As the number of employment and cultural and entertainment opportunities in the downtown increases, so too will the demand for market rate apartments and condominiums.
The two largest complexes, South Green apartments and River’s Edge Condominiums, enjoy relatively low vacancy rates. The City needs to strive towards a critical mass of market rate to upper income households distributed equally throughout the downtown. For this reason, this plan identifies the Marino property, the former Bob’s warehouse property, upper story apartments along Main Street and the Metro Square block as future distinctive residential areas.
Young professionals from major employers in the downtown and the City as a whole should be targeted. To attract this population, the downtown must remain a safe and pleasant environment and the City must foster an invigorating nightlife with numerous restaurants, nightclubs, arts and cultural and entertainment uses within the downtown and along its riverfront.