Downtown Planning Background

City Council recently adopted the goal to update the current Downtown Strategic Plan (adopted in 2002), via the following action items:

• Work with stakeholders on visioning for downtown and a goal-setting process.
• Hire design firm to obtain updated visualizations of downtown.
• Create an overarching downtown vision statement and executive summary of existing plans.
• Assign priorities and timelines to existing plans for downtown and develop several scenarios based on potential redevelopments.

The 2002 Downtown Strategic Plan established a vision statement and five major initiatives to improve Downtown Urbana. Please click here to learn more about the 2002 Plan. Over the course of the 2010 Downtown Plan Update, the City will collect input for a new vision for downtown.

In addition to the 2002 Downtown Plan, there are several other plans and initiatives that contain goals and strategies for Downtown Urbana:

• 2005 Urbana Comprehensive Plan
• Boneyard Creek Master Plan
• University Avenue Corridor Plan
• Cunningham Avenue Corridor Plan
• Downtown TIF Programs
• Urbana Bicycle Master Plan

Additionally, the City is currently working on a Strategic Plan for the Market at the Square, as well as a Market Share Study for Downtown Urbana.