Waxhaw Happenings February 2019 | Page 5

URBAN LAND INSTITUTE REPORT At the Board of Commissioners Work Session on January 22nd, the Urban Land Institute presented a report assessing Waxhaw’s downtown and offering recommendations for improving and preserving our downtown. Downtown Development Manager Curt White says “Downtown Waxhaw is the heart of the community,” and I think many of our residents would agree. “We recognize the importance of stewarding it forward in a way that preserves and respects its history while continuing to grow.” This need began our partnership with the Urban Land Institute to explore downtown development. The Town owns several core parcels that will be crucial pieces of how simultaneous growth and historic preservation happen. The Urban Land Institute pulled together real estate, planning, and development experts to help Waxhaw develop an unbiased approach to utilizing these properties. The ULI Report suggested both short-term and long-term recommendations following these priorities. Because the report was a participatory, community-led exercise involving key stakeholders such as downtown business owners and residents, the report has generally been positively received. You can view the full report at https://tinyurl.com/yc75wpe2.