The Council’s motion contained a lot of direction about what the DDA would be doing. Here is a selection:
• Collate relevant data from A2D2 public meetings and surveys to determine broad community vision
• Solicit robust public input and conduct public meetings to determine residents’ Parcel-level downtown vision
• Meetings with business and community leaders to obtain their analysis of downtown’s strengths and weaknesses, its opportunities and inherent obstacles

Note that part about robust public input? And parcel-level vision? And community vision? And the call to analyze downtown as a whole?

I would hope that as this discussion matures, we will frame the question being considered more broadly than how to develop every parcel to its maximum limits.

I am not talking about parks (though they should not be excluded without some of that process). I am talking about to what uses these parcels could be put that maximize the experience of visiting and living downtown, while supporting a business climate that benefits a wide range of retail businesses. (Or should we simply make downtown into an office park that no one visits outside of work hours? Or strictly a restaurant reservation?)

Already we are hearing about going outside those limits in order to develop lots based on their possible revenue potential. That may sound like a positive financial move, but is it the best thing in the long run? Consider Ashley Terrace. It followed all the dicta of the moment. High-density residential, with on-site parking and street-level retail. Has it enhanced our downtown?

I hope that the DDA board has the grace to follow at least a significant fraction of Council’s intent. Council represents the citizens of this city. The DDA should not fulfill dire predictions about handing them this responsibility by ignoring Council’s direction.