POCATELLO DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT PLAN
A VISION FOR THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY
To view the Plan in its entirety, follow the link below:
Introduction
The Pocatello Downtown Development Plan provides the City and the community, an ambitious vision for the future of Downtown Pocatello. It provides a foundational framework for downtown success and goals and strategies to implement the vision. This plan should be utilized as a playbook by the City of Pocatello, Historic Downtown Pocatello, Inc., business and property owners, investors, developers and various community organizations in determining priorities and strategies to accomplish the goals of the vision within Downtown and the surrounding areas.
Why Plan Downtown?
Establish a vision for the future: The older building stock, affordable spaces, and pedestrian scale of development make downtowns attractive areas for dining, entertainment, and, to a degree, housing. A downtown plan serves to describe and reinforce the worth, role, and future of the downtown to the community. It gives guidance to existing and future owners, developers, and users of downtown as to how their property or services fits into the present and future of the area.
Coordinate Improvement activities: Downtown is the result of many public and private actions. The plan helps to coordinate the investment and use activities of the private sector with the capital investment and service programs of the community.
Provide guidance to owners and developers: The plan is the source of public policy regarding the downtown. It identifies the capital, regulatory, and service investments and policies to be followed by the community, owners, developers, and tenants in downtown.
Market downtown investment and development: As a compendium of a vision and policies for downtown development, the plan provides direction for the common marketing of downtown as a center of attraction and a place of investment by both the public and private sectors.
Collaborative Planning
This Downtown Development Plan was spearheaded by Historic Downtown Pocatello, Inc. in collaboration with Utah State University, the City of Pocatello and a group of community leaders, property and businesses owners. This collaborative group formed the Downtown Plan Task Force. Between 2018-2021, through a series of hands-on meetings and walkabouts, the Task Force discussed, reviewed and approved the vision and implementation strategies for the Downtown Plan. Many critical issues and visionary ideas were evaluated and discussed. The foundational vision presented in this plan represents the outcome of these meetings.
Further input and collaboration with the members of the public, community leaders, and business and property owners is critical for the successful development of Downtown. This plan is intended to be an active plan, a living document where, as long as the foundational principles are consistent, plans that are built off of those principles have the ability to fluctuate or become more refined as they are further pursued. Constant collaborative engagement in planning for the future of Downtown will empower the community to create a downtown for everyone.
Value Proposition
The foundational premise of the Plan is this:
Downtown development occurs in a knowledge economy when a community's greatest assets are identified, reinforced, linked together and intensified within and in close proximity to the downtown core.
Pocatello's Greatest Assets
Nature: Pocatello is nestled along the edge of the Snake River Plain in the Portneuf River Valley. This landscape continues to draw outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers to the City who enjoy mountain views from nearly every location in town. Pocatello boasts an extensive trail system throughout its foothills and an ever expanding greenway and river restoration. Pocatello's direct access to natural amenities and the short drive to surrounding national forests and parks such as Craters of the Moon and Yellowstone National Park make it a prime location to live for those who enjoy outdoor living with urban amenities.
Historic Civic: The railroad is at the heart of Pocatello, literally. The town began as a railroad junction and evolved into a booming turn-of-the-century mercantile city. Development followed traditional patterns complete with a concentrated yet diverse civic, commercial, residential, and cultural core. Historic Main Street and the surrounding downtown district provides the framework for responsible urban development. While improvement is needed, the historic value of Pocatello's civic and community core offers a glimpse at a pattern for city success and resiliency.
Knowledge: The Knowledge Economy suggests that ideas are the ultimate creator of wealth and prosperity. These ideas and the pursuit of knowledge epitomizes the information age and our City will see success if this knowledge is prioritized. Fortunately, Pocatello is home to Idaho State University which plays a vital role in producing and fostering ideas and backs those ideas up with research and innovative solutions. Downtown Pocatello has a significant advantage in the Knowledge Economy by having Idaho State University adjacent to it.
Where is Downtown?
Downtown is generally defined as a city's central commercial, cultural and governmental area. Downtown is the heart of the community and, if successful, provides the most diverse and most intense development patterns in the City. As previously explained, many downtowns, like Pocatello, have suffered the ravages of suburbanization and degradation. For this reason, it is crucial to identify what area of the City was, is, and should be Downtown. So what area makes up Downtown Pocatello? While many locals inherently know where downtown is, there has never been a clearly defined and officially adopted downtown area by the City. As downtown development pressures increase, it has become paramount to consider what the official downtown boundaries are.
Downtown Pocatello
This proposed representation portrays an enhanced Downtown Pocatello with a clear, defining area. This defined downtown area also supports the value proposition which seeks to physically connect Nature, Historic Civic, and Knowledge with a clear area for development and focus. This defined area promotes a highly energized destination downtown. Planning for Downtown Pocatello must involve careful consideration of linking surrounding neighborhoods, corridors and the remainder of the City to a defined downtown core. The identified "transition area" sets to effectively accomplish this connection. While not within Downtown Pocatello, all of these neighborhoods and corridors are critical to successful development and improvement of the downtown area. All recommendations within the plan seek to improve connections, relationships and neighborhood impact in relation to downtown development.
Downtown Districts
Unique Areas of Downtown
In walking the downtown area, it is apparent that Downtown has distinct areas that differ from each other in intensity, aesthetics, feel, and form. This map shows the locations of five distinct downtown districts that have been carefully considered among various stakeholders. Each district will have, or already has a common identifying character. Each district also will have intense centers of activity, or nodes. As these nodes are reinforced and intensified, They will act as each district's unique catalytic project to invigorate downtown development and encourage complementing activities within the Downtown.
Historic Downtown
The Beating Heart of Downtown
Historic Downtown is the center of cultural and civic identity for the entire City. This district will continue to play a central role in the success of Pocatello. This district's vision for downtown development prioritizes economic development utilizing the following strategies: Historic preservation, which is key to retaining all historically and culturally significant buildings, the removal of intrusive uses, such as parking lots and other un/under-productive land uses, and infill with responsible urban development, such as public open space and buildings with 2+ stories, will be essential in reinforcing the City's identity and enhance Downtown as the center for business, living and recreation in Pocatello.
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The City Square
At the heart of the Civic Center is the City Square. This square is bookended with the Marshall Public Library to the west, City Hall to the east and a downtown recreation center to the south. The square spans across an entire city block with the exception of preserving the historic North Building. The goal of the square is to offer a flexible space for various activities throughout the year. The square will feature a splash pad, ice rink, playground, performing stage, grass seating areas, food truck staging area, restroom facilities, art and tree cover.
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The City Hall
Every successful City locates their City Hall in the heart of Downtown. If local leaders seek to improve the resiliency, viability and identity of the City, they must turn their attention not only to encouraging businesses to locate downtown but they should also establish a plan to relocate City government operations downtown as well. If the City is invested in downtown, it is more likely that investors will follow. This investment will, over time, improve the overall health and financial viability of the City as a whole.
When the City is ready to be invested in its own community both economically and socially, it will do what it takes to relocate Downtown.
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The Recreation Center
The Downtown Recreation Center will provide additional activity in the Civic Center and a draw to Downtown. Activities at this facility will be determined with further conversations with the Parks & Recreation Department to assess community needs for this type of facility.
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The Public Library
The Marshall Public Library boasts a wide array of community services. The library is an important staple for the community and rounds out the amenities of the civic center. As the civic center develops the library will seek to add to their services and amenities.
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Union Plaza
The Depot Crossroads features a redesign of the area in front of the Union Pacific Railroad Depot at the corner of Bonneville Street and Union Pacific Avenue. This Union Pacific Plaza is connected to the Portneuf Greenway via a series of parks and public open spaces. This redesign will provide a renewed emphasis on the significance of the railroad industry and its defining role in the history of Pocatello.
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Portneuf Greenway Extension
The open space that connects the Depot to the Portneuf River will draw new development and will become a desirable asset for mixed-use, commercial and residential uses that are in close proximity to it. This will be an attractive entrance into Pocatello's Historic Downtown District.
Portneuf District
Where Urban Meets Nature
Recreation plays a major role in the identity and draw of Pocatello. With river restoration underway, the Portneuf District sits at the doorway to the Portneuf greenway and access to the vast network of trails throughout the western foothills. This district is positioned to be the City's greatest recreational hub. This district's vision for downtown development prioritizes economic development utilizing the following strategies: Historic preservation, which is key to retaining all historically and culturally significant residential neighborhoods and the establishment of a district node that integrates with existing historic buildings using responsible urban development, will be essential in strengthening the identity and vibrancy of the neighborhood that skirts the Portneuf River, reinforcing the district as the center for recreation in Pocatello.
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Portneuf Landing
Portneuf Landing is located at the intersection of Center Street and the Portneuf River. At the edge of the Downtown commercial district, the Landing serves not only as the central node to the Portneuf District but also a major access point into a newly revitalized river channel. The Landing celebrates the river and its importance to the Portneuf Valley while providing urban amenities such as local retail shops and sidewalk cafes. This node is within walking distance to many historic homes, the public library and Main Street. This is an ideal location for residents to spend the day floating the river or have lunch along the channel walls.
Downtown East
Gritty + Grounded
Back in the day, Downtown East was home to a rich concentration of cultural and ethnic groups. This was the heart of the "Iron Triangle" which was home to many notable figures of the Civil Rights movement in Pocatello. While only fragments of its history remains, ample opportunity awaits for intense urban development on underdeveloped land. This opportunity provides a bright future for Downtown Pocatello as a whole offering an exceptional location to all the amenities of not only Downtown but the entire city. This district's vision for downtown development prioritizes economic development utilizing the following strategies: Historic preservation, which is key to retaining all historically and culturally significant buildings, the removal of intrusive uses, such as parking lots and other un/under-productive land uses, and infill with responsible urban development, such as public open space and buildings with 2+ stories will be essential in reinforcing the City's identity and enhance Downtown as the center for business, living and recreation in Pocatello.
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East Center Plaza
Currently, there is no park or open space in Downtown East. What currently characterizes this District is a small historic district and several single story buildings and surface parking lots. The addition of 2+ story developments, parking structures and areas for recreation will greatly enhance Downtown East. The East Center Plaza is located near the corner of 1st Avenue and East Center Street which lies on the east end of the Center Street Underpass.
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Underpass & Pedestrian Bridge
Right-of-way improvements along 1st Avenue and the proposed Center Street pedestrian bridge will reinforce this corner as a critical node and connection point between the east and west sides of the Downtown District.
Warehouse District
Arts, Innovation + Industry
A simple online search of "Warehouse district" results in examples of vibrant, hip, artistic and creative places. These examples are part of a renaissance of the adaptive reuse of historic places. Pocatello has a valuable asset that is our Historic Warehouse District. The District is primed for adaptive reuse, injecting an eclectic mix of young professional lofts, creative industries, research and entrepreneurial enterprises. This district's vision for downtown development prioritizes economic development utilizing the following strategies: adaptive reuse of historic warehouse buildings, the removal of intrusive uses, such as parking lots and other un/under productive land uses, infill with responsible urban development, such as public open space and buildings with 2+ stories. These strategies will reinforce the Warehouse District identity as a center of vibrant enterprise where college students and young professionals and long-term residents want to be.
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Varsity Commons
Since the beginning of time, the purpose of the city has been to provide a central locale for the exchange of ideas and goods. This is a place improved by healthy competition and a "think tank" culture. With roots reaching back to the Roman Forum, the plaza, commons or other central gathering places provide a location of gathering, interaction and the exchange of ideas. Varsity Commons seeks to provide these opportunities. With a District emphasis on creative industries, entrepreneurship and young professionals, the Commons is centrally located in the District to encourage this collaborative atmosphere.
Bengal District
Knowledge + Community
Idaho State University has been an asset of Pocatello since its early history and are inseparably connected. The Bengal District provides a physical connection between Downtown and the University Campus. The focus of this District is to provide places where students can interact with the community in meaningful ways. This includes providing additional student housing and a facility that proactively seeks to connect university students to community networks. This district's vision for downtown development prioritizes economic development utilizing the following strategies: responsible urban development focused on providing services to university students, reinforcing the town /gown relationship drawing energy from campus into Downtown Pocatello, and enhancing the pedestrian experience to provide greater safety to commuting university students, effectively strengthening the link between Knowledge and the Historic Civic core.
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Bengal Block
The Bengal Block Student Life Center will provide not only a place for students to live directly adjacent to Campus, but also a facility and programs that focus on civic and community life for students. These experiences will allow students to engage with the community and open various networks for career, service or social opportunities. The objective of the Bengal Block is to strengthen the student's ties with the community, strengthening the lasting legacy of Idaho State University as a critical member of the Pocatello community.
Implementation
View a summary of the implementation of all policies, projects, goals and strategies identified in the Downtown Plan:
Implementation Matrix - not yet available, please refer to the Downtown Plan to view the implementation items.
To access other community plans, use the links below:
For supplemental documents, use the links below:
For additional information, please contact the Pocatello Planning & Development Services Department:
planning@pocatello.us or 208.234.6514
