Casper, Wyoming - Downtown Strategic Plan

Summary

Crandall Arambula prepared a downtown strategic plan and implementation strategy for Casper, Wyoming. The plan established a vision and strategy for strengthening downtown as Central Wyoming’s retail destination. The key plan elements include integrating a downtown grocery store, conference center, headquarters hotel, and public plaza with the existing 2nd Street retail district. In addition, a downtown housing district and a new North Platte riverfront connecting promenade are planned.

Crandall Arambula developed a complete streets network knitting together retail, conference center, plaza housing, and the riverfront. Auto access is maintained while pedestrian access is improved and new protected bikeway infrastructure provides a safe and direct connection from adjacent neighborhoods into the downtown.

Outcomes

  • Prior to plan completion, the city secured options for the conference center, hotel, and plaza and has released a request for proposal for the design and construction of the conference center and hotel. A constructed catalyst project was the David Station public plaza which was envisioned as an economic stimulus to the entire city via downtown growth by providing free activities for families in Casper.

  • Casper has always been fiscally accountable, and David Street Station was built using private sector and community-raised funds. The Downtown Development Association (DDA) was overwhelmed by the community’s generosity. Overall, the DDA raised $5.2 million in private donations in addition to $4 million in public funds.

  • The entire project is estimated to cost $8.5 million, with $1 million of that for an endowment for operations. The city has committed $3 million to the project.

OTHER DOWNTOWN PLANNING PROJECTS