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> Summary of Events > Town Meeting #3 - June 8, 2009 - Perspectives on 14 Years of Downtown Place Making
Town Meeting #3 - June 8, 2009 - Perspectives on 14 Years of Downtown Place Making
The third Reinventing Stamford town meeting was held on Monday, June 8th at 6:00 pm at the Stamford Marriott, in conjunction with the Downtown Special Services District Annual Meeting.
Mayor Dan Malloy shared his thoughts on his 14 years of downtown place-making, and the challenges which he thinks the downtown must address going forward.
Chris Bruhl captured the spirit of downtown place-making when he suggested at the end of the May 11th event that one of the key themes of the conversation so far was that "city" is not a four-letter word. Stamford is a city. That is a good thing. It needs to become an even better one.
As we continue to think about the emerging conditions which will both threaten us and present us with compelling opportunities, we need to also understand what we have already done to position ourselves for success. For example:
Downtown is safe. Stamford is one of the safest cities of its size in the U.S. This is a fundamental prerequisite to success.
Downtown Stamford is dense and transit-connected. The City's commitment to concentrate office, retail and residential development in the downtown has positioned it well for a 21st Century which will be characterized by high gas prices and carbon taxes, and to exploit a growing market for vibrant and green urban places.
Downtown is getting more walkable. We have paid increasing attention to how buildings meet the sidewalk, to the importance of the spaces between buildings, and a better balance between the needs of cars, pedestrians and cyclists.
Downtown balances liveliness and green space. We are increasing density and liveliness while also increasing high quality park space. That is a critical balance. Cities need to be fun places, not just work centers. It is impossible to overestimate the potential for high quality public spaces, lively sidewalks and great parks to produce lasting human happiness.
Our downtown zoning is getting smarter. We have seen an evolution of zoning rules (e.g., enabling sidewalk cafes, tightening density bonuses to create lively public spaces, inclusionary zoning for Below Market Rate housing, allowance for taller buildings), but more needs to done (e.g., higher density for small in-fill sites, relaxing parking minimums, permitting valet/elevator parking, and even stronger attention to enhancing the pedestrian experience).
Downtown is dynamic and diverse. Stamford has always embraced and exploited economic change and welcomed a diverse mix of people. Those strengths have served us well in the past, and will be even more vital going forward.
These are incredible assets to have as we face an uncertain global future. The June 8th town meeting helped us think about how to use them to move from the periodic reinvention of Stamford to a capability for constant reinvention.
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