Downtown Public Realm Study

Public Meeting #1
Oct ober 12, 2022
AGENDA
I. Purpose/Process

II. What have we learned to date?

III. What makes a great place?

IV. Work Session

V. Next Steps

DOWNTOWN PUBLIC REALM STUDY

I. Purpose / Process

DOWNTOWN PUBLIC REALM STUDY

PURPOSE

Evaluate and make recommendations to enhance the

public realm.

Improve the appeal of Downtown Urbana as a

destination and place to visit, live, do business.

The public realm consists primarily of the

publicly-owned street rights-of-way and other
publicly accessible open spaces such as parks,
squares, plazas, courtyards, and alleys

DOWNTOWN PUBLIC REALM STUDY

PROCESS
PART 1: PUBLIC LIFE STUDY PART 2: URBAN REALM MASTER PLAN
(~3 months) (~4-5 months)

IDEAS + EVALUATION

SEPTEMBER
Evaluate the Urban Realm

NOVEMBER
Develop Conceptual Ideas
Assess Physical Conditions Public Open House

DECEMBER
Key Stakeholder Input Committee Review
Summarize Findings Stakeholder Input

OCTOBER
JULY

URBAN REALM MASTER

VISIONING + GOALS PLAN
Visioning Workshop
Preferred Concept Plan
Key Stakeholder Input
Implementation
Establish Future Vision
Review + Refinement
Key Goals/Principles
PLAN APPROVAL

DOWNTOWN PUBLIC REALM STUDY

PROJECT TIMELINE

W E A RE HERE

DOWNTOWN PUBLIC REALM STUDY

II. What have we learned to date?

DOWNTOWN PUBLIC REALM STUDY

DATA SOURCES

1 2 3 4 5
STAKEHOLDERS
PREVIOUS FIELD WORK MERCHANT INTERACTIVE
FOCUS
STUDIES SUMMARY GROUPS & SURVEY WEBSITE
INTERVIEWS

DOWNTOWN PUBLIC REALM STUDY

 1
PREVIOUS
STUDIES

DOWNTOWN PUBLIC REALM STUDY

1. PREVIOUS STUDIES
Referenced Documents Main Themes (Inspired by the Goals of the 2012 Downtown Plan)

1. 2012 Downtown Urbana Plan – 2012 A DESTINATION WITH HIGH SENSE OF COMMUNITY
2. 2005 Urbana Comprehensive Plan – 2005 ACCESSIBILITY & WAYFINDING
3. Boneyard Creek Master Plan - 2008 ECONOMIC ACTIVITY
4. Downtown Parking Study - 2008
5. Market at the Square Strategic Plan – 2011 • Heritage & Identity • Environmental
Sustainability
6. Signage and Wayfinding Study - 2010 • Context-appropriate
Placemaking • Active Arts and
7. Wayfinding and Placemaking Study- 2019 Culture Scene
• Public Infrastructure
8. Central TIF Redevelopment Plan - 2016 • Urban Development
and Land Use
9. Downtown Market Study - 2010
• Housing
10. What’s in Your Square - 2018

DOWNTOWN PUBLIC REALM STUDY

 2
FIELD WORK
SUMMARY

DOWNTOWN PUBLIC REALM STUDY

2. FIELD WORK SUMMARY
Conducted on-site visual/physical
assessment of downtown.

2 Types of Assessment

Condition Assessment
• Landscape
• Sidewalk conditions
• Lighting
• Seating
• Cleanliness

Experiential Assessment
• Noise / Odors
• Circulation
• Pedestrian Comfort

DOWNTOWN PUBLIC REALM STUDY

 2. FIELD WORK SUMMARY
Condition Assessment:
Some areas of Downtown generally better condition than others

These areas align with what people perceive as “Downtown Urbana”

Landscape:
• Good selection of landscape
• Less landscape and less maintained,
further from Main St
Sidewalks:
• Generally need more maintenance
• Narrow sidewalks prohibit activation
• Some ADA concerns (width, etc.)
Lighting:
• Attractive fixtures, some variety
• Current fixtures create glare
• Generally good illumination levels
Seating:
• Limited availability impacts experience
(resting, socializing, etc.)
• Café/gathering seating in areas is
good
Cleanliness:
• Most parts of Downtown are generally
clean
• Dumpster areas in alleys, consider as
part of activating alleys

DOWNTOWN PUBLIC REALM STUDY

 2. FIELD WORK SUMMARY
Experience Assessment:
Downtown generally presents a comfortable experience.
Perimeter areas less comfortable.
Investigate pedestrian connectivity improvements.

Noise/Odor/Comfort
• Traffic volume generates significant noise on some streets
• The usual source of such smells negative odors concentrate in the alleys and around
the creek.
• Some streets don’t provide a safe or comfortable walking experience either due to high
traffic, lack of proper sidewalks and crosswalks, or lack of shading.

Circulation
• Different levels of street comfort
• Lack of downtown district identity/gateways
• Lack of crosswalks in some main intersections
• The LSM used as an indoor-outdoor crossing
• Some barriers for pedestrians such as the railway

DOWNTOWN PUBLIC REALM STUDY

 3 4
STAKEHOLDERS
MERCHANT
FOCUS GROUPS
& INTERVIEWS SURVEY

DOWNTOWN PUBLIC REALM STUDY

3. STAKEHOLDERS FOCUS GROUPS & INTERVIEWS
Engaged with ~45 community members and stakeholders to hear an inside perspective on Downtown
Urbana.

Focus Groups included:

• Downtown Business Owners and Managers Group
• The City of Urbana Group
• Property Owners Group
• County/District Representatives Group
• 3 Arts and Events Groups

DOWNTOWN PUBLIC REALM STUDY

3. STAKEHOLDERS FOCUS GROUPS & INTERVIEWS
Opportunities
 Work with what is already downtown
• Capitalize on public ownership of parking lots — create a downtown gathering space

• Bar and music scene – fresh wave of new bar owners; they’re being taken over by younger more innovative people

• Lunch/daytime food and beverage options can get better with city hall, county, and student audiences

• Reinvent the city’s art strategy

 Build and market a new identity (potentially around arts, live music, creativity, weird & bohemian, a place for small
businesses to start - downtown incubator, bureaucracy-free zone, experiments, skunk works)

• Reconnect with and recruit downtown businesses that support the new identity

• Capitalize on low barrier to entry business opportunities for experimentation

• The low barrier to entry is because of low rents (in terms of experimenting, new things)

 Develop a stronger connection with the University, including:

• Physical – gateways into downtown; Green Street; transit

• Programmatic - events, food, coffee shops that are authentic

DOWNTOWN PUBLIC REALM STUDY

3. STAKEHOLDERS FOCUS GROUPS & INTERVIEWS
Opportunities (cont.)
 Develop a strategy to capitalize on the popular Market on the Square, including:
• Consider relocation

• Improvements of current location

• Linkages to Main Street and Coordination with Main St businesses to ensure they are open during market hours

• LQC: Consider a pilot program with temporary staff (i.e. students) that focuses on programming on Main Street
that connects to the market on Saturdays (i.e. Detroit chalk festival, immersive street performances leading ppl to Main
St, treasure hunts, etc.)

 Do not lose momentum on arts and events

• Consider a carefully selected program of events, potential to focus on regular events

• Partner orgs are currently funded for art grants $500 - $10,000 grants over 38 projects per year, focus on diversity,
need more DEI in city

• Public works doesn’t necessarily understand the City's connection to these programs when they reach out
for permitting

• Reduce the role of public works - bin internal challenge operationally; need to rethink how they manage cultural events

DOWNTOWN PUBLIC REALM STUDY

 5
INTERACTIVE
WEBSITE

DOWNTOWN PUBLIC REALM STUDY

5. INTERACTIVE WEBSITE

2581 Total Visits

708 Unique Users
95 Unique Stakeholders
336 Map Comments

DOWNTOWN PUBLIC REALM STUDY

5. INTERACTIVE WEBSITE
Favorite Place

“The library is the jewel of downtown”

“Love the outdoor family-friendly

shows at Rose Bowl!”

“Outstanding job activating the Boneyard Creek

and making it accessible!”

“Market at the Square is a favorite!”

“Very happy to see housing being built by

downtown. The demand is there.”

“Stango is a great restaurant that increases diversity

in Urbana. Needs help to be more visible.”

DOWNTOWN PUBLIC REALM STUDY

5. INTERACTIVE WEBSITE
More of This

“The farmer’s market, both indoor/outdoor is lovely.

Let’s continue to find ways to expand.”

“More cafes, restaurants or shops to make

downtown livelier. I understand businesses may be
difficult to attract right now, but is it possible to
occupy buildings and storefronts even temporarily
an any way?

“More outdoor patio spaces for people to be able to

sit outside like at the Rose Bowl.”

“Love the outdoor seating on Main Street!”

“I am glad we housing was built near downtown.”

DOWNTOWN PUBLIC REALM STUDY

5. INTERACTIVE WEBSITE
Needs Work

“So many great restaurants / venues are closing. I

wish there were events to help them with foot
traffic.”

“Race Street could use a bike lane connecting

downtown to Crystal Lake”

“Crossing Vine Street at Elm Street is treacherous.

Please consider bump outs, crosswalks, etc.”

“Triangle at Main and Springfield needs a better

crossing area for pedestrians.”

“New housing is so close to the street – not ped friendly.”

“I am “Another
glad we housing
parking was builtno
lot that near
onedowntown.”
uses.”

DOWNTOWN PUBLIC REALM STUDY

5. INTERACTIVE WEBSITE
Idea!

“Small parking lots like the one in front of the IMC

can become a permanent location for food trucks.”

“Lincoln Square should be completely remodeled.

Make the outer walls permeable with storefronts –
not all imposing brick walls!”

“Parking lots south of Lincoln Square have a

lot of potential”

“Sidewalks in residential areas are bumpy”

“No unifying visual indicators for downtown. I

propose decorative crosswalks and pedestrian
islands”

DOWNTOWN PUBLIC REALM STUDY

III. What Makes a Great Place?

DOWNTOWN PUBLIC REALM STUDY

What Makes a
Great Place?

26
ACCESS & LINKAGES
Visible
Near Other Places
Convenient
Walkable
Bikeable
Transit-Connected
Flow & Layout
Parking

2
7
USES & ACTIVITIES
Fun
Vital
Flexible
Offers Variety
Indigenous
Has Something for Everyone
Affordable
Challenging

3
2
33
34
COMFORT & IMAGE
Welcoming
Attractive
Safe & Clean
Functional
Protected
Historic
“Green”
Friendly
37
SOCIABILITY
Welcoming
Cooperative
Interactive
Neighborly
Diverse
Fostering Pride
Inspiring Stewardship

4
0
Place Evaluation
• Walk through your site and
evaluate using the left side of
the form on your own – 10-15
minutes
• Discuss the questions on the
right with your group (and be
sure to designate a note taker
so you don’t forget anything) –
10-15 minutes
• Head back inside and continue
the discussion on flip boards
with your group to prepare to
share with the full workshop –
10 minutes
 The Triangle

Alleys

Connection from Mall

Parking to Main + Boneyard Creek
Broadway Connection
Uses and Activities

• Are people using this space regularly?

• Is the place used by a range of ages and
types of people?
• Are many or most parts of the space
used?
• Are there obvious choices of things to do?
• Is there information about events and
programs?
• Are activities attractive to visitors?
Comfort and Image

• Does the place make a good first

impression?
• Is there a choice of places to sit?
• Is there appropriate weather protection?
• Is the place clean and well lit?
• Does the place feel safe?
• Does the place meet the needs of the
people using it?
• Does the place reflect the character or
history of the community?
• Is the space dominated by one group of
users?
• Are there as many women present as
men?
 Access and Linkages
• Is the entrance visible from a distance?
• Is it easy to identify what is going on in the place?
• Is the primary use or mission of adjacent buildings
easily identifiable and relating to or interacting with the
space?
• Is there adequate directional signage, maps and
location information?
• Can people easily get there (e.g. they don't have to
dart through traffic)?
• Do sidewalks, paths, or roads match up with the
directions in which people wish to go?
• Can people use a variety of transportation options
(bus, train, car, bicycle) to get to the place?
• Does the place function for people with special needs?
• Do vehicles dominate pedestrian use of the space, or
prevent them from getting to it?
• Are crosswalks well placed and well marked and
crossing distances minimal?
Sociability

• Would you choose to meet friends in this

place?
• Are there people in groups (more than
one person) using this place?
• Is there a mix of ages and ethnicities that
generally reflects the community at large?
• Are people talking with each other when
using this space? Are they smiling?
• Do people tend to pick up litter when they
see it?
• Do you see neighbors or volunteers help
maintain the place?
IV. Work Session:

DOWNTOWN PUBLIC REALM STUDY

WORK SESSION

Groups 1-4 Group 5

Place Evaluation Designing Downtown

Postcards:
You are sending a post card to family/ friends
in 2032 inviting them to Urbana…
Image Preferences:
• What landmarks would you recommend to visit? Please complete
• What activities you would take them to? before you leave.

DOWNTOWN PUBLIC REALM STUDY

V. Next Steps:

DOWNTOWN PUBLIC REALM STUDY

NEXT STEPS

• Summarize Input and Define Project Vision

• Develop Ideas & Concepts

• Advisory Committee / Public Review

November (Date TBD)

DOWNTOWN PUBLIC REALM STUDY