Now, nearly seven years after its founding, the Williamsburg City Council reviewed the progress of a downtown study.
The so-called “Downtown Vibrancy Study” grew out of efforts to reshape Williamsburg's downtown and create a framework for the city to guide economic development and planning.
“This is one of those plans that we've been talking about … that's getting a little long in the tooth now,” said City Manager Andrew Trivette. “You can see from the recommendations that many circumstances in the environment have changed.”
Mayor Doug Pons praised the progress the city has made since 2018, saying “the climate has changed down there.”
“It's a place to come together while eating, shopping and … meeting friends,” Pons said. “We can’t be afraid of housing and some density downtown to really support the downtown vibrancy study (and) the goals we’ve set.”
He suggested considering a possible rezoning and development of Armistead Avenue near the corner of Prince George Street, “where Bray School was removed.”
Council member Barbara Ramsey also considered the possibility of a future with a larger footprint for downtown Williamsburg as William & Mary moves forward with the redevelopment of Gates Hall, Colonial Williamsburg advances its Campbell Archeology Center and completes the expansion of the Muscarelle Museum of Art.
A committee of city leaders outlined what has been accomplished, what remains to be done, and what no longer makes sense.
“The real benefit and value here is this level of intention and consideration that goes into the categorization and forward thinking,” said Council Member Stacy Kern-Sheerer.
“Some things (in the study) are huge … but if we didn't have them on our radar and think about them in different rooms, we wouldn't be doing our job.”
Listed as complete:
- Installation of flower pots along parts of Prince George Street and Duke of Gloucester Street
- New street trees
- Installation of new street furniture
- Completion of the master plan for “wayfinding” signs
- Creating a policy allowing food trucks downtown
- Sought out a contract for bike sharing services, but didn't award it
- Approved incentives for outdoor dining at Precarious Beer Hall
Recommended by staff for consideration when updating a new citywide master plan:
- Encouraging the conversion of Scotland Street apartments into cafes, restaurants, bed and breakfasts as part of the Restaurant Row concept
- Update zoning to allow townhouses, apartments and other housing
- Change architectural guidelines to balance colonial and modern styles
- Increase building height limits
- Increase residential density limits and encourage new mixed-use developments. “The study recommends increasing density to a net 36 or 64 buildings at Scotland, Prince George, Francis, Boundary and Henry streets,” said Yuri Matsumoto, director of economic development.
- Introduce new road typologies: green roads, quality roads and first-class roads
- Connect bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure and integrate it into the broader Trail 757 initiative
Additional staff recommendations:
- Creation of an entertainment district around the Triangle Building, including the one-way conversion of surrounding streets, in conjunction with the redevelopment of the Blayton Building
- Recruit a city grocer to be based in the current Blayton building
- Install new street lighting
- Remove parking as a permitted primary use
- Limit parking to backyards
- Remove gas stations from uses permitted by a downtown special use permit
- Create a park that connects the Williamsburg Library Plaza with the green space of the Williamsburg Community Building
- Strategically create pop-up parks
- Incorporate more seasonal decorations into the streetscape
- Create programs that encourage people to visit the outskirts of downtown Williamsburg
Recommended not to continue
- Installing “gateway features” or physical indicators that one is entering the city center. “The human resources committee expressed concerns about visual clutter,” Matsumoto said.
- Pavilions or small buildings on Prince George Street for “micro-retail.” “Staff noted that there are many vendors and craft markets downtown, providing ample opportunity for entrepreneurs to sell their wares outside of a brick-and-mortar store,” Matsumoto said. Staff suggested the Triangle building as the location for such a market, which could be part of the Blayton redevelopment.
- Closure and conversion of the P3 car park into a pedestrian zone. “Colonial Williamsburg proposed” the project, including a performance space, in 2018, “but the proposal failed in public comment,” Matsumoto said. The second component also proposed the demolition of Brown Hall, which William & Mary is currently converting into an office and study space called Gates Hall.
- Allows for high-density development in Peacock Hill. “This is now the possible location for the proposed children’s park,” Matsumoto said.
- Creation of a residential, office and retail development on the current P6 car park site. “While this is a strong planning concept, the redevelopment and reuse of this property is ultimately the decision of the property owner, Colonial Williamsburg,” Matsumoto said.