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Downtown Master Plan

What is a Downtown Master Plan?

A downtown master plan is a "district" or "specific area" plan that identifies development goals tailored to the specific needs of the downtown area. It represents a bridge between present conditions and the future, which is conceptualized in the long-range comprehensive plan. Downtown master plans usually emphasize short-term specific objectives rather than long-range general goals, and contain specific development policies and recommendations. By applying the priorities and goals of the community, downtown master plans are created to guide future development of the city.

Denton's Downtown Master Plan


Participants work together at the community workshop.

Downtown Denton is a 60-block area whose focal point is the Courthouse Square, which by design and use, is the historic central business district. The Square is the heart of the community and the central hub for a variety of public services, financial institutions, and cultural, recreational and community activities. The Square also provides a link between the University of North Texas and Texas Woman's University.

Since 1989, more than $36 million has been reinvested in the downtown area, with a net gain of 236 business starts, relocations and expansion, and 944 new jobs created. This reinvestment activity culminated in the designation of a National Register District for downtown, which was awarded in 2000.

On February 20, 2001, the City Council authorized the Downtown Master Plan contract with Fregonese Calthorpe Associates (FCA). The primary focus of the plan is the balance between encouraging development and exploring partnership opportunities with private investors, while at the same time ensuring that proper design practices are employed. A second area of interest is that of connectivity within the larger Downtown/University Core district.

The plan is the result of studies and workshops that envision a downtown that functions as a center of community business and culture.

A key component is the set of strategies that will lead to change – a process that builds on success and encourages private investments that are crucial to the downtown's vitality.

City of Denton Downtown Master Plan

Implementing the Plan

TIP Strategies, Inc. was engaged by the City of Denton to assist in the formulation of an economic development action plan for the city. The contract for this work was sponsored by the City of Denton, the Denton Chamber of Commerce, the University of North Texas, Texas Woman's University, and the Denton Independent School District.

Unlike traditional economic development plans, which include strategies directed at broad categories, such as workforce and education, Denton's plan is centered on a number of specific initiatives. This approach was undertaken in recognition of the fact that the city has undertaken a number of "visioning-oriented" projects in the recent past and that there is little interest in reformulating the vision.

If you accept the definition of economic development as "the application of public resources to stimulate private sector investment," then it is imperative that community leaders make informed decisions about how resources are allocated. Since resources are limited, priority must be given to the types of projects that will result in long-term economic vitality for Denton. The plan's goal was to help city leaders identify the top opportunities for Denton, by evaluating each in terms of feasibility, desirability, and economic impact. As a result, work is focused on four specific opportunities and the actions necessary for implementation:

  1. Downtown Development
    • Adopt a formal implementation structure to carry out downtown initiatives.
    • Develop mechanism to evaluate projects in terms of resources required versus potential impact.
    • Conduct internal and external marketing campaign.
    • Formalize connections between downtown and major attractors and employers, such as UNT and TWU.
    • Develop and implement a business development strategy for attraction of new business as well as the retention and expansion of existing businesses.
  2. Image & Marketing
  3. Business Park
  4. UNT Research Park

City of Denton TIP Strategies Downtown Development Summary