Author Page
My Posts
CITY BUDGETS FOR DOWNTOWN SERVICES
The Clean Team that keeps downtown’s sidewalks cleared of various messes and snow in a defined area downtown got a boost in the budget the City Council passed on December 12, 2011. Without funds to operate, the Clean Team would have dissolved had not the City Council voted unanimously to partially fund the Clean Team for $50,000 in 2012. The one-time appropriation sponsored by Council member... [Read more]
REVIVING CUSHMAN’S REVITALIZATION
The effort to remodel downtown’s main arteries is reviving. To get the ball rolling again, Fairbanks Mayor Jerry Cleworth named a steering committee to become acquainted with the issues, limitations and potential of Cushman and Barnette streets as one-way facilities. Members of the steering committee – Scott Allison, Tim Cerny, Mary Nordale, June Rogers, and Eric Stoner – will help develop... [Read more]
TAX RELIEF FOR DANCE THEATRE FAIRBANKS?
Dance Theatre Fairbanks will go before the Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly November 17th to seek relief from propery taxes on the old fire hall on 7th Avenue that DTF rehabilitated in the course of locating their non-profit dance school in downtown Fairbanks. The News-Miner previewed tomorrow night’s action and you can read about it in the DTF’s own words here. The Assembly is... [Read more]
A MEASURABLE IMPROVEMENT
Downtowns typically have a variety of needs in the urban core that exceed the level of service envisioned by the City’s charter. Downtowns typically rely on non-governmental organizations like the Downtown Association of Fairbanks to field programs like the Community Service Patrol (CSP) to sustain a welcoming climate and to serve underserved populations. The CSP does both – with measurably... [Read more]
REVITALIZATION SCORECARD
The implementation phase of Vision Fairbanks is over. See News-Miner article. Neither of the plan’s foundational pieces – revising traffic circulation downtown and creating new zoning tools – found support among transportation planners and the Borough Assembly, respectively. Several candidates for local office* have a voting record on measures meant to ‘set the stage’ for economic development... [Read more]
POLARIS PROGRESS?
Opposite the gleaming Alaska State Court building, the moldering Polaris has long eluded revitalization and demolition. The City Council will hold a work session August 22 with the Polaris’ owner Marc Marlow to review his plan to refurbish the Polaris building. Following the Alaska Design Forum’s Looking for Love Again installation in April of this year, a May 3 letter from the City Building... [Read more]
RE-CHARTING DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION
The implementation phase of Vision Fairbanks is over. Neither of the plan’s foundational pieces – revising traffic circulation and creating new zoning tools – was acceptable to enough businesses and property owners downtown. The latest disappointment for revitalization came June 23rd when the Borough Assembly defeated Ordinance 2011-31. That ordinance would have created two new zone types... [Read more]
NEW ZONE TYPES UP FOR A VOTE
Ordinance 2011-31 is up for a vote this Thursday night at the Borough Assembly starting at roughly 8 PM. Ordinance 2011-31 is a second attempt to create Vision Fairbanks-inspired zone types to encourage investment downtown. The first effort was defeated in a 4-4 tie on March 24 due to concerns about the availability of parking in the new zone types. Ordinance 2011-31 therefore increases the availability... [Read more]
PARK DOWNTOWN FOR THE DOWNTOWN WALK
Park downtown then walk to the Immaculate Conception Church on the Chena River by 6 PM to catch the start of the Visitor Industry’s Walk for Charity this Friday the 13th. The walk ends at the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center. The Parking Garage is central to the start and finish and the 3-hour rate is only $3. Enter the garage from 3rd Avenue. The registration fee for the... [Read more]
A SECOND ZONING ORDINANCE ALREADY
There is a new ordinance to refine the Borough’s zoning code and create economic development tools to help downtown compete for investment. Sponsored by Assembly members Winters, Hutchison and Kassel, Ordinance 2011-31 is a second attempt to create Vision Fairbanks-inspired zone types to encourage investment downtown. The first effort was defeated in a 4-4 tie on March 24 due to concerns about... [Read more]
