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2017 R ena i s s anc e P l an U pdat e | T own of W ak e F or e s t
2 Metrics of Successful Downtowns
2.0 How is Great Urbanism Measured?
In a world where public funding is becoming more and more limited, capital projects have to bring a significant return on investment. We know that more and more people want to work in a walkable environment; it is not enough anymore to have a nice office building. People are seeking meaningful places...authentic spaces where they can live, work and play. Employers are using great places for recruitment and retention purposes. In turn, a diversity of employment opportunities in a downtown equals patrons to restaurants and retail. Through research and experience, we have found that there are essential elements that help create successful downtown environments. In combination, these elements yield measurable performance indicators of success. We know it is not enough to simply get the design right; implementation and management are key to creating an environment where patrons want to spend money and time. The old adage “if you build it they will come” is true only if you have a good code and good design bones in place along with proper management. The products of a successful downtown environment include more employment, a diverse population, higher sales per square foot, and overall positive economic development for a community.
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Construction/ Implementation
Design
Management
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Measurable Performance
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