(Danville) — A new effort to re-imagine the city is entering its final phase. Plan Danville held a block party Wednesday to share a first draft of an eight-point development plan governing the city’s distinctive “vision” for the next 20 years.
Planning Director Renee Burton tells River City TV they’ve been using ambassadors to pound the pavement to reach folks from all walks of life to hear what they think. They’ve used storytelling, mapping, surveys, events, social media, neighborhood-level capacity building, a project storefront, and a mobile unit to reach out to Danville residents.
“We’ve taken all of that information we got from citizens of the city of Danville and we have formed the draft of our Comprehensive Plan,” Burton said. “That draft contains eight separate chapters which we are calling our eight goals for the future development of the city of Danville.”
Plan Danville has looked at Future Land Use Plans, Transportation, Neighborhood Revitalization and Economic Development. “We want the citizens to look at this draft and tell us if you like it, love it, hate it or you have questions and you’re not really sure about it.”
One of the focus areas identified early in the fact-finding process was the historic Almagro community. Earlier this year the Danville Redevelopment & Housing Authority purchased the former Winslow Hospital building. It was the hospital used by African-Americans during segregation. It was built in the 1940s but has been closed for decades.
Burton says Wednesday’s block party kicked off the final phase of what’s been a multi-year effort. “We hope to have this plan out to the general public late summer or early fall,” Burton said. “By the end of the year we plan for adoption and getting ready to go work.”
The Comprehensive Plan is a 20-year document that public officials review every five years. The City of Danville is at the beginning of a new review cycle.
Plan Danville will present a final report to Danville City Council later this year.