LIZ BECHER

Perspective

Vision is the power of seeing. It is the sense of sight, and the ability to plan ahead. It is the ability to imagine.

Visionaries are the people who take their own vision and make it visible to others. They physically create their vision.

The city of Casper is a visionary. For the past several years, the city leadership, staff, and countless community volunteers have envisioned the redevelopment of the West Central Corridor in downtown Casper. Balanced growth in our community is essential to its survival. While retail development along the borders of this community offers needed services to residents, the downtown core of any community must continue to thrive economically. It is the heart of who we are, and what holds us together as a whole instead of many separate parts.

The Casper Urban Renewal Agency created a comprehensive master vision in 2002 that examined how to revitalize the West Central Corridor by encouraging the reinvestment by property owners in the area, the utilization of infill and mixed-use developments, the upkeep of historic buildings through tax incentive programs, and the recruitment of complimentary commercial and residential businesses to fill the needs of target customers in the downtown area.

From that master vision, city leadership determined an implementation plan to make the vision a reality. The transformation of the West Central Corridor into a vibrant and healthy business/residential/entertainment district has been guided by the foresight of City Council members and the city of Casper staff. Those visionaries have assembled a full-time team, timeline, and resources for its redevelopment vision. This team shares the same vision -n to create a mixed-use, mixed-income downtown.

Here's how the vision will be created:

• The community has expressed how badly it wants additional retail, entertainment, and restaurant opportunities. In order to support these commercial visions, we must increase the density of people living downtown n- rooftops before retail. We must set the stage for as much residential development as possible. To accomplish that, the City Council and staff have developed a new regulatory structure to support mixed-use design throughout the West Central Corridor. Housing will be encouraged at all price points.

• The city of Casper, through its Metropolitan Planning Organization, has increased street connectivity and pedestrian activity in the West Central Corridor. The key planning principle is to balance transportation needs with community vision. There must be a balance struck between the pedestrian walkability in the redevelopment area, and the demand for streets to enhance traffic circulation.

• The beauty of the North Platte River is obviously a critical component of the downtown appeal. The city recognizes how important it is to reconnect value to the riverfront area in the West Central Corridor and maintain public access. The vision is to meet the desire for an urban waterfront lifestyle and compliment the downtown experience.

• Public participation in the planning process for the redevelopment area will be ongoing. The city has hosted numerous public open houses, workshops, luncheons, Web site updates, and newsletters to ascertain the issues and opportunities in the redevelopment plan, and update stakeholders on the progress.

• Landscape architecture will be used as another development tool of the city. Landscaping is planned in the transportation infrastructure, streetscapes, wayfinding signage, and public areas. Features like pocket parks and waterfront design will be used as a catalyst for new investment.

• A variety of financing programs and partnerships will fund the vision. The city will assist infrastructure development. Federal tax incentive programs will be utilized in connection with private investment in the redevelopment of historic buildings and the creation of new mixed-use developments. Federal and state loan programs will offer attractive interest rates for business expansions. Our local banking community has been educated about the city's vision and funding programs, and they are already working with creative and traditional financing packages on several business ventures in the West Central Corridor.

• Private development and investment will be the driving force in the redevelopment. The city recognizes that these private developers are visionaries too, and we applaud them. They will be our partners throughout the development of this project, and will share in its success.

The city of Casper has a vision. The city of Casper has a plan to physically create that vision.

Our city leadership is committed and united in their vision. Our community partners are knowledgeable and informed. Resources are in place.

Our visionaries are ready to create their vision.

Liz Becher is the urban renewal coordinator for the city of Casper.