HyettPalma

 

 


 

 

HyettPalma
703-683-5126
info@hyettpalma.com

Featured Project:
Downtown Salisbury, Maryland

The Salisbury City Council recently determined that a Downtown enhancement strategy was needed to further revitalize Downtown Salisbury. HyettPalma — through the National League of Cities’ America Downtown® program — defined the Salisbury Downtown Action Agenda with involvement from the City government, the Greater Salisbury Committee, Urban Salisbury, the Downtown business sector, and members of the community. The Salisbury Downtown Action Agenda incorporates the desires, preferences, and concerns expressed by the people of Salisbury for their Downtown. This local input was used as the foundation of the project.

Currently, the community should be proud of Downtown Salisbury and all the considerable assets it contains — which can be further leveraged and built upon to create the type of Downtown desired by the community. These admirable assets include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following:

  • The Wicomico River — which should be viewed as linking the various portions of Downtown, rather than acting as a barrier;
  • The riverwalk and Port of Salisbury Marina — which afford the community access to the river;
  • The art, cultural, and educational offerings found in Downtown — including the Art Institute & Gallery, the library, and the soon-to-be-revitalized Boulevard Theater;
  • Downtown’s current activity generators, such as the Ramada Inn, Peninsula Regional Medical Center, and government offices;
  • Downtown’s mix of healthy businesses, including professional offices, restaurants, and specialty retail shops — which are few in number but of exceptionally high quality;
  • Downtown’s local historic district designation and Maryland Main Street designation;
  • The neighborhoods adjacent to Downtown, their active civic associations, and their anchors — such as the Charles H. Chipman Cultural Center, Poplar Hill Mansion, and the soon-to-be-created Jeanette P. Chipman Boundless Playground;
  • Three institutes of higher learning which are located in Salisbury and the Tri-county region — Salisbury University, the University of Maryland-Eastern Shore, and Wor-Wic Community College — affording Downtown access to markets upon which to draw;
  • The new Downtown enhancement effort — started in January 1999 — which engaged the community and generated enthusiasm for the effort;
  • Involvement of the Greater Salisbury Committee, Urban Salisbury, Main Street, the Downtown Business Association, and the City government — which moved the new Downtown effort forward, supported and participated in completing the Action Agenda, and formed a united front to spearhead its implementation; and
  • The fact that Salisbury is the home of two internationally known celebrities — entrepreneur Frank Perdue and actress Linda Hamilton.

Despite these assets, the community is not without its concerns about Downtown and its future. In the perception of the community, the major challenges facing Downtown are:

  • The fact that past plans have been completed for Downtown and — in the community’s estimation — not enough implementation of those plans has occurred;
  • The fact that very few retail businesses remain in Downtown, having been replaced primarily by offices;
  • The lack of first floor animation and vitality in the heart of Downtown — caused by the loss and lack of retail activity;
  • The desire to accelerate quality development along Downtown’s riverfront; and
  • The question of whether or not to open the Downtown Plaza to vehicular traffic.

The reality of the situation is that Downtown Salisbury is healthy. This is evidenced by the fact that Downtown has an overall low vacancy rate and has the confidence of the investment community, the banking community, and the City government. The lack of retail — which results in a dearth of first floor activity and animation — has created the perception that Downtown is less healthy than it actually is.

During the course of completing the Action Agenda, community members heartily agreed that they want a Downtown that not only is healthy, but that looks healthy. Their desired Downtown was described as being:

The center of activity, the hub of the City,
and the heart and soul of the community;

Where old buildings are saved and filled with retail, restaurants, art, entertainment, and food;

That is rounded out by the presence of
professional offices, government, and health care; and

A fun and snappy Downtown that attracts and serves Downtown employees and residents,
residents of adjacent neighborhoods,
the community, and area visitors.

To bring about the kind of Downtown desired by the community, a clear, realistic, and market-driven gameplan will be needed. That gameplan is included in the Action agenda.

However, what will also be needed are items that can only be provided by those in Salisbury. These are:

  • Clear and decisive action;
  • Leadership from both the private and public sectors;
  • Respect and a unified front among all those spearheading the effort;
  • Adhering to the plan — and not allowing the effort to get side tracked; and
  • Implementation of the Action Agenda in its entirety.

© HyettPalma 2008