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URA reviews downtown maps for DRI and offers to administer innovation RFP
Summary
At its Oct. 7 work session Mount Vernon URA staff showed two competing downtown maps — one from the comp plan and another used for DRI rezoning prior to 2024 — and proposed including an MX‑1 commercial corridor in URA boundaries for future grant and bonding opportunities. The board also discussed whether the URA should administratively manage a do
The Mount Vernon Urban Renewal Agency on Oct. 7 reviewed competing downtown boundary maps used for the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) and discussed whether to expand the URA area to include an MX‑1 commercial corridor that extends beyond the DRI boundary used in earlier rezoning.
Executive Director Pamela Tarlow presented two maps: a comp‑plan map showing density distribution and a colored map used in DRI materials that reflects rezoning prior to 2024. Tarlow said staff could not find an original map showing the URA’s powers and that, with a new comprehensive plan, the URA may want to consider updating its district map so it could pursue commercial as well as housing projects.
“We have an area that is called MX 1 Commercial Corridor. I think we would like to include that MX 1 Commercial Corridor as we move forward,” Tarlow said, offering the planning department’s assistance to document the change and noting that Darius would give guidance on the technical steps to update maps.
Board members suggested looking back to the state legislation that created the URA to confirm original boundaries and to check whether expanding the district would enable additional bonding and grant opportunities. Dr. Morton and staff discussed the potential benefits of a larger URA boundary for funding and for city planning projects that extend beyond the current renewal area.
Separately, the board discussed the Downtown Innovation RFP (grant) and whether the URA should undertake administrative responsibilities for the innovation competition. Dr. Morton said the URA should probably handle administrative pieces while broader governance decisions — such as city‑owned property and involvement of the Industrial Development Agency (IDA) — would require coordination among city offices, the URA and the IDA.
Ending: Staff will supply the two map versions to board members, research the original URA boundary in state enabling documents and return with an approach for any map update and a proposed administrative role for the innovation RFP.
