Village of Manhattan Downtown Master Plan

Farnsworth Group assisted the Village of Manhattan in the development of a comprehensive downtown redevelopment master plan intended to create a pedestrian friendly downtown that attracts new businesses and retains existing residents.

• To ensure the plan aligned with stakeholder aspirations, Farnsworth Group conducted a multi-faceted input strategy that included:
• Business owner visioning sessions
• Interviews with Village and public department heads
• Interviews with Village trustees
• An open house accessible to the public

The focus of the plan was the creation of a new village green located in the heart of downtown. The green will be anchored by a new village library, new mixed-use development, access to adjacent Central Park, and the creation of flexible public gathering spaces. In addition, the plan focuses on opportunities for traffic calming and streetscape enhancements along Route 52 which bisects the heart of downtown.

Since the plan’s adoption, Farnsworth Group has continued to work with the Village on downtown enhancements, including the development of architectural guidelines and assisting the Village in applying for and being awarded a Safe Streets for All grant via the US Department of Transportation.