On Wednesday, October 10, 2018, the City invites the community to City Hall to participate in a meeting to establish a vision and conceptual plan for downtown Napa’s Brown Street Corridor. The focus area for the project includes the segment of Brown Street between Pearl and Third Streets. Revising the vision for this space could allow for more recreational space for families to gather, as well as employees from local businesses to enjoy during their workday. Additionally, new potential plans could allow for more walkable and bike-able space right in our downtown, tying the north and south ends together.
While several sites along the corridor promise opportunities for future private redevelopment, the City is proactively attempting to identify and establish a community vision so future development proposals can be responsive to that vision.
As part of the project, the City will be examining the function and flow of movement within the corridor, and the downtown. As part of the study, the City is considering different phases of development for the project. For example, engineers are in the process of analyzing the Second Street Garage to determine the structural feasibility of retrofitting the garage to accommodate a more pedestrian-focused design (between First and Second Street). Long-term plans could consider completely replacing the garage as part of a future redevelopment plan. Designers are also considering a pedestrian-focus for Brown Street, between Second and Third Streets.
To date, stakeholder interviews with local property owners, businesses, non-profits, and other government organizations have established that a pedestrian and bike-friendly design could enhance the overall downtown in many ways – from a transportation connectivity standpoint to outdoor recreational and dining opportunities, as well as enhanced greening along the corridor. Earlier this summer, the Parks, Recreation, and Tree Advisory Commission, an advisory body to the City Council,gave input on the project. All of this input has set the stage for the October 10th Community Meeting.
Community members can elect to attend a short presentation by the design consultant at either 6 p.m. or 7 p.m. After the presentation, attendees will be invited to participate in a 40 to 45-minute interactive session, wherein they can indicate their preferences for specific design elements.
Funding for the conceptual design project was made possible by a federal grant the City received through Caltrans. These funds are enabling the City to begin the visioning process for the corridor concurrent to completing the corridor’s primary civic space, Dwight Murray Plaza. City staff anticipates completing the design by the end of the year.
Check out the flyer here!