Prolouge
Our neighborhood has many Historic Buildings, but some empty lots as well. The empty lots are largely a result of failed Urban Renewal Projects at the hands of City Hall and Oneida County economic development agencies.
A variety of smart "infill" projects (Just Like Portland, OR), many mixed uses - not a huge hospital, will make the Columbia-Lafayette Neighborhood prime and highly productive real estate.
C = Condo Living!
New condos would transform two adjacent lots on Layette Street (adjacent to the Savation Army ...
Below we've illustrated a surface parking lot and a condo development modeled after Utica's "Genesee Courts". BUD will investigate an updated version with modern amenities in a format suitable to these parcels.
BUD will become, find, and inspired real estate investors and investments. Downtown Utica would net a Condo full of new - taxpaying - residents! With surface parking as shown, or perhaps "basement" parking. All within easy walking distance to many great downtown assets. BUD imagines people living downtown in a 24-7 neighborhood and city.
Just look at Other City's "Infill" Projects, "Infill" is the green and sustainable approach to redeveloping Downtown Utica.
Already downtown residents are becoming apart of things like the Multi-million Dollar AUD Upgrades, and the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Utica Grand Opening. Think it can't happen in Utica? Well then you need to read about Detroit, yes Detroit - Downtown Detroit sales prices rise to 'insane' levels
Conclusion
Know someone ready for such a residence? We do, and BUD can put you in-touch with people now living in Genesee Courts. Per this Utica Observer-Dispatch article, Genesee Court: Utica’s hidden gem. We believe condos would fill quickly; the community has already embraced new energy and is primed for more great possibilities.
Now home to 40 businesses, the Columbia-Lafayette Streets can also become an inspiring, sought-after, neighborhood! The key to Downtown Utica economic development is many more residents, those that go to work and come home at 5pm. They will make the city vibrant.
Resources: Downtown Infill
Attracting Infill Development in Distressed Communities [PDF], EPA 230-R-15-001, May 2015 EPA Smart Growth
Consequences Of Residential Infill Development On Existing Neighborhoods [PDF], from IDAHO Smart Growth & Urban Land Institute Idaho
Urban Infill: Mastering Design Opportunities and Investment Hurdles, from AIA Dallas, a chapter of American Institute Of Architects
Best Practices: Successful Infill DevelopmentStrategies & Tactics [PDF], from California Senate Local Government Committee, 2004
Urban Design Guidelines for Low-rise Infill Housing [PDF], from City of Ottawa, Canada, 2012
Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative, Urban Infill
New Project: 1701 Blake Hotel, from DenverInfill, 2016
Place the new hospital in Utica's de facto medical district, St. Luke's, and let Downtown Utica develop historically and sustainable without Eminent Domain. We'd love to hear from you E-mail Us