City presents draft 'Elevate Downtown' plan, sets public review ahead of Oct. 27 council work session

City staff and planning consultants presented a draft update to the downtown master plan, now called the Elevate Downtown plan, to the Downtown Review Board on Oct. 7, outlining priority actions for small-business support, mobility and housing and announcing a public draft to be posted before a City Council work session Oct. 27.

Consultants and staff said the two-volume update — a DDA plan of development and a downtown plan — builds on the 2016 Experience Downtown plan and the 2009 Imagine Downtown vision. "Downtown Colorado Springs is at a defining moment across all demographics," Austin (Downtown Partnership representative) told the board, citing new investments and destinations that have increased downtown activity.

The presentation emphasized a large engagement effort: consultants reported more than 2,000 online survey responses, "over 16 focus groups," and multiple pop-up and in-person events. Mark De La Torre, director of Denver operations for MIG, summarized the project scope…