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For Covington, the twentieth time may be a charm. The Center City Action Plan (CCAP), the city's twentieth similar study since 2000 on how to revitalize the urban core, was the focus of a presentation and group discussions Wednesday at the Artisan Enterprise Center. Only, don't call it a plan.
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"We look at this more as an investment strategy more than a plan," said Brad Segal, President of Progressive Urban Management Associates (PUMA), the lead consulting firm for the CCAP. "Whatever we come up with has to relate to jobs and invesments."
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| Crowd gathers at AEC |
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| Brad Segal of PUMA speaks at Artisan Enterprise Center |
Segal spoke to roughly forty-five people in the morning session and will share the same presentation in a second, evening session. At Dee Felice in Mainstrasse this evening, the CCAP will also be discussed by Craig Gossman of design firm KKG in Cincinnati. On Thursday, Segal addresses the Covington Business Council during its monthly luncheon. It is a busy week of explanations of trends in urban environments as well as establishing expectations for what should and could be done here.
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"We want to be visionary but also we have to be pragmatic," Segald said. "You'll see a lot from of us on the organizational side as well as the vision side." Segal added that the extra burden of a weak economy will pose a challenge for Covington but that much of what is needed to make the urban core great is already here.
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The key points that Segal hammered that would be necessary for Covington to establish an attractive and inviting Downtown seemed to echo many initiatives already underway:
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Covington must capture young, skilled workers and foster education. The future of Gateway College's urban campus helps to answer that call. Segal called the prospect of the urban campus a "game-changer" for Covington.
Covington must promote tolerance and multiculturalism. Covington's population is diverse. The city has had a human rights ordinance since 2003 and will soon move to pass domestic partnership benefits for public employees in same-sex relationships.
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| A discussion about neighborhoods |
Covington must have walkable, bikeable, transit-rich streets with designs for multiple modes. The plan in the spotlight a couple weeks ago is for Riverfront Commons, a sweeping redevelopment along the shore of the Ohio River that promotes this philosophy. The street grid in Covington is strong and it is easily among Kentucky's most walkable cities.
Covington must streamline its approach to entrepreneurs. Segal stressed the importance of business support structure, incentives, and space available for upstart business-minded people. Covington has plenty of opportunities, space and incentives available to potential entrepreneurs. Some bolstering of the process and system would be of great service to the redevelopment of Downtown.
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Other important points included the need for regional investment, public & private partnerships, and staying attractive to young and older residents. Covington also must get on board the healthy food movement, according to Segal, who pointed to an urban grocery in another city that put a greenhouse on its roof and now grows its produce year-round.
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| UC Students are shadowing PUMA during the CCAP |
Interestingly, another important point is for a city to partner with small healthcare and technology businesses. Covington has made strides in that effort in recent months with growth planned for bioLOGIC, the new HealthPoint, the new Saint Elizabeth Hospital and the tech firms on Pike Street. The CCAP may be the most successful plan yet simply by the fact that much of the initial conversation involves steps already being taken by Covington.
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"How do we position a town as the center of innovation and business development," Segal asked. "You have a window here and I think we're in alignment with your new leadership."
"How do we position a town as the center of innovation and business development," Segal asked. "You have a window here and I think we're in alignment with your new leadership."
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The results of both of Segal's sessions will be posted online soon. PUMA hopes to report in the spring on recommendations from the plan.
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| Mayor Chuck Scheper checks out display | |
"We look at this more as an investment strategy more than a plan," said Brad Segal, President of Progressive Urban Management Associates (PUMA), the lead consulting firm for the CCAP. "Whatever we come up with has to relate to jobs and invesments."
ReplyDelete"We want to be visionary but also we have to be pragmatic," Segald said. "You'll see a lot from of us on the organizational side as well as the vision side." Segal added that the extra burden of a weak economy will pose a challenge for Covington but that "much of what is needed to make the urban core great is already here."
"How do we position a town as the center of innovation and business development," Segal asked. "You have a window here and I think we're in alignment with your new leadership."
This is DejaVu for me; I've lived on the South Bank for most of my Life, the last 17 years in Covington. From J.T. Spences' insightful "Lewisburg" plan to Cathedral Square, Southbank Partners' "RiverFront Commons", "Times Square Commons"... It was always in the Cards for Covington to be Optimistic & HOPEFUL for its future! There's no reason why our Madison Avenue can't be the Midwest Version of NYC's Marketing Mecca. Look at the Companies already established here! Remember when Cinti Bell & the Queen City teamed up to be the "ZoomTown"!? Now they're pushing forward with Fiber-Optics; sounds like a Partnership ready to happen, IMHO... These will be the jobs & companies of our future. No more Duro's or Manufacturing for the least educated to be hired at...