Some of the key elements extrapolated from the Plan that the recommended Phase I projects can begin to address:
Historic Architectural District.
- Protect and celebrate the historic architecture and tell the story of the history of the island.
- Rebrand Historic Galveston as the Historic District of the Houston region.
Creating Regional Jobs.
- Create Regional Employment Center to expand options for attracting businesses.
- Expand the Master Plan area to connect UTMB campus and eastern waterfront into business strategy.
Mix of Uses.
- Create an upper floor mixed-use strategy plan to integrate a diverse variety of uses (i.e., workplace, educational, institutional, government, hospitality, housing, cultural, entertainment, medical, and support services.
Urban Cooling.
- Introduce an urban "cooling" effect by developing an urban landscape strategy to include the development of parks, plazas, trails, and waterfront promenades interconnected with pedestrian-friendly streetscapes and bikeways.
- Placemaking.
Accessible Waterfront.
- Create an accessible waterfront for pedestrians and visitors to the island by providing a continuous promenade along the waterfront.
- Infill parking lots and redevelop Harborside expanded cruiseship businesses.
- Better integrate cruise ship terminals to historic downtown waterfront district encouraging the visitors to extend their stay in Galveston and establish the possibility of a future "port-of-call" in Galveston.
Parking Strategy.
- Establish a comprehensive downtown parking strategy by utilizing shared parking principles and deck parking to allow grade parking lots to be reemployed as infill development sites and open spaces.
Transportation System.
- Create an alternative transportation system connecting the gulf seawall area, adjacent neighborhoods, UTMB, UTMF, Moody Gardens and other island attractions.
- Create a downtown transportation plan that integrates pedestrians, bikes, and trolleys.
Residential Diversity.
- Create residential strategy to integrate a diversity of housing choices within the historic and waterfront district.
Strategic Retail Plan.
- Create a vibrant first floor, pedestrian retail and entertainment strategy plan to include strategically placed key anchors that attract visitors and residents and references existing businesses.
- Develop comprehensive downtown leasing plan that blends local, regional, and national retailers.