Featured, Vision Fairbanks
ONE DOWN, ONE TO GO
The earliest of Vision Fairbanks’ implementation pieces are intended to set the stage for economic development and revitalization downtown. The first of those implementation pieces has been decided and the second is soon to come.
On June 16, 2010, the FMATS Policy Committee unanimously voted in support of initiating an environmental process to study the feasibility of restoring two-way traffic circulation to Cushman and Barnette and downtown’s cross-streets to spur private sector investment. A start date for the study has not been determined; neither is it knowable when actual change will occur on downtown’s streets. Where we left off.
Next up is creating new zone types, new tools for economic development. Borough Ordinance 2010-09 is tentatively due to be introduced to the Borough Assembly this fall, undergo a work session between Department of Community Planning staff and the Borough Assembly, then go to public hearing. The City of Fairbanks endorsed the measure April 19, as did the Borough Planning Commission April 20. Where we left off.
Because roads cost money and creating new zone types is a legislative process, Vision Fairbanks is not yet market-driven revitalization. It remains a political process, at least until the new zone types are adopted into Borough code. But with the conclusion of Borough action, Fairbanks residents, businesses and investors alike will learn whether Fairbanks’ civic leaders can stick to a plan and create a stable environment – a central element to building the confidence to invest in any market.
With one down and one to go, Fairbanksans will soon know the sum of Vision Fairbanks’ early days (almost 2 years) and the Downtown Association, as stewards of downtown’s revitalization plan, will move to the next phase: retail and office tenant recruitment to downtown.
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