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SUBJECTS › ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT › Central Business District - Downtown Development
Updated 03/09

Central Business District - Downtown Development

Contents

Introduction

Such goals as promoting the revitalization of downtown to create a vital commercial core as the center of the community, or to revitalize and increase the economic vitality of downtown, are frequently articulated in city and town comprehensive plans. These goals are further developed by strategies which focus on traffic, transportation links and parking, visual appearance including signs, pedestrian improvements, safety, locating businesses, and marketing. In writing on small-city downtowns, Kent Robertson, Professor of Community Studies at St. Cloud University said, "While every small-city downtown has a different combination of assets, three broad characteristics tend to apply nationwide: small-city downtowns are multi-functional, pedestrian friendly, and vital to the community's heritage." [Small City Downtowns, Urban Land, October 1998.] This page provides links to resources and illustrates some of the strategies Washington local governments have used to develop these characteristics. As with other economic development strategies, downtown development should start with a community vision and be executed as a cooperative process between the local government and the local business community. Capitalizing on assets that attract tourists is a viable option for many of Washington's downtowns.

Resources for Downtown Development

Selected Statutes Applicable to Financing Downtown Development and Related MRSC Web Pages

See Also Economic Development Laws and Statutes (List), MRSC

    Program and Plan Descriptions

    A number of cities have used the Internet as a place to inform the community of how the downtown vision is being carried out, and to market their downtowns. The latter is often done in conjunction with the local chamber of commerce and may appear on a visitor information Web site.

    Downtowns Developed Around Themes

    Each community has a unique identity which can serve as the basis for downtown development. It might be the preservation of a cultural heritage, such as Poulsbo's Scandinavian roots or Lynden's Dutch heritage. In some communities the existence of historic structures from a different era provides a central focus, as in Port Townsend and Snohomish. For many smaller towns, the preservation and enhancement of the small town or village atmosphere may be the primary theme on which to develop. Caution should be exercised if a community chooses to pursue a theme that does not have roots in the community or is not related to the town's physical location.

    • Theme Towns: The Pitfalls and Alternatives of Image Making," (Adobe Acrobat Document 1,578 KB) by Mira Engler, Small Town, January-February 1994.
    • Leavenworth - "The Bavarian Village"
      • Leavenworth Municipal Code  Ch. 14.08 - Old World Bavarian Architectural Theme
      • Leavenworth - Chamber of Commerce site
    • Lynden - "Dutch/European"
    • Toppenish - "Where the West Still Lives" and "City of Murals"
      • Toppenish Municipal Code Ch. 17.26 - Design Review District
      • "City of Murals" - Toppenish, has over 70 murals bringing to life scenes from the Old West: railroading, rodeos, farming, aviation events, Yakima Indian Nation scenes and various historical events. Every mural is an historically correct depiction of the area's history. See Mural Gallery on Toppenish Chamber of Commerce Web site
    • Winthrop - "Gateway to the North Cascades"
    • Langley - "Washington's Most Beautiful Waterfront Town"
      A community with a small town atmosphere defined by a beautiful natural setting, distinctive downtown commercial area, and pedestrian orientation. The downtown area is located on a high bluff overlooking Saratoga Passage and Camano Island to the north. It contains primarily retail and commercial services for residents and tourists.
    • Walla Walla - "Cradle of Northwest History"
      The city worked with a foundation in a private/public partnership to bring about a new appearance, a new economy, and a new spirit for downtown which was threatened by the development of a regional mall. The success of the program was evidenced by increased private investment in a historically sensitive renovation, a substantially lower vacancy rate than before the mall, a healthier mix of retail and service businesses, a voluntary expansion of the streetscape design to other downtown areas, and the introduction of public art into several downtown sites. [Walla Walla Downtown Revival from 1996 AWC Municipal Achievement Awards]
    • Zillah Tuscan Design

    Downtown Historic District

    See Also  Historic Preservation

    Downtown Streetscape

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