Mixed-Use Downtown Redevelopment Plan Unveiled

Now, city officials are moving inward from the oceanfront to the city's lower Broadway district, part of the city's downtown commercial district, recently unveiling a general plan to breathe new life into a long-neglected neighborhood. That plan, which covers close to 150 acres, was introduced to a generally appreciative audience at the Ocean Place Conference Resort by Pratap Talwar, a principal in the Boston-based firm, Thompson Design Group, consultants to the city on planning matters.

"We believe that we're on solid, nonspeculative ground with this plan, which is important," Talwar told the gathering. "To begin with, this isn't a proposal that excludes existing people. Indeed, it's a plan built completely around the needs of residents." As he pointed out, the plan evolved after a series of meetings with local residents and business owners.

Essentially, the Broadway Neighborhoods Revitalization Plan, as it's called, involves a redevelopment based on mixed uses of residences, commercial businesses, an art community of sorts, an entertainment district, open space and more. A new municipal complex could also likely be part of the mix, and the overriding goal would be to create a "hometown feel for residents," according to Talwar.

A key factor, according to Talwar, is increasing the residential density as a way of building in a captive audience for the marketplace's commercial, retail and entertainment offerings. Specifically, the plan calls for upping the residential density from five per acre to as much as 20 per acre, which would be accomplished through a zoning change.

Besides offering general support for the plan, municipal officials won't comment pending a series of public hearings. No schedule has been released for the upcoming hearings, which will be conducted by the city council.