12:45 PM: City Urban Design Plan Receives Implementation Award

The 2006 Jamestown Urban Design plan has received the gold 2018 National Planning Achievement Award for Implementation from the American Planning Association.

The award recognizes the plan’s success in reversing the economic decline of the city’s downtown area, setting a new course that has attracted new jobs, community attractions and business investment. The Jamestown Urban Design Plan is one of 16 Achievement Award recipients this year.

“Our community cares deeply about the heart of our city and together, with our many partners, we have worked very hard to make it a place we can all be proud of,” said Sam Teresi, Jamestown mayor. “We still have work to do, but we have come a long way over the last 10 years.”

Since its adoption in 2006, the Jamestown Urban Design Plan has outlined a clear direction for public and philanthropic investment for Jamestown, which was once known as “the furniture capital of the world,” but has suffered economically as its manufacturing base has declined or relocated elsewhere.

The Jamestown Renaissance Corporation was formed to implement the plan and collaborate with city officials and regional foundations to bring private and public capital, residents and businesses downtown.

Several initiatives have revitalized the area including the Greater Jamestown Riverwalk and new park enhancements along the Chadakoin Riverfront connecting area neighborhoods to downtown; facade improvements on 36 downtown buildings; the planned Aug. 1 opening of the $50 million National Comedy Center, which leverages the city’s heritage as the birthplace of Lucille Ball; the conversion of a vacant train station into a multimodal transportation center; and the renovation of the historic Wellman Building that now houses 60 market rate apartments and several restaurants. The next generation of downtown development is already underway, which will include a the Jamestown Brewing Company brewery and restaurant, a 144-bed DoubleTree by Hilton Jamestown hotel and renovations to other downtown structures.

The plan was developed by Goody Clancy, who is now collaborating with city officials again on a second urban design plan that will build on the first one. The 2006 plan also received the Best Community Plan for 2007 by the American Planning Association.