ECONOMIC & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IN MARTINSBURG Initial presentation of approaches, tools, and policies for consideration.
INTRODUCTION • These recommendations are derived from my review of documents; conversations with staff, residents, business owners, and the majority of councilmembers; site visits throughout the city; and my own observations. • Not looking for a formal YES/NO on these items. Rather, seeking guidance on which recommendations to develop further. In some cases, future approval of policies or expenditures will be needed.
~1870 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
~1890 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
1926 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
EARLY 20 TH CENTURY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
1966 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
DUNN BUILDING: MILL/OUTLET/GOV’T CYCLE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
1992 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
POST-MALL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
THEME: INDUSTRY & INFRASTRUCTURE
CITY OF MARTINSBURG’S CONSISTENT ROLE IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Primary focus on infrastructure, public assets, and civic services.
RECENT CITY OF MARTINSBURG ECONOMIC/COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES • Brownfields assessment grant and full ESA’s of privately owned brownfield sites to understand the magnitude of concern and support redevelopment. • Comprehensive Economic Development Plan by Garner Economics, which led to creation of Economic & Community Development Office. • Renovation and operation of Caperton/MRB train station to enable MARC and Amtrak connectivity. • N. Raleigh Street extension provides alternate routing & connection between medical facilities and downtown; unlocks previously inaccessible parcels. • Oak, Burke, Queen Bridge/Underpass improvements and accompanying placemaking investments. • “West End” annexation for growth and future development.
RECENT CITY OF MARTINSBURG ECONOMIC/COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES • Parking Management Plan & Garage Study • New water treatment plants, upgrades to equipment and water lines • Use of CDGB program to provide housing, and public-serving capital improvements • Use of TIF district to support development. • Street repaving, ADA curbing and accessibility projects • Home Rule to provide flexibility in funding and programmatic operations
RECENT CITY OF MARTINSBURG ECONOMIC/COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES • Construction of new MPD HQ • Gateway & Wayfinding Signage Project • The Martinsburg Initiative, partnership between MPD & schools • HOME program to support home ownership
CURRENT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT “CAPITAL STACK” TOOLKIT • HUB Zones (Federal contracts, loan eligibility) • New Market Tax Credits • Historic Preservation Tax Credits • State • Federal • Opportunity Zone (capital gains tax incentive) • Downtown B&O Tax Incentive • Citywide B&O Tax Incentive (Phase-In)
INITIAL POLICY FOCUS BLIGHT ABATEMENT: attraction of businesses, residents, customers all depend on having an attractive place. REDEVELOPMENT & ADAPTIVE REUSE: brownfields and vacant, outmoded facilities are a form of blight that limits new uses, creates gaps in the neighborhood. But they also present opportunities for adaptive reuse and infill redevelopment. QUALITY OF PLACE: going beyond just removing blight , people want nice housing, attractive public realm, green space & parks, walkable businesses, access to civic features. (Businesses locate where the best employees want to live.) EXISTING BUSINESS SUPPORT: Martinsburg has a dedicated core of businesses that are committed to the community. Focus on policies supporting those businesses while working to attract additional investment. INVESTMENT ATTRACTION: addressing housing blight depends on attracting/empowering people who want to live in currently blighted areas. Redeveloping brownfields depends on attracting investors willing to partner and undertake complex cleanup and adaptive reuse projects. Attracting outside investment depends on marketing.
GARNER ECONOMICS REPORT (DEC. 2013) 1. ORGANIZATIONAL/STRUCTURAL 2. PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT: INITIATIVES & ASSETS 3. MARKETING (“TELL THE STORY”)
ORGANIZATION & STRUCTURE
ORGANIZATION & STRUCTURE • Garner recommended: • Creating Economic & Community Development Office • Formation of municipal Economic Development Authority
PUBLIC CORPORATION STRUCTURAL OPTIONS Urban Renewal Authority v. Economic Development Authority • Garner report recommended EDA. • However, an alternate and perhaps more suitable option, is the Urban Renewal Authority. • Both: Creations of state code (EDA, Ch. 7 on Local Gov.; URA, Ch. 16 on Public Health) • Enacted by Council Resolution • Volunteer members • Public corporation • Buy, sell, hold property • Bond •
COMPARING ORGANIZATIONAL TYPES ECONOMIC DEV. AUTHORITY URBAN RENEWAL AUTHORITY • Encourage business through loans, • Eliminate conditions of blight by investments, and transactions to attract acquisition and preparation of land. and assist businesses. • Development and redevelopment in • Stimulate expansion of businesses accordance with community plans. • Prepare redevelopment plan and acquire, clear, sell, lease, and make available land in accordance with redevelopment plan.
COMPARING ORGANIZATIONAL TYPES • Communities with Urban Renewal Authorities include: • Charleston Clarksburg • Fairmont Fayette County • Parkersburg T own of Nutter Fork • Wellsburg Huntington
COMPARING ORGANIZATIONAL TYPES • BOTH play important roles • Berkeley County has an EDA • Urban Renewal Authority would be a new tool that could: Address the key constraints of BLIGHT and BROWNFIELDS • Pull together into a single redevelopment plan: • Brownfield redevelopment • Housing blight abatement • Needs of historic preservation of key civic structures • Need for green space reclamation and planning (e.g. Tuscarora Greenway Initiative & • stormwater/floodplain planning)
FEEDBACK/DISCUSSION ON CONSIDERATION OF URBAN RENEWAL AUTHORITY
INITIAL POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS & TOOLS
SHORT-TERM, LOW COST (“LOW-HANGING FRUIT”) MARTINSBURG BUSINESS AMBASSADOR PROGRAM SMALL BUSINESS TECHNICAL SUPPORT PROGRAM “BETTER BLOCK” COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMS
SHORT-TERM, LOW COST (“LOW-HANGING FRUIT”) MARTINSBURG BUSINESS AMBASSADOR PROGRAM • Garner recommended creation of a “One Stop” Permitting Program. • A true “One Stop” is not possible in Martinsburg, where all businesses require separate State registration and many require additional County compliance. • Martinsburg can provide one-stop clarification of the steps needed to comply with city code; the tie-ins to WV state code; and the tie-ins to County code. • We can provide a “Roadmap to Business Compliance” for businesses seeking to operate in Martinsburg, including names and contact info for relevant departments, specific forms required, and contact for a point person to serve as “Business Ambassador” when questions/concern arise. • Structured as bi-weekly meeting convened by Econ/Comm Dev Director to include: Planning Department (planning, engineering, inspections), Business Licensing, Fire Department, and other ad hoc officials as business specifics require.
SHORT-TERM, LOW COST (“LOW-HANGING FRUIT”) SMALL BUSINESS TECHNICAL SUPPORT PROGRAM • Small businesses operators often lack the funds to invest in technical assistance, data, and expertise. • The Economic & Community Development Office can procure and provide certain data and expertise to Martinsburg’s small businesses. This includes: • Citywide and neighborhood economic indicators; • ESRI Business Analyst data on demographics and economic behavior; • Student assessment teams & pro bono business coaches (as available); • Buildout of additional resources as requested.
SHORT-TERM, LOW COST (“LOW-HANGING FRUIT”) “BETTER BLOCK” COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMS • Coordinated, community-driven initiatives to dramatically improve a small area (1-2 blocks) • Empowers & directs volunteerism to make visible improvements • City involvement encourages public realm improvements along with private property improvements. • Encourages a culture of creativity and micro-improvements. • Community Cleanup + Pop-Up Activation + Temporary Placemaking
FEEDBACK/DISCUSSION OF “LOW- HANGING FRUIT” INITIATIVES MARTINSBURG BUSINESS AMBASSADOR PROGRAM SMALL BUSINESS TECHNICAL SUPPORT PROGRAM “BETTER BLOCK” COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMS
POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS & TOOLS 1. POLICY of using CDBG funds for economic development, including housing improvements as blight abatement. 2. Home Revitalization Loan Fund (Garner est. ~$500k - $1M) 3. Vacant Commercial/Industrial Tax Disincentive 4. First-time Homebuyer EHAP w/ Significant Employers 5. Façade Improvement Program: Consider Grant v. Loan 6. Small Business Low-Interest Loan Fund
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