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Imagine walking outside in downtown Anchorage in the winter and not having to change from your shoes into your boots. How can you do this comfortably and safely?
Some of the sidewalks will no longer be scraped of ice--they will be ice-free with a new heated sidewalk program in central corridors of downtown.
This is only one of the amenities planned in Anchorage's extreme makeover, a plan recently revealed at a Chamber of Commerce luncheon.
One of the goals of the extreme makeover is to make a strong downtown core. Downtown is the heart of any city. If downtown is what visitors see and experience, it's important they have the best experience possible. If downtown is what locals deal with on a regular basis, planners want to enhance that experience.
The Municipality of Anchorage's Office of Economic & Community Development is working on making a strong downtown center even stronger. It is making it a priority for downtown Anchorage to reach its potential. In the words of Mary Jane Michael, executive director, they are encouraging investment. Her office coordinates efforts and plans from businesses and developers. It supports a good infrastructure, with a central business district plan and a core street plan.
In the midst of coordinating and making it happen, a theme has emerged called Extreme Makeover or Destination Downtown. Extreme, because the Municipality doesn't want the usual, the regular, the mundane; it wants features so that Anchorage will stand out, which will impress others and make locals proud of the town that achieved All American City status. Planners want a town that is known for its beautiful flowers. They want outstanding amenities. They want people to enjoy our Big Wild Life in Anchorage, a town that boasts midnight sun, salmon, wildlife, art, nature and beauty.
Some of the features Alaskans and visitors can look forward to are ice-free sidewalks for pedestrians. A downtown with a better view. And a warmer visitor-friendly climate. The economic impact will only be one of the many benefits.
SALMON IN THE CITY
Ship Creek has its own renovation plans with a theme of Salmon in the City. According to statistics, Ship Creek is the third-largest sport fishery in the state, with a $7.3 million economic impact.
The Alaska Railroad expansion project includes an intermodal transportation center to connect air, marine, bus, rail, taxi, public transit, bicycles, pedestrians, and private vehicles. The emphasis will be on convenience and safety with new boarding zones, arrival and departure platforms, improved baggage and passenger service. Newsstands, office and business space will be added, also more public parking and long-term parking.
Meanwhile, the Port of Anchorage expansion project includes two new barge docks, a new administrative building, a new maritime safety and security team building, upgrades, turning lanes for better traffic flow with added pedestrian sidewalks and landscaping, all with the goal of improving the movement of goods and services. The Port of Anchorage provides 90 percent of the consumer goods and services delivered to 80 percent of the state.
BIRCH FORESTS AND PUBLIC PLAZAS
The Anchorage Museum at the Rasmuson Center has plans in the works, too. It will feature a two-acre urban birch forest as a public plaza or sanctuary, with trails, a promenade, and an outdoor gallery with sculpture. A pond will transform into an ice-skating area in the winter. The museum will house The Imaginarium, The Arctic Studies Center and, from the well known Smithsonian Institution, artifacts numbering as many as 2,000.
One of five parks downtown, Town Square Park, will enjoy a new reflecting pond and improvements to its ice skating rink.
EURO-STYLE CONDOS
More people will be attracted to the downtown area through a variety of means: providing more amenities, enhancing businesses, creating great ideas together, and looking to the future.
As an example, you might want to look at the new European style condos at 5th Avenue and M Street, or six upscale contemporary units called E-Street Commons at 10th Avenue and E Street with spectacular views of the Chugach Mountains or the cityscape, to mention a few. Managing partner Darrell Carlson of Tom Michaels Properties & Investments, the developer and general contractor, calls them exquisite, sophisticated downtown living at its finest, in the SONO district (south of Nordstrom), with elegant 9-foot ceilings, radiant floor heating and international exclusive design.
Harvey Prickett, principal design architect for Dean Architects, calls his projects part of the "Awakening of Anchorage" program. The company has a project at Bootleggers Cove called The Sounding, again contemporary with different materials, and one at 6th Avenue and M Street called Vaughan 100, a tribute to Norman Vaughan (adventurer/explorer), with elements based on his life. Prickett, who is active on the Downtown Comprehensive Plan Committee, talks about the village cafe presence he wants to create downtown, making downtown more vibrant, looking for aesthetically pleasing, yet functional structures.
Northpointe Bluff will be part of the Government Hill redevelopment, boasting terraced units with views of the city lights, the Chugach range, or Cook Inlet--some two-story, some ranch with condo lots, two fourplexes, 20 townhomes and 44 single-family homes. This planned community by Jaguar Development Group will have bike trails and a gazebo in the subdivision.
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Downtown area plans include a proposed Peach Tower, 24 floors of housing with parking, and retail space next to the Performing Arts Center.
Under construction is the new downtown Linny Pacillo parking garage, owned by the State of Alaska, with ice-free walking areas and 16-foot-high ceilings to house a new Alaska seafood restaurant and shops. The parking garage will have heated walkways, a brightly lit colonnade, a glazing system, a camelback circulation pattern to ease traffic and specialty lighting.
The Municipality of Anchorage, who leases the JC Penney parking garage, has jumped into the program with renovations--improved lighting and a new inviting paint color scheme of sage, brown and taupe.
Art will be promoted as usual, with 1 percent of building costs, for example, in the new Dena'ina Civic Convention Center invest in art. A suspended piece by Ralph Helmick & Stuart Schechter will honor the Dena'ina people of Cook Inlet, representing the flora and fauna of the region.
The downtown Egan Convention Center has its own remodeling project in mind with new floor and wall coverings. A pedestrian corridor between the Egan and the convention center will be part of the ice-free walkways. The plan is for strong connectivity between the Performing Arts Center, the Egan Center, and the Dena'ina Civic Convention Center, with an information kiosk addition.
E and F streets will implement state-of-the-art canopies for covered walkways.
Also, F Street will become more pedestrian friendly.
G STREET ART DISTRICT
Distinct districts will be developed downtown to emphasize specialties--G Street art district, and SONO. Mayor Mark Begich signed a proclamation to this effect after shop and gallery owners spearheaded this idea. Other model districts in mind--a historic district and the convention center district.
INSET ART TREATMENTS
E Street corridor will link the railroad depot, Ship Creek, downtown, and the park strip.
Part of the downtown streetscape will include inset art treatments between street corners and raised art display platforms. Whatever is inviting, friendly, appealing, attractive, has pattern and rhythm, which will add to the environment, be compatible and contribute to the new realm of downtown Anchorage, is being considered.
While the central business district is being re-evaluated and revamped, the downtown plan advisory group is overseeing new developments. The vision for downtown includes working with the Municipality of Anchorage, the Anchorage Downtown Partnership, and other organizations. Every detail and element is considered, even to preserve sun exposure and conduct shadow study analysis. Distinctive design with light, color and texture is desired, inspiring streetscapes, wider sidewalks, and unique landscaping.
Discover new shops and expect new restaurants downtown.
Look for world-class theatre and performance; expect luxury hotels, outstanding fishing, outdoor dining, and more festivals. This is the Big Wild Life in Anchorage. For more information go to www.destinationdowntown.info/.
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