City selects consulting firm as downtown revitalization partner
After 30 years and a more than $30 million investment, Carlsbad Village has been revitalized. Attractive stores, chic restaurants and an award-winning theater have replaced the seedy bars and sketchy businesses that populated the downtown of the 1970s.
Carlsbad Village is about to enter its next phase.
The City Council has hired Urban Place Consulting Group to create a private, non-governmental organization that will continue the Village's revitalization effort. Urban Place has helped 34 downtown associations, business improvement districts and cities throughout the United States to develop visions, define goals and streamline board, committee and staffing structures. Urban Place has demonstrated considerable expertise in creating downtowns and commercial districts that are vibrant, healthy and sustainable.
The city's vision for the Village is as a family-friendly destination that is both pedestrian- and bicycle-oriented, a place where people's jobs, homes and recreation are within a short walk of each other. Urban Place will partner with the city and local merchants and residents to help make that vision a reality.
"With many years of high-quality experience revitalizing downtowns, and with the ability to take a fresh look at the current environment, Urban Place is in an ideal position to help re-energize the effort to create a sense of place and further enhance the Village through partnerships with property and business owners," said Village business owner Richard Zall. "I am very excited about this new partnership and have great expectations for a bright and exciting future for the Village."
Richard was a member of the Citizens Advisory Committee appointed by the Housing and Redevelopment Commission to recommend a private partner to help the Village continue to move forward in its revitalization effort.
The new organization will build on past successes to move the Village forward in a way that encourages private investment of resources, including both time and money. The program will not be implemented by a government agency, or be city-operated. Its staff will not be city employees, and the program will not operate out of a city facility. Startup funds will come from the Housing & Neighborhood Services Department through set-aside redevelopment or other funds, but ultimately the organization must become self-sustaining in its operations and finances.
"The goal is to bring someone in who's going to work their way out of a job by establishing a self-sustaining, private organization that will stand on its own within three to five years," said Zall.
Urban Place will work hand in hand with the Carlsbad Village Association, which has served downtown businesses for many years.
Urban Place was selected by a citizens review committee from among seven proposals after a six-month process. The committee narrowed the field to four finalists and interviewed those four. Urban Place stood out for its combination of experience and expertise in revitalizing urban centers.
While the 30-year Village redevelopment process was successful, the City of Carlsbad and the community know that the revitalization and renaissance efforts will continue for many years to come, and need to be based in the private sector to be successful in the long term.
The Village area represents approximately 200 acres of the City of Carlsbad and is located within the oldest part of the city. It represents the original and current "downtown" area of the city and is unique for its oceanfront location and historic relevance as the cradle of Carlsbad.
The Village is very important to the community, and the community has expressed its desire to continue its revitalization. In addition, both the City of Carlsbad and the San Diego Association of Governments have designated the Village as a smart-growth opportunity area, thereby encouraging future sustainable development and ongoing revitalization efforts.
A contract with Urban Place has been approved by the City Council, acting as the Successor Agency for the Carlsbad Redevelopment Agency, and the path forward has been initiated. Watch for many more exciting announcements from Urban Place!
After 30 years and a more than $30 million investment, Carlsbad Village has been revitalized. Attractive stores, chic restaurants and an award-winning theater have replaced the seedy bars and sketchy businesses that populated the downtown of the 1970s.
Carlsbad Village is about to enter its next phase.
The City Council has hired Urban Place Consulting Group to create a private, non-governmental organization that will continue the Village's revitalization effort. Urban Place has helped 34 downtown associations, business improvement districts and cities throughout the United States to develop visions, define goals and streamline board, committee and staffing structures. Urban Place has demonstrated considerable expertise in creating downtowns and commercial districts that are vibrant, healthy and sustainable.
The city's vision for the Village is as a family-friendly destination that is both pedestrian- and bicycle-oriented, a place where people's jobs, homes and recreation are within a short walk of each other. Urban Place will partner with the city and local merchants and residents to help make that vision a reality.
"With many years of high-quality experience revitalizing downtowns, and with the ability to take a fresh look at the current environment, Urban Place is in an ideal position to help re-energize the effort to create a sense of place and further enhance the Village through partnerships with property and business owners," said Village business owner Richard Zall. "I am very excited about this new partnership and have great expectations for a bright and exciting future for the Village."
Richard was a member of the Citizens Advisory Committee appointed by the Housing and Redevelopment Commission to recommend a private partner to help the Village continue to move forward in its revitalization effort.
The new organization will build on past successes to move the Village forward in a way that encourages private investment of resources, including both time and money. The program will not be implemented by a government agency, or be city-operated. Its staff will not be city employees, and the program will not operate out of a city facility. Startup funds will come from the Housing & Neighborhood Services Department through set-aside redevelopment or other funds, but ultimately the organization must become self-sustaining in its operations and finances.
"The goal is to bring someone in who's going to work their way out of a job by establishing a self-sustaining, private organization that will stand on its own within three to five years," said Zall.
Urban Place will work hand in hand with the Carlsbad Village Association, which has served downtown businesses for many years.
Urban Place was selected by a citizens review committee from among seven proposals after a six-month process. The committee narrowed the field to four finalists and interviewed those four. Urban Place stood out for its combination of experience and expertise in revitalizing urban centers.
While the 30-year Village redevelopment process was successful, the City of Carlsbad and the community know that the revitalization and renaissance efforts will continue for many years to come, and need to be based in the private sector to be successful in the long term.
The Village area represents approximately 200 acres of the City of Carlsbad and is located within the oldest part of the city. It represents the original and current "downtown" area of the city and is unique for its oceanfront location and historic relevance as the cradle of Carlsbad.
The Village is very important to the community, and the community has expressed its desire to continue its revitalization. In addition, both the City of Carlsbad and the San Diego Association of Governments have designated the Village as a smart-growth opportunity area, thereby encouraging future sustainable development and ongoing revitalization efforts.
A contract with Urban Place has been approved by the City Council, acting as the Successor Agency for the Carlsbad Redevelopment Agency, and the path forward has been initiated. Watch for many more exciting announcements from Urban Place!