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St. Stephen’s Plaza inÌýdowntown Longmont is located on aÌýhistorical main street that has been struggling economically inÌýaÌýrapidlyÌýgrowing region. It includesÌýsmall businesses ranging from shoe stores to bars and restaurants andÌýis at the center of aÌýgentrifying butÌýpredominantlyÌýworking-class Latinx neighborhood.Ìý

Over the past two years,ÌýCEDaRÌýhas partnered with the city and Å·ÃÀ¿Ú±¬ÊÓƵ Boulder faculty and studentsÌýto conduct planningÌýand designÌýresearch and aÌýsurvey ofÌýneighborhoodÌýattitudes, leading to aÌýproposal for the redesign ofÌýSt. Stephens Plaza.ÌýTheÌýproject is a landscape design supportingÌýpedestrian circulation and a space for relaxation and reflection. JesseÌýVanHorn, landscape architect and instructor at the University of Å·ÃÀ¿Ú±¬ÊÓƵ Boulder, managed student work on this project.Ìý

St. Stephen’sÌýPlaza redesign includes sculpture, landscaping and paving surrounding a historicalÌýchurch.ÌýThe projectÌýwill improve business outcomes by generating excitement about its historic downtown, drawing in customersÌýand creating patterns of connectivity that will improve access toÌýbusinesses in nearby downtown areas in Longmont. The projectÌýinvolves the development of beautiful structuresÌýwith functional and artistic dimensions. Improvements to social relationships include bringing more voices to planning and design discussion, including voices from vulnerable communities. In addition, participation in successful designÌýprocesses will lead toÌýsocial outcomes includingÌýconfidence, a sense of community efficacyÌýand neighborhood identity. Finally, the creation of a programÌýand new partnershipsÌýthat can replicate these experiences across Å·ÃÀ¿Ú±¬ÊÓƵÌýwill broaden support for placemaking in the state.Ìý

Our work in Longmont relies on multi-layered partnerships and engagements that typify the Community Design Workshop process. At the highest level,Ìýwe established a memorandum of understanding between the university provost andÌýcityÌýleadership. We then developed a neighborhood assessment processÌýframed around principles of an economically healthy andÌýsocially integrated community.ÌýNext we worked with toolsÌýthatÌýbring togetherÌýÅ·ÃÀ¿Ú±¬ÊÓƵ Boulder students and community members in various forms of reflection, including design exercises, surveys, focus groups,Ìýstructured engagements with children, youth and other target populations, internships, design studios, seminarsÌýandÌýtheses.ÌýFinally, we have builtÌýprogressively throughÌýmultipleÌýengagementsÌýto identify a project idea andÌýdevelop concepts. In the next stage these will lead to implementation documentsÌýand fabrication or performance of an installation or event.

ForÌýSt. Stephens Plaza, theÌýprimary partner is theÌýLongmont Downtown Development Authority (LDDA),Ìýcreated in 1982 with a mandate to revitalize the city’s downtown commercial core.ÌýIts purpose is to develop, support and promote a vital and valuable downtown Longmont and make the downtown areaÌý appealing to businesses, residents and visitors. The LDDA encompasses 242 acres, spanning 1st Avenue to Longs Peak and Martin Street to Terry Street. Since 1982, more than $180 million in public and private funds has been invested in new and renovated buildings in the Longmont Downtown District. Goals and strategies are outlined in the LDDAÌý.