Downtown Strategic Development Plan
Building Southwest Ohio’s Premier Trail-Oriented Community
Loveland is boldly entering its next generation of growth as an authentic, thriving town center of life and activity. The ten-year Downtown Strategic Development Plan recognizes that people who raised their families here and those just now coming to start ones can settle down in Loveland without settling. Loveland’s renowned trail and traditional village form make its Downtown walkable but it can be even more so through placemaking, rich experiences, and best-in-class hospitality.
Services
Planning
Urban Design
Development Strategies
Place Branding,
Activation
Experience
Operations
Timeframe
2018 - 2019
Client
The City of Loveland, OH
Location
Loveland, OH
Smart, Small Investments that Go Big
Loveland set out to become a better version of itself. Its strategy focuses first on tweaking how the City has operated in the past by testing new ideas before going big. Even before the plan was completed, the City made numerous smart small bets that have had a big impact and has since gone on to shape larger, more ambitious growth.
Doubling Down on the Trail and the River
Historically, the city has largely turned its back on the river and the lack of connections has made getting to the trail difficult. The development strategy recommended expanding the onramps to the trail to better link areas to it. The strategy also identified improvements to its riverfront through development and public spaces that could both absorb seasonal flooding and maximize the community’s use of it.
Building Places, not Developments
Loveland is already memorable. What it builds is expected to add even more distinct places. In the years ahead, a number of key sites exist where investment can meaningfully contribute to the city fabric. This new development should reflect not only the scale and street life that are synonymous with the city’s best places, but add to the richness, quality and vitality of everything that is Loveland.
Project Impact
Loveland's smart move to use its trails as a downtown hub has paid off in a big way, creating the lively scene everyone enjoys today.