The Downtown Association’s Annual Meeting is at Gather, 714 3rd Avenue on Wednesday, October 23 from 8:30 – 10 AM. Coffee and baked goods will be provided. The annual meeting is a chance to meet and network with other downtown businesses. It will include a brief presentation about our efforts in 2024; recognize the achievements and contributions of others; and elect board members. No need to RSVP. Direct questions or comments to info@downtownfairbanks.com
Downtown’s Public Restroom, the Portland Loo, will open in 2025. The city closed the non-Polaris end of 1st Avenue to quickly run utilities to the Portland Loo’s new location, next to Golden Heart Plaza.
Parking Reform Ordinance Sparks Harmony and Gratitude – The city endorsed a parking reform ordinance moving through the Borough’s legislative process and they did it with grateful praise for the way city staff and politicians and their Borough counterparts engaged in rapid-fire, last-minute efforts to make the changes necessary to gain the city’s support, which is technically not needed, but why wouldn’t the Borough want the city’s support of an early implementation measure in the downtown plan? Harmony between the governments! Is the new downtown plan to account? Maybe – and the ordinance is a good idea! It reduces the Borough’s zoning requirements for on-site parking, mitigating the costs of change and growth downtown. Check the Borough’s website for updates – for when they post the new “proposed substitute” Ordinance 2024-25, which is up for final passage Thursday, October 17th.
Winter Solstice Festival sponsorship opportunities are available now. Alyeska Pipeline Service Company returns as the Title Sponsor again this year. Click here for more information on other ways to support this free, fun family event downtown at the holidays.
No Parking on-street Sundays 1-6 AM is coming soon. New signage in the downtown core will make one night a week available on a recurring basis for Public Works to remove snow or sweep gravel in the summer, continuing the upward trajectory of the city’s maintenance services in the core. Some will be caught up and towed by this initiative – but a grace period extending through the end of the year will see warnings citations under the wiper blade.