City seeks community feedback on development of city central core
Last updated 8/27/2020 at 11:39am
AIRWAY HEIGHTS—Airway Heights is growing. The population grew from 6,114 in 2010 to 10,010 in 2020-a 64% growth rate. The city estimates the population will continue to grow to 14,298 by 2037. Therefore, city planners are seeking community feedback on downtown commercial and housing developments under the US 2 Corridor Plan.
There is no official area designated as “downtown,” but it is “generally” considered to be the area between Russell and Ziegler Streets east to west, and between 12th and 18th Avenues north to south.
A Visual Preference survey is available on the city website and lets users choose between three downtown development scenarios laid out by the city.
“This plan will result in a list of action items that establish clear directions and initiatives, with a focus on housing, to start implementing the preferred scenario,” the website states.
Chief city planner Heather Trautman, who is leading the project, said the city values public feedback on the downtown corridor and will use it to answer questions about a future downtown design.
“Where should the downtown be and what should the character of the downtown be?” Trautman said when asked about information the public can help provide.
Scenario 1 would continue to make Highway 2 the main portion of downtown.
“By slowing traffic and enhancing commercial uses along the corridor, downtown would become a safer, more attractive and more livable space, while still accommodating highway traffic,” the website reads.
Under Scenario 1, the area directly north of 12th Avenue would be mostly single-family and duplex style housing, similar to what is there presently. Townhomes and apartments would go a block south, north of 13th Avenue. Existing civic buildings in that area would remain. Just north of Highway 2 would be a mixture of retail and housing or office spaces, divided by floor level.
Just south of Highway 2 would be single-use retail, similar to what is already present. Light manufacturing and warehouse space, “with potential craft retail,” would go farther south behind Yoke’s.
The city would enhance pedestrian crossings at major intersections and the downtown “boulevard” by the auto licensing office to slow traffic speeds and enhance crossings under this scenario. Features could “potentially” include traffic circles, street trees or pedestrian islands.
“Commercial buildings would line the street, creating a sense of a more traditional downtown,” the website says. “Landscaping and public art would make the entire area more attractive.”
Scenario 2 would mark King Street as Main Street, making the main stretch of downtown run perpendicular to Highway 2. A similar housing plan north of Highway 2 to Scenario 1 would be in place. A new “civic campus” would go just south of Highway 2 by Yoke’s, and light manufacturing and warehouse space would be south of that.
“King Street would be lined with downtown commercial buildings, which could include mixed use buildings with storefronts on the street level,” the website reads.
The city would enhance crossings and landscapes with the goal of facilitating slower traffic speed along Highway 2 in this scenario. King Street’s sidewalks would also be enhanced for downtown uses such as outdoor restaurant seating or sidewalk furniture.
“US-2 is re-imagined as a downtown boulevard with traffic calming measures slowing speeds while allowing continuous movements of traffic,” the website says.
Landscaping and public art would be featured at the King Street and Highway 2 intersection under this scenario. Public spaces, which the website includes plazas and pocket parts, would be featured downtown and on the civic campus.
Scenario 3 would prioritize downtown housing, “with significant housing developments” going along Highway 2 to the north. Potential housing types include townhouses or cottage-style homes.
“Higher-intensity” housing would go farther north above 13th Avenue. The civic campus described in Scenario 2, as well as light manufacturing and warehouse space would still be south of Highway 2 in this scenario.
“A focus on housing would mean incorporating a variety of housing types throughout the downtown corridor and its immediate surroundings,” the website reads.
This scenario would seek to make the downtown corridor accessible to all modes of transportation, according to the website. One option would be a sidepath for bicycles and foot traffic alongside Highway 2.
“US-2 would transform into a boulevard, with traffic calming features like street trees, safe crossings and frontage roads that would direct local traffic off the main road, leaving US-2 to mainly serve through traffic,” the website says.
“Liner” buildings would go on the south side of Highway 2 to establish storefronts under this scenario, with landscaping enhancements accompanying storefronts on the north side of the highway.
Ultimately, the city belongs to its residents, and the downtown plan should reflect that, Trautman said.
“It’s the community’s city and we need to know how it should develop,” Trautman said. “We need a guiding light; that’s what community feedback provides.”
Drew Lawson can be reached at drew@cheneyfreepress.com.
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