2.3.3 Goals and Policies

Historic and cultural resources are preserved, protected and rehabilitated to maintain a sense of the city.

Protect historic neighborhoods and buildings by designating them as a historic preservation zone.
Identify and promote the preservation of areas that exhibit unique cultural or character attributes.
Develop area plans and accompanying provisions that recognize and preserve an area’s unique attributes.
Investigate regulatory and voluntary methods to identify, assess and preserve archaeological and historic resources in both public and private development projects.
Maintain landmarks and aspects of Surprise’s heritage that foster its unique identity.
Support the continuation of active industry including rail dependent land uses, within the community to provide a balance of land uses and the maintenance of the rail as a provider.
Actively pursue a program to identify, document and evaluate the historical and cultural resources in the city of Surprise.
Foster greater public participation and education in historical and cultural resources.
Encourage the participation of the city’s rich diversity of ethnic groups in an effort to preserve historical and cultural resources through outreach to assist historical society’s documentation of oral histories. Encourage the use of local history themes in some public art projects.

Appropriate reuse and rehabilitation of vacant and obsolete buildings are encouraged.

Consider programs to promote the adaptive reuse and modernization of outdated commercial centers.
Develop incentive programs and provide technical assistance for area compatible reuse of commercial centers.
Encourage the redesign of strip centers to pedestrian-friendly, mixed use development compatible with adjacent neighborhoods.
Prepare market studies and marketing materials for targeted areas experiencing a concentration of redevelopment sites.
Create an inventory of vacant structures available and inform potential users and the real estate community of their redevelopment potential.

Business and community-based efforts to stabilize and enhance neighborhoods are given full support.

Encourage and facilitate community partnerships with city departments to access city programs and solve issues.
Continue to support revitalization efforts through awards and recognition efforts.
Identify and promote public/private partnerships focused on revitalization efforts.
Pursue public/private partnership opportunities for housing and neighborhood development.

Redevelopment and revitalization of deteriorated and blighted areas are encouraged.

Determine appropriate areas for municipal investment in redevelopment/revitalization and prioritize for implementation.
Enhance pedestrian connections and destinations in revitalization areas.
Enhance the provision of, and access to, transit within the revitalization area.
Create a safe environment for residents within revitalization areas.
Establish a Neighborhood Preservation Program in revitalization areas.Identify the most viable organizational structure to manage revitalization activities.