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4.2 Expanding Success <br />4.2.1 Begin to look at downtown as s brotder City Center <br />Figure 9 on the following page illustrates opporhrnity sites in a much broader context than thedowntown core plan shown in Figure B. fhe sites ur. diuid"d into sixteen sites labeled as LevelI opporhrnity sites and ten sites labeled as Level 2 opporhrnity 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 noway implies that a Level 2 opportunity might not riseirp to be a very early development project, <br />Thc sitcs are also marked as to whether they are vacant land or lots, are undenrtilizecl propcrties <br />where the existing use may not be consistent with a denser and ieveloped downtown, or areplopefties where the ground floor may be occupied and tlie upper floor is vacant. Whenexamined as a whole, downtown Ellensburg .un b. viewed to extind 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. <br />4.2.2 Partner with existing and new investors on underutilized sites iclentified by priority in <br />the plnn. <br />The single best way to explore redevelopment of unclemtilized sites and bqildings is tocommunicate with property owners. Many owners simply do noi know that their properties havea higher or better use or may not know where to begin on considering renovation, while othersmay havc no interest whatsoever in pursuing investment at this tirne. <br />The Downtowners can continue to meet and work with property owners on a case-by-case basisby. answering questions, contemplating partnerships, anO offering incentives to advanecredevelopment. Some communities have contemplated creating incentives that trBat downtownbuildings as a community would any other infrastructure opporirnity. In so doing, communities <br />have implernented ADA grant programs to bring buildings up to code, created sLred sprinkler <br />systems that allow for a number of buildings to enjoy the benefit of this fire suppression codecompliance or installed shared elevator space for uppet floors fiinded through p.rUti" or quasi-public entities. Some uses may be ideally suited for property trades so that hi;he; and better usescan come into downtown Ellensburg. Many of these opporrunities are reining to property <br />trades along Water Sh'eet where there are uses that should bi off the street and in industrial areasof Ellensburg. The Kittitas Reclarnation District, the fooci bank, and storage lots would probably <br />benefit from locations that are more efficient. <br />3l