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A boost for downtown Blakely, post-haste.
In the course of the visioning process, there has been much discussion about the aging condition of the post office and the potentially crippling effects on downtown were a new facility to be built out by the bypass.
In response, designers at work in the charrette studio have envisioned a unique solution that could effectively provide for a new facility in downtown, create expansion possibilities for First State Bank, and establish a new, vibrant plaza uniting the area.
The idea involves the construction of a new post office on Liberty Street, where Busy Street terminates. The building would effectively have two public entry sides, one at the front and one on the side facing the existing post office. The area in between could then be redeveloped as a civic square or plaza where the adjacent buildings fronting on South Main Street could also adapt to provide frontage on the new space. The old post office would then be available, perhaps as expansion space for the neighboring bank.
A Signature Intersection for Arlington
Plans emerged Friday for dealing with Arlington's long-term growth and development, focusing on ideas for revitalizing the southern end of Highland Avenue. It begins, coming north from Damascus (shown moving left to right in the following illustration), with efforts to create a memorable and unique experience for both residents and visitors.
Notable in these efforts is the market square on the right side of the street - a grouping of semi-permanent structures, along the lines of the Katrina cottages, that can serve as commercial spaces for craftsmen, artisans and small businesses, and become a gathering area or site for flea and farmer's markets.
The intersection of Highland and Cedar then becomes the official entry point to "downtown," with pattern pavement in the crosswalks and bump-out curbs to slow traffic moving into the commercial area, as well as restored sidewalks and street lamps in the style originally used in Arlington.
Facing market square from across Highland is the existing city park, which has been reimagined with a bandstand, more trees and manicured landscaping. Just across Cedar, currently a vacant lot, the design team sees an opportunity to create a plaza framed by a new, backset building - an ideal spot for gathering or, perhaps, a coffee shop.
On the remaining fourth corner, where the Pure gas station currently stands, the team sees a significant opportunity for redevelopment, with two story construction featuring ground level shops with an office or apartment above. One favorite idea includes a roof-top restaurant, overlooking market square, the city park and the new plaza below.
While key design elements may vary as implementation takes place, the goal should remain the creation of a signature intersection marking one's entry into the heart of Arlington.
A Trade Village Gateway for Jakin?
When thinking 50 years out, one thing you can count on is that you can't count on anything. That's why it's important to consider that the modes of transportation that dominate travel and distribution today may, in certain circumstances, change.
One of Early County's key assets is its rail lines and it's not much of a stretch to imagine that, should the cost of oil and gas continue to rise to unaffordable levels, these lines could be used with greater frequency - in service of both freight and travel. So the designers exploring growth and development naturally consider proximity to such infrastructure.
In Jakin, there's a wonderful opportunity to grow slowly while fostering unique identity and value as a community. The idea involves what's being called a "trade village" - a collection of modest, low-cost buildings with regionally appropriate facades arranged in proximity to the rail line with visibility from the highway. Such buildings would make ideal workspaces for craft and tradesman, artisans, small businesses and artists. Perhaps most importantly, though, is that the place itself is well equipped to adapt to ever-changing economic circumstances over time.
A New River Village
Bounded by Coheelee Creek to the north, a beautiful winding creek to the south, Chattahoochee to the west and Highway 62 to the east, a vision for a complete village appealing to families and retirees - dubbed New Hilton - was unveiled during Thursday evening's pin up.
The village was shown connected to the region on the transit line between Dothan and Albany, and would be the only town in the county positioned along the Chattahoochee. On the eastern end of the village sits three existing churches that provide civic spaces for functions such as family reunions and weddings. Center plazas and greens will be reminiscent of similar spaces in Blakely, Jakin, Damascus and Arlington. The western side of the village could be complete with recreation trails, creeks, agriculture land, golf, and the Chattahoochee River.
The village could feature amenities such as a spa, shopping, swimming pool, boating, hunting, fishing, hiking, an 18 hole golf course, coffee shops and vista views. The village also takes advantage of the existing boat launch at Coheelee Creek Covered Bridge.
Connecting to Blakely via rail, tourists in the future could spend the afternoon enjoying the restaurants and sites in town, returning to the village the same day. And, residents of Early County could spend time relaxing and playing in the village.
The village is placed adjacent to transit instead of on the bluffs and river banks which can remain a natural environment for everyone to enjoy.
Fencing Details
One relatively inexpensive and easy to implement component of town planning is the fencing that abuts sidewalks and public spaces. Oftentimes, the typical approach involves chain link. This illustration indicates a significant difference in the quality of public space simply through consideration of design and detailing.
New Life for the Old Harvey's
One strategy for dealing with empty big box buildings, as well as the parking lots that surround them, is what's known as in-fill development, whereby the building is transitioned to an alternate use and the empty lot is redeveloped with new construction.
Just north of the square, the design team has been examining ways to employ such ideas in revitalizing the old Harvey's building. The basic idea involves converting the home on College Street owned by Ms. Arnold to a formal civic park and connecting it with the abandoned property. The old Harvey's building could be retained and converted to a new use - perhaps cotton drying - that doesn't generate a huge need for parking. Finally, the former parking lot could be redeveloped as a combination of both retail buildings (on Main Street) and residential townhomes and apartments.
Here below is the present configuration, as well as two potential alternatives
A Piazzetta?
Many Americans are familiar with Italian gathering spaces known as "piazze." Many of the most famous examples are grand but, in actuality, most are far more modest - build in harmony with the buildings and blocks that surround them. One particular form of piazze is the piazzetta, a small extension of a larger piazza.
What does this have to do with Blakely? You'd be surprised.
At the northeast corner of the Blakely square are two civic buildings - city hall and the county administration building. Each of these buildings is important, but secondary in prominence to the county court house. Their freestanding position, inset slightly and detached from the fabric of the square, with a diagonal street that places them in the midst of parking, ultimately serves to make this corner the square's least interesting.
Planners in the Design Studio have seized this opportunity to create a "corner within a corner" by applying the spatial lessons of the piazzetta. They've developed the idea of a small square off the large square, visually uniting the city hall and county building and creating a pedestrian passage. In this configuration, city hall retains its freestanding quality but, by removing the road and adding additional buildings on both sides of the county administration site, the buildings together create a comfortable enclosed space.
By extending the value of the square beyond its actual dimensions, you add to the richness of downtown Blakely and carry its value into the extending blocks.
Curiously, as envisioned, this "piazzetta" will feel distinctly southern and not the slightest bit Italian. Which is all to say that this is not an exercise in style. It's about form. The fundamentals of comfortable public space are universal. You shouldn't have to travel to Italy to enjoy your surroundings.
Make Yourself Heard
Charrette planning is collaborative, so your comments and suggestions are valued and become an important part of the design process. What do you like or dislike? What ideas do you have? Submit them here and they’ll go directly to the team at work in the Design Studio.
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Architecture
