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9. The lack of a design plan that exists side by side with the written plan to portray the visual <br />rendering of Downtown Hilo in the year 2025 prohibits clearer action direction. <br />Contextual barriers to successful sustainability also exist. These barriers are addressed in the <br />following "Scope of Issues" which is sectioned according to the six Focus Areas in the EDH 2025 <br />Plan. They address economic, environmental, physical, social, health and safety, and managing <br />growth constraints and challenges Downtown Hilo faces today. <br />■ Scope of Issues <br />Creating Economic Vitality: <br />1. What truly makes Downtown a welcoming place to <br />shop are the variety of small shops and restaurants <br />that appeal to locals and tourist alike. With difficult <br />economic times, however, small businesses are often <br />hit the hardest — leaving vacant and unkempt <br />buildings. Working with landowners to demolish <br />derelict buildings, revitalize existing structures, or <br />develop vacant lots is a major challenge. <br />2. New development has not occurred in Downtown Hilo for many years. For development to <br />happen it must be economically feasible for landowners. Recently, there has been interest for <br />potential development. How do we integrate the community vision into our review processes <br />and how do we work with conflicting code requirements? <br />3. Although a recent poll indicated that there is a wide support of mixed -use residential <br />development in Downtown Hilo, there are very few 2nd floor living spaces. Most of Downtown <br />closes by 6:00 p.m. How do we encourage mixed -use development that "increase eyes on the <br />street" and the feeling of being safe in Downtown? <br />4. Downtown Hilo is one of the last surviving traditional Hawaiian towns <br />to balance the need to preserve the "old" historic character with <br />stimulating economic vitality and ensuring that <br />Downtown Hilo is an attractive locale for investment? <br />Preserving Our Environment: <br />1. Plans are currently underway for the "Hilo Bayfront <br />Trails Project" which delineates multi -modal trails <br />from the Wailuku River to the Pier, winding right <br />through Downtown Hilo. This project represents a <br />How do we struggle <br />the need for "new" <br />EnVision Downtown Hilo 2025 1 SDAT Application 2009 <br />