This is an opportunity for the city to move in the right direction. I have a few ideas, but I will keep them short and maybe expound upon them later.

1. Streetscapes. Take this time to enhance the McFarland and 15th Street intersection. The city has done a tremendous job in other areas (Bryant Drive) and should do the same here. This is easily the most traveled intersection in the city and it should be given a new look. Landscape the corners of the intersection and add trees to give it a shaded feel. This intersection is important because it leads right into the University and the main part of the city and it should be landscaped much better. Also, along 15th Street and McFarland we should plant young trees in the median that will mature and provide a gorgeous shaded drive into the main part of the city.

2. Regulate businesses in the area. The trashy signs could be regulated to ensure that every business complies with the same rules. Many cities now only allow for signs to be a certain height in certain areas and we could do the same. It provides a much cleaner look. Also, attempt as much as we can to stay consistent. That is in regards to building and landscape standards. It would look much better in that area if architecture and lanscaping remained consistent and clean.

3. Pedestrian friendly. Instead of having a university that seems separated from parts of the city, bring them together. Allow students and residents to enjoy the same pedestrian walkways. The campus is obviously gorgeous and has a ton of walkways, but once you crossed the railroad tracks you lost all of that. The city should work to combine them all. Just because you walk off of the campus doesn't mean you should lose the feel.

4. Get rid of the concrete jungles that took over 15th Street and McFarland. The entire area was an eye-sore filled with concrete parking lots and no landscaping. We need more greenery and less concrete.