A first-ever joint Urban Land Institute / International Downtown Association (IDA) panel visited Colorado Springs June 24-29, 2012, chaired by Former Indianapolis Mayor Bill Hudnut.  The assignment for the panel centered on revitalization of downtown.  Recognizing that a vision must be created locally, the panel offered the following as a starting point:  Downtown Colorado Springs, staying true to its pioneering spirit, will create a cohesive, vibrant, mixed-use center that embraces the region’s history, culture, and natural assets to offer economic opportunity for its citizens.

Specific panel recommendations included:

• Establishment of an Arts and Entertainment District.
• Reimagining America the Beautiful Park as a new Olympic Park with a new iconic bridge and wall of Olympians of all Americans who participated in the modern Olympics since 1896.
• Creating new mixed use and mixed  income housing units in the core of downtown.
• Ensuring an appropriate mix of retail, late-night entertainment, dining, cultural. attractions and business development ensure an appropriate mix of retail, late-night entertainment, dining, cultural attractions and business development
• Establishing new retail and commercial activities.
• Partnership strategies to collaborate with the US Olympic Committee, University of Colorado-Colorado Springs and Colorado College.
• Launching new tactics and strategies for  addressing downtown management and programing.

Read more, or download the full panel presentation.