National trends in demographics and lifestyles are supporting a movement of capital and people back into downtown business districts in communities large and small. These trends are shaping downtowns beyond one-dimensional employment centers into multifaceted neighborhoods—places where people young and old choose to live, dine, play, and work.
Downtown Sioux Falls is the city’s center for business, finance, government, arts, culture, and historic architecture, offering a richly diverse range of opportunities. Downtown is the heart of Sioux Falls, serving as the main element defining the city’s image. Sioux Falls has a rich history that makes it different from any other American city. Much of this history is embodied within downtown’s older buildings and the connection to the city’s unique setting along the Big Sioux River and adjacency to the Falls. Historic preservation creates a value premium in both development potential and in establishing an authentic sense of place. It also offers a living history of Sioux Falls that can be shared and enjoyed by many generations into the future.
An advisory panel of architects, landscape architects, developers, business owners, civic leaders and downtown residents are working to create Downtown Historic Design Standards to update the 1983 Design Guidelines. While downtown accommodates a variety of uses and building types, standards are needed to make sure the built environment remains inviting and attractive. Design standards will be increasingly important as there is market pressure to construct new buildings to ensure they complement the overall downtown experience.
Your participation and comments in the following survey will be used to obtain information of your impressions and experience of downtown for the Advisory Panel in future workshops.
There are 156 images that we ask that you rank from -5 to +5 (-5 = strongly detracts from Downtown aesthetic and value; 0 = neutral; +5 = strongly enhances Downtown’s aesthetic and value) based on the following elements:
· Materials
· Architectural Character
· Façade Elements (windows, entries, pedestrian interest)
· Canopies, Balconies, Rooftop Units
· Lighting, Signage,
· Surface Parking & Parking Ramps
Not all elements exist in every image, therefore you have an opportunity to provide a comment that may differ from your ranking of that image.
The survey should take approximately 20-30 minutes of your time we are hoping to collect all survey data by 5 p.m. November 20.
Thank you for your participation!