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Old Town subarea plan charts Main Street investments, traffic options and facade grants
Summary
Consultants and planning staff presented a draft Old Town subarea plan that recommends wider sidewalks, improved intersections, targeted parking strategies, storefront improvement grants and traffic routing options to make Main Street more of a destination.
City planning staff and consultant First 40 Feet presented the draft Old Town subarea plan to council on Aug. 18, describing strategies to revitalize East Main Street between Parkway and the event center and to support private storefront investments.
Jason Graff of First 40 Feet and city planning staff said the 18‑month effort included business and property owner outreach, a technical advisory committee and a project advisory committee. The plan identifies seven strategy areas: a safer, more comfortable Main Street, improved connections and alternatives for through traffic, partnerships with businesses, capital projects for stormwater and utilities, stop and shelter upgrades, parking efficiency improvements and code/design guidelines to guide future development.
The plan presents a suite of traffic options to balance through traffic and the street’s role as a destination. Consultants said they evaluated traffic calming, a one‑way couplet and preserving vehicle capacity by adding capacity on Southeast First to offer a through‑route option so Main Street could be treated more as a place for pedestrians. The plan includes concept designs that show opportunities to widen sidewalks by narrowing travel lanes, add curb extensions and create seating and small plazas.
The consultant identified potential public‑private actions including a storefront facade enhancement grant program, design guidance for “first 40 feet” building treatments, and temporary pilot projects such as a demonstration plaza. The plan notes potential sites for additional public parking and recommends community hubs and smaller transit facilities to support future C‑Tran service expansion.
Planning staff said the draft was reviewed by the Planning Commission on July 30 and that staff will return to council next month to request formal adoption of the subarea plan.
Quotes: “The idea is that it wasn't just kind of infrastructure and planning for the future, but building relationships with the businesses that are on the street,” Jason Graff said. “What attracts people to Main Street is the businesses and the investments in those buildings.”
Next steps: Council will review the full draft plan and is scheduled to consider formal adoption at a future meeting following additional staff follow‑up.
