WADSWORTH VISIONING DOWNTOWN PLAN

AGENDA 1.Project Update 2.Review TF1 results 3.Survey 4.Existing conditions & housing market trends 5.Activities Stakeholder nominations Mapping exercise 6.Next Steps Big Idea Gathering Small Idea Gathering

1. PROJECT UPDATE

PHASE I: Getting Organized PHASE II: Understanding the Context PHASE III: Community Engagement PHASE IV: Plan Development PHASE V: Finalizing the Plan / Implementation APPROACH

KEY DATES Survey February utility bill & online at Big Idea Gathering Meeting– Wednesday, March 2nd Explain planning process to residents and stakeholders, engage community, and solicit vital public input. Small Idea Gathering Meetings- April Follow up meetings with identified stakeholders. Task Force Meeting 3- Tuesday April 26th Public Open House– Tuesday, May 24th Task Force Meeting 4– June 21st

Existing Conditions Public Input Market Trends/Best Practices Plan Framework Principles Objectives Actions CHAPTER FRAMEWORK

2. TF1 RESULTS

I like… Old town feel and scale Walkability Look and feel of the gazebo island Look of the Valley Café block Opportunities for social interactions Potential to create a cohesive community Vitality of Downtown …in Downtown Wadsworth

I want… Diversified retail Expanded entertainment and restaurant options Family attractions Increased residential opportunities/choices After 5 PM commercial uses Greenspace Increased public and private gathering spaces New streetscape Traffic calming A plan for future parking A plan for growth …in Downtown Wadsworth

Issues Lack of green space and community gathering space No wayfinding or branding Lack of diversity in residential, retail, and restaurant options Lack of entertainments and attractions in the downtown area Stores close at 5 PM Traffic and parking in and around the Downtown area Better maintenance of store fronts Preservation and repurposing of historic buildings

Opportunities Active and supportive community and city staff Heritage Ohio Main Street designation and full- time director Historical properties and houses Create a central greenspace/gathering space Expand housing options Vacant parking lots and land for redevelopment Walkability Access from highway

3. SURVEY

4. EXISTING CONDITIONS

Downtown Study Area Quarter Mile from Study Area City of Wadswoth Medina County Area0.27 mi mi mi mi 2 Population1,1744,25321,567172,332 % Change Pop %-0.10%17.0%14.1% Population The Downtown has not experienced the same population growth as the City and County

Downtown Study Area Quarter Mile from Study Area City of Wadswoth Medina County Median Age Age (16.4%) 520 (12.2%) 3,408 (15.8%) 22,601 (13.1%) Age The Downtown is younger overall, but has a higher percentage of 65+ residents; data that supports national trends.

Housing Downtown Study Area Quarter Mile from Study Area City of Wadswoth Medina County Households4911,6928,60965,143 Housing Units5931,8959,32069,181 Avg Household Size Vacancy Rate17.2%10.7%7.6%5.8% Owner/Renter Occupied 48.1% / 51.9%60.3%/39.7%72.4% / 27.6%80.6% / 19.4% Median HH Income (2015C) $35,510 (2015 Esri forecast) $42,175 (2015 ESRI forecast) $58,007 (2014 ACS) $66,296 (2014 ACS) There is a significant portion of vacant housing in the Downtown

5. DEVELOPMENT INSIGHT

WE ARE MOVING FORWARD When do trends become "the norm"...?

40% - 60% of Obesity is caused by a lack of walkability in communities More than 1/3 or 35.7 percent of adults in the U.S. are obese (CDC) Estimated 42 percent of the population will be obese by 2030 PROMOTE HEALTHY LIFESTYLES

The U.S. Population will increase by 50% between the years 2000 and 2050 Over 110,000 current housing units will need to be replaced The market is being dominated by the two largest generations in American History CHANGING MARKET DEMANDS

WHO ARE WE ATTRACTING?

About 2.5% live downtown More - 4% - would like to live downtown About 15% overall would like to live in the City Entertainment, retail, medical services nearby LOHAS – Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability THE BABY BOOMER MARKET?

What do they want? They’ll text you… Ethnically diverse – 47% non-white Greater preference for in-town areas and inner suburbs Value places with diversity, walkability, proximity to jobs and to FUN Choose where they want to live first GEN Y

WHERE THEY WANT TO LIVE BY GENERATION?

HOUSEHOLD STRUCTURE IS CHANGING

THE NEW ECONOMY

Jobs Place CHANGING PARADIGM?

4. RETHINKING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Focus on the Future Apply holistic thinking to places Promote the public interest GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR LOCAL LEADERS

In the past this was... Reform disease-ridden, dangerous, corrupt cities Comp planning & Euclidian zoning Promote public health & safety We missed the real economics! PURPOSE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT

There was little focus on building public wealth, both social and financial. PUBLIC WEALTH IS KEY

NEED TO RE-FOCUS What brings people together Downtown?

RETAIL FOLLOWS ROOFTOPS What brings people together Downtown? A renaissance downtown will depend upon additional residential that brings with it daytime and nighttime activity, street animation, and vibrancy.” -Urban Land Institute Wadsworth stats: 214 Downtown businesses 1,526 Downtown employees 593 Downtown housing units

PROJECT V. PER ACRE METRICS Land Consumed (acres) Total Revenue (income/area) Residents Per Acre Jobs Per Acre Walmart 34 $8, Mixed-use Gahanna, OH 3.4 $225,

6. ACTIVITIES

ISSUES & OPPORTUNITIES ​Think big. Consider what type of community you want to live in, and what can hinder or help to make that a reality. The following subjects can be a starting point, but your ideas do not have to fit into those categories. Land Use - Area designated for certain functions such as, residential, commercial, and industrial uses. Housing - Residential dwellings such as multifamily, condominium, townhomes, lofts, single family, etc. Parks & Public Space - Any area or open space provided for community use. Mobility - The systems connecting people to destinations. This includes the street network, streetscape, parking, vehicular traffic, walkability, and biking. Character + Image - How the community defines itself and markets itself to visitors and future residents.

Translate into Actions 1.A need for additional green space and gathering places 2.Better wayfinding or branding 3.More diverse residential options 4.Expand retail and restaurant options 5.New entertainment/attractions 6.Connect to regional bike network 7.Improve parking in and around the Downtown area 8.Improve property maintenance 9.Preserve and repurpose historic buildings 10.Increase walkability

MAP THE ACTIONS

STAKEHOLDER NOMINATIONS

7. NEXT STEPS