Strategic plan for Jackson nears finalization

After more than five years of planning and organizing, Jackson’s DREAM Initiative community development strategy is nearing finalization.

More than 30 Missouri communities, including Cape Girardeau, were selected for inclusion in the Downtown Revitalization and Economic Assistance for Missouri program, which selected Jackson in 2010.

Representatives from PGAV Planners, a St. Louis firm, have worked with the city, chamber of commerce, the Uptown Jackson Revitalization Organization and others to conduct analysis, question focus groups and identify ways Jackson can capitalize on existing assets and help the district grow.

Having received a draft of the plan from the design team, city staff now will compile review comments until June 20.

PGAV Planners then will make final revisions and re-submit the plan to the city.

The Jackson Board of Aldermen then will vote whether to adopt the plan, which likely will happen in July, Jackson building and planning superintendent Janet Sanders said.

Although the plan remains subject to change, Sanders said the report encapsulates many aspects of the uptown community. The nearly 50-page report considers everything from long-term funding to potential branding opportunities to how to optimize efficiency in uptown parking lots.

“It reflects on accomplishments made during the plan process, shows the planning firm’s recommendations for building design concepts, details the potential retail market that could be captured by uptown businesses, the residential market that’s available and could be enhanced by more adding second-story residential apartments, shows a marketing brochure designed as part of the project and recommends some possible funding sources for uptown projects,” she said. “It still needs some tweaking, but is almost in a final form.”

Sanders said once the strategy is finalized, the city can begin working on ways to make uptown Jackson a more attractive place to visit and live.

“The board, we hope, will just adopt the plan and then we as the staff will use it similarly to the citywide comprehensive plan, as guidance going forward,” Sanders said.

tgraef@semissourian.com

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