Thriving By Design - New Partners for Smart...
Transcript of Thriving By Design - New Partners for Smart...
Hannah TwaddellPresident, Twaddell Associates455 Second St SE, Ste 300, Charlottesville, VA 22902434-270-8907 (o) 434-981-8330 (m)[email protected]
Thriving By DesignIn Small Towns and Rural Communities
New Partners for Smart Growth, February 7, 2013
Planning For Prosperity
How Will We Live?Community Design
Where Will We Live?Regional Development
How Will We GetThere?Policies, Plans &Projects Graphics: Renaissance Planning Group
What Makes a Place?Framework
Context: Layout &scale of streets,buildings & naturallandscape
FabricCenters: Variety ofactivities within theframeworkConnections:Streets, sidewalks,bike pths, transitroutes, etc.
FingerprintUnique culture,economy & history Community Workshop for NJDOT Rt 57 Study, Warren
County NJ
Charlottesville, Virginia
Circle reflects five minute walk
City Center
Graphics: Renaissance Planning Group
Palmyra, Virginia
Circle reflects five minute walk
Town Center
Graphics: Renaissance Planning Group
Circle reflects five minute walk
US 29, Charlottesville
Suburban Center
Graphics: Renaissance Planning Group
What Makes a Rural Place?
“Rural communities are characterized byan interaction between land and place.”
Gateway
Edge
Resource-Dependent
Main Street
Gateway• Near high-amenity
recreational areassuch as NationalParks, NationalForests, andcoastlines.
• Provide food,lodging, & visitorservices.
• Increasingly popularfor live-work-play.
• Often struggle w/strain on
Edge• Fringe of metro
area, typicallyconnected by stateand interstatehighways.
• Affordableresidential accessto jobs & services.
• Growing fasterthan larger metroarea.
• Constant pressurefor more housingand services.
Resource-Dependent• Home to single
industry such asfarming or mining.
• Fortunes rise andfall with themarket value ofthat resource.
• Key challenge isto diversifyeconomy whilemaintaining ruralquality of life andcharacter.
Main Street• Compact street
design oftenaccessible to atransportation hub.
• Historicallysignificantarchitecture andpublic spaces
• Struggle tocompete fortenants &customers withoffice parks,regional malls,and big box
How Can We Sustain RuralPlaces?Support the rurallandscapeHelp existing placesthriveCreate great newplaces
Changing one thing changes everything.
Context
Former industrial/employmenttown along abandoned rail spur& riverfront
Centers
Mixed-use main street,numerous vacant andabandoned buildings/shops
Connections
Pedestrian-oriented streetscapeand network; indirect access toClay Street gateway
Existing Urban Mixed-Use/Employment CenterDowntown Jeannette
Graphics: Renaissance Planning Group
ContextRevived mixed-use businessdistrict
Centers
Interconnected parks and plazas,single and multi-family housingand a pedestrian-oriented mainstreetConnections
Highlight access to Clay Streetwith street trees & transit station
Network of walking paths,plazas, and parks linked to newriverfront greenway trail
SFR
MFR
CIVIC/INSTITUTIONAL EMPLOYMENT/INDUSTRIAL
COMMERCIAL
MIXED USE
Optimized Urban Mixed-Use/Employment CenterDowntown Jeannette
Graphics: Renaissance Planning Group
EXISTING SUBURBAN RETAIL CENTER – Westmoreland Mall
Context
Auto-oriented regionalretail development. Mainaccess off of US 30;Parking lot frontshighway.
Centers
Cluster of stores
Connections:Interior “main street”
Existing Suburban Retail CenterWestmoreland Mall
Graphics: Renaissance Planning Group
Context
Enhanced retail/office centerwith parallel connections toUS 30.
Centers
Mix of stores, offices andparks/plazas
Connections :Interior block network and re-oriented parking.
Tree-lined streets to promotewalkability
SFR
MFR
CIVIC/INSTITUTIONAL EMPLOYMENT/INDUSTRIAL
COMMERCIAL
MIXED USE
Option 1 – Regional Suburban Retail CenterWestmoreland Mall
Graphics: Renaissance Planning Group
ContextSuburban mixed-use centerwith parallel connections offUS 30
CentersMix of stores, offices,parks/plazas, residential &civic gathering places
Connections :Interior block network and re-oriented parking.
Tree-lined streets to promotewalkability
SFR
MFR
CIVIC/INSTITUTIONAL EMPLOYMENT/INDUSTRIAL
COMMERCIAL
MIXED USE
Optimized Suburban Mixed Use CenterWestmoreland Mall
Graphics: Renaissance Planning Group
ContextSingle and multi-familyresidential neighborhood
Centers
Mostly individual homes withprivate yards, someapartments
Connections:Lack of sidewalks anddisconnected streetsencourage playing in cul-de-sacs but discourage walking
Existing Suburban ResidentialWimmerton
Graphics: Renaissance Planning Group
ContextResidential withneighborhood shops &services
Centers
Homes, apartments, shops &gathering places
Connections
Interconnected roadways;sidewalks; greenways
SFR
MFR
CIVIC/INSTITUTIONAL EMPLOYMENT/INDUSTRIAL
COMMERCIAL
MIXED USE
Option 1 – Local Mixed-Use Suburban ResidentialWimmerton
Graphics: Renaissance Planning Group
ContextRegional destination withlocal activities & homes
CentersHomes, apartments, stores,parks, civic spaces
ConnectionsInterconnected roadways;sidewalks; greenways;regional gateway streetconnections
SFR
MFR
CIVIC/INSTITUTIONAL EMPLOYMENT/INDUSTRIAL
COMMERCIAL
MIXED USE
Option 2 – Regional Mixed Use CenterWimmerton
Graphics: Renaissance Planning Group
TODAYTOMORROW?
Graphics: Renaissance Planning Group
Graphics: Renaissance Planning Group
“Centers & Connections”Exercise1.Glance over the
map & summary2.Stick on the trace &
jot down names3.Trace the basic
framework(context)
4.Circle key pieces offabric (centers &connections)
5.Brainstorm 3-6ideas to enhancecenters & improveconnections.
New Bern, NC• Pop 30,000• Growing fast• Gateway to beach
towns• Redevelop public
housing & blightedareas
• Revitalize downtownstreets
Tenino, WA• Pop 1,700• Growing fast• Bedroom for
Olympia/ Seattle/Tacoma
• Historic buildings• Expand/redevelop
downtown districtthat retains smalltown character
New England, ND• Pop 600• Natural resource
“boom” growth• Need good quality
temporaryhousing
• Build localeconomy &infrastructure forlonger-termsustained growth
Brownsville, PA• Pop 2,300• Long, slow decline• Riverfront• Compact streets &
historic buildingsin deep disrepair
• “Spark Plug” highschool kids & civicleaders
• Restore centralpark as catalystfor downtownrenewal