Downtown Village Center
Project History
In 2001, the City Council commissioned HNTB Architects & Planners to conduct
a study of the North Oak Corridor. The resulting documents revealed Gladstone
was lacking a focal area, point of recognition and identity so needed by cities
that are land-locked by larger metropolitan areas. The study described how the
area at 70th and North Oak could be converted into the entrance of a future downtown.
Since the study, the City Council has embraced the plan completely and moved ahead with
the reconstruction of NE 70th Street from Oak to Holmes and installed a focal point
for the area. The chiming street clock at the round-a-bout at N. Cherry is a distinct
feature for Gladstone. It's melody can be heard throughout the neighborhood where land
acquisition has already begun. The city has purchased a number of properties including
the
Williams House, a historic home across from City Hall, in anticipation of the development.
In August, 2005, the City Announced its partnership with
Gale Communities for the development and planning of the Downtown Village Center. This plan was submitted on March 2, 2006.