Portage Ave Commercial Corridor Action Plan 1999

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To accomplish these purposes, a commercial corridor action plan builds on the strengths and weaknesses of the existing neighborhoods and businesses, uses the available physical resources and support systems, fits trends, and recognizes development opportunities. These are the tangible and intangible aspects of the area that define it for the community. Every plan benefits from a structure that organizes the effort into goals, objectives, and action steps. A goal defines where the effort is heading. An objective defines strategies that will be necessary to achieve the goal, and action steps outline specific procedures for meeting each objective. The goal of this Portage Avenue Action Plan is: To establish Portage Avenue as an asset that enhances the adjoining neighborhoods and also provides shopping nodes that satisfy the convenience and services needs of nearby residents. Although this goal addresses the purposes of this study, it is only part of the answer to the question, "What do the residents of Portage Ave have to do for these traditional neighborhoods to realize their full potential?" The issues facing surrounding neighborhoods are broaderthan the repairof commercial areas. However, the improvement of commercial areas is a very visible sign of revitalization evidentto the residents as well as travelers along Portage Avenue. Successful improvement of Portage's commercial nodes will be a powerful sign of the area's potential. The challenges for revitalization are less than in some other areas of South Bend's west side because buildings like the NNN center and the Martins store are in good condition. The area need only be "enhanced" not "rescued." As the Portage Avenue market improves through this Action Plan, it also has the potential to satisfy the stated national goal of "smart growth" by providing redevelopment sites that avoid the detrimental effects of sprawl. This plan's success hinges on ease of implementation. To that end, the consultants have focused this Action Plan on providing these elements, the keys to effective implementation: A base of facts and valid assumptions, Participation from all constituencies, Measurable, achievable goals, Feasible, specific, and complete Action Steps, Provision for regular review and adjustment of the Action Plan. The pages that follow briefly examine the market conditions and participation in the planning process by constituencies. The majority of this document provides detailed information on tactics designed to achieve the goal. This study process has generated private sector interest in the revitalization goal and the City of South Bend has committed to funding initial efforts. These elements have created momentum for improvement that suggests quick action to organize and begin implementing the recommended tactics. Portage Avenue Corridor Revitalization Plan October 1999 Page 7