Locals voice opinions on potential downtown Cheyenne developments

As part of the second phase of its plan of development, DDA wants to hear what people have to say. Attendees at Thursday’s open house voiced their opinions for and against certain potential projects identified in the first phase of the plan of development.

The phase one questionnaire garnered 338 responses and found that downtown Cheyenne’s history and western character are the most loved aspects of downtown, but many residents acknowledged that there is room to improve retail and dining opportunities, according to the DDA website.

“Many respondents agreed that preservation of downtown’s historic character is the biggest opportunity, with many comments focusing on upkeep and renovation of the more dilapidated structures. Food, music, and special events are what draw people downtown and create a vibrancy that many residents enjoy. However, high building vacancies and lack of diverse shopping and retail opportunities are the largest challenges facing downtown,” DDA reported in its key findings from phase one.

In addition to the questionnaire, DDA officials met with business and property owners in the DDA district. Through those conversations, they identified the desire for “follow through,” as well as project implementation, project funding, updated and expanded parking, and improvements that make the area more visually pleasing and accessible. Concerns were expressed about the lack of completed past initiatives and the fear that this practice would continue in the future. Many participants are seeking reassurances that funding and detailed plans are in place to realize the vision for downtown. Overall, business and property owners want to ensure businesses flourish and downtown is welcoming and safe.

On Thursday, the DDA heard opinions about housing, businesses, art and other downtown potential projects.

“Some of the people that we got [to come to the event] intentionally went down there to be able to participate in this. Others were already going down to Westby Edge for something else and they happened to come over and just visit with us,” Parson said.

Parsons estimated around 40 or 50 people participated in the event.

Considering streetscape improvements, items most people identified as highest priority were things like creating separated bike lanes, planting more trees and converting alleys to pedestrian ways. Items that locals were less excited about included utilizing more decorative pavement, and a handful were split either way on focusing on creating more on-street parking.

Attendees also identified the types of businesses they’d like to see come to downtown Cheyenne. The most popular options were grocery stores, restaurants and bars. There was also a decent amount of support for bookstores, coffee shops, bakeries and university or college campus/trade schools. People were least enthusiastic about more vape/smoke shops, offices and boutiques.

An overwhelming majority supported a character of new developments that matched the fabric of downtown relative to size, scale and setbacks from the street. Some anonymous comments suggested dog-friendly outdoor drinking and not enough bars on 17th Street, but too many antique shops.

People were supportive of more housing options downtown, but they varied on the type of housing they’d like to see in the DDA district. They were most supportive of apartments above restaurants and bars, housing above retail and offices, apartments above ground-level work or flex spaces, and small apartment and condo buildings. The audience was fairly evenly divided on luxury apartments and unsupportive of attached single-family units, such as townhomes or duplexes.

Of those who met at Westby Edge on Thursday, the most popular ways they envisioned improved aesthetics were through more sculptures, large wall murals and light projector art. They were unenthused by graffiti art and dedicated maker spaces. Gathering places they would like to see included curbless pedestrian/festival streets, seating areas and small “pocket” parks.

DDA is currently in the second phase of its plan, which will conclude at the end of the month. Beginning in May, phase three begins, but no project adoptions will likely happen until the first quarter of next year.

“As we progress with the update on the plan of development, we’ll continue with future public outreach, as well,” Parsons said. “We’re going to do some Fridays on the Plaza opportunities, we’re going to do Superday, we’re just going to continue to give the public opportunities for input throughout the entire process. And then, as we start putting the plan together more, then we will share with the public what it looks like, and get final feedback and stuff like that before it’s approved. So, there’s still quite a long process.”

On Friday, idea/suggestion display boards were posted in the Municipal Building, so that city employees could have the opportunity to see what the public is saying about the potential development plans and offer their own feedback. DDA will host a similar event Saturday at the Winter Farmers’ Market at the Cheyenne Depot Plaza from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

“After Saturday’s public input session, the consultants will sit down, and they will assess everything, and we will move forward based on the feedback that we’re getting,” Parsons said. “But the second questionnaire is still open, and that’s on CheyenneDDAplan.com. So, people can give us input that way, as well.”

Arizona-based community planning company Logan Simpson is under contract with the DDA for just under $100,000 to carry out the plan of development through its office in Fort Collins, Colorado.