HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 8506 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS NO- 8506
Date: 71812003
0-Irl"t
CAI To the Mayor and Members of the City Council
Page I of 2
Progress report on the implementation of the Commercial Corridors
Task Force recommendations
The report to City Council during the July 8, 2003 Pre-Council meeting will provide an overview of the
City's progress to date in implementing the recommendations of the Commercial Corridors Task Force.
The Commercial Corridors Task Force, first appointed in January 2000 and under the Chairmanship of
Councilmember Ralph McCloud, conducted an extensive community planning process to put in place a
strategy to revitalize central city commercial corridors. The Task Force's effort, assisted by Leland
Consulting Group, resulted in the Central City Commercial Corridors Revitalization Strategy that
comprises community vision, market analyses, urban design and redevelopment best practices for ten
targeted redevelopment areas along five of the central city's commercial corridors. The Strategy also
recognizes target areas along corridors for which redevelopment efforts were already underway.
Revitalizing these"urban villages"will serve as a catalyst for private investment along the priority
corridors. Additionally, the lessons the Task Force learned during the planning process will assist
Council and other stakeholders in putting in place policies, programs and procedures that will benefit all
of the central city. The Strategy encompasses a blueprint to revitalize each urban village as well as
broader strategies that could apply to all central city targeted areas.
On November 27, 2001, the Task Force presented the Strategy recommendations to City Council, which
authorized the City Manager to commence implementing certain elements of the Strategy. Staff from all
relevant departments created a detailed action plan for each of the recommended elements of the
Strategy. City Council formally endorsed the Strategy by adopting it by reference in the
Comprehensive Plan on August 20, 2002 (M&C G-13704). Upon this Council action, departments
formalized their commitment to implement the Strategy by incorporating the essential elements into their
business plans and diligently working towards their successful accomplishment.
The City's efforts in focusing its interdepartmental tools to rebuild the central city have received local and
national recognition. Most recently in June 2003, the North Central Texas Council of Governments
Center of Development Excellence awarded the City a Landmark "Best of Category"Award in the first-
ever Celebrating Leadership in Development Excellence (GLIDE)Awards Program. The attached
brochure summarizes three key aspects,of interdepartmental collaboration in revitalizing the urban
villages. As a testament to that collaboration, City departments have provided assistance on various
initiatives in all of the villages. Some salient results include the rezoning and Neighborhood
Empowerment Zone (NEZ) designation of six of the thirteen villages.
The July 8 report to City Council will highlight key accomplishments, benchmarks for the City's progress
and provide guidance on how to continue the work of revitalizing the central city. One of the
accomplishments that will be discussed includes the City's January 22, 2002 commitment to
institutionalize revitalizing the central city with the appointment of an Assistant City Manager for
Economic and Community Development and establishment of the Economic and Community
Development Department (Ordinance#14936). The Economic and Community Development
Department has brought back Leland Consulting Group to assist with advancing the concepts of the
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 8506
0_1 to?, Date* 71812003
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council
Page 2 of 2
Progress report on the implementation of the Commercial Corridors
Task Force recommendations
Strategy as well as other initiatives associated with achieving the Council strategic goal of revitalizing
central city commercial districts and neighborhoods.
Leland Consulting Group's national perspective and experience enables them to benchmark the
City's progress in central city revitalization for City Council. Leland Consulting Group provides this
first annual briefing to help facilitate interdepartmental progress in implementing central city
revitalization initiatives and to put in place a system to benchmark the City's progress. Attached is
a copy of the Leland briefing which shall supplement their report during the Pre-Council meeting.
Gary Jackson
City Manager
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS