Dahlonega: Bringing Nature to the Square

Jessica A. Gutierrez Prof. Longenecker

Spring 2011

Site Location

Site Location

Dahlonega, GA

Site Location

Streetscape extending from downtown to Lake Zwerner

On-Site Issues

• Two positive attributes: downtown & reservoir: no connection

• Two destinations, while a little under a mile apart, are rarely used in conjunction

• Dilapidated state of streetscape between destinations – Run-down/abandoned buildings – Big-box commercial buildings – Expansive, wasteful parking lots – Lack of landscaped areas

On-Site Issues

Positive Attributes

Photos of the existing square in downtown Dahlonega

Positive Attributes

Photos of Lake Zwerner at Yahoola Creek Reservoir

Precedents Bed-Stuy Gateway Streetscape Enhancement Project: Brooklyn

“The Bedford-Stuyvesant Streetscape Project will refashion the District Into a more attractive urban space and remove the impediments that are Preventing the corridor from reaching its economic potential as Central

Brooklyn’s anchor business destination.”

Precedents

• Bedford-Stuyvesant Streetscape Project – Newly constructed sidewalks & reconstructed

curbs – Paved amenity band along sidewalks – Creation of new public plazas – Addition of supplemental street lighting – Planting of new trees – Installation of heavy duty street furniture and

trash receptacles

Precedents

Project Riverway: Donalsonville, Georgia

The Fanning Institute

Precedents

• Project Riverway: Goals – Increase activity in downtown corridor – Build stronger connections between the

residents of downtown and those that live on the shore of Lake Seminole

– Provide recommendations for improvements to the landscape surrounding the historic courthouse.

Goals & Objectives

• Create a connection between North Georgia College and State University in Dahlonega with the newly constructed Lake Zwerner at Yahoola Creek Reservoir.

• Construct new shops and cafes as well as a generous walkway and bike path to promote pedestrian bicycle traffic between the two spaces as well as further utilization of the opportunities Lake Zwerner provides.

Goals & Objectives

• Rid the area of run-down buildings and strip malls by either restoring them or replacing them with new buildings

• Utilize similar building materials and street trees to match the existing “feel” of downtown Dahlonega

• Create courtyards/greenspaces intermittently to serve as gathering places/rest areas for visitors

• Slow traffic along Morrison Moore Parkway East to make the new route safer for pedestrians and bicycle traffic

Analysis

Perhaps the most important of the analysis maps, the planning and zoning maps provided information for future land use zonings. Therefore, I knew what and

where I could legally place new usages along the streetscape.

Analysis

Analysis

It was important to highlight the existing impervious surfaces on-site in an attempt to lessen these areas. Decreasing them by 50% would help meet LEED

site sustainability credits #4 as well as #7.

It was very important to note where each power pole and utility line stood in order to accurately place street trees along East Main Street and Morrison Moore Pkwy E.

Analysis

In order to meet LEED SS credit #1, nothing could be constructed within 50’ of water.

Analysis

A compilation of all layers of analysis displays the usable land areas for this site in Dahlonega.

Analysis

Concept

• Bike path & walkway on either side of street

• Planting strips • Greenspaces throughout • New cafes, shops, offices, and

loft apartments • Smaller parking areas to the

rear of buildings • New streetscape will extend

current look and feeling of the square in Dahlonega

• Encourage college students and visitors to further utilize trails and other aspects of Yahoola Creek Reservoir at Lake Zwerner.

Master Plan

• Streetscape begins on E. Main St. right outside the square • Street trees will be placed to soften and ‘green’ the space • New shops, cafes, offices, lofts • Amphitheater, market-space, open-air pavilion, & picnic areas • Green roofs • Parking lots reduced in size

• Streetscape extends North along Morrison Moore Pkwy. E. • Transition from shops to single-family residential area • Each home: 100’ street frontage • Walks connecting homes to sidewalk & bike path system • Access drive to rear of homes for residents and visitors

• Single family residences extend up western side of Morrison Moore Pkwy E.

• At this point, the proposed sidewalks and bike paths will meet up with the existing trails at Lake Zwerner at Yahoola Creek Reservoir.

Master Plan

Streetscape Section: NTS

Walk Bike Path

Street

Focus Area

Courtyard & Streetscape

• Open courtyard/marketplace • Open-air pavilion- extra room for events & performances • Permanent tents provide space for vendors at farmers markets and art

fairs, among other events • Low reflecting pool in the center of the space • Greenspaces & picnic areas for social gathering space • Each building is home to a green roof, decreasing overall heat-island

effect on-site

Courtyard & Streetscape

Courtyard

Courtyard Section: NTS

Permanent Tents

Reflection Pool

The main issues with grading on-site were focused around making sure the courtyard area was as level as possible. This was achieved by creating stairways to either side of the space to enter

the area. The central reflecting pool was also graded to create as level of a pool as possible.

Grading Plan

A series of evergreen plants were chosen to provide a lush landscape and soften the surroundings throughout the year. Several different perennials were chosen to provide interest

against the evergreen backdrop. A purple, yellow, and white color palette has been utilized.

Planting Plan

Planting Schedules

Greenroof Plants Number Common Name Botanical Name Type Evergreen Height Spread Zone Sun Flower

114 Artichoke Agave Agave parryi var. truncata shrub x 2-4' 2-5' z.6-9 full 891 Avalanche Feather Reed Grass Calamagrostis x acutiflora 'Avalanche' orn. grass x 3-4' 1-2' z.4-9 full

1,380 Bloodstone Thrift Armeria maritima 'Bloodstone' herb. Per. x 8-10" 1' z.3-9 full spring-purple

73 Compact Plumosa Juniper Juniperus horizontalis 'Plumosa Compacta' shrub x 1-2' 4-8' z.3-9 full 1,380 Cotton Tail Thrift America maritima 'Cotton Tail' herb. Per. x 4-6" 1' z.3-9 full spring-white 1,706 Elijah Blue Fescue Festuca glauca 'Elijah Blue' orn. grass x 8-12" 8-12" z.4-11 full

906 Emerald Empress Hens & Chicks Sempervirum 'Emerald Empress' herb.per. x 1-4" 3' z.4-8 full summer-purple 1,066 Orange New Zealand Sedge Carex testacea orn. grass x 15" 15" z.6-9 full

Planting Schedules

Trees & ShrubsNumber Common Name Botanical Name Type Evergreen Height Spread Zone Sun Flower

7 Aurora Dogwood Cornus x 'Rutban' P.P. Tree 25' 25' z.5-8 Partial Spring-Purple58 Brouwer's Beauty Lily of the Valley Pieris x 'Brouwer's Beauty' Shrub x 6' 6' z.5-8 Partial Spring-Purple2 Cut Leaf European Beech Fagus sylvatica 'Asplenifolia' Tree 60-80' 35-40' z.5-7 Full41 Dreamland Rhododendron Rhododendron x 'Dreamland' 'Yakushima hybrid' Shrub x 4' 4' z.6-9 Partial Spring-White/Pk59 Maiden Grass Miscanthus sinensis 'Gracillimus' Orn. Grass 6-8' 5' z.5-9 Full

Construction Documents

Brick Paver Walk: NTS

Construction Documents

Concrete Stairway: NTS

Construction Documents

Green Roof Finish: NTS

Conclusion

The existing mile-spanse of the streetscape in Dahlonega is far from prosperous. Run-down buildings, expansive parking lots, and a lack of plant life line the area. After analysis of the site and gaining further knowledge of the space, the site has been

designed to strengthen the connection between downtown and the reservoir. Pedestrian and bicycle traffic routes now connect the two spaces so they will be used in

conjunction with each other more often. Street trees and plantings line the area to soften the once-harsh space.

Works Cited • 2006 Garland Industries, Inc. Green Roof

Specs. • www.greenroofs.com • www.monrovia.com/plant-catalog • http://www.nycedc.com/PROJECTSOPPORTU

NITIES/CURRENTPROJECTS/BROOKLYN/BEDFORDSTUYVESANTSTREETSCAPEPROJECT/Pages/BedfordStuyvesantStreetscapeProject.aspx

• www.projectriverway.org