Pre-development planning has already begun. Stakeholders have been assembled into a steering/ advisory committee, discussions have initiated buy-in from public, private, nonprofit and other relevant sectors, a marketing campaign has been launched, a preliminary Master Plan has been designed, and negotiations for funding and acquisitions have been initiated.

Road and streetscape upgrades have been scheduled (with key bond propositions approved by voters) as a vital early-stage component, designed to entice and encourage commercial relocation to the area.

Anchor establishments have committed to relocating to the area, including Alaska Museum of Natural History and Special Olympics Alaska, complementing the existing nonprofit organizations that reside in the United Way’s Success by Six building and the Mountain View Community Center. These anchor tenants will improve the character of the neighborhood and help establish a well-defined commercial corridor.

Finally, one of the area’s core components, a multi-use development on the Wilhour Trust site, has been mapped out. Anchorage Opera and Alaska Dance Theatre have committed to becoming anchor tenants, whose presence will prove advantageous in attracting similar and complementary retail and nonprofit establishments to the area.

Subsequent phases will focus on filling in surrounding retail and housing space, improvements to civic and green space, and secondary development components such as an amphitheater, a world-class track, and artistic district portals.