The City of Astoria is poised to undergo significant changes over the next decade. The city is currently going through a process of identifying and prioritizing issues related to its future growth and identity. HD-OD has the capacity to help raise issues and engage people who might otherwise not have a say in Astoria’s future course of development. We cannot say for certain, but a more level playing field over the next three critical years might result in:

• The completion and implementation of a Waterfront Vision Plan where public participation guides policy decisions regarding the future development and redevelopment of the waterfront.
• A housing market which includes options for Astoria’s traditional residents who live and work in the area as well as those who may move to the area. This includes retaining existing affordable and workforce housing options and the construction of new affordable, workforce and market-rate housing.
• A downtown where locally owned and nationally branded stores fill the storefronts. These businesses would provide everyday goods and services to Astoria’s traditional and new residents in addition to shops which provide goods and services oriented to those visiting the City. This would also include a sustained and possible expanded Astoria Sunday Market in our downtown that enhances a vital retail core to a broad array of customers.
• A redeveloped downtown civic square which would include improvements oriented to Astoria’s residents but also enjoyed by Astoria’s visitors. Residential dwellings which provide workforce housing opportunities would also be planned and/or constructed.
• Creation of a community foundation and community development corporation both aimed at combining capital and development activities that produce long-term solutions for balancing market functionality with the needs of the most vulnerable.