Business & Development

Carbondale today is a thriving active community. The City of Carbondale operates under a Council-Manager form of government with a Mayor and six City Council members elected at-large for four-year staggered terms. The City Manager, a professional hired by the City Council, appoints the Department Heads. The City provides services such as police, fire, development services, and a public library. Several boards and commissions allow for citizen participation, bringing more citizens into civic activities.

Carbondale is a zoned, home-rule municipality. In 2014, the City made a final revision on a new comprehensive plan that lays out goals for the future and ways to accomplish these goals. In Fiscal Year 2015, Carbondale started the process to continue the revitalization of the Downtown area. The formation of a DAC (Downtown Advisory Committee) was implemented and with the input from the community, a plan to develop and restore the downtown has been started.

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Development

The City contracted Houseal and Lavigne Associates to guide future development and to provide a blueprint for improving the Downtown area. A Downtown Advisory Committee (DAC) was formed to work with the City and consultant to map out a future revitalization plan. Extensive public outreach was conducted throughout the nine-month planning process which also helped define a community’s vision for Downtown. 

Downtown Plan

Key components of the Plan include

  • Beautification, streetscape, and signage plan
  • Demographic and market analysis
  • Detailed vision with accompanying goals and objectives
  • An implementation plan has been presented
  • Land use and infill redevelopment framework plan
  • Parking evaluation, pedestrian mobility, and connectivity plan
  • Summary of community feedback and outreach

Collectively, the Plan will provide elected officials and decision-makers with the long-term vision of the Downtown area and the strategies and tools needed to achieve that vision. In 2016, parts of the Downtown Plan have been realized with the development of a new apartment building with businesses operating on the first floor revitalizing downtown shopping. Renovations of additional parking have been realized with Kiosk parking stations eliminating parking meters. A bike/pedestrian path is underway drawing more foot traffic. Future developments are in the works for a hotel and transportation center

Business Districts

The City's business districts include a large shopping mall, and several strip malls in all sections of the City featuring a mixture of national chain stores and locally owned businesses. The University Mall is an enclosed shopping center with 677,000 square feet with anchors: Ulta and Bed Bath & Beyond. Carbondale also has several open strip malls in all sections of the City. The Murdale Shopping Center is 87,600 square feet with anchors: Neighborhood Food Co-op and Tru-Value. University Place is also an open-air center with 250,000 square feet with anchors:

  • AMC Theatre an 8 Screen Complex
  • Dick's Sporting Goods
  • HomeGoods
  • Party City
  • Petco
  • TJ Maxx

There is also Eastgate Shopping Center with anchor: 

  • Ashley Furniture  

In the Central Business district there is West Park Plaza with 55,332 square feet of shopping with anchors:

  • Legacy Fitness
  • Sherwin Williams Paint
  • CVS

The downtown district is supported by Carbondale Main Street which has listings and information about individual businesses. The Carbondale Chamber of Commerce offers information on local businesses in over 60 categories.