Sustainability
Principles
Ensuring Downtown's Survival as a Vital and Viable Economic, Residential and Environmental Eco-System Throughout the 21st Century Sustainability means meeting the requirements of the present without compromising the needs of the future. The DDA will embrace sustainability as a fundamental tenet of downtown development.
Strategies
Economic Sustainability
- Promote a philosophy of sustainability in all improvements. Attentive maintenance to existing infrastructure, along with timely investment in well-designed, quality downtown improvements, will ensure that these facilities will continue to serve downtown needs for years into the future. Investment geared toward long-term performance lowers overall future maintenance and replacement costs.
- Demonstrate the concept that the downtown parking system can be made economically self-supporting, with parking revenues reserved for ongoing parking system operations, maintenance, repair, and construction, as well as parking alternatives.
- Discourage urban sprawl, encourage reinvestment in existing communities, and support more balanced regional development.
Physical Sustainability- Provide regular and scheduled maintenance for previous DDA pedestrian improvements projects. Anticipate future repair needs by planning projects and setting aside funds as part of a long-term financial plan.
- Construct DDA developments with the goal of quality and longevity, so as to minimize long-term maintenance (see Infrastructure).
- Recognize that maintenance and repair are perpetual concerns, and thus must be anticipated in one-year, five-year, and ten-year capital improvements plans and on-going structural assessments.
Environmental Sustainability- Coordinate DDA activities with other sustainable planning efforts, including Washtenaw County, City of Ann Arbor, the University of Michigan, and the Ann Arbor Area Chamber of Commerce.
- Encourage energy efficiency in existing and future downtown developments.
- Support the creation of an Allen Creek Corridor Land Use Master Plan conducted in collaboration with others, including the potential development of a system of linked open spaces and a pedestrian/bicycle path along the rail line, as well as storm water mitigation.
- Encourage the preservation of open space, natural beauty, historic buildings, and critical environmental areas.
- Promote the development of downtown as a compact center for development.
- Encourage a variety of transportation choices, including mass-transit, biking, walking, etc. (see Transportation).
- Encourage local businesses and government agencies to use Earth-friendly strategies and procedures. These include using low emission vehicles, recycled/ recyclable products and building materials, energy efficient lighting, etc.
- Work with the Huron River Watershed Council and others to educate the community about storm drains and water quality issues.
- Assist the City in meeting its Five-Year Solid Waste Plan to increase the percent of recyclables captured from the waste stream. Provide recycle containers on downtown sidewalks to enable pedestrians opportunities to recycle glass, newsprint, etc. Encourage composting efforts by downtown businesses.
Social Sustainability- Create and maintain compact, walkable and safe downtown neighborhoods with opportunities for social interaction.
- Encourage mixed land uses that will promote a varied population throughout the day and night, and encourage the retention and attraction of businesses that serve a downtown and near downtown residential population.
- Foster distinctive, attractive neighborhoods with a strong and unique sense of place.
- Work towards collaboration with local governments and others to achieve cooperation and efficiency in public operations.
- Encourage citizen and stakeholder participation in development decisions to foster involvement, ownership and pride in community.