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The city of Albemarle has selected Downtown Strategies, a division of Retail Strategies, to create a strategic master plan for Downtown Albemarle.

Downtown Strategies will host a Strategic Visioning Workshop to gather stakeholder feedback and assist in the development of a five-year strategic plan for the city. The workshop will be 12-1:30 p.m. Wednesday at Albemarle City Hall in the City Council Chambers.

“Albemarle has continued to seek out ways to advance and enrich Downtown Albemarle,” said Joy Almond, director of Albemarle Main Street Program and Albemarle Downtown Development Corporation. “Partnering with Downtown Strategies furthers our city’s purpose to redevelop and revitalize our downtown and their team will bring guidance and strategic visioning to Albemarle. We look forward to seeing the Downtown Strategies team in action.”

“Albemarle has been a long time retail recruitment client at Retail Strategies, and we feel so fortunate that we’ve built a trust-based relationship where the Albemarle team has selected us to further our work in the community focusing on downtown,” added Jenn Gregory, president of Downtown Strategies. “Albemarle has so much opportunity throughout downtown that will give this partnership a great head-start.”

Downtown Strategies will host an in-market workshop with business owners, merchants, community leaders and elected officials to gain feedback and stimulate dialogue on the community’s vision for downtown Albemarle. The team will execute an in-depth market and real estate analysis to create Albemarle’s customized Downtown Strategic Plan with specific strategies focused on design, walkability, policy, tourism and economic catalyst opportunities for the surrounding downtown area.

“Albemarle has been a valued partner of Retail Strategies,” said John Ruzic, portfolio director at Retail Strategies. “Downtown Strategies will aid in building out a stronger and more developed downtown. Our team is excited to continue to work with the community for downtown revitalization.”

“We want to see downtown building owners, business owners, citizens and stakeholders at the Nov. 10 kickoff event,” added Albemarle Economic Development Director Keith Tunnell. “This planning process will be successful only with the cooperation, engagement and input from all of our business owners and others interested in seeing downtown Albemarle continue to grow and prosper. The strategic plan that comes from this process will be our road map to identify key objectives, goals and tasks that the ADDC Board and staff and the City’s Economic Development team will be charged with completing.”