The graphic above illustrates a concept to create a public plaza at the intersection of Main Street and Chillicothe Street in Uptown Plain City. Improvements at the intersection are one of six “priority projects” identified in an Uptown Plan created by consulting firm OHM Advisors.
(Graphic submitted)
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A new plan to revitalize Uptown Plain City will center on developments around and improvements to Main Street.
“Really all you need to create an identity for a community is one street,” said Kim Littleton with OHM Advisors.
Littleton presented details of the consulting firm’s completed Uptown Plan to council during its work session Wednesday.
He explained that the Uptown Plan was developed in accordance with public input gathered through surveys, stakeholder meetings and steering committee meetings.
From there, he said OHM Advisors evaluated the existing conditions of the Uptown and used best practices to formulate a vision for the area moving forward.
He noted to council that the document is simply a policy plan – “it is not a binding document” – that village staff and officials can use as a guide.
The ultimate “vision” the plan aims to achieve is to make the Uptown “economically, culturally and socially vibrant.”
Littleton emphasized that the revitalization and development of the Uptown will be a years-long process, but highlighted six “priority projects.”
They include creating housing at the former elementary school building, adding housing and connections to southwest Plain City, improving the intersection of Main Street and North Chillicothe Street, working on the streetscapes along Main street, adding parking and creating a better connection to the Heritage Trail.
Plain City Development Manager Jason Stanford said the village is already working on five of the six projects.
Littleton said public-private partnerships will be crucial to completing the projects. He highlighted improvements to the intersection of Main Street and Chillicothe Street as an example.
In the plan created by OHM, planners envision new mixed-use buildings on the northeast corner and two public plazas on either side of Chillicothe Street. Brick pavers would expand into the public right-of-way from the plazas and a green space would be added on the southwest corner.
“We want to take it from the days when it was a truck route to a focal point for the community,” Littleton said.
Council member Frank Reed said he liked the ideas presented in the plan, but asked Littleton how the village can accomplish them if “it’s in the hands of private developers.”
Stanford reiterated that the village must build and strengthen partnerships with private developers and landowners to achieve the broader vision for the Uptown.
For example, he said if the buildings at the intersection of Main Street and Chillicothe Street were sold by the owners, the village could purchase them. Then the village could issue a Request for Proposals for private developers to complete work based on the vision laid out in the Uptown Plan.
Council President James Sintz said property owners could also like the plan presented by the village and work together to redevelop the properties. Stanford agreed.
Littleton said the Uptown Plan includes an “implementation toolkit,” which includes objectives and associated action steps, funding strategies and resources, partners, a timeframe and available references.
Stanford said the community response from local business owners and residents “has been very positive so far.”
He credited the earlier work of the Uptown Plain City Organization, which is no longer in existence, but he said kickstarted the idea of revitalizing the Uptown and making it both a community hub and destination.
Stanford said he hopes the plan will help village officials and staff to maintain the history of Uptown Plain City while ensuring that future development is consistent with the area’s identity.
“I want this to survive the next 150 years,” he said.