The Downtown Taunton Development Study’s first Public Workshop, “Downtown Taunton: Challenges & Opportunities,” was held over two sessions on May 13 and 20. Over 60 participants attended, including residents, business owners, nonprofit leaders, and city and state officials. (Click here to view the maps presented at the Workshop.)
The Workshop began with a presentation by Ed Lambert, Director of the UMass Dartmouth Urban Initiative, on the initial results of his institute's recently concluded downtown Taunton study, which focused on assets and obstacles to revitalization; existing and potential partnerships; available space; and parking utilization.
Some preliminary conclusions presented by Lambert were:
- The vacancy rate in downtown Taunton is not overly significant; there are, however, several highly visible vacancies that create a negative perception
- Over 800 parking spaces are available in downtown Taunton; less than ½ are occupied, even at peak times, and there is greatest availability after 5:00 pm
Lambert went on to present the findings of a stakeholder survey that his team conducted on the perceived challenges and opportunities facing downtown. Survey respondents indicated the following as top challenges:
- Attracting more people downtown in the evenings
- Reducing vacancy rates
- Improving image
- Coordinating a vision for downtown
- Improving parking areas and signage
Respondents indicated downtown Taunton’s history, architecture, and central geographic location as its key strengths. As Lambert noted, downtown Taunton has “good bones,” including the infrastructure needed for successful redevelopment.
The Narrow Gate, the Downtown Taunton Development Study’s architectural consultants, then presented potential revitalization strategies for downtown, based, in part, on a building use and housing assessment map they created as part of the Study.
The Narrow Gate principal Kitty Ryan explained that there are currently only 275 housing units in the downtown; to create a more vibrant neighborhood and spur commercial and retail development, additional housing is needed. She then identified several buildings with mixed-use redevelopment potential.
The architectural team went on to suggest possible parking improvements to support housing development downtown, including better pedestrian access, lighting, landscaping, and signage. The architects were particularly interested in the potential of the “Allens Avenue” parking lot (located behind City Hall) because of its proximity to potential redevelopment properties, as well as its attractive riverfront location.
Comments from those in attendance at the Workshop included:
- We need to make downtown more attractive for housing development, including market-rate development
- The City of Taunton is committed to downtown revitalization, and is currently focusing the investment of community development money on the downtown
- A downtown Business Improvement District (BID) organizing effort is now underway
- The state is already making a significant investment in downtown Taunton through the $70 million courthouse project; this can be a huge catalyst for growth
- People are getting tired of study after study – we need to sustain the current enthusiasm for downtown revitalization and turn it into tangible results
For more on the Downtown Taunton Development Study, view two recent newspaper articles:
- “Experts: Downtown positioned well for growth” Taunton Daily Gazette, May 15, 2009
- “Community group pushes for development of downtown housing” Taunton Daily Gazette, May 21, 2009
Public comments and questions regarding the Downtown Taunton Development Study are encouraged. Please click the “comments” link below to add your input. Comments may be signed or published anonymously.
