DOWNTOWN CLARKESVILLE STRATEGIC VISIONING & PLANNING PROCESS

Transcription

1 DOWNTOWN CLARKESVILLE STRATEGIC VISIONING & PLANNING PROCESS

2 RSVP PROCESS WHERE WE ARE Plan Review Demographic Scan Visual Preference Assessment 1-on-1 Interviews (10) Focus Groups (?) Survey (650) Town Hall Meeting (80) WHERE WE ARE GOING Design Renderings Visualization HOW WE GET THERE Work Program Design Solutions Short-Term (1-12 months) Long-Term (12+ months)

3 TOP ISSUES Fire damaged buildings and businesses Complete the Streetscape/Way-finding More downtown businesses/people Downtown Lodging Infrastructure improvements Parking The Old Courthouse Park/Recreation improvements Downtown housing Event Space

4 WORK PROGRAM

5 TOWN SQUARE: SIDE 1 Before

6 TOWN SQUARE: SIDE 1 Plan View MONROE STREET BRIDGE STREET E. WATER STREET

7 TOWN SQUARE DESIGN OPTIONS

8 DESIGN OPTION 1: Buildings damaged by fire are restored to their design before fire

9 DESIGN OPTION 2: In addition to Design Option 1, Building 6 is increased to two stories.

10 DESIGN OPTION 3: Buildings damaged by fire are demolished and replaced by a new three-story brick building; Building 6 is increased to two stories.

11 DESIGN OPTION 4: Buildings damaged by fire are demolished and replaced by a new three-story brick building; Building 6 is increased to two stories; and Building 7 is replaced by two one-story brick storefronts.

12 DESIGN OPTION 5: Buildings damaged by fire are demolished and replaced by a new three-story brick building; Building 6 is increased to two stories; and Building 7 is replaced by two, two-story brick storefronts.

13 EXTEND STREETSCAPE The new streetscape in downtown Clarkesville is one of the greatest points of pride mentioned in focus groups and survey responses. However, the streetscape should be extended all along Washington Street. Also, new sidewalks, street trees, and lighting should be extended onto secondary downtown roads to create better connectivity.

14 DOWNTOWN CLARKESVILLE SIDEWALK INVENTORY Downtown boundary No sidewalk Sidewalk exists

15 TOWN SQUARE, BEFORE

16 TOWN SQUARE After

17 Before

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34 REAR BUILDINGS Many of the Washington Street buildings have rear parking lots, which is a valuable asset. More attention needs to be paid to the aesthetics of these parking areas and the rear of the buildings. Also, these areas, in time, could become sites for infill development. Furthermore, the rear entrances, if properly improved, could act as additional premium space. The city could offer façade grants for the front and rear of buildings to encourage rear-building renovations.

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39 COUNTY COURTHOUSE The Old County Courthouse and surrounding property has the potential to have the largest impact on the City of Clarkesville and Habersham County. Courthouse parking needs to be altered to maximize downtown parking availability to support downtown businesses. Hopefully the county will see this key site as an economic development opportunity that could perform like another industry. This site could be redeveloped into a $20 million mixed-use development that could house retailers, offices, housing, lodging, public safety infrastructure, and a downtown active green space. Ideally, the county, city, Development Authority, and the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) would work together to redevelop this site for the betterment of the entire community.

40 Courthouse Square, Before

41 COURTHOUSE SQUARE, AFTER 115 EAST MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL NEW CONNECTION TO PITT S PARK0 RICHIE STREET New structures would be two to three-story mixed-use buildings. CENTRAL SQUARE FOUR MINI-PLAZAS WASHINGTON STREET Bottom floor retail and services, upper floors offices or residences. REVIVED CLOCK TOWER ON CORNER

42 VIEW DOWN 115 EAST

43 VIEW WITHIN THE NEW CENTRAL SQUARE

44 ASPECTS AND BENEFITS OF A NEW MIXED-USE COURTHOUSE SQUARE COMPLEX Longer-Term Vision: 20 years Shifts existing square to a new walkable activity hub, consisting of a central park square surrounded by store-fronts, wide sidewalks and smaller plazas. By wrapping the new square with a dense mix of retail and residential, it has been proven that land values increase substantially. Bottom floor retail and food services. Second and third floors office or residences. Street design prioritizes walkability while still providing parking throughout, as well as two underground lots.

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49 FAÇADE IMPROVEMENTS Work with existing businesses that have nonconforming structures to improve their façades when it is time to renovate the buildings. This approach is non-combative and will take time, but working with and assisting the property owner creates a win-win situation.

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54 MAIN STREET 4 POINT APPROACH ORGANIZATION Downtown Guide Junior Main Street Board PROMOTION DESIGN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Dinner & Movie Public Art/Vacant Windows Friday Night Live Pitts Park Restrooms Utility Box Signage 2hr Parking Striping Parking Spaces ABC Guide DT Lodging Mary St Bldg. Vacant Property Online

55 ORGANIZATION

56 CREATE A VISITORS GUIDE Lead: Mary Beth Horton Partners: Jeff Johnson, Teresa Barry (CBCA) Timeline: proof by February 10th Funding: Graphic Design/Layout: $500 Printing: 1 st set- $200 Obstacles: N/A Steps: 1. Update map and business directory 2. Determine content to be included 3. Find Graphic Designer 4. Printing costs- qty 1000 = $ Distribution of first set 6. Find sponsors for second printing

57 CREATE A JUNIOR MAIN STREET BOARD Lead: Mary Beth Horton Partners: Neil Reems, Katie Ledford Timeline: select youth by March; 1 st meeting in April Funding: $ Obstacles: n/a

58 PROMOTION

59 DINNER & A MOVIE / MUSIC

60 DINNER & A MOVIE Lead: Sherry Callahan (liaison to HCT) Partners: Mary Beth (licensing); Alta Mosely (theater); Laura Farrelly (Harvest Habersham); Jeff Morris (Copper Pot) Timeline: Get verbal interest by Friday 11/21; Reserve movies by 1/31; Movie dates 3/21 & 5/2. Funding: cost of movie licensing, cost of screen rental Obstacles: screen size/stage accommodation

61 FRIDAY NIGHT LIVE 3 RD FRIDAYS Lead: Joey Duncan Partners: Ann Brusich, Sherry Callahan Timeline: Present idea to CBCA in January; Hold events April-June Funding: CBCA and Main Street; cost TBD Obstacles: Local ordinance restrictions/local business participation

62 BEFORE PUBLIC ART/VACANT WINDOWS

63 AFTER PUBLIC ART/VACANT WINDOWS

64 PUBLIC ART / VACANT WINDOWS Lead: Roxie Barron & Claudia Lyle Partners: Wally Wenn, Local artists, Mary Beth Horton Timeline: Phase 1: Mar-April Phase 2: May-July Phase 3: Aug-Oct Phase 4: Nov-Dec Funding: $150 per phase / $600 Project total Obstacles: permission from artists

65 DESIGN

66 PITTS PARK RESTROOM Before

67 After

68 Before PITTS PARK RESTROOM PITTS PARK RESTROOM After Lead: Hunter McCutcheon Partners: Taylor Graham, Jeremy Pirkle, Charle Statler Timeline: Phase 1: May Phase 2: December Funding: in kind/donations Obstacles: n/a

69 Before DOWNTOWN DIRECTIONAL DOWNTOWN DIRECTIONAL SIGNAGE After Before After

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72 Before UTILITY BOX SIGNAGE UTILITY BOX / SIGNAGE After Lead: Wendy Behrens Partners: Leigh Johnston, Teresa Barry Timeline: May 2015 Funding: $150- from Clarkesville Business & Community Association Obstacles: none

73 2 -HOUR PARKING SIGN REMOVAL Lead: Barbara Kesler/Leigh Johnston Partners: City of Clarkesville Public Works Timeline: February 2015 Funding: none Obstacles: weather/public works availability

74 Before STRIPING PARKING SPACES STRIPING PARKING SPACES After Action Item: Striping Parking Spaces Lead: City of Clarkesville Public Works Partners: Bill Gresham, Jeremy Garmon Timeline: February 2015 Funding: TBD Obstacles: none

75 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

76 A GUIDE TO STARTING A BUSINESS IN CLARKESVILLE- ACTION PLAN Before After Lead: Mary Beth Horton Partners: JR Charles, Caleb Gaines, Glenda Smith Timeline: March Funding: $100 printing costs Obstacles: n/a

77 Before DOWNTOWN LODGING After Lead: Joey Duncan Partners: City of Clarkesville/ DDA Timeline: mid-january Funding: varies Obstacles: finding investors/developers

78 Before VACANT PROPERTY ONLINE INVENTORY After Vacant Property Online Inventory/Breakfast with Property Owners Lead: Roxie Barron Partners: JR Charles, Jeff Johnson, Mary Beth Horton Timeline: March 1st Funding: $200 Obstacles: permission from property owners

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80 MARY STREET HOUSE After Could be used for special events or meetings New landscaping New parking lot configuration

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82 Mary Street House Plan View

83 Before MARY STREET HOUSE After Lead: Barrie Aycock Partners: Janet Taylor, Deb Kilgore Timeline: Phase 1: end of January Phase 2: TBD Funding: To be determined Obstacles: funding