owner, describes the current atmosphere: “Every time you’re down there to go visit restaurants or bars or stores, you’re running into friendly faces. You’re running into proprietors who are happy to have you there and give you warm greetings. It’s very much just a good feeling space.” The combination of historic architecture, new construction, and active streetscapes has created what urban planners call the “18-hour downtown,” where activity stretches well beyond traditional business hours. INFRASTRUCTURE AS AN ECONOMIC DRIVER Infrastructure investment typically follows economic growth, with cities scrambling to upgrade systems after development strains capacity. Wenatchee has reversed this sequence, using infrastructure as the catalyst for coordinated development. The strategy culminated in the Reimagined Wenatchee master plan, which identified connectivity projects that would support both current investment and future growth over the next two decades. “Last year we finalized a process called the Reimagine Wenatchee master plan, which aims to identify and leverage resources and development to enhance our downtown,” Gloria explains. “ The plan identified a 221 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 08 WENATCHEE, WA VOLUME 4, ISSUE 01
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