GEBBIE FOUNDATION
Plans & Studies
When the Gebbie Foundation converted its granting practices from making investments by reacting to grant proposals to proactively investing in community and economic development public – private partnerships, it became apparent that there was a need to have an over-arching plan for downtown development. In 2006, city administrators engaged the firm, Goody Clancy, to work with the government, local organizations, businesses, foundations and citizens to develop the Jamestown Urban Design Plan. To ensure implementation of the plan, the Jamestown Renaissance Corporation (JRC) was created. A non-profit organization with a board of directors that is representative of city government, foundations, businesses and the citizenry, JRC brokers development projects that have had a dramatic impact on Jamestown’s cityscape and neighborhoods. To flesh out the Urban Plan further, the Gebbie Foundation has invested in plans and studies that more completely delve into specific urban issues.
Jamestown Urban Design Plan
(Goody Clancy, 2006)
The plan identifies three primary initiatives:
1. Transform the Chadakoin riverfront into a regional waterfront destination;
2. Strengthen the downtown core through a combination of new development, streetscape improvements and programming; and
3. Adopt a series of design guidelines that promote higher design standards for new development to ensure compatibility with Jamestown’s character and architectural heritage.
> Link to JUDP Executive Summary
> Link to Jamestown Urban Design Plan
City of Jamestown Traffic
and Streetscape
Enhancement Plan
(Bergmann Associates, 2008)
Provides a plan for improving pedestrian and vehicular traffic throughout the city of Jamestown while providing recommendations to enhance streetscapes to make them more “attractive, welcoming, and safe” (Bergmann Associates, p. 1). Recommendations in the study are focused in the downtown core.
> Link Streetscape Enhancement Plan
Neighborhood Study
– Reinvesting in Itself
(czbLLC, 2010)
The report identifies several recommendations with the following four singled out as potentially having the greatest impact on improving Jamestown neighborhoods:
1. Rental property registration and standards
2. Strong code enforcement
3. Incentive program to upgrade exteriors of homes
4. Organized effort to beautify key streets
Jamestown BrandPrint™
(North Star Destination Strategies, 2010)
The Branding Study has a two-pronged purpose. On one side it provides a way to celebrate all the greater Jamestown region has to offer and on the other it is an economic development tool. North Star recommended the tag line “Jamestown Up Close and Wonderful”. To “brand” a city successfully, the message has to be authentic and embraced by the people who live and work in Jamestown. The Study makes several recommendations to implement the brand in order to enhance community and economic development activities in the region.
Business Mix Study
(W-ZHA, LLC, 2011)
The firm, W-ZHA identified three purposes of the Business Mix Analysis: 1. Identify specific Downtown market niches that support the brand; 2. Identify target stores/businesses and Downtown locations to guide investment and marketing; 3. Identify target sites and/or buildings for near term investment
Downtown Jamestown
Economic Development Strategy
Final Report
AECOM Technical Services, Inc. (AECOM)
To assist in identifying potential strategic investments that could help maximize the economic impact of the National Comedy Center, the Gebbie Foundation engaged AECOM Technical Services, Inc. (AECOM). By examining existing conditions in Jamestown and considering market conditions, AECOM leveraged its global expertise to make recommendations concerning strategies in the areas of: Retail & Restaurant, Office, Housing, Hotel, Riverfront Development, Attractions, and Urban Design.
> Downtown Jamestown Economic Development Strategy Final Report
Jamestown Urban Design Plan 2.0
Goody Clancy | Planning and Urban Design
W-ZHA, Inc. | Real Estate Market Analysis
Guiding economic development initiatives in Jamestown for over a decade, the original Urban Design Plan, adopted in 2006, was such a successful tool that the American Planning Association awarded it the Gold 2018 National Planning Achievement Award for Implementation. Building on the original plan, the Urban Design Plan 2.0 (UDP 2.0) takes into account past successes and contains recommendations to guide development partners through the next ten years of revitalization efforts. UDPlan 2.0. advances four themes: 1. Continue the renewal of our Chadakoin riverfront as a community jewel; 2. Make downtown more walkable and better connected; 3. Recognize the potential of a growing health and wellness district as downtown’s newest neighborhood; and 4. Expand on the programs and events that draw our community downtown.
> Link to Jamestown UrbanDesign Plan 2.0- LO -Draft
Chadakoin River Strategic Business Plan
C&S Engineers, Inc. and The Harrison Studio
The Chadakoin River Strategic Business Plan is intended to be a blueprint for the creation of a unique and vibrant destination that capitalizes upon existing assets, identifies important public improvements, increases the amount of activity while improving quality of life, and leverages future investments. The Plan analyzes the current environment along the Jamestown waterfront by highlighting existing site attributes and assets, identifying stakeholders in the activation of Jamestown’s waterfront, and analyzing the existing market conditions. The Plan has three main areas of focus: the North Basin, the South Basin, and the River Corridor. Some planned improvements will include tiered seating, a kayak launch, a signature garden, and a welcome center for visitors.