Urban Design Services | Urban Collage

Cuyler-Brownsville Master Plan

by Stanford Harvey on August 5th, 2009 | No Comments »

project: CUYLER-BROWNSVILLE MASTER PLAN
date: 1999
location: SAVANNAH, GA
client: HOUSING DEPARTMENT OF THE CITY OF SAVANNAH
contact: MARTIN FRETTY, DIRECTOR

In the Spring and Summer of 1999, Urban Collage, in collaboration with Al Lindsay, AIA and Saussy Engineering, worked with the Housing Department of the City of Savannah to develop a plan for new single-family housing in a long-neglected community, Cuyler-Brownsville.

Initial work focused on the inventory of existing physical conditions in the eleven acre site just southeast of Downtown and the Garden District. Conceptual site plan alternatives were created for new housing construction, with associated infrastructure and open space improvements. Finally, a preferred plan of development was illustrated and detailed. The master plan involved 35 new homes, one new park, new street construction, re-subdivision of existing parcels and new public improvements. In addition, Urban Collage designed three housing prototypes to be developed in the first phase and prepared design guidelines to direct future development in the neighborhood. All work was done with community review and input by the Cuyler-Brownsville Neighborhood Association.

Urban Collage was then hired to prepare a Phase II companion master plan for 15 additional acres in the neighborhood.

Implementation Highlights:

Single Family Housing constructed
Community Park and Gazebo built
Multi Family projects built

Fountain Inn Master Plan

by Stanford Harvey on August 5th, 2009 | No Comments »

project: FOUNTAIN INN MASTER PLAN
date: 2005 – 2006
location: FOUNTAIN INN, SC
client: CITY OF FOUNTAIN INN
contact: EDDIE CASE, CITY ADMINISTRATOR

Urban Collage, Inc. prepared a Strategic Master Plan for the City of Fountain Inn, SC that will serve as a guide for future growth, development and revitalization within the historic city. The plan for the city of 6,000 focuses on developing physical and economic revitalization strategies for sustaining and improving the City’s downtown core and surrounding areas.

Core issues included the need to stabilize and improve the downtown business environment, aesthetic improvements to historic downtown buildings, preserving the City’s historic character, and management of increasing residential development pressure. Plan initiatives include narrowing Main Street to promote a more pedestrian-friendly downtown shopping area, promoting higher quality residential development to provide additional housing opportunities and price points and developing new marketing materials to promote the town to prospective employers, residents and visitors.

In addition to physical plans for the downtown area, Urban Collage assisted the City in implementing new Central Business District Guidelines, residential subdivision guidelines, and a new signage ordinance.

Implementation Highlights:

In October 2007, the City of Fountain Inn purchased the old train depot to become a new Visitor’s Center, Chamber of Commerce, History Museum and Farmer’s Market.
Since the plan’s completion, the City has approved development of 210 new housing units consistent with the aim of the Master Plan.
The City has implemented park improvements, hired economic development staff, and revised multiple ordinances.

Rosewood Hills Master Plan

by Stanford Harvey on August 5th, 2009 | No Comments »

project: ROSEWOOD HILLS MASTER PLAN
date: 2003
location: COLUMBIA, SC
client: THE COLUMBIA HOUSING AUTHORITY
contact: JULIA PRATER, DEPUTY FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING HOPE VI

In 2003, the Columbia Housing Authority retained Urban Collage to produce a market-based development plan along the lines of the HOPE VI model for the 19-acre Hendley Homes public housing site. The plan emphasized public involvement and architectural compatibility to rally the adjoining neighborhoods around a new vision for the area. The plan and public involvement process sought to position the project not only as public housing redevelopment but also as a traditional neighborhood plan, a unique combination that drew on Urban Collage’s diverse skill set.

Urban Collage built on the consensual vision of four participatory workshops, the continuing involvement of key stakeholders and the Columbia Housing Authority to develop a plan that significantly reworks existing infrastructure to result in a new series of public open spaces. No unit of the diverse mix of housing is more than one block away from a neighborhood park; and the greenway that unites them is anchored on either end by revitalizing commercial and cultural nodes. The plan subsequently became the basis for a successful HUD 2004 HOPE VI application. Since then, Urban Collage has gone on to create sets of design guidelines for both the mixed-use and senior living components of the plan, as well as consulting on the detailed design of the infrastructure.

Implementation Highlights:

Project awarded $10.5 million dollars as part of a successful 2004 HOPE VI Grant Application
$4 million dollar infrastructure improvements package funded by the City; streets and public spaces complete
Design guidelines completed for solicitation of development partners
Final Phase of development, with the senior complex slated for occupancy late 2009 and a future mixed-use building awaiting final design

North Avenue Corridor Study

by Stanford Harvey on August 5th, 2009 | No Comments »

project: NORTH AVENUE CORRIDOR STUDY
date: 2007 – 2008
location: ATLANTA, GA
client: GEORGIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
contact: HOWARD S. WERTHEIMER, AIA

Acquisition of the North Avenue Apartments combined with Georgia Institute of Technology’s land holdings and continued development of research facilities along North Avenue created a need to develop a strategic plan for the future of the North Avenue Corridor. The North Avenue Corridor Study was developed to establish a conceptual plan for campus development along North Avenue, more fully integrate the corridor into the Georgia Tech Campus, and identify necessary transportation improvements.

Specific recommendations called for consistent streetscaping of North Avenue from the Downtown Connector to Northside Drive, a new plaza in front of Bobby Dodd Stadium, and removal of walls and fencing to open the lawn at Tech Tower to North Avenue. Future campus development on the south side of North Avenue may include student support facilities, expansion of the Alumni House, administrative office space, and/or faculty housing opportunities.

The plan outlines a series of circulation improvements including potential modifications to the North Avenue Bridge over the Connector, reorientation of traffic on Techwood Drive, and potential re-routing of Tech Parkway to better connect North Avenue and Marietta Drive. The plan incorporates previously recommended improvements along Northside Drive at North Avenue and Hollowell Parkway.

In 2008, Georgia Tech retained Urban Collage, Inc. to move the North Avenue Corridor Plan toward implementation. In cooperation with Kimley Horn & Associates, Inc., Urban Collage oversaw the design of the campus and open space improvements along North Avenue between Williams Street and Tech Parkway. The design included a drop off area and pedestrian improvements in front of two dormitories, a pedestrian and event plaza in front of Bobby Dodd Stadium, significant renovations to the Lawn at Tech Tower and North Avenue streetscape enhancements.

Dahlonega Downtown Plan & Design Guidelines

by Stanford Harvey on August 5th, 2009 | No Comments »

project: DAHLONEGA DOWNTOWN PLAN & DESIGN GUIDELINES
date: 2007 – 2008
location: DAHLONEGA, GA
client: CITY OF DAHLONEGA
contact: JOEL CORDLE, DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY BETTER HOMETOWN PROGRAM DIRECTOR

Urban Collage, leading a team comprised of PBS&J and Bleakly Advisory Group, prepared a 10-year development master plan for the future of downtown Dahlonega. Recognized as the Jewel of the North Georgia Mountains and the Gateway to the Appalachian Trail, Dahlonega is a historic community surrounded by lush forests and vineyards. Downtown’s Public Square is noted for its 1836 courthouse, the oldest surviving in the state; while nearby Price Hall on the campus of North Georgia College marks the site of the U.S. Mint which was erected during the county’s first Gold Rush.

The team lead an investigation to find alternatives that would allow the downtown to grow without sacrificing its unique character and valuable historic resources. The master plan recognizes the downtown’s special context by creating several character districts which draw the surrounding natural and cultural landscapes in, but leave room for new infill development and major redevelopment of underutilized commercial land. The team also prepared a companion set of design guidelines that used the district framework and vernacular building typologies as organizing elements for standards for new construction and public improvements.

Implementation Highlights:

Plan adopted by council in 2008
Programming completed for new city hall

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