LT-SS-2023-002-Ellensburg-Unity-Park-Shade-Tents (4)

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4.2 Expanding Success 4.2.1 Begin to look at downtown as a broacler City Center Figure 9 on the following page illustrates opporhrnity sites in a much brcader context than thedowntown core plan shown in Figure B. Th; .itm ur" divided into sixteen sites labeled as LevelI opporfunity sites and ten sites labeied as Level 2 opportunity sites. The levels are to providesome idea as to which sites are more likely to develop in the shorter versus longer term. It in noway implies that a Level 2 opportunity might not riseirp to be a very early devei-opment project, Thc sitcs are also marked as to whether they are vacant land or lots, are undenrtilizecl propcrtieswhere the existing use may not be consistent with a denser and developed downtown, or arepropetties where the ground floor may be occupied and tlie upper floor is vacant. whenexamined as a whole, downtown Elleniburg cun b" viewed to extend to University way to thenorth and across Water Street to the west. The City should adjust the zoning for portions ofWater Street to expand the downtown core. 4,2.2 Partney with existing and neru investors on underutilized sites iclentifietl by priority inthe plan. The single best way to explore redevelopment of unclenrtilized sites and bqildings is tocommunicate with property owners. Many owners simply do not know that their properties havea higher or better use or may not know where to begin on considering renovation, ,irhile othersmay havc no interest whatsoever in pursuing investment at this tirne. The Downtowners can continue to rneet and work with property owners on a case-by-case basisby. answering questions, contemplating partnerships, and offering incentives to advanccredevelopment' some communitiei have cbntemplatld creating incentives that treat downtownbuildings as a community wouid any other infrastructur" opfohnity. In so doing, communitieshave implemented ADA grant progiams to bring buildi"g;;; to code, created sLrea sprinklersystems that allow for a number of buildings to enjoy the benefit of this fir" ,uffr.rsion codecompliance or installed shared elevator space for upp"t floors flinded through public or quasi-public entities' some nses may be ideally suited for property irro., so that higler and better usescan come into downtown Ellensburg. Many _of these opportunitie. "r. ,.i*i"t to propeftytrades along Water Street where there are uses that should Le off the street and in industrial areasof Ellensburg' The Kittitas Reclamation District, the food bank, and storage lots would probablybenefit from locations that are more efficient. 31