Issue link: http://townofcary.uberflip.com/i/791946
Promote and Enable Revitalization of Existing Commercial Centers HOW WE WILL ACHIEVE OUR VISION HOW WE WILL ACHIEVE OUR VISION 1 Seeing the need to both promote redevelopment to address its decaying downtown and to promote preserva on of its historic assets, Asheville, North Carolina, has embraced public-private partnerships to turn downtown from a derelict urban center to a successful interna onal des na on. The City has supported redevelopment of the central business district by inves ng in public infrastructure, such as landscaping, and street and sidewalk improvements, as well as purchasing land and restoring a historic building for a school district administra ve building. These projects have demonstrated the City's support for downtown redevelopment, and have spurred addi onal private sector investment. An important part of redevelopment is crea ng unique public spaces that are memorable and invi ng, and art is an important component of the public realm. The Town of Cary promotes public art through site-specific and community specific artworks that enhance the public realm, deepen a sense of place and civic iden ty, s mulate community dialogue, and transform Cary's public spaces into vibrant and meaningful places. Shown here is an art installa on in Cary's Stone Creek Village en tled "Wind Plow." Local governments are typically the leaders or catalysts for redevelopment efforts, laying the groundwork for private investment and new development. The Town of Cary will seek to par cipate in redevelopment projects that offer significant community benefits. A number of exis ng centers might present such opportuni es in the coming decade(s), such as Cary Towne Center and other similar centers. Town partnerships might include assistance with infrastructure improvements, the loca on of public facili es, or other types of assistance to foster redevelopment. Major Actions: • Review all Town development regulations to identify and re- move disincentives for redevelopment. • Create baseline economic health indicators for aging com- mercial centers as a first step in evaluating the need for a Minimum Commercial Code. • Develop evaluation criteria to guide public investments in re- development projects. • Create new infill and redevelopment design guidelines that balance the goal of encouraging redevelopment with the goal of protecting the character of adjacent neighborhoods. 51