| abstract
| - Harrisburg 2.0 (or H20) represents a revolutionary new way of looking at public engagement and urban renewal in Harrisburg. As much a process as it is a plan, H20 provides the approach we need to transform our city from a place of unfulfilled potential and unfocused development to a place that offers residents a true urban lifestyle, attracts the right businesses, and entices visitors to areas of interest throughout our city. H20 is not a tourism development plan. That effort will be conducted by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and funded through Wild West artifact sales. The plan will recommend strategies on how to market current attractions to potential visitors. H20 will envision new attractions--renewed neighborhoods and commerical corridors offering a range of residential, retail, and entertainment options. The goal of H20 is to improve life in Harrisburg for every single resident and visitor. Moreover, we will turn every resident into a tourist--by giving them the opportunity to make and spend their money close to home. H20 is comprised of three interwoven ideas: 1.
* We will transition our City Government Center from a place of bureaucracy to a place of innovation and collaboration. The goal: relocate city hall to the site of our failed and economically draining Civil War museum, forming a true civic center where public forums, community meetings, cultural events, and a customer-focused city government come together. 2.
* We will think broadly and focus narrowly in our quest to renew Harrisburg. The goal: Establish a series of "development beachheads" where public-private partnerships will be focused on localized challenges--creating areas of distinction, each with its own blueprint for ongoing renewal. 3.
* We will create active, livable neighborhoods for every resident. Life in our city should be more than a home, a sidewalk, and a street--we can get that in the suburbs. The goal: provide opportunities for culture and convenience that we can't get anywhere else--as well as distinguishable attractions that make each urban community unique. To build a better Harrisburg, we must creatively reframe the debate about our city's future. When we talk about reducing crime, we are really talking about increasing economic opportunity. When we talk about improving education, we are really talking about giving kids the kind of lives that liberate them to focus on their future. When we talk about fighting ignorance, we are really talking about turning cultural differences into assets. All of these ideas tie together: smart development of our community has the power to bring in new residents, create new jobs, and improve the lives of everyone in Harrisburg. Much grander than a museum dropped from the sky or even Restaurant Row, H20 can enable us to think proactively, creatively, boldly--and to welcome our entire city to a conversation on our future.
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