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<br />minnesota.uli.org 26 <br />RECOMMENDED PRIORITIES <br /> <br /> Prioritize Placemaking and Walkability. The panel recommends the city create a design workbook <br />with standards (or specifications) for the public realm to guide new development along Rice Street and <br />Little Canada Road. More specifically, the workbook would detail street elements as well as private <br />improvements. Over time, this will lead to visual and connective transformation through the private <br />sector. Elements of the workbook could include: <br /> Sidewalks and landscape buffer (all new projects should be required to include both) along right <br />of way and to any buildings that are set back from the street <br /> Streetlights (including providing alighting plan to detail the proper placement and look of <br />streetlights. Thought should be given to market accessibility for lights and long-term <br />maintenance.) <br /> Street furniture (consideration should be given to organic ways to provide street furniture rather <br />than typical benches). <br /> Trash facilities (determine responsible party for maintenance). <br /> Building facades <br /> <br /> Focus on top Infrastructure Priorities. The city should continue building sidewalks and improving <br />trails where applicable. The panel also recommends implementing site prep work on the 2828 Condit <br />Site, especially district (area) stormwater, to make it more attractive to developers. There are significant <br />opportunities to leverage transit and transportation investments for economic development, including: <br /> Advocating to Metro Transit to move the BRT station to the 0 Bank Drive lot <br /> Reconsidering rights of way to create developable sites <br /> Improving walkability and the public realm through infrastructure investments <br /> Unlocking new development potential as a result of transportation improvements <br /> Creating wayfinding and branding <br /> Encouraging transit-oriented development interest from the private sector. <br /> <br /> Focus on Key Programmatic Priorities. Recognizing that funding sources are limited, they should be <br />targeted to support commercial growth through initiatives like: <br /> Facade or art improvement program to improve older commercial retail properties. Art on <br />buildings can sometimes help elevate a place, particularly if a temporary situation is expected. <br /> Experimentation with adding activities, events, and small scale furnishing on city owned sites <br />and other locations. <br /> Small business/entrepreneurship technical support to increase business growth in the city (like <br />“open to business” or similar programs). <br /> District marketing for businesses along Little Canada Road and Rice Street. <br />The city can also convene a regular business roundtable to support collaboration and district problem <br />solving; the model developed by the Larpenteur Alliance is an effective format.