Downtown Market Study Release

During the Manchester 2020 planning process many participants expressed how vital Downtown Manchester is to the community and the importance of strengthening the district moving forward. While the 2020 planning process has been going on, a project analyzing market conditions has been occurring on a parallel track. On Thursday, January 26, nearly 100 people packed into the Elks' Club to hear about the findings of this Downtown Manchester market study. The study was broken down into three components: A customer household telephone survey to gauge people's attitudes and opinions of Downtown; a market analysis that looked at the types of businesses and uses for which there is a market Downtown; and a physical assessment that looked at the condition of Downtown as a whole and certain key buildings. Some of the report's major findings are listed below. The entire report can be viewed HERE.

Consumer Household Survey

• Over 90% of respondents were very or somewhat familiar with Downtown.
• Over 75% of respondents have a very or somewhat favorable opinion of Downtown.
  
• There are no real or perceived barriers keeping residents of Manchester and surrounding towns from visiting Downtown.
• The great majority of respondents said they would frequent Downtown more often if there was more to do.
  

Market Analysis

• While Downtown was once a regional retail center, it now functions more as a service hub.
• Downtown has ample parking and high traffic counts.
• While there is less retail than there used to be, niche, locally-owned retail is still critical to Downtown's success.
• The Downtown office market is stable and well-established.
• Downtown has seen recent growth in the restaurant sector and there is a market for more.
• There are opportunities to improve the existing housing stock through focusing on younger workers, artists and the creative class.
• There is potential for making a destination out of arts, culture and entertainment-related attractions.

Physical Assessment

• Downtown's unique and diverse architecture is a major asset.
• The great majority of Downtown buildings are in excellent or very good condition.
• Historic buildings are a great asset but often difficult and expensive to maintain.
• Work is required to many buildings to make them accessible and compliant.

As part of the project, the consultant team is preparing marketing brochures that will be used to recruit the specific types of businesses called for in the report. The Town and the Special Services District will now create an action plan in order to implement the report's recommendations. This will include meeting with current owners, representatives from financial institutions and the real estate community, to relay relevant findings and begin actively recruiting potential Downtown businesses.

To read more about the report and the presentation, please follow these press links:

• Courant
• Patch
• JI
  

20/20 Vision Recap

On November 16, 2011 the Planning and Zoning Commission hosted an update presentation on the Manchester 2020 planning process. For the past few months the Planning staff and the Commission have been reviewing the results of the 2020 quadrant meetings, conducting additional research, and writing the draft of the planning document.

The focus of the November 16^th session was to review and discuss the aspirations that seem to be representative of the vision for Manchester’s future as articulated by participants in the 2020 workshops. The session also reviewed the major trends, opportunities, and challenges that may either facilitate or impede the Town’s ability to achieve these aspirations.

Planning staff previewed the concept of using community character descriptions as a way to organize and connect the aspirations of the community with the growth management principles and, ultimately, the recommended policies and actions the plan will recommend to achieve the community’s vision. By using community character descriptions, we can look at the different types of places that make up the Town of Manchester, and be sure the tools and strategies applied to the different communities both strengthen those places and help to realize the larger aspiration and vision for the Town.

The slideshow which was used at the 20/20 vision session can be accessed HERE.

It is anticipated the next 2020 meetings will be held in the first quarter of 2012 and focus on goals, objectives, and recommended actions to be incorporated into the plan. Stay tuned!

Help Create a Prosperous, Sustainable Region

Sustainability has been a major theme throughout the Manchester 2020 planning process and will be included in the Manchester 2020 Plan. While sustainability is important to many residents and community members, the issue reaches far outside the Town boundary.

Manchester is currently participating in the Sustainable Knowledge Corridor project an exciting three-year initiative that supports planning for transportation, community development, economic development and environmental improvement projects that will help the Hartford/Springfield region grow and prosper in a more sustainable manner. Manchester residents are invited to participate in setting the priorities for the Sustainable Knowledge Corridor project. To participate, click HERE. to complete a 5-10 minute survey on the region and its future. For more information, please visit the project website at www.sustainableknowledgecorridor.org.

20/20 Vision- A Manchester 2020 Update- Nov 16

Manchester 2020 is back!

All members of the Manchester community are invited to attend 20/20 Vision: An Update on the Manchester 2020 Planning Process on Wednesday, November 16^th at 7 PM in the Great Path Academy Community Commons, located on the campus of Manchester Community College.

This meeting is part of the ongoing Manchester 2020 Planning Process. Over the past several months, the Planning and Zoning Commission and Planning Department staff have been reviewing and organizing all comments, suggestions and ideas from the Quadrant Discovery Workshops, Quadrant Summit and thematic workshops; completing additional research, mapping and analysis; and drafting portions of what will ultimately become the Manchester 2020 Plan. This event will address:

* Major themes and community aspirations for Manchester’s future.

* Major opportunities and challenges in achieving those aspirations.

* Opportunities to protect and enhance Manchester’s community character.

* Next steps in completing the 2020 plan.

Registration for this event is not required but is appreciated. Please email the Planning Department at anderson@manchesterct.gov or call 860-647-3044 to RSVP.

Hope to see you there!

Speaking of the Arts...

On Monday, June 6th, 40-or-so members of the Manchester community came together to discuss the present and future of the Arts in Manchester. Participants completed the following sentences individually and then discussed their answers in groups:

• Arts and culture contribute to Manchester's quality of life by...
  

• A vibrant arts community. . .

• If Manchester wants to support and encourage a vibrant arts community we need to...

Of course, there is already lots of great artsy stuff happening in town. So, the entire group finished the evening by brainstorming what makes up the arts community and scene in Manchester today.

How about you? What are your favorite arts-related people, places and events in Manchester?

Planning Department staff is currently compiling and organizing all the comments, ideas and suggestions from the workshop and will be sharing the results with the Arts Commission. Some of the most popular ideas will be included in the 2020 plan. Stay tuned!

The Future of the Housing Market

One of the Growth Management Principles on which the plan is being organized is Expansion of Housing Opportunities and Design Choices in a Variety of Housing Types.

Today's housing market is changing rapidly. Demographers and market analysts are saying an aging and diversifying population, fewer traditional family households, lower homeownership rates and increasing household size coupled with demands for smaller unit size, quality rental housing options and housing close to transit, shopping and services will drive the future market. Many 2020 participants have pointed to the diversity of housing in Manchester as one of the town's strengths. A common theme was the desire to revitalize commercial and transportation nodes and corridors with a mix of housing and other uses. Manchester 2020 will be asking: How can we take advantage of both our current assets and these future trends? See the links below for two recent reports on demographic and the coming housing market.

This article: Part 1, Part 2, slideshow summary highlights demographic and economic trends driving the housing market.

This report from the Urban Land Institute on multifamily housing highlights some of the community, economic and environmental benefits of quality multifamily housing.

Transportation Connections Workshop Presentations

When asked what they would like Manchester to be like in the year 2020, many participants at the Quadrant Discovery Workshops spoke about improving connectivity around town and making traveling by public transit, bicycle or foot easier, safer and more convenient. On April 6, members of the Manchester community participated in a workshop on Transportation Connections as part of the Manchester 2020 Planning Process. Participants at the workshop explored the topics of public transit and "complete streets" with representatives from the Capitol Region Council of Governments, CT Transit and the Town of Manchester. Slide presentations from this event are now available, below:

Discovery Workshop Results and Public Transit in Manchester
Gary Anderson, Senior Planner, Manchester Planning Department
Sandy Fry, Principal Planner, Capitol Region Council of Governments
David Lee, General Manager, CT Transit

Complete Streets and Current Town Policies and Practices
Sandy Fry, Principal Planner, Capitol Region Council of Governments
Mark Carlino, Director, Manchester Department of Public Works