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4.2 Expanding Success <br />4.2.1 Begin to look at downtown as a broader City Center <br />Figure 9 on the following page illustrates opportunity sites in a much broader context than the <br />downtown core plan shown in Figure 8. The sites are divided into sixteen sites labeled as Level <br />I opportunity sites and ten sites labeled as Level 2 opportunity sites. The levels are to provide <br />some idea as to which sites are more likely to develop in the shorter versus longer term. it in no <br />way implies that a Level 2 opportunity might not rise up to be a very early development project. <br />The sites are also marked as to whether they are vacant land or Iots, are underutilized properties <br />where the existing use may not be consistent with a denser and developed downtown, or are <br />properties where the ground floor may be occupied and the upper floor is vacant. When <br />examined as a whole, downtown Ellensburg can be viewed to extend to University Way to the <br />north and across Water Smear to the west. The City should adjust the zoning for portions of <br />Water Street to expand the downtown core. <br />4 22 Parbter with exfis ft and new inveswrs an undera tied sites idmi fled by priority in <br />the plan. <br />The single best way to explore redevelopment of underutilized sites and buildings is to <br />communicate with property owners. Many owners simply do not know that their properties have <br />a higher or better use or may not know where to begin on considering renovation, while others <br />may have no interest whatsoever in pursuing investment at this time. <br />The Downtowners can continue to meet and work with property owners on a case-by-case basis <br />by answering questions, contemplating partnerships, and oMring incentives to advance <br />redevelopment. Some communities have contemplated creating incentives that treat downtown <br />buildings as a community would any other itftxstructure opportunity. in so doing, communities <br />have implemented ADA grant programs to bring buildings up to code, created sbared sprinkler <br />systems that allow for a number of buildings to enjoy the benefit of this fire suppression code <br />compliance or installed shared elevator space for upper floors funded through public or quasi - <br />public entities. Some uses may be ideally suited for property trades so that higher and better uses <br />can come into downtown Ellensburg. Many of these opportunities are referring to property <br />trades along Water Street where tyre are uses that should be off the street and in industrial areas <br />of Ellensburg. The Kittitas Reclamation District, the food bank, and storage lots would probably <br />benefit from locations that are more efficient. <br />31 <br />