We now have the incredible opportunity to help North Pole fully live up to its name. For instance, what if we develop a quaint town center to show off to our visitors? What if we could walk around a cute little area to do our shopping and dining, play with our kids in the park, meet friends for lunch on a plaza, visit the pharmacy or the post office, and do our grocery shopping, all within the space of a few steps? What if it did have a magical feel to it, as if it really was Santa's
Design Ideas
Please click on the images to the left to see them in more detail. These drawings were created in 2006 by Charles Bettisworth and Company Architects and Planners to serve as conceptual models for a more fully developed theme city. Focusing on retail and cafes clustered around a public plaza, this design could engender a new town center, one with character and life. It's located on the currently undeveloped extension of Cary Ave between City Hall and Santa Claus House.
This is one approach to our theme city. Please let us know what you think of these ideas on the feedback page and by giving us your opinions at the North Pole, Stepping into the Future, Public Workshop 1 on June 13,
Funding and Implementation
In the long run and when done right, development of a theme city will pay for itself. Private investment (perhaps with government incentives) will fund the construction and maintenance of the shops and cafes. This will become a destination enjoyed by locals every day and will attract an even greater number of tourists. Similar thematically developed cities throughout the United States have experienced significant economic advantage. A themed city is a win-win situation for all involved!
Leavenworth and Poulsbo, two successful theme cities in Washington State, were initiated by private property owners whose investment captured the imagination of the general population.
Theme City Ordinances
In the cases of Leavenworth and Poulsbo, their initial construction designs eventually became the basis for municipal codes. Check out the links below to see what they have done.
What should the guidelines of our theme city be? How should we codify the theme in city ordinances? Some questions we need to answer include:
Would theme city design guidelines be helpful for our town center?
What streets should we include in our initial scoping?
Should Santa Claus Lane, our current heart of business activity, be our starting point?
Do we need to agree on a standard look for our town?
Should we decrease the front yard setbacks in order to create a more pedestrian friendly environment?
Should we establish street parking?
These questions, and more, are topics for public discussion.
