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4e. Chapter 4 - Making the Vision and Goals Real - First StepsA hundred years after we are gone and forgotten, those who never heard of us will be living with the results of our actions. Oliver Wendell Homes, U.S. Supreme Court Justice How do we as a community take the vision and goals that have been developed for the Core Area neighborhood and make them real, tangible and achievable? The focus of this section is to create a road map offering "First Steps" that can be taken. Below is an outline fleshing out the "First Steps" needed to keep the vision alive. Some of the Steps (particularly 1-5) are dependent on the railroad relocation. Other Steps (notably 6 - 14) can be done immediately and are not dependent on other actions. Many of these First Steps are public sector initiated. However, for the Core Area to truly undergo successful redevelopment the private sector must lead the way with investment using these First Steps as a spring board. 1. Burlington Northern (BN) Railroad track relocations. a. Identify existing businesses using rail access in Kalispell. i. Cenex/ Equity/ Harvest States ii. Northwest Drywall iii. Valcon lease b. Meet with each rail dependent business to determine needs and expectations should the rail line be removed in Kalispell. c. Develop a partnership and a plan with each existing business having existing rail service to accommodate the loss of rail service in Kalispell. d. Work with both Burlington Northern and WATCO to end rail service within the city. e. Work with both Burlington Northern, WATCO and the Flathead Economic Development Authority to develop both a rail industrial park and a rail terminus point on the east side of Kalispell. f. Work with BN and WATCO to initiate a program to remove the existing rail infrastructure from the city including rail, ties, switches, crossing features, etc. g. Preserve the existing rail bridge across East Idaho for future use as a trail and city entrance feature. h. Utilize the city's Brownfield program to conduct phase 1 and phase 2 assessments as the first stages of turning the rail corridor into other uses. Draft - 56 2. Conduct a market and feasibility study. Hire a consulting firm to identify and provide direction on the following issues to assist in the redevelopment of the Core Area. a. Market and Feasibility Studies for Core Area i. Real Estate Market Analysis ii. Background Analysis iii. Site Assessment iv. Retail Development Opportunity Assessment - Supply & Demand Analysis v. Office Development Opportunity Assessment - Supply & Demand Analysis vi. Business Park/ Flex Business Units Development Opportunity Assessment - Supply & Demand vii. Hotel/Accommodation Development Opportunity Assessment - Supply & Demand viii. Institutional Development Opportunity Assessment - Supply & Demand ix. Single and Multi -Family Residential Development Opportunity Assessment b. Conceptual Infrastructure (with cost estimate) and Site Plan for Core Area i_ Railroad track removal through Kalispell 1. Identify land ownership/easement issues 2. Identify sources and uses of funds C. Financial Feasibility Study d. Rail -served business relocation feasibility i. Identify potential relocation options ii. Identify relocation costs based on preferred option iii. Identify sources and uses of funds e. Feasibility for Linear Park Development i. Development options ii. Identifying sources and uses of funds 3. A multi -use trail and linear park system using BN Railroad Right - of -Way. a. Develop an understanding of the underlying ownerships of the land currently owned/leased by BN to operate their railroad. b. Determine the disposition of this land (both owned and leased by BN) should the railroad abandon service through Kalispell. C. Develop a program or take necessary measures to get the underlying railroad lands into public use or easement. ©raft - 57 d. Work with the adjoining property owners as the community proceeds to develop a trail/linear park along the former railroad location. e. Contract with a professional design team to develop linear park/trail concepts. f The trail/lineax park should connect the Meridian Trail on the west side of the Core Area neighborhood with Woodland Park on the east. g. The railroad bridge over Idaho Street should be preserved and rehabilitated to accommodate pedestrian traffic linking with Evergreen and Lawrence Park. h. Prepare a financial plan to develop the trail and linear park including phasing and use of public/private partnerships. 4. Railroad Bridge over East Idaho Street. a. When the railroad is relocated the bridge should be brought into public ownership. b. The bridge should be rehabilitated into a pedestrian and bike bridge providing a safe crossing over East Idaho (US 2). C. The bridge should be used as a focal point and backdrop for a "Welcome to Kalispell" sign celebrating the entrance into the downtown/ Core Area of Kalispell. 5. Develop additional north south streets/pedestrian crossings. a. A pedestrian crossing from the corner of East Center and Woodland Avenue to 71h Street EN. b. Re -open street crossings at 181, 2nd, 3rd, and 414 Streets on the north side of the Kalispell Center Mall. C. Consider new alignments off of 8th Avenue WN and 61h Avenue WN between Idaho and Center. d. Develop a new street connection from the south end of Meridian Court westerly or southwesterly across the former railroad line to the former O'Neil Lumber Yard lands between the rail line and Alternate Highway 93, 6. Center Street. a. Initiate a street redevelopment program (increased right-of-way, sidewalks, boulevard with trees) for Center Street between 51h Avenue W and South Meridian. 7. Water -Sewer Main replacement program. a. Implement and fund a program to target the replacement of water and sewer lines in excess of 50 years of age so that as new development occurs, existing infrastructure is not an impediment. Draft - 58 8. A viable Brownfield programs in the Core Area. a. Target the Core Area as a priority Brownfield area. b. Maintain a funding pool of grant and loan funds at the city level to address Brownfield issues. C. Advocate for the clearance of existing identified Brownfield sites including UST and LUST sites. i. Proactively contact those property owners on a regular basis offering available services to mitigate the issues. 9. Remove/clear all vacant or blighted properties in the Core Area for the key purpose of redevelopment. a. Maintain an updated database of all vacant and blighted properties in the Core Area. b. Develop a financial assistance program to help property owners clear vacant and hazardous buildings and assist the property owner to prepare a site for redevelopment (scrap and bake program). C. The city should be prepared to acquire key properties for the purpose of clearing hazardous activities, site aggregation, and infrastructure upgrades to get them back on the market for development/ redevelopment. 10. Develop and fund a loan/grant program that offers incentives to commercial property owners to improve/upgrade their properties. a. Develop a revolving loan/grant program using TIF or other funding sources. i. Encourage facade and exterior amenities improvements. ii. Offer incentives for expansion and mixed use opportunities. iii. Actively advertise and promote this program. 11. Improve pedestrian and bike access throughout the Core Area. a. Target a program to replace existing walks in deteriorated condition. i. Establish a dedicated funding source for sidewalk replacement. ii. Share cost 50-50 between abutting property owner and city. iii. Identify key routes where the public may need to take a greater share to ensure complete routes are completed. b. Identify unserved routes that connect high -density residential areas with commercial areas, parks or schools. First priority routes include: i. Woodland and Center north to 7th Avenue EN ii. 7th Avenue WN along the fairgrounds. iii. North Meridian (Idaho to Appleway) iv. Center Street V. Ist Street West (West of 5th Avenue) vi. 4th Avenue EN (south of Montana Street) Draft - 59 12. Parklands and greening opportunities. a. FEC site at Center and Woodland. i. Contact FEC and work with them to redevelop this site as a temporary (or permanent) neighborhood pocket park and trailhead site. ii. Take down fence and jersey barriers. iii. Create parking area, picnic tables or benches, etc. b. Woodland Park north and west boundaries i. Thin, clear and open up entire north and west boundaries to eliminate transient resident activities and to invite the adjacent neighborhood in. ii. Improve lighting in these areas as well. iii. Develop plans for an outdoor amphitheater in the northwest corner of Woodland Park below the FEC substation. C. Contact FEC and work on a plan to green/obscure the substation at Washington and Th Avenue WN, 13. Develop zoning tools that will enable the Core Area to accommodate a mix of land eases and achieve the Core Area Vision. a. Develop new zoning tools and creative approaches to enable property owners to achieve the Core Area vision. b. Educate the public on the proposed tools for the area. C. Work to phase out the existing single purpose industrial zoning prevalent along the BN tracks. d. Identify those businesses which are not currently compatible with their adjoining neighbors and work with them to address concerns. 14. Amend the city's architectural design standards. a. Work with the public, business owners, property owners and the city's Architectural Review Committee to develop design guidelines tailored for the Core Area. b. Amend the existing Architectural Design Standards to promote the built environment described in Chapter 1. Draft - 60