The Campus Neighborhoods Revitalization Corp. (CNRC) announced today (June 17) it has contracted with Environmental Planning&Design, LLC (EPD) of Pittsburgh, Pa., to help develop a comprehensive neighborhood revitalization strategy plan for Morgantowns Sunnyside neighborhood.
We are extremely excited to be entering into this next phase of Sunnyside Upour plan to rebuild the neighborhoods around West Virginia Universitys Downtown Campus,said CNRC President Reed Tanner.Environmental Planning&Design has years of experience in developing revitalization plans for neighborhoods. We are pleased to have them on board and working with us.
EPD is a nationally recognized planning and design firm with projects in more than 15 states. The company provides public and private clients with planning services such as: comprehensive and strategic zoning, sub-division and development ordinances; geographic information services; park, recreation and open space design; grant application assistance; landscape and urban design.
The agreement with EPD calls for the firm to conduct an extensive inventory and analysis of the areas physical/visual opportunities and constraints. That includes review of existing documents and project goal refinement; field reconnaissance and community orientation; base mapping; analysis of land use and demographics; evaluation of parcels, land ownership, and commercial and residential development; and parking, traffic and market analysis.
EPD will then formulate a vision concept, including an implications summary, detailed development concept sketches, conceptual design principles and an implementation and action plan.
Focus groups encompassing recreation and the environment, housing, business/developers, faculty/staff, students and government will be utilized by EPD to gather targeted specific planning and development issues. EPD also will solicit input from other stakeholders and may conduct public hearings.
The entire nine-month process will result in a comprehensive revitalization plan that will be put into document form by EPD ,said Terry Jones, CNRC executive director.This plan will lay the groundwork for accomplishing our goal: to create a culturally and socio-economically diverse neighborhood that is also architecturally pleasing and has character.
Creating more housing options and improving existing ones, along with fostering other mixed-use ventures in the area such as retail establishments, offices, bike and walking paths, parking and green space are primary objectives, he added.
Last September, WVU , the city of Morgantown and the Morgantown Area Chamber of Commerce and Industry announced the formation of CNRC in an effort to improve the Sunnyside neighborhood. The University and City each came up with $100,000 to jump-start the non-profit partnership.
Sunnyside serves not only as a gateway to the downtown campus, but the home-away-from-home for many of our students,said CNRC board member Scott Kelley, WVU vice president for finance, administration and human resources.Its importance cannot be overlooked. The University has taken steps over the past year, in concert with our master plan, to purchase property in the neighborhood for parking and future development. The University is happy to see the Sunnyside Up plan proceeding and we look forward to working with the consultant.
Morgantown City Council member Bill Byrne added,This is the next big step toward realizing a new Sunnyside. The city stands ready and looks forward to working closely with EDP to develop an exciting, practical plana plan that will lead the City, the University and the private sector to transform this blighted campus neighborhood.
As the project progresses, one of the primary missions of the board will be to identify and create opportunities for investors and investment partnerships to help rejuvenate the area, Jones said.
The concept for the Campus Neighborhoods Revitalization Corp. came out of the Chambers Vision 2020 project, specifically the Committee on Affordable Housing.