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Fairbanks rolls out storefront grants, parking signs and markets to boost downtown activity
Summary
Borough staff and commissioners described a package of non‑zoning downtown actions — a city storefront improvement grant, a volunteer parking‑signing program, trial bike lanes, monthly markets, and housing rehabilitation grants — intended to activate Fairbanks’ core this summer.
At a May 13 meeting of the Fairbanks North Star Borough Planning Commission, a borough staff member reported a cluster of implementation steps for the downtown Fairbanks plan, including a new storefront improvement grant, parking signage pilot, trial bike lanes and monthly markets.
The update matters because the measures are intended to move the downtown plan from policy into visible change: grants and marketing that aim to bring customers, renovate storefronts and make underused parking and vacant properties more accessible.
Borough staff read from recent City Council actions and local implementation efforts. "At City Council meeting last Monday ... they passed an ordinance setting up a storefront improvement program," the staff member said, adding that business owners can apply for up to $50,000, with the grant reimbursing 50 percent of eligible costs. "Applications went live today," the staff member said, and the first closing date is June 13 with a second funding round planned July 18 if money allows.
Staff also described a volunteer Fairbanks Friendly parking program developed with FAST Planning to better sign existing parking. "We counted them up, there's over 14,000 parking spaces downtown and ... less than 20% of the time are they actually full," the staff member said, arguing clearer signage should help direct customers to available lots. The voluntary program uses blue signs to indicate lots open to public or after‑hours parking; staff said some property owners, including the courthouse, have agreed to participate.
Commissioner Olivia, who has organized the new monthly downtown market, said she chose Golden Heart Plaza to "activate as a community space" and described plans for a third‑Thursday market running 4–8 p.m., with the first event scheduled within days of the commission meeting. "This time, we have 10 vendors, 2 food trucks, a pop up pet adoption ... live music," she said, noting all vendors were local.
Staff said the city plans a temporary bike lane trial on several downtown streets this summer, including Barnett Street, and that Fairbanks Neighborhood Housing is developing a rehabilitation grant program for underused or abandoned properties that could provide "potentially up to $30,000 per structure" with little or no match requirement.
On public restroom access, staff said the city has purchased a Portland Loo for Golden Heart Plaza but that it is likely to be a summer‑only installation: "My last understanding was it would still be a ... summer only facility. I don't believe it would be heated and they would turn ... water and utilities off during the winter," the staff member said.
Next steps include processing storefront grant applications on the schedule announced and monitoring the bike lane trial and market series this summer. The planning commission will receive a short presentation on participating parking lots and other downtown items at a future meeting.
