project: JIMMY CARTER BOULEVARD BUFORD HIGHWAY REDEVELOPMENT PLAN
date: 2007 – 2008
location: GWINNETT COUNTY, GA
client: GWINNETT VILLAGE COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT
contact: CHUCK WARBINGTON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

In 2007, the Gwinnett Village Community Improvement District (GVCID) asked Urban Collage to perform a two phased project geared towards revitalizing a pair of active but aging strip retail corridors.

The first phase was the creation of a redevelopment plan for the two corridors; Jimmy Carter Boulevard and Buford Highway. The process involved a detailed analysis of several existing plans as well and the very disparate conditions along the two corridors. A steering committee consisting of property owners, business people and adjacent residents helped guide the process, providing input with regards to priorities, goals and vision for future growth.

Recognizing the importance of implementation, Urban Collage proceeded directly into the second phase, the crafting of an ordinance and design guidelines that would provide an incentive-based regulatory framework to support the redevelopment plan’s direction. Working not only with the client but an additional CID and consultants, complementary documents were drafted to direct the redevelopment of the two corridors. The Mixed-Use Ordinance was written initially as an area-specific overlay, but received such positive feedback from the Gwinnett County Planning Department that it was eventually constructed to supplant the existing mixed-use ordinance.

The other half of the equation, the Design Guidelines, were created to give a graphic indication of text of the ordinance and make the code more “user-friendly”. The Guidelines also added detail to several aspects of the ordinance, providing quality assurance for streetscapes, road design, and multi-family redevelopment, among others.

Both the ordinance and the guidelines were adopted by the county & the city of Norcross in 2008.

project: NORTH FULTON CID PLANNING SERVICES
date: 2007 – ONGOING
location: ALPHARETTA, GAT
client: NORTH FULTON COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT
contact: ANN HANLON, VP OF TRANSPIRATION, COO

In 2007, Urban Collage, Inc. was retained by the North Fulton Community Improvement District (CID) to develop an integrated land use and transportation master plan for the GA 400 commercial corridor in North Fulton County. The Conceptual Plan for Blueprint North Fulton outlines strategies for three nodes: North Point Activity Center, Old Milton Parkway and Windward Parkway.

The planning process included two public workshops, a consumer research survey, and significant discussion with the district’s three municipalities: Alpharetta, Milton and Roswell.

The Blueprint’s final plan showed a prioritization of transportation and community improvement projects and land use policies that will help create a more balanced, sustainable North Fulton and provide direction for CID initiatives and expenditures over the next seven years. In October 2008, the final plan was unveiled.

Urban Collage was subsequently retained to continue to help the CID to coordinate design and planning for key implementation planning projects.

project: BLUEPRINT MIDTOWN
date: 1998 – ONGOING
location: ATLANTA, GA
client: THE MIDTOWN ALLIANCE
contact: SHANNON POWELL, VICE PRESIDENT

In 1997, the Midtown Alliance embarked upon Blueprint Midtown, a comprehensive and proactive planning/visioning exercise for Midtown, a critical and diverse section of downtown Atlanta. Now that the vision for a diverse, mixed-use, pedestrian friendly urban district has been established, Urban Collage is assisting the Midtown Alliance in implementing the vision.

To help guide ongoing and rapidly accelerating development in the area, Urban Collage assisted in preparing the Blueprint Midtown Design Standards. The illustrated standards seek to create an attractive and functional public environment, protect historic resources and establish architectural guidelines for site planning, building design, signage and parking. The Design Guidelines formed the basis for creation of the Midtown Special Public Interest District (SPI), a new zoning ordinance for Midtown adopted by the City of Atlanta in December of 2001.

A concurrent and related work effort in Midtown is directed at enhancing the public environment through new open spaces, plazas, and streetscapes. Urban Collage continues to assist the Midtown Alliance as the program planner for the Cityscapes Program.

Implementation Highlights:

• Over 10.7 million square feet of office space;
• 9,100 new residential units;
• 855,000 square feet of new retail space;
• 1,700 hotel rooms;
• Addition of over 1.5 million square feet of cultural institutions
• Over 1.7 billion in private investment underway;
• Construction underway for part of the $40 million in expected funds over the next five years for streetscape enhancements and open space initiatives;
• Adoption of SPI -16 And SPI- 17, largest rezoning in Atlanta history.

project: BROOKHAVEN – PEACHTREE LIVABLE CENTERS INITIATIVE (LCI)
date: 2005
location: DeKALB COUNTY, GA
client: DeKALB COUNTY OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
contact: MARIA M. MULLINS, DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

In 2005, Urban Collage, Inc. was retained by DeKalb County to create a development plan for the Brookhaven community in North Atlanta, including redevelopment of the Brookhaven/Oglethorpe University MARTA rail station, as part of the Atlanta Regional Commission’s Livable Centers Initiative.

The plan focused on redevelopment of the 10-acre MARTA rail station property and the Peachtree Road commercial corridor to create a dynamic, mixed-use center of regional prominence. The village center is intended to become a focal point within the Brookhaven community and DeKalb County, including a mix of multi-tenant office space, retail business and multi-family residential development positioned around a central open space in a denser, pedestrian oriented pattern. Additional redevelopment projects in the area focus on developing a consistent sense of character in Brookhaven, creating a mixed-use environment with a strong sense of place, offering a variety of housing types and price points, creating a dynamic pedestrian environment and improving traffic safety.

Subsequently, Urban Collage was retained by Dekalb County to draft a form-based overlay district to implement the plan. The overlay, the first of its kind in the county, was developed with a steering committee of local stakeholders and created form sub-areas, public space standards, urban design standards & provisions for workforce housing.

project: PERIMETER COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS STRATEGIC PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION
date: 2002-2003
location: DeKALB AND FULTON COUNTIES, GA
client: PERIMETER COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS (PCIDs)
contact: YVONNE WILLIAMS, PERIMETER COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS PRESIDENT

Urban Collage provides strategic planning and implementation services to the Perimeter Community Improvement Districts (PCIDs), which comprise portions of both DeKalb and Fulton Counties. This client relationship is an extension of previous planning work that Urban Collage completed for the PCID as part of a 2001 Livable Centers Initiative (LCI) planning study.

That LCI study identified a list of key projects (including intersection enhancements, streetscapes, a wayfinding system, and zoning amendments) that would further the PCID’s mission to implement transit-supportive development and maximize existing transportation investments in the area. In the firm’s current capacity as “Program Planner” to the PCID, Urban Collage has refined that initial list of projects to create a comprehensive five-year Public Improvements Program.

Implementation Highlights:

• Awarded $6.5 million in implementation funds from ARC for the Perimeter Center Parkway Livable Corridor Concept
• Creation of Perimeter Public Space Standards to ensure that future development is consistent with LCI plan
• Oversight of Evaluation and Selection Process for Program Manager and Design/Engineering Firms
• Preparation of Zoning Overlay Districts for DeKalb and Fulton

project: US-1 CORRIDOR PLAN
date: 2005 – 2006
location: RALEIGH, NC
client: CAPITAL AREA METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION (CAMPO)
contact: KENNETH WITHROW, SENIOR TRANSPORTATION PLANNER

In 2005, the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) initiated a study to evaluate transit and roadway alternatives for the US-1 Corridor in northeast Raleigh, NC. This comprehensive land use and transportation study covered fourteen miles of the US-1 corridor and the adjacent CSX railroad line, encompassing five local jurisdictions.

Urban Collage was selected as a part of the consultant team to analyze existing conditions, review regional market trends and assess potential for future land use and development. In addition to creating future land use scenarios, Urban Collage illustrated potential development for three strategic activity centers. The preferred alternative for future land use is supported by design guidelines and conceptual zoning recommendations.

project: PEACHTREE CORRIDOR VISION PLAN
date: 2006 – 2007
location: ATLANTA, GA
client: PEACHTREE CORRIDOR PARTNERSHIP
contact: RAYMOND CHRISTMAN, CHAIRMAN

As one of Mayor Shirley Franklin’s key economic development initiatives, the Peachtree Corridor Vision Plan tapped the diverse talents of over 50 Atlanta business, institutional and cultural leaders to create a design concept and financial strategy that would transform the 14.5-mile corridor into one of the world’s “premier boulevards”. Released in March 2007, the final report contains recommendations for $1.1 billion in public and private investment – including a streetcar system – to secure the estimated $33 billion in potential investment value.

Urban Collage principal Stan Harvey co-chaired the Planning & Design Technical Subcommittee of the Task Force, charged with creating an overall set of architectural and aesthetic standards to support and celebrate the diverse neighborhoods and urban areas along the corridor. Urban Collage also assumed the role of planning staff to the Subcommittee – performing such varied tasks as inventorying the corridor, supporting public outreach, offering design expertise, and producing extensive maps and narratives that were integral to the final report.

Implementation Highlights:

• Public Hearing conducted in May 2007
• Peachtree Partnership interim organization created in June 2007

project: CHARLOTTE CORRIDORS, CENTERS, AND WEDGES
date: 2006 – 2007
location: CHARLOTTE, NC
client: CHARLOTTE/MECKENBURG PLANNING DEPARTMENT
contact: LAURA HARMON, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM MANAGER

Urban Collage, working with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Planning Department, was retained to update their comprehensive growth plan, which focused on plans and policies for “Corridors, Centers and Wedges.” Using the Atlanta Regional Commission’s Livable Centers Initiative as a model, Urban Collage helped Charlotte develop similar policies and guidelines for Activity Centers in the area including a pilot pedestrian-oriented plan for the Northlake area.

After concentrating on dense commercial development in the Northlake Mall area, the Charlotte Planning Department shifted gears to add some balance to the fast-growing area with dense multifamily residential developments. Several developers purchased land in the area with plans to construct not only residences, but also sidewalks and connecting streets that will help bring cohesiveness and interconnectivity to the heavily commercial area.