Englewood Urban Center Plan

The focus of Downtown Matters Plan was a multifaceted planning tool that set a new vision for a unified Downtown Englewood for the next 15 years. The key focus of the plan was to shape a vision for revitalizing Downtown Englewood along with a public awareness support program for the formation of a Downtown Development Authority (DDA)

The current overall Downtown area had evolved into a series of disparate sub areas with no central identity and differing degrees of economic vitality. The expanding Medical District to the east experienced large investments in new hospital and medical facilities with associated supporting residential and retail uses, but few placemaking commitments. The original CityCenter TOD sub area, one of the nation’s first transit-oriented developments 20 years ago, and the traditional Broadway Main Street sub area were both suffering from empty storefronts, dormant retail sites and a lack of street life vibrancy. There was also the challenge of how to physically connect these sub-districts from east to west in a strong identifiable fashion while recognizing that these three subareas each have unique identities, opportunities and challenges.

Dig Studio and StudioSeed led the downtown vision plan, with PUMA leading the DDA Plan. The resulting ‘Downtown Matters Plan’ calls for specific economic development, marketing, placemaking, mobility and urban design strategies for each subarea, while improving connections and cohesive brand for all of Downtown Englewood. The plan will lead to the transition of one of the regions first suburban transit-oriented developments and struggling Main Street downtowns into a high-quality district and urban center that becomes the new heart and soul for the City of Englewood.