project: CITY OF MACON SOUTHSIDE NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING SERVICES
date: 2001
location: MACON, GA
client: CITY OF MACON, DEPT OF ECONOMIC & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
contact: KEVIN DUBOSE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Urban Collage conducted a series of neighborhood planning and development services for a variety of historic communities in Macon, with projects including:

Beall’s Hill Strategic Development Plan
The Development Plan provides a strategic blueprint for revitalizing the historic, intown Beall’s Hill neighborhood by outlining parcel-specific land use, compatible public improvements, economic development and infill housing development initiatives, detailed parcel-resubidivision and overall funding and implementation mechanisms (including partnerships with adjacent Mercer University). In addition, the plan includes illustrated strategies for historically compatible housing rehabilitation and full construction documents for 12 infill housing prototypes.

Prince/Nussbaum Development Plan
In partnership with the Macon Housing Authority, Urban Collage developed a detailed parcel resubdivision plan and associated infill housing design strategies to facilitate the construction of 42 new homes and a small pocket park, in this low-income single-family neighborhood.

Telfair Street Concept Plan
The concept for the site located along a busy traffic artery, and surrounded by historic neighborhoods, planned to restore the street’s historic character by developing new two-story mixed use units directly facing Telfair Street.

Implementation Highlights:

• Over 100 vacant lots purchased for new single-family infill construction
• 50 new single-family homes built
• Single-family housing rehab program under way in Beall’s Hill

project: EVANS GOVERNMENT CENTER / APPLING COMPLEX MASTER PLANS
date: 2006 – 2007
location: EVANS, GA
client: COLUMBIA COUNTY
contact: J. SCOTT HERRING, PE

In late 2006, Columbia County, Georgia began to develop a series of Master Plans with the assistance of Urban Collage, Inc. to guide future facility placement and enhance the identity and character of County facilities.

Urban Collage, Inc. led a space needs assessment and master plan effort for the County’s Evans Government Center Campus. The Evans Government Center contains most of the County’s administrative departments, the County Justice Center, Library, and Tag Office. The Master Plan established development, redevelopment and enhancement strategies for the County’s administrative facilities for the next 10-20 years. The planning process included assessment of existing facilities and interviews with almost 30 department heads to identify future facility needs and a series of campus design sessions with County leaders. The Master Plan has enabled the County to begin design and construction of needed facilities while maintaining a focus on long-term needs and flexibility.  The Plan also embraces strategies to enhance the character of the campus and its frontage along Ronald Reagan Drive and Evans Town Center Boulevard.

The County’s Appling Complex includes a variety of office and service facilities including the County Detention Facility, Police Training Facilities, Animal Care and Control, Vehicle Maintenance and the County’s Roads and Bridges Department. The Appling Complex Master Plan built consensus among affected departments and has led to the design and construction of three priority facility/equipment projects (an expanded police training facility, a new fire training facility, and an upcoming detention center expansion). The Master Plan also establishes a direction for the efficient use of the county complex property, maintains flexibility for future facility projects, and includes strategies to enhance public access to appropriate facilities.