He stated that the LRC has been an effective instrument for public and private partnership. One of the first things they did was secure historic designation. Lowertown has a mix of old and new buildings, which helps to support a diverse economic base and diverse housing. For example, they have saved the historic Tilsner Building as affordable artists' housing. There are over 500 artists living and working in Lowertown today.
Employment is also part of an urban village.
There are nearly 70 firms in Lowertown today. Retail development has generally failed, but Lowertown has worked very well for offices. Galtier Plaza is undergoing conversion to offices, with just a few service businesses remaining to meet the daily needs of residents and office employees. The LRC puts a lot of work into public amenities and quality of urban design to make high density, central city living attractive. They set guidelines for developers with respect to height, street scape, street lighting, architectural plans, etc.