On Election Day—November 6, 1990—the voters of Burlington approved the Urban
Renewal Plan for the Waterfront Revitalization District. The
1990 Plan described an integrated, comprehensive strategy for the redevelopment
of the City’s urban waterfront in a manner that would ensure public use and
enjoyment of the area. The Plan created an Urban Renewal District on the
waterfront that provided the City the necessary mechanism to implement the
projects proposed in the Plan. (Refer to Appendices A
and B for a description and map of the district.)
At the heart of the Plan were 13 major project elements describing physical
improvements that the community wanted to have occur in the district. Those
projects were drawn from years of public discussion and a number of studies
exploring the feasibility of various development scenarios. The Plan also
discussed how those projects might be financed, and what zoning changes would be
necessary to implement the vision.
The original Waterfront Plan has served the City well for the past 8 years.
It has provided a guiding vision and unifying force for development of the
Waterfront district. Because enormous progress has been made toward the goals
outlined in the Plan in 1990, much of the document is no longer helpful in
guiding actions from today forward. Many projects detailed in the 1990 Plan—like
the creation of Waterfront Park and the relocation of the Naval Reserve—are
now complete. Others—like the Renaissance Center—have been canceled or
replaced by similar projects due to changing circumstances.
At the heart of this Revised Plan are 22 project elements planned for the
Waterfront Revitalization District. The 22 elements are each at different stages
of development. Some of the elements—like the creation of a mixed-use urban
neighborhood adjacent to Lake Street—are currently under construction. While
others—like the redevelopment of the Moran Plant as an art space—are still
conceptual.
The Plan also includes sections on the history of the Waterfront; guiding
principles of the Plan; descriptions of property that may be acquired or
demolished; a list of potential financing mechanisms; a description of the legal
framework of an urban renewal district; various maps and photos; and a
bibliography of Waterfront-related studies and reports. After the Revised Plan
is adopted by the voters, it will replace, in whole, the original 1990 Plan.
Although it might be interesting to do so, it is not necessary to refer to the
1990 Plan to understand this document.
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