Revitalization Plan to provide a road map that can be used by all the City s Downtown Revitalization partners and stakeholders, particularly Main Street Port Clinton (MSPC). Over the course of a year, PDG worked with the City, MSPC and members of the Downtown Revitalization Steering Committee to organize multiple public workshops and analyze feedback to ensure the Plan was responsive to local needs and reflected local vision for the Downtown. The workshops were well-attended (30-40 people) and community members actively participated in each of the topics. Discussions and workshops were conducted in line with the National Trust s Main Street Approach, and the resulting recommendations were based on these discussions and organized according to Main Street s Four Points (Organization, Design, Economic Restructuring and Promotions). Downtown Port Clinton is a wonderful place that is simply in need of a physical and mental revitalization lift. Improved buildings and infrastructure will give it that self-esteem boost it needs to show off its more... Project Relevance Ohio Main Street Community Community Visioning/Workshops and Surveys Administration of Numerous Grant Applications for Streetscape and Building Renovations Mr. Gabe Below Councilman City of Port Clinton pcdirector@portclinton-oh.gov

2 Port Clinton Downtown Revitalization Plan wonderful lake front location for residents and tourists alike. Both the public and private sectors have proven themselves interested, able, and willing to make improvements, so there seems to be little doubt that they will continue to achieve success. The key to this however, is remembering to undertake activities in each of the Four Points (i.e., selecting projects and following up on recommendations from Organizational Development, Physical Design, Market Analysis and Promotions Chapters) simultaneously. The Main Street methodology absolutely works; it has been proven over nearly thirty years in more than 1,800 communities nationwide. The Plan is meant to be used as a tool by local revitalization partners to methodically, incrementally and comprehensively revitalize the entire Downtown, leveraging local human and financial resources to achieve a better physical, economic, and social atmosphere. The City, with assistance from MSPC, is now charged to implement the many grand ideas represented in this document. The City and MSPC are well on their way, with multiple grant applications submitted in 2014 to implement the Madison Street concept from the Design section of this Plan, as well as a Building Renovation grant program. In fact, the City recently found it was successful with a $2.34 million Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT), Small Cities Grant for the complete reconstruction of Madison Street (1,100 feet) to include new wider sidewalks, new roadway, and new drainage structures including storm sewer, sanitary sewer and waterlines. The City also received a $300,000 grant for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Downtown Revitalization funds for new street trees, brick intersections and a private property building improvements program for code and façade improvements. The CDBG DT grant application boasted an investment in the Downtown of $4.4 million over a two-year period.

3 An Ohio Main Street Community Location Amherst, Ohio Community Planning, Project Funding Assistance Professional Services: PDG Project Manager Lauren O. Falcone, AICP AMHERST DOWNTOWN PLAN PDG assisted Amherst City and Chamber representatives with the preparation of a Downtown Plan that was used to apply for various funding sources such as CDBG-DT and TEP. The plan included identifying the key parameters of the downtown; a market study that involved both consumer and business surveys; parking and traffic analysis; utility and infrastructure concerns in the area; potential pedestrian connectors; a streetscaping plan; design standards and the establishment of a design review board; and identifying a potential CDBG project for submittal of a CDBG-DT application, the CDBG-DT was submitted and approved and PDG is assisting the City with all aspects of the project. PDG was subsequently engaged to provide design and construction administration for reconstruction of Park Avenue and South Main Street including water and sanitary infrastructure, storm water, and decorative lighting and pavement. Ms. Judy Recknagel City of Amherst 480 Park Avenue Amherst, Ohio

4 Location Van Wert, Ohio Planning Grantwriting Transportation Engineering Cost Project Cost $ 1.1 Million Project Funding ODOT TEP $625,490 Size 10,846 population (2010 census) Professional Services: 2008; 2013 (Update) Construction: PDG Project Team Lauren O. Falcone, AICP, Project Planner MAIN STREET DOWNTOWN VISION PDG assisted the City of Van Wert to help define its vision for future upgrades to its Downtown area. Our staff reviewed various improvements identified by various City committees, which included new sidewalks, curbs, decorative brick and street lighting, signage, benches, landscaping and gateway features at the entrance to the Downtown. PDG provided illustrations of the proposed improvements with a rendering and computer imaging software. Cost estimates of the various improvements were also provided, with items estimated individually to help the City prioritize future improvements according to its budget. PDG also coordinated funding applications for the streetscape improvements and secured $625,490 in Transportation Enhancement Program funds through the Ohio Department of Transportation. The Main Street Downtown Streetscape improvements included decorative sidewalks with brick pavers, landscaping, ADA improvements, road resurfacing, new traffic signal installation and the installation of decorative lighting. The work took place on Main Street between Jefferson and Market Streets. In addition, overhead power lines were placed in conduit underground. more... Project Relevance Downtown Plan Downtown Improvements Identifies Project and Program Financing Options Jay Fleming Safety Service Director City of Van Wert jfleming@vanwert.org

5 Main Street Downtown Vision The City was awarded a planning grant by ODSA in 2011 to define continued/future phase improvements in the public infrastructure, historic preservation, and business opportunites. PDG assisted the City with an intensive 13 month comprehensive study of the historic central business district in Van Wert. Early in the process an all-day strategic planning session was conducted with Main Street Van Wert, Inc. (MSVW). Short and long term goals were established for downtown revitalization efforts and skills and traits necessary to accomplish the goas were identified. A wide variety of stakeholders were interviewed, including city elected officials and staff, business, property owners, and other local professionals. Highly inclusvie public workshops were organized around design, economic restructuring and promotions. PDG partnered with the EDGE Group for the Downtown Plan Update and jointly facilitated the workshops, interacting with participants about challenges, as well as, potential solutions, to further improve the Downtown area. The resulting Plan integrates strategies to simultaneously address the physical, economic, and soical environments. MSVW has adopted the Plan as their roadmap and volunteer committees will incorporate efforts into current and future work plans.

6 Gregory Location Vermilion, Ohio Downtown Planning Grant Writing/Administration Cost PDG Fee $27,500 Size City 2011 PDG Project Team Lauren O. Falcone, Project Manager EDGE Group, Landscape Architect VERMILION DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION PLAN PDG and the EDGE Group collaborated to produce the 2011 Revitalization Plan Update for Historic Downtown Vermilion. The planning process was designed to engage a broad cross-section of stakeholders, and included in depth conversations with city officials, governmental and non-profit organizations, residents, business and property owners. The Revitalization Plan celebrates the community s shared vision, and makes recommendations to improve public access to Lake Erie and the Vermilion River. The improvements would create a regional waterfront destination by reinvesting in public waterfront access, create pedestrian and vehicular linkages between the waterfront and downtown core, and redevelop key sites which add to the year-round vitality of the downtown core. In addition to physical improvements, the Plan identifies funding sources to assist the City in their implementation efforts. The City has already implemented several of the recommendations, including proceeding with planning for a new pocket park in the Downtown and securing FY11 CDBG-DT Tier II Grant funding to assist private property owners with improvements to their historic commercial properties. PDG has assisted the City with administration of two previous CDBG-DT Tier II grants. Eileen Bulan Mayor, City of Vermilion 5511 Liberty Ave. Vermilion, Ohio (voice) (fax

7 Location Sylvania, Ohio Planning Grantwriting Size 18,965 (2010 census) PDG Project Team Randy Mielnik, AICP, LEED AP, Project Manager Danielle Steinhauser, CMSM Beth Barton, Graphic Designer SYLVANIA DOWNTOWN PLAN Downtown Sylvania has long been recognized as offering an outstanding downtown environment within northwest Ohio. To help maintain its quality urban environment, the City selected Poggemeyer Design Group, Inc. to assist with the development of its first Downtown Plan. The process began in late 2011 and was completed in the summer of A Steering Committee of select stakeholders was formed and work elements focused on both urban design and market research to help uncover business development opportunities. The planning process followed the Main Street Approach recommended by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the overarching planning themes included the need for. Planning Themes 1. A greater sense of place in Downtown Sylvania, 2. More emphasis on physical design 3. Forming and sustaining partnerships 4. A more market-wise focus on development opportunities more... Project Relevance Existing data collection and analysis Comprehensive market study to determine types of retail and other feasible activities in the downtown district Facilitated community input sessions Assisted with the update of Design Review Guidelines Promotional Plan for special and retail events, heritage tourism and branding William Sanford ED/Administrative Services City of Sylvania

8 Sylvania Downtown Plan Some key issues included the need for unique planning polices north and south of Maplewood, along Main Street. South of Maplewood, downtown Sylvania offer compact urban forms and traditional downtown spaces. North of Maplewood there is a collection of converted residences, a historical center, office uses and auto-oriented commercial spaces that all combine to form a unique place with a clear emphasis on arts and cultural features Urban design issues that surfaced prominently during the planning process included the need for more walkability and human-scale building form. This included encouraging outdoor dining and defined pedestrian spaces in the right-of-way and on private land. Market research conducted as part of this project revealed a number of opportunities to fill voids in the local business mix. Specific business types missing in downtown Sylvania were identified to the level of actual square feet of space necessary to help satisfy calculated market demand. An optimal retail mix was also explored.