The Williamsburg Economic Development Authority met for a work session Wednesday, digging into topics that included improving the city’s Arts District, redeveloping the midtown shopping district and making transportation easier, especially for young professionals.
The meeting was part of the City of Williamsburg’s 2014-2015 Goals, Initiatives and Outcomes process, a biennial undertaking that sets the city’s aspirations and strategic objectives for the next two years.
EDA members identified economic development in the city as a target area for the next round of GIOs, echoing sentiments from the Williamsburg City Council’s fall retreat and a Sept. 11 public forum on GIOs. In that discussion, topics ranged from creating a unique identity for the Arts District to attracting boutique hotels.
EDA member Rick Overy said the city’s Arts District was undefined in its current state, and its success would stem from creating an identity for the area. Overy said the installation of Arts District banners attached to light posts on Richmond Road helped define the area, but EDA member Adam Steely said the artistic element would be an essential quality of the district’s identity.
“We’re going to need to let people paint on buildings if it’s going to be an arts district,” Steely said.
Members also discussed redevelopment efforts in the adjacent midtown shopping district, which stretches from the intersection of Richmond Road and Monticello Avenue to the intersection of Bypass Road and Richmond Road. In particular, members raised the possibility of bringing a boutique hotel to the area near the Williamsburg Shopping Center.
Steely said the May 2013 sale of the Hospitality House to the College of William & Mary created a gap in the city’s hotel market, and that bringing in a new boutique hotel in midtown should be a two-year goal. Overy agreed, but said other hotel closures in the city created an opportunity for more than one boutique hotel.
“We’ve lost the Patrick Henry, Hospitality House, and the one on Second Street is kind of undefined,” he said.
Members noted the growth of Prince George Street, including the Griffin Arms building and the Prince George Commons project, as successes for the city, but agreed the continued economic development of the downtown area should remain a goal for the next two years.
EDA member Tonya Boone said economic growth in all three areas was important, and that focusing on improving bicycle access and walkability would do more to link downtown, midtown and the Arts District.
That led into a discussion of improving transportation in the city. Director of Economic Development Michele DeWitt agreed with Boone that improving pedestrian traffic would benefit economic growth, not only for tourism but also for residents.
“We’re the urban core, we’re not the county,” DeWitt said. “A greater percentage of people walk to work here than in New York City, but it can be done better.”
DeWitt also said mass transit could benefit walkability and economic growth in the city, and several members mentioned ideas for its improvement.
Boone said the current circular nature of Williamsburg Area Transit Authority routes made it difficult for young professionals living in New Town to get to the city. City Economic Development Specialist Corinne Blackford said one solution could be point-to-point shuttles from New Town to the city with later hours to match the work schedules of younger residents.
Easing vehicle congestion downtown and facilitating traffic flow in the city were also raised as potential goals. Steely pointed out the intersection of Bypass and Richmond roads as one area for improvement. He said the configuration of lanes and signals could confuse drivers and divert them away from the city, or prevent them from coming entirely.
DeWitt agreed the lanes and signal layout might have a negative economic impact, but said the current configuration was a “traffic engineer’s solution” to ease traffic flow.
“They’re not thinking of [economic development], they’re thinking of how to make traffic flow easier,” she said.
EDA Chairman Tom Gillman said the city could consider increasing its use of roundabouts at intersections, a suggestion with which several members agreed. Steely argued for them, while Overy said they more efficiently directed traffic flow but took up considerable space.
The possibility of more cars in the city led to a discussion on downtown parking issues. Steely said the “parking problem” might be more perceived than real, noting criticisms often focused on the lack of free on-street parking and ignored the existence of the city parking garage.
Steely said the city should consider revising the garage’s current pay-for parking structure to allow the first two hours of parking for free. Currently, parking stays of 30 minutes or less at the garage are free. Steely said a two-hour free stay would allow more tourists and residents to plan longer shopping and dining trips downtown.
“The fact that there is not free parking in the deck discourages people from coming downtown,” Steely said.
Vice Mayor Paul Freiling, City Council’s liaison to the EDA, said the garage was an asset to the city, but changing the fee structure could be beneficial.
“Just removed from the Prince George Street businesses and others is where you have the parking garage, where you pay, and the spots right at the businesses, which are in higher demand, are free, when really it should be reversed,” he said. “They would argue that what he have right now doesn’t make economic sense.”
The EDA will present its recommendations to the City Council at its Oct. 9 meeting. A draft version of the 2015-2016 GIOs is expected to be ready by early October, with final approval made by the Nov. 20 State of the City address.
Members of the public can provide input on the GIOs by answering the surveys from the public forum on SpeakUpWilliamsburg.com.
Related Coverage:
- Residents Name Housing, Economic Development Important Goals for Williamsburg’s Future
- City Staff Offers Monticello, Capitol Landing, Ironbound Road Projects as Priorities for 2015-2016
- City Leaders Talk Economy, Transportation at Fall Retreat
- Fall Retreat Gives Council Members Chance to Talk City Goals
- City OKs Incentives Policy to Attract Businesses, Resolution on Williamsburg Shopping Center
- EDA: City Should Guide Williamsburg Shopping Center Redevelopment
- City On Track to Complete 60 Strategic Goals Set for 2013-2014
- City Leaders Brainstorm Goals to Create Long-Term Vision
