Questions emerge as Borough Assembly reviews downtown revitalization plan
Published Wednesday, July 23, 2008
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Stumble It!FAIRBANKS — A proposed downtown revitalization plan has made its way to the desk of the Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly, albeit months later than organizers had originally hoped.
It’s raised enough interest and questions along the way that the assembly is taking a few weeks to sort things out. And while the plan has received plenty of support, Fairbanks city officials and borough planners have different recommendations regarding how to treat big-box store development on the edge of town.
Dubbed Vision Fairbanks, the 100-page plan would guide public investment in roads and sidewalks, public centers, building and zoning codes and transit to make downtown more pedestrian-friendly and inviting to residents and visitors.
Borough Mayor Jim Whitaker has asked the Borough Assembly to formally incorporate Vision Fairbanks into the larger Regional Comprehensive Plan, as it has done with other plans to restore the Chena River and preserve historic buildings.
Proponents of the development plan — part economic development tool, part urban planning map — say they expect it will leverage millions in retail, office and housing investments from the private sector and boost Fairbanks’ economy. George Crandall, the Portland-based consultant who helped draft the plan, added last week he expects rising energy prices are making focused, diverse downtown centers — ones that make it easy for people to live, work and shop within a matter of blocks and save on transportation costs — more attractive.
“It’s bad business to sprawl at this point,” he said.
Vision Fairbanks’ detailed proposals and maps, however, are more prescriptive than other arms of the Comprehensive Plan, which often speaks in general terms. Whitaker has asked that it be treated differently from other arms of the Comprehensive Plan — as a “recommendation” that “could be modified.”
Assembly member Tim Beck said he worried about locking the borough into a rigid downtown development plan.
“This has to be a dynamic (plan) that allows for change as things evolve in the community,” he said. “That’s just the nature of growth.”
David van den Berg, the new executive director for the Downtown Association of Fairbanks, said the mayor’s proposed amendment might sound somewhat “wishy-washy” but felt it wasn’t meant to halt progress on a plan that, if adopted, would become an official vision for downtown.
“It won’t change the fact that Vision Fairbanks can be implemented,” he said.
The plan is the product of a series of public meetings between project consultants, government and business leaders and residents, hundreds of whom participated in workshops during 2007. It has drawn endorsements from the borough’s Chena Riverfront, Economic Development and Planning commissions and the Fairbanks City Council.
The City Council, however, raised one red flag: A clause in the plan looks to support the downtown core partly by limiting or restricting big-box stores anywhere else until a super-central strip of property along Cushman Street fills with stores.
The borough’s Planning Commission, on the other hand, recommended leaving the clause in place.
If the assembly adopts the plan, future steps would focus on creating new zoning or taxing districts, drafting design guidelines for construction projects and patching together a strategy for finishing key projects including a proposed public square on the east side of Cushman Street.
Community Discussion
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The more the planners plan, the more their plans fail and the more money they cost hard-working citizens. This is what I pay property taxes for???
actually they got a grant for that plan I believe.
Actually they are a non profit who raises grant money, volunteers, local government partners (who get paid to do their jobs, not volunteer)and raise funds from different events; much like most non profits around the country.
If we as a community dont plan, and yes spend the money to do it properly, we will have a community that is hard to commute, invasive on private residential area that will end result in urban sprawl, disconnected neighbors who dont know each other and a mess to deal with in another 20 years. Somethings seem like a waste of money, but they really are necessary for long term success as an economic market and community.
So the plan is to halt growth elsewhere until such time as the downtown fills up with shops? It seems to me we have been working this plan for 25 years now. Buy up all the bars, build parking lots, and then force business to move in...... Or spend government funds to build monuments for the tourists.
It sounds like we will continue to try to make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear at the expense of the taxpayers.
Personally I liked Fairbanks the way it was 30+ years ago.
When the grant money runs out, who is suppose to pay for this.
Build it and they will come. Now with that said how has the parking garage carried out that claim?? AND how is it "paying for itself" ? I have not heard much about this since it has been built. It sure is easy to take the money and run, just how much "studying" can we do? As you can see action speeks louder than words. The real development is taking place WITHOUT government meddling into private business, just one quick look at the old pipe yard should tell you something .if you just open your eyes.... this is how it works in real life, not some study crazy "non-Profits" Shame..
Plow it up!Put it with the lost city of Atlantis.
Downtown???whats that these days? i have been here only 40 yrs and i totally despise what the do gooders have done....i used to love going downtown in the 6o's 70's and 80's,,,,now there is not enuf $$ to get me there...i totally feel sorry for the tourists looking for the OLD town...well go to pioneer park thats about all that is left sampsons is probably leaving next..an old landmark...i agree all their is is cement and a few touirist traps....HOW SAD i miss the smaell of popcorn at the old co op now they want to turn the one way streets around AGAIN...
we can all bellyache about how downtown used to be... and say that it was better or worse, however here is a group of people who really want to see the future go for the better. If they would have had something like this drawn up in the 60's, 70's and 80's we wouldn't be in this position now. I am sorry... but I live up here because it isn't like the lower-48. Now with all the box stores moving in, why would I stay. If I am going to have to deal with the low-quality commercialism buy-buy-buy mentality, I might as well move outside and not pay the crazy energy, grocery, and everything else prices!! All i have to say is be careful what you wish for... do you really want a bunch of box stores that come and then vacate huge building that no one wants to fill... or do you want to create a sustainable community that has a rich quality of life that doesn't stretch on for miles and miles and miles and.... (Main Street/Farmers Loop here we come!)
I hope Vision Fairbanks will work out, but I dont believe it will. I also don't like what I've heard about the plan to bulldoze the brand NEW transit center to put in a park. As someone who lives in downtown I would like to see something done with it... its falling into urban decay... but I don't honestly know what you could do to turn it arround as an economic spot. Limiting box stores will only mean they either go outside city limits or dont come at all, which I dont agree with personally. I too would love to see downtown filled with little stores... like a butchers shop or a spice imporium or something... not just trinket shops... but I can't think of many businesses that would really benefit from being downtown.
The only way I can see that might attract businesses downtown is if the city were to offer some form of tax or fuel incentive... but I doubt that will happen.
When you say sprawling, come-on, let's face it this is not LA. The big box stores or only 1 - 2 miles from downtown, and if it wasn't for them we would not have the luxury of shopping at more stores with cheaper prices. And last, NO MORE PROPERTY TAXE RATE INCREASES!!!!!
If the businesses that are downtown want to have more customers, then I think they will take care of it. Maybe advertise a little more and have some deals worth getting us down there.
Crazy!
Did you all know that they were planning on redoing the sidewalks? They want to heat the sidewalks with radiant heat and then have some kind of pull down awning in the winter time to sort of heat a walkway.
For what?? So we can all go down to Big Ray's??? Where do the people that plan this crap come from? Or should I ask.
Guess what, they will put it up for vote on a bond and you know what>>? It will pass! Want to know why???? Because renters and other people that DON'T PAY PROPERTY TAX get to vote on it also!
This is what makes me CRAZY! Yep, I am going to get a bunch of flack on that again, but, all of these school bonds pass and the library bonds. They all pass, and this is the only logical reason I can think of.
Sherry 29, did it ever occur to you that renters also pay property tax? It is included in th cost of their rent. As property taxes go up, rent goes up.
sherry29, did it ever occur to you that some of us value education and learning, and that might be why the school bonds and library bonds pass?
Is there space downdown for another Wal-mart? [lol]
Hmmm, how much higher can a landlord raise your rent to cover all of these things. I have considered it & when I rent out a place I cannot raise rent much higher than what it currently is. How do you do that without overpricing yourself right out of the market.
I too value education, but, FNSB is in the top 10% in the US for what we pay for our property tax bills and I am sorry to inform you, our schools are not that great! How much more can they bill us?
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