Friday, March 7, 2014
ROGERS -- Aldermen on Thursday approved a $450,000 contract with Gateway Planning to do a downtown revitalization study officials hope will provide the information necessary to make downtown a destination.
Scott Polikov, Gateway president, explained during the special meeting at City Hall the study is expected to take from nine months to a year to design a road map that will suggest zoning, create a plan, preserve historic character, improve connectivity and provide for infill housing.
At A Glance
Downtown Plan
Gateway Planning officials explained the scope of work for downtown Rogers on Thursday. One of the items Gateway wants to establish is a cycle for reinvestment.
• The first part of the cycle is neighborhood investment
• Which leads to taxable growth
• Followed by value capture
• Then infrastructure regeneration
• That connects with neighborhood investment
Source: Staff Report
"Rogers is still a modest size community with big city issues," Polikov said. "You have to win the global talent war. Young professionals can live anywhere they want, so why not downtown Rogers. It doesn't just happen. You have a have a plan and a strategy to create the atmosphere the best and the brightest want."
The Gateway team has done some work on the study. Polikov said the team should be able to hit the ground running.
"Nine months is very aggressive for the detailed plan we will develop. It may take up to a year to complete, but if we go much past 14 or 15 months we are doing something wrong," Polikov said.
The scope of work outlined in the presentation begins with the assessment of conditions and opportunities, and interviews with store owners, teens, families, professionals and working-class residents from all parts of the city and local developers/investors.
The Gateway team will also create a market analysis, cultural, arts and destination activity analysis, host a three-day design workshop, deliver a master plan and develop an implementation plan for downtown.
"The work and the plan must be built on authenticity. By that I mean we aren't going to come back with Disneyland plan, it will be plan that fits Rogers that capitalizes on development momentum," Polikov said.
Betsy Reithemeyer, alderwoman, asked how the plan will work with ongoing projects such as converting the former City Hall into apartments at the intersection of Elm and Third streets.
"Our first rule is to do no harm. We're not going to tell the developer what to do. We have to understand their project and build on that," Polikov said.
The Lake Atalanta renovation is an important piece of the plan, said Mayor Greg Hines.
"I know you and your team are well aware of the Lake Atalanta project, but I would like you to explain how it will play into the plan you will develop," Hines said.
"I think Lake Atalanta is incredible. It going be great for people who live downtown. They can walk or ride a bike to the park after work. Ride or walk the trails, relax by the lake or just enjoy nature. Having Lake Atalanta next door to downtown is going to help bring people downtown," Polikov said.
Aldermen were generally impressed by the 40-minute review of the plan.
"I think it was great presentation. I'm excited and ready to get this project going," Reithemeyer said after the meeting.
Gary Townzen, alderman, was impressed by Polikov and the plan.
"He's very knowledgeable and knows what he's talking about. I found the presentation to be very interesting and informative. I'm excited about the revitalization of downtown and all the other projects in the city. Rogers is just a great place to be right now," Townzen said.
NW News on 03/07/2014