The second in a series of public meetings to discuss the future of Downtown Yakima is set for Wednesday, July 10^th in room “E” at the Yakima Convention Center.  The meeting, which will begin at 6:30 pm, will provide community members with another opportunity to give input on the development of a comprehensive master plan for downtown.

Earlier this year the City hired two consulting firms to help develop strategies for downtown.  Crandall Arambula, a Portland, Oregon-based urban design, architecture, and planning firm that specializes in downtown revitalization, is heading up the downtown master planning process.  Thomas Consultants, an international retail strategy company headquarter in Vancouver, B.C., is responsible for crafting a retail recruitment plan.

Nearly two hundred people attended the first workshop on May 9^th and based on public input from that meeting, the City’s consultants have developed some potential concepts related to downtown circulation and urban design.  At the July 10^th workshop, community members will get a chance to help identify preferences among items including locations for a public plaza and Mercado (market), traffic calming on Yakima Avenue, creating a retail and entertainment destination, and determining future parking needs in the downtown core.

Everyone who attends the July 10^th workshop will have the opportunity to vote on the various concepts that will be presented using a response sheet.

“Public participation in the workshops will play a key part developing a successful approach that will lead to redevelopment and make Downtown Yakima a vibrant destination for both residents and visitors alike,” said City of Yakima Economic Development Manager Sean Hawkins.  “The workshops that we’re holding are providing community members with the chance to share ideas, to ask questions, and to gain a better understanding of the master plan process.”

In addition to the July 10^th public meeting, another workshop is planned later this year to allow for additional public comment as the downtown master plan document is developed.

The final master plan, along with a strategy for implementation, and the retail development strategy are expected to be completed by the end of this year.

Additional information on the Downtown Yakima Master Plan is available at www.yakimawa.gov/downtown/

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Downtown Master Plan Workshop – News Release

Contact:  

Economic Development Manager Sean Hawkins – 575-6274

Communications & Public Affairs Director Randy Beehler – 901-1142