Informational Meeting

MINUTES Informational Meeting Tuesday, July 11, 2023, at 4:00 PM Carnegie Town Hall, 235 West 10th St., Sioux Falls, SD 57104 1. Call To Order Council Members Present: David Barranco, Sarah Cole, Rich Merkouris, Greg Neitzert, Marshall Selberg, Curt Soehl Council Members Absent: Alex Jensen, Pat Starr Council Chair Marshall Selberg called the meeting to order at 4 p.m. and noted that there was a quorum present. 2. Committee/Commission Reports A. Siouxland Heritage Museum Board: Thursday, July 6, 2023 (Council Member Starr) This update will be heard at the Informational Meeting on Tuesday, July 18, 2023. 3. Councilor Remarks There were none. 4. Presentations A. Downtown Updates/Downtown Plan by Dustin Powers, Business Development Coordinator Presentation: Approximately 30 minutes followed by discussion Powers provided the following updates regarding the downtown planning and development updates. He noted the Council has been updated numerous times in the past and this is an opportunity to update the Council in the following areas: Look Back at the 2025 Downtown Plan; Updates on current progress downtown; and Look Forward at the Horizon 2035 Downtown Plan. The vision for the 2025 Downtown Plan is “By 2025, Downtown Sioux Falls will have emerged as one of the most livable, prosperous, and vital central business districts of any Midwest American City.” The core values are to be: Vibrant – looking at a downtown that is active throughout the day and evening; Connected – make it safe and easy for all to get around; Diverse – socially and economically; Compact – creating a mixed use environment, accessible through walking and biking; Inviting – make it inviting to all including residents, visitors and those who live downtown; and Quality – downtown to focus on having the best built environment, the best entertainment, and the best development within. The 2025 Downtown Plan pillars focused on three divisions: Economy, Environment and Experience. The definitions for each are: Economy – Initiatives to attract jobs, new businesses, and investment to downtown Sioux Falls; Environment – Initiatives to improve the public atmosphere and the built environment of downtown Sioux Falls; and Experience – Initiatives to activate, celebrate, and maintain downtown Sioux Falls. The plan discussed items like: Increasing residential/mixed use options like Washington Square, Cascade Lofts, Jones 421 and Railyard Flats are just a few that have contributed to that growth; Promotion of arts and culture of our downtown and we’ve seen projects come forward like the Levitt Shell, reopening of the State Theater and Washington Pavilion investments; Walkability which supported projects like the Main Avenue road diet and refurbishing of the 8th Street Bridge which enhanced the pedestrian experiences in those areas; and Activating parks like the Kirby Dog Park at Fort Sod and the future Jacobson Plaza at Falls Park West which will add to the synergies and ambience. The following are active development projects and some of their features: The Steel District: $200+ Million Investment; 96 Residential Apartments (Summer 2024 Opening); 18 Condos (Summer 2024 Opening); 174,000 square feet of Office (Fall 2023 Opening); 25,000 square feet of Retail (Summer 2024 Opening); 216 Hotel Keys (Fall 2024 Opening) and Convention Space (Fall 2024 Opening). Cherapa Place: $200+ Million Investment; 233 Residential Apartments; 11 Condos; The Bancorp (Fall 2023 Opening); The Clark (Spring 2024 Opening); and The Dakota (Summer 2024 Opening). River Greenway Phase III: 4th Street to Jacobson Plaza; River Edge Stabilization; Development of the “Lloyd Landing”; Reconstruction of the Low-head Dam; Pedestrian connections; Landscaping; Design – Complete August 2023; and Construction – Fall 2023; Completion – Spring 2025. Jacobson Plaza: Refrigerated Ice-Skating Ribbon; Inclusive “Destination” Playground; Warming House & Gathering Hall; Parking/drop-off; Connective Pathways; Landscaping; T. Denny Sanford Splash Pad; Pawsible Park – Off-leash Dog Park; Design (on-going); Construction – Fall 2023; and Completion – Spring 2025. One 2: $45 Million Investment; Former Surface Parking Lot; 175 Apartments; 3,230 square feet of Retail Space; and Spring 2025 Opening. Unity Bridge: 6th Street from Big Sioux River to Weber Avenue; Elements for the future quiet zone/whistle reduction railroad crossing; Lighted piers; Landscaping; Diagonal parking along Sixth Street; Plaques paying tribute to leaders who exhibit community spirit and unity that make Sioux Falls a welcoming home. The following areas were also discussed: Railyard Redevelopment and the Mall Avenue Mixed Use Parking Ramp. The Horizon 2035 Downtown Plan included an introduction and background: Introduction & Background Downtown Study Area; Why Plan; Downtown Planning History; Planning and Public Engagement The public engagement included working with: Advisory Committee, Stakeholder Interviews, Social Pinpoint, Resident Work Groups, Public Workshops, Community Events, Market Analysis, and the Vision Statement. The vision statement is: “By 2035, downtown Sioux Falls will transform into a world- class urban environment where people from all walks of life are invited to not only live, work, and play, but to dream and thrive. People will see and experience a spirit of South Dakota hospitality, creativity, and community during each of our four seasons. Downtown will be a new frontier for the arts, culture, commerce, and entrepreneurship”. The Downtown Plan incorporates the six pillars of Welcoming for All; Connected; Growth and Development; Community Spirit; Branding, Identify Marketing, Quality and Design. Welcoming for All: Downtown is a place of opportunity that is welcoming for all and where dreams can be made. It is a year-round destination that is inviting and safe for residents and visitors, full of variety, and offers family-friendly amenities and services that keep Downtown a desirable place to live, work, play and dream. Goals are: Goal #1 Foster Downtown as a year-round destination; Goal #2 Provide experiences and amenities that support a family-friendly environment; and Goal #3 Ensure downtown is safe and inviting. Connected: Downtown is a place that is well connected, easy to access, and navigate within. Downtown’s urban fabric will offer a variety of mobility options and will be known as one of the most walkable downtowns in the country. Downtown is a collection of districts, attractions, and amenities that are seamlessly woven together and connects to its adjacent neighborhoods to make downtown’s experience permeate throughout the community. Goals are: Goal #1 Promote and improve the pedestrian environment by supporting walkable environments with density and connectivity; Goal #2 Provide consistent wayfinding that is easily identifiable; Goal #3 Increase bicycle connectivity to and from downtown; Goal #4 Buildup transit to serve downtown; and Goal #5 Maintain a safe level of vehicular circulation to, from, and within downtown for all mobility types. Growth & Development: Downtown provides an opportunity for tremendous growth and is the hub for careers, innovation, entrepreneurialism, and economic development. Development is dense and offers a walkable mixed-use environment that will support continued efforts of infill development and exceptional growth. Goals are: Goal #1 Redevelop under-utilized areas with high-quality, mixed-use buildings; Goal #2 Stimulate development; and Goal #3 Establish public-private partnerships to achieve desired development outcomes. Community Spirit: Downtown’s community spirit is a representation of all Sioux Falls and tells our story through history, art, entertainment, and the culture of our city. The downtown community’s philanthropic support cultivates creativity and innovation and tackles the community’s challenges head-on. Goals are: Goal #1 Expand arts and cultural programming; Goal #2 Provide opportunities for  philanthropic support for downtown projects; and Goal #3 Promote ways to share our history. Branding, Identity and Marketing: Downtown’s branding showcases a vibrant and diverse neighborhood that pushes the boundaries between work, culture, play and home. It is made up of eclectic districts that uniquely tell a story about the history of Sioux Falls. As the heart of the city, it will be celebrated. Downtown’s identity and marketing will build national awareness of the brand. Goals are: Goal #1 Celebrate downtown's brand as a vibrant and diverse neighborhood; Goal #2 Establish downtown’s brand identity; and Goal #3 Market downtown as a great place for business. Quality and Design: Downtown is an urban place with ample greenery, active streetscapes, and public spaces of the highest quality and design. It has the most well-designed buildings that provide the highest and best use and creates a neighborhood of beauty for all to experience. Goals are: Goal #1 Improve and expand streetscape design to be more vibrant, pedestrian-friendly, and consistent throughout Downtown; Goal #2 Support measures that create a sustainable neighborhood environment; Goal #3 Enhance design standards and zoning ordinances to foster a quality-built environment; and Goal #4 Promote innovative and sustainable parking practices. Powers stated the next steps include a public open house at the Downtown Library on August 10th from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.; then final edits by the Advisory Committee, the Committee’s recommendation and moving forward to the Planning Commission and the City Council for approval. The draft Horizon 2035 Downtown Plan is available at the City’s website at: www.siouxfalls.org/downtown. Discussion followed regarding: the noise issues in the downtown area; one-way streets downtown and converting one-way streets to two-way streets; lane reductions; the successes in the downtown areas; the status of the sale and marketing of some of the property downtown; proposals for changing boundaries in the downtown areas; objective data that shows housing statistics for downtown and economic diversity; hotel and downtown convention needs; conversation about a downtown convention center; pedestrian activity on Minnesota Avenue; walkable access to downtown Sioux Falls; the noise associated with train traffic; the Advisory Committee meeting activity timeline; and the Falls Park Master Plan. 5. Public Comment There were none. 6. Adjournment Council Chair Marshall Selberg adjourned the meeting at 4:55 p.m. Tamara Jorgensen, MMC, Assistant City Clerk