In Durham, NC, Downtown Durham Inc. has developed a 10-year strategic plan aimed at strengthening the downtown economy while preserving its historic character and making the district more accessible and affordable to residents and businesses.
Known as Blueprint 2035, the wide-ranging plan was unveiled and adopted by the city council in 2025.
Four strategies emerged from the planning process, which offer lessons for every community.
Strategy 1. Build on existing assets rather than relying exclusively on major new development. In Durham, that meant making better use of alleys, older commercial buildings, public spaces, and existing cultural landmarks.
Strategy 2. Coordinate downtown revitalization with transportation, zoning, parks, and economic development initiatives already underway, reducing duplication and helping public investments reinforce one another.
Strategy 3. Work to include all voices in community outreach. The Blueprint illustrates how cities can combine broad community surveys with targeted outreach to residents who might otherwise be excluded from the planning process.
Strategy 4. Focus on phased implementation. For downtown organizations with limited budgets, the phased implementation strategy provides a way to pursue relatively inexpensive improvements while developing the partnerships and funding needed for larger projects.
Full coverage of Blueprint 2035 appears in the November issue of Downtown Idea Exchange newsletter.
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