On Wednesday evening, the residents of Carroll were invited to take part in a presentation from RDG Planning and Design on their progress in development of the Corridor of Commerce plan. Urban Developer with RDG, Charlie Cowell, provided an update of what they have learned to date through the assessment process, including the survey, listening sessions with stakeholders and an interactive map.
The general consensus is people want to see consistency along the corridor. From this feedback, RDG presented proposed opportunity sites. This includes a section on the south side of Highway 30, west of Bella Vista Drive; a field that could house additional business and residential units. Near Fareway, on the north side of Highway 30, could become a commercial mixed-use space with walkability features added. There are two identified at the Grant Road intersection, on the southwest and northeast sides. On the southwest, RDG has imagined a space for wayfinding or public art combined with commercial properties, housing and more pedestrian features. On the northeast corner, the vision is of redevelopment or razing and use as additional parking for nearby recreational features. At West Street they suggest retail or office space redevelopment and housing, and finally, at the Quint Avenue triangle, there could be consolidation, reuse of structures and mobility updates. After presenting the ways elements could be combined to bring cohesion, clarity on wayfinding and aesthetic elements that new businesses and residents would find appealing. a poll was taken and RDG opened the floor to questions. Two were received. The first asked where new businesses would find employees and where would these workers live? Cowell says they have heard this frequently and is exactly why they included housing options in the corridor plans. The second question was whether or not the city would be looking to purchase these identified opportunity sites without exercising eminent domain. Cowell says they are definitely not recommending use of eminent domain.
Carroll residents are encouraged to log on to carrollforward.com, view the entire presentation and provide their feedback.
