project: IMAGINE DOWNTOWN & LCI UPDATE
date: 2003-2004, 2009
location: ATLANTA, GA
client: ATLANTA PROGRESS (CAP)  AND THE ATLANTA DOWNTOWN IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT
contact: JENNIFER BALL, VICE PRESIDENT (CAP)

The most significant physical planning process for downtown Atlanta since the 1996 Olympics, Imagine Downtown united several smaller plans with new ideas for five important corridors and districts creating a vision for urban development that was built on exciting new projects like the Georgia Aquarium and the World of Coca-Cola. Already a regional destination, Downtown Atlanta has been guided to its evolution as a world-class urban neighborhood by the frameworks contained in Imagine.

Urban Collage, along with collaborators Cooper Carry, had devised several different and innovative public involvement techniques to gain the widest range of opinions. An Internet-based survey that used graphics and targeted questions ran throughout the year-long process, giving access to outlying metro counties interested in Downtown. The Internet was also used to disseminate the results of several ‘Charrette Weeks’, intense three-day workshops allowing residents and stakeholders a direct voice in the physical plans for each Focus Area.  
This project received a GA Planning Award for Outstanding Planning Document.

In the short few years since Urban Collage completed the 2004 Imagine Downtown Plan, growth has continued to focus on Downtown Atlanta in the spirit of short commutes, urban living and an overall increased quality of life. Working with Central Atlanta Progress and The City of Atlanta, Urban Collage is taking a fresh look at the changing urban fabric in Downtown and helping to re-prioritize plans for incenting new development, transportation enhancements and improved public spaces.

project: BUTLER-AUBURN REDEVELOPMENT PLAN UPDATE
date: 2004 – 2005
location: ATLANTA, GA
client: CITY OF ATLANTA
contact: GARNETT BROWN, SENIOR PLANNER

In 1994, the Butler-Auburn Community Redevelopment Plan (CRP) was approved by city council to address the needs of the blighted, historic Sweet Auburn Avenue neighborhood. With pressure from a strong market resurgence in urban living, Auburn Avenue was facing challenges to preserve not only its low-scaled historic buildings but its commercial orientation. The 2005 Redevelopment Plan Update combines the earlier CRP’s emphasis on specific redevelopment projects with a new sensitivity to Auburn’s historic context and narrative.

The plan update evolved over three phases and several months. A first phase of recording and analyzing existing conditions was supplemented by identification of the conceptual redevelopment projects and the key ownership interests for each. The second phase focused on hosting community workshops, refining the projects and their economics in line with community input. Phase Three consisted of the final drafting of the Plan Update, illustrative drawings, virtual models, final economics, and revising the text of the MLK Landmark Zoning District.

The plan garnered a 2005 ‘Best Planning Document’ award from the Georgia Planning Association.

Implementation Highlights:

• Plan approved by Neighborhood Planning Unit (NPU)
• Plan was adopted by the Atlanta City Council in December of 2005

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: SUWANEE TOWN CENTER PLAN
date: 2003
location: SUWANEE, GA
client: CITY OF SUWANEE
contact: MARVIN ALLEN, PLANNING DIRECTOR

Suwanee, Georgia, is a rapidly growing small town in metropolitan Atlanta. In April 2001 the city began a planning process to “Imagine Old Town Suwanee”. The plan focused on renewing the economic vitality and preserving the character of the historic core and surroundings under the purview of a newly-created Downtown Development Authority. Urban Collage crafted a public participation process including three workshops and development simulations to shape the community’s vision. This vision included creating a new, 60-acre, mixed-use Town Center in close proximity to the old downtown, focused on a new public park. The park, town center and historic core are linked by a network of streets, sidewalks and trails that provide a framework for compact housing and commercial space. Urban Collage worked with city staff and a design review board to draft a set of Development Standards to shape the character of the Old Town District and its two nodes, and continued on as development planners for the Town Center itself (in partnership with Clark Patterson and Associates).

Implementation Highlights:

• Old Town Suwanee Development Standards adopted by City Council in summer of 2002
• 21 acres purchased by the city for the new town center, including a 10-acre $3-4 million public park and amphitheater funded by greenspace bonds and Park opened in Summer of 2004
• Over 80,000 square feet of mixed-use retail, office and residential
• County branch library constructed in 2004
• An additional 40 acres of residential development adjacent to Town Center;
• Project received funding for $1.1 million dollars in pedestrian improvements by the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC)
• This project received a 2004 GPA Award for Outstanding Plan Implementation and Georgia Trend’s/GMA’s 2005 “Trendsetter” award

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: GEORGIA PERIMETER COLLEGE CAMPUS DEVELOPMENT PLAN
date: 2004
location: CLARKSTON, GA
client: GEORGIA PERIMETER COLLEGE
contact: DR. DENNIS R. HARKINS

Urban Collage was retained by Robert Charles Lesser & Co., LLC (RCLCo) and Georgia Perimeter College to provide guidance and insight into Georgia Perimeter College-Clarkston Campus’ long-term growth strategy. The process included an interactive vision session with college leaders and stakeholders to discuss and define potential opportunities on the Clarkston Campus and the development of several campus plan alternatives to accommodate future growth.

Initiatives were devised to facilitate growth of the college in terms of increasing enrollment, increasing the college’s role and function in the larger community and establishing and advancing the college’s presence along Memorial Drive and in DeKalb County. Specific campus opportunities included on-campus student housing, student recreation areas, a Student Wellness Center, a Center for International Language and Culture, and a Campus/Community Arts Center.

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

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.

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