restoring the urban root river
DESCRIPTION
We present a case study of how Racine, Wis., a coastal city, is using its formerly industrial riverfront as a lynchpin for an ambitious revitalization project that marries the goals of economic redevelopment, environmental improvement, and bringing the public back to the water. This presentation was given by Helen Sarakinos, Policy Program Director, River Alliance of Wisconsin.TRANSCRIPT
RootWorks: Revitalizing Racine’s Urban River Corridor
History of the Root River Corridor Redevelopment Project
Revitalizing Racine’s Urban River Corridor
Helen Sarakinos, River Alliance of Wisconsin Jolena Pres?, Vandewalle & Associates
RootWorks: Revitalizing Racine’s Urban River Corridor
RootWorks: Revitalizing Racine’s Urban River Corridor
RootWorks: Revitalizing Racine’s Urban River Corridor
RootWorks: Revitalizing Racine’s Urban River Corridor
RootWorks: Revitalizing Racine’s Urban River Corridor
RootWorks: Revitalizing Racine’s Urban River Corridor
RootWorks: Revitalizing Racine’s Urban River Corridor
RootWorks: Revitalizing Racine’s Urban River Corridor
RootWorks: Revitalizing Racine’s Urban River Corridor
RootWorks: Revitalizing Racine’s Urban River Corridor
RootWorks: Revitalizing Racine’s Urban River Corridor
RootWorks: Revitalizing Racine’s Urban River Corridor
RootWorks: Revitalizing Racine’s Urban River Corridor
RootWorks: Revitalizing Racine’s Urban River Corridor
RootWorks: Revitalizing Racine’s Urban River Corridor
RootWorks: Revitalizing Racine’s Urban River Corridor
RootWorks: Revitalizing Racine’s Urban River Corridor
RootWorks: Revitalizing Racine’s Urban River Corridor
RootWorks: Revitalizing Racine’s Urban River Corridor RootWorks: Root River Corridor Redevelopment Plan
RootWorks: Revitalizing Racine’s Urban River Corridor
RootWorks: Revitalizing Racine’s Urban River Corridor
RootWorks: Revitalizing Racine’s Urban River Corridor
RootWorks: Revitalizing Racine’s Urban River Corridor
RootWorks: Revitalizing Racine’s Urban River Corridor
RootWorks: Revitalizing Racine’s Urban River Corridor
RootWorks Partners in Plan Development
RootWorks: Revitalizing Racine’s Urban River Corridor
RootWorks: Revitalizing Racine’s Urban River Corridor
RootWorks: Revitalizing Racine’s Urban River Corridor
Building off of Back to the Root: RootWorks IniAaAve Goals
• Many years of capacity building – paddles, events, community outreach
• Crea?on and adop?on of the Back to the Root Plan by the Root River Council and River Alliance of Wisconsin and City
• The RootWorks Redevelopment Plan focuses on advancing the following goals:
1. S?mulate economic growth 2. Create a sense of place 3. Allow public access and interac?on 4. Improve water quality
RootWorks: Revitalizing Racine’s Urban River Corridor
RootWorks: Revitalizing Racine’s Urban River Corridor
RootWorks OpportuniAes:
• Reposi?on cri?cal area in the heart of Racine • Create jobs and increase tax base • Inspire innova?on • Increase access and create excitement • Reconnect to neighborhoods and area history
• Long term Root River health advocacy, regional sustainability
RootWorks: Revitalizing Racine’s Urban River Corridor
RootWorks Plan Development Process • Plan Development Timeline: September 2011 to July 2012, Implementa?on began November 2012
• Plan Led by Technical Team: Root River Council, River Alliance of WI, Racine County EDC, City of Racine
• Vandewalle & Associates, Urban Planning, Redevelopment and Urban Design firm prepared the plan document in coordina?on with the Technical Team
• Extensive public outreach and engagement – 5 public mee?ngs, over 100 a\endees, stakeholder interviews with property owners, residents, organiza?ons, community supported crea?on and Plan adop?on
RootWorks: Revitalizing Racine’s Urban River Corridor
RootWorks: Revitalizing Racine’s Urban River Corridor
RootWorks: Revitalizing Racine’s Urban River Corridor
RootWorks: Revitalizing Racine’s Urban River Corridor
RootWorks: Revitalizing Racine’s Urban River Corridor
ImplementaAon of the RootWorks project is Amely because the team is working to:
1. Eliminate physical, environmental and economic blight in the heart of Racine–increasing tax base and value in the community
2. Reverse the trend of underutilization of properties and public areas in the area
3. Increase public connectivity to the River 4. Reduce negative land and water quality impacts from
existing brownfields, stormwater runoff, invasive species, and bluff and streambank erosion
5. Overcome negative perceptions about the corridor and River
RootWorks: Revitalizing Racine’s Urban River Corridor
ImplementaAon Partners & Project Management Team
City of Racine: Mayor John Dickert Tom Friedel, City Administrator Ma\ Sadowski, Planning State RepresentaAve Cory Mason Racine County Economic Development Corp: Gordy Kacala, Execu?ve Director Karen Frost, Marke?ng & Redevelopment
Specialist Racine County: County Execu?ve Jim Ladwig Julie Anderson, Racine County Public Works &
Development Services
SC Johnson: Ma\ Wagner, President Johnson
Redevelopment Corp. Case New Holland (CNH) George Whitaker, Govt Affairs Root River Council Ben Lehner Vandewalle & Associates: Brian Vandewalle, President Jolena Pres?, Principal
RootWorks: Revitalizing Racine’s Urban River Corridor
RootWorks: Revitalizing Racine’s Urban River Corridor
RootWorks: Revitalizing Racine’s Urban River Corridor
RootWorks: Revitalizing Racine’s Urban River Corridor