The traditional center of Marion, oriented around a town square, is a place of special importance to the city. In recent years, the district has been able to capitalize on its historic character and architecturally significant buildings to establish a sub-center for specialty retailing and services. Street landscaping and streetscape improvements have contributed to this trend. Downtown Marion is also a key center of civic life. Civic buildings, including city hall, the new library, and several historic churches are located in the district.

Downtown Marion now faces the important question of defining its future role in a much larger and growing community. The strategy presented in the Marion Plan proposes:

• Enhancing the existing historic center of Marion.
• Reinforcing the tradition of locating civic and cultural facilities in the town center.
• Expanding the center as a mixed use district, incorporating substantial residential, commercial, office and recreational development.

Downtown Housing Opportunities. Marion should continue to encourage new housing development within walking distance of the traditional town center. Many of Marion's two-story commercial buildings maintain active residential or commercial/office uses. These developments can use a variety of financing mechanisms. Pooling of several adjacent properties into unified developments can provide shared elevator service.

The future reuse of parts of 6th Avenue corridor may also encourage new development of urban housing on underused sites.

The Central Corridor. If abandonment of the Illinois Central Railroad through the central corridor appears likely, the city should undertake a study to examine development options for the corridor. The study should evaluate:

• Possible use of the corridor as a street or boulevard, providing special design features.
• Development of a trail and greenway either as a primary use of the corridor or as part of the street design.
• Development of north-south links across the current corridor.
• Improved landscaping, sign standards, and building facades along 7th and 5th Avenues.
• Possible private mixed use development on underused sites in the corridor.

Streetscape Revitalization. Marion should implement a streetscape revitalization program within the traditional town center. This program should include:

• Street landscaping which enhances the appearance of the district without obstructing visibility to businesses.
• Development of features which define the boundaries and entrances to the district.
• Developing and implementing a design plan for City Square.
• Providing a better sidewalk connection to the downtown strip center at 11th Street and 7th Avenue, extending the design features of downtown's sidewalks into the center.

Intersection Improvements. Street improvements should be used to ease crossing of major streets and to increase the visibility of pedestrians. Corner and crossing nodes should be considered to ease crossing at critical points.

Adaptive Reuse and Preservation. Historic preservation and rehabilitation of key buildings should be encouraged to complement other private and public investment.

• Adaptive Reuse. The city and local lenders should encourage the improvement of existing buildings in the town center.
• Facade Improvements. The community should develop a facade improvement program.
• National Register Listing and Preservation Ordinance. The city should work to list the town center district on the National Register of Historic Places and to implement a program of historic designation and design review.
• 8th Avenue. The 8th Avenue historic district should be woven into the fabric of the downtown district, with directional and interpretive signage and information. In addition, the 8th Avenue residential district should be nominated separately as a National Register district.