At their January 30 meeting, Lincoln Planning Board discussed design guidelines for Mall redevelopment that were originally published on December 12, 2023. 

These guidelines are well worth reading in the context of more recent revelations related to Mall revitalization efforts. While the guidelines discuss and show pictures of many amenities of interest for a vibrant commercial center, such as open space and public conveniences like courtyards, gardens, plazas, public art, playscapes, and outdoor restaurant seating, The RLF, who owns and would be overseeing the Mall's redevelopment, as well as the HCAWG's consultant Utile have already acknowledged that there are the space constraints on the Mall for inclusion of such features. The constraints come down to the less exciting realities of adequate parking which is required for any proposed residential units as well as adequate parking to continue to serve a commercial presence at the Mall. 

A proposed Phase 1 demolition and buildout at the Mall includes removing the buildings housing Bank of America, Twisted Tree, Something Special, the drycleaner, and the dog training school and replacing them with a 3-story mixed use building containing 47 apartments, associated residential amenities, access and parking, and ground floor commercial space. Under HCA requirements, there is at least 1 parking space required per residential unit and due to groundwater issues at the Mall, all of this parking--along with commercial parking--must be at grade or higher (in one pubic meeting, the addition of a parking garage at the Mall was mentioned as a possible way to accommodate enough cars for residential and sustainable commercial presence). The Planning Board has stated that under HCA it cannot require any commercial parking in a mixed use district, so it would be up to the developer to determine how to handle commercial parking. Meanwhile, it is noteworthy that under Option C, The Mall is zoned to accommodate 100 units of housing. A Phase 2, while yet to be shared by the RLF, presumably envisions this additional housing and related parking, potentially putting more downward pressure on the inclusion of "amenities" described in the guidelines.

"Read not to accept of refute, but to weigh and consider"
It is important to keep these realities in mind when reading the design guidelines draft, because—due to the realities of space constraints—the rose-colored glasses must come off:  some of the amenities pictured and discussed in the design guidelines would most likely not be able to be included based on space constraints.  This has already been confirmed by both the RLF and Utile. 

"Village Center" Design Guidelines Draft