Project Update - May 2021

The Board of Supervisors received an update on the Broadway Blueprint Study at their May 19, 2021 meeting. More information about this meeting and access to the meeting materials can be found here. Questions or comments can be emailed to broadway@albemarle.org.

Project Description

The Broadway Blueprint Study seeks to leverage public and private investment associated with the Woolen Mills site redevelopment and the relocation of the WillowTree corporate campus to encourage economic vitality, connectivity and placemaking along the Broadway Street corridor.

Supporting Documents

Map of Study Area

November 20, 2019 Presentation to Board of Supervisors:

• Executive Summary
• Draft Interim Report
• PowerPoint Presentation Slides
• Vimeo Video Link

Project Status

The Board of Supervisors accepted an Interim Broadway Blueprint Study Report in November 2019, which included a proposed study area profile of existing conditions, summary of redevelopment activity, and key issues/opportunities/challenges among other materials. The Board formally endorsed the Broadway Blueprint Intention and Potential Focus Areas contained in the Interim Report and directed staff to develop specific strategies for each focus area.

This work was underway when the pandemic was declared in early March 2020, causing other more immediate and urgent issues to take priority and pausing the Broadway Blueprint effort. In July 2020, staff began revisiting the Broadway Blueprint plan process to determine how best to proceed under dramatically different conditions, recognizing the ultimate value of the study work even in a changed environment.

Staff's reevaluation has resulted in a reassessment of potential strategies that are informed by both the original intention of the study and by the realities that exist in both the public and private sector as the impacts of the pandemic continue to be felt locally, nationally and globally. These potential strategies will be reviewed with the Board of Supervisors and the public as they are developed.

Feedback

The Broadway Blueprint Study is scheduled to go back to the Board of supervisors for further discussion later this fall/winter. Additional materials will be shared with the public in advance of that meeting to encourage comments and feedback. In the meantime, County staff is eager to hear from Broadway corridor partners about how conditions over the past six months have impacted their operations and plans for the future to make sure this information is incorporated into the study process during this phase.

Interested persons are strongly encouraged to fill out the brief survey or to provide general comments at the email below. This feedback will continue to inform the progress of the study, and additional opportunities for comment will be provided as the study continues.

Thank you for your interest in the Broadway Blueprint Study.

Email your feedback on the documents above to the Study Team