Page 8 - DSA4_B_2_bool_5

planning context

Downtown Denham Springs, a Certified Louisiana Main Street, has a long history of
efforts to improve the main street experience for residents and visitors. In 2008, the
Denham Springs Main Street Action Plan was completed, which outlined a variety of
strategies to unify and enhance the development of the downtown area, primarily
along Range Avenue. While many of these strategies were implemented, in part, the
document has not been updated and does not reflect some of the current conditions
in the Downtown area.

During the Denham Strong Recovery Plan process, Main Street Revitalization was
identified as a “High Priority Community Recovery” long-term implementation
project. (See box next page) The strategy identified priorities such as enhancements,
restoration of Spring Park, small business development, facade improvements, and
additional promotion of Main Street as a destination. In 2017 Louisiana Main Street
completed a Market Study for the Main Street Association to help guide new business
opportunities.

In November 2018, the Denham Springs Historic District was added to the
National Historic Register. In August 2019, three years after the flood, the City
purchased the “Old Capital One Building” located at 116 N. Range to renovate as the
permanent City Hall replacing the flooded City Hall. This purchase provides a
great opportunity to incorporate the City Hall site into the day-to-day fabric of the
Main Street.

A significant amount of planning, design and preparation work was completed pro
bono by local architects and, by LSU students which made the design charrette a
possibility. Additionally, the Louisiana Main Street Foundation provided a grant to
offset professional design costs.

Preliminary outreach and planning activities laid a foundation for the charrette.
This work included: “Linking Land Use to Water Quality” workshop held by EPA that
included the City Hall property as a site for consideration; a placemaking
workshop held by LA Main Street and the Capital Region Planning Commission
(CRPC); a survey of residents and visitors to the Main Street about desired
uses was conducted in April/May 2018; LSU students conducted a design study of
Spring Park; LSU students also prepared the preliminary design charrette maps and
documents; and, LSU Engineering and Landscape Architecture students
studied stormwater needs, including green infrastructure near the Main
Street area. The LSU Coastal Sustainability Studio summarized much of the
student work into a master plan, “Spring Up.”
Over the course of several months, this group completed the preparation work
needed to organize the charrette, which was ultimately held on January 17, 2019.
The charrette was led by Architects Cabaniss and Sanchez with participation by key
stakeholders from the City. The geographic area that was considered included all the
city-owned property that lies north of E Railroad Avenue. (See Map on page 12)

7