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Purpose
To
guide development in the Esther Short subarea for 20 years
Guiding
Principles
To
reinvigorate downtown and Esther Short Park which would then act as a
catalyst for development in the Vancouver region.
Goals
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Vision
- Ensure downtown Vancouver becomes the region's heart
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Connections
- Improve Mobility and linkages, optimize accessibility within
downtown Vancouver and to the region
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Land
Use - Ensure an active multi-use 24-hour downtown
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Implementation
- Apply innovative measures to implement the vision for downtown Vancouver
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Summary
of Recommended City Initiatives
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Esther
Short Park improvements.
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Improve
connections between brewery blocks on 7th & along Columbia to
river.
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Brewery
block development a precedent.
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Plan
for future riverfront development.
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Prepare
an EIS for the plan.
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Adopt
the plan.
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Establish
a DRA (PDA).
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Refine
the Capital Facilities Plan for downtown.
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Institute
parking management.
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City
approvals of design standards and guidelines.
Concept
Plan
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Key
Components of the Concept Plan
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Consultant
team initially hired to look at five City-owned blocks.
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CRT
recommended that the plan look at a broader area.
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Initial
plan area included 30 blocks around Esther Short Park.
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With
EIS, plan area extended to include blocks to west (West Coast Bank
building).
Key
Components of Concept Plan Development
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Dense,
urban, mixed-use development.
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Revitalized
Esther Short Park, with a plaza at its southeast corner.
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Enhancing
Columbia Street to access the waterfront.
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Strong
link between park and transit center.
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Housing
and live/work accommodation north and west of the park should be a
major component in area.
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Commercial
expansion along Evergreen.
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Commercial
and institutional uses east of park.
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Institutional
uses south of park, with commercial uses along Columbia.
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Large
parking facility southwest of park along railroad berm.
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Plan
Adoption/Implementation
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Adopted
by City Council in 1998.
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Adopted
as an Urban Renewal Plan per RCW35.81.
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Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS) was completed in 1998.
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Planned
Action Ordinance adopted for Subarea Plan and EIS.
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Result
of EIS/Planned Action Ordinance SEPA completed for projects defined as
Planned Actions.
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City
also committed to expedited (58) day permit review in Esther Short
subarea
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Downtown
Redevelopment Authority (DRA)—Public Development Authority (PDA)
constituted to guide development within subarea.
Growth
Statistics
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1,010
new residential units.
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1,500
new residents.
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540,000
sf of new commercial space.
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2,700
new jobs.
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Urban
Design Summary
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Existing
City Center zoning retained.
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Downtown
building lines, blank walls, rain protection, surface parking control
Combining Districts extended into area.
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New
street classifications (urban mixed-use, transit, parkway and
neighborhood) applied to ensure street functions are linked and
right-of-way standards proposed.
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Street
tree and lighting framework defined the type of street tree by the
type of street—e.g., parkway ornamental for parkway street.
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Building
use and street frontage typologies recommended (grade level built to
active building use standard, building frontage, vehicular access)
based on street typology.
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Transportation
Summary
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Downtown
has a robust transportation system.
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Extend
existing grid system.
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Main/Broadway
two-way.
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Freeway
system is major constraint.
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Transit
Center provides excellent access to bus routes.
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To
improve transit, expand free shuttle service.
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Add
bike lanes and parking.
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Improve
Columbia for pedestrians.
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Include
building awnings, informational kiosks, wide sidewalks, connections
across parking and public areas, and curb extensions for pedestrians.
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Expand
parking control district, limit spaces leased to single user, create
more flexibility in garages, short- and long-term spaces, improve
signage, provide lower residential parking rates, encourage shared
parking, standardize short-term parking charges.
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Economic
Summary
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Target
downtown as cultural and entertainment hub.
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Improve
linkage with waterfront.
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Reinforce
downtown as financial and administrative center.
Plan
Implementation Summary
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