Transforming sleepy downtown Provo into a bustling 24-hour town with nightlife, more shopping, housing and offices is one of several objectives behind a massive study to be released by the city today.

The 100-plus page study by Economics Research Associates in San Francisco examines the potential for more office, retail, restaurant and residential developments in downtown Provo over the next 20 years. The study also analyzes downtown Provo's market feasibility in light of several new projects being built there including the performing arts center, and a $32 million, 80,000-square-foot convention center near the Marriott Hotel.

Sponsored by Provo City Economic Development Department and Provo City Redevelopment Agency, the $60,000 study will be presented to the Municipal Council, Planning Commission and other business people at the City Council Chambers today at 6 p.m.

The study is one of several recommendations made by Christopher Leinberger, a specialist in downtown redevelopment planning, to attract more businesses to the area. Leinberger is also director of the University of Michigan's graduate real estate program and a fellow with the Brookings Institution.

"The study shows how many square feet of commercial, retail, dining and office space downtown Provo can get over the next 20 years, and how many additional housing units can be built there," said Paul Glauser, director of the redevelopment agency. "The good news is Provo is years ahead of other places like Albuquerque when it started revitalizing its downtown. We have three grocery stores downtown, which most cities of a comparable size would be envious of. We don't have as many vacant buildings as some other places. And we have 32,000 students from Brigham Young University with money to spend and wanting places to live."

"Our role is to try to get those facts out on the table for private developers. And Economic Research has the national reputation for doing this kind of work," he said. "The study also offers advice on what should be done for downtown Provo."

Some 32,000 residents, or one-third of Provo's total population of 115,000, live in the downtown Provo area, which spans from 500 North to 600 South and from Interstate 15 to 900 East, he said.

Steve Spickard, senior vice president of Economics Research, said his study analyzed the market forces affecting downtown Provo and how it can attract more national real estate development.

"There are Main Streets that have declined, continued to struggle and there are also Main Streets experiencing a great resurgence. This study took into account the LDS culture, BYU and factors that are unique to Provo, but also many other factors common to downtowns across the country and the kinds of market forces affecting downtown developments. But it tailors its recommendations and analysis to the culture in Provo," Spickard said.

Glauser says Leinberger recommends placing housing above and next to retail businesses as well as underground parking or parking behind other buildings. The new Wells Fargo building in Provo is an example of the type of business, housing and retail mix envisioned by Leinberger, Glauser said.