Strengthen Downtown Core

Attracting new residential development represents one of the most important strategies for securing downtown revitalization because it does so many things at the same time:
• it provides a new use for underutilized downtown properties;
• it expands the customer base for existing and potential businesses and cultural activities, increasing the probability of their success; and
• it adds a human presence downtown at all time periods, which builds new momentum for still more initiatives.
Residential use is encouraged throughout downtown, but several locations represent particularly attractive opportunities for certain types of residential development.

First Street – Opportunities along First Street include vacant warehouses on both sides of the street, and large vacant parcels on the south side of the street closest to the high school

Second Street – Numerous surface parking lots on 2nd Street can be in-filled with housing

Riverfront – Many parcels along the banks of the Chadakoin River are well suited for redevelopment for housing

The market analysis identified potential demand for as many as 150 units over 5-7 years, divided this way:

• 50-60 new small houses (1,000-1500 sf) in neighborhood setting;
• 20 luxury condominiums in the core of downtown, either new townhouses or new/adaptive reuse lofts;
• 20 new, market rate townhouses for rent or sale; and
• 50 new multifamily rental housing units