Thriving By Design - New Partners for Smart...

Hannah TwaddellPresident, Twaddell Associates455 Second St SE, Ste 300, Charlottesville, VA 22902434-270-8907 (o) 434-981-8330 (m)[email protected]

Thriving By DesignIn Small Towns and Rural Communities

New Partners for Smart Growth, February 7, 2013

Planning For Prosperity

How Will We Live?Community Design

Where Will We Live?Regional Development

How Will We GetThere?Policies, Plans &Projects Graphics: Renaissance Planning Group

What Makes a Place?Framework

Context: Layout &scale of streets,buildings & naturallandscape

FabricCenters: Variety ofactivities within theframeworkConnections:Streets, sidewalks,bike pths, transitroutes, etc.

FingerprintUnique culture,economy & history Community Workshop for NJDOT Rt 57 Study, Warren

County NJ

Charlottesville, Virginia

Circle reflects five minute walk

City Center

Graphics: Renaissance Planning Group

Palmyra, Virginia


Town Center



US 29, Charlottesville

Suburban Center


What Makes a Rural Place?

“Rural communities are characterized byan interaction between land and place.”

Gateway

Edge

Resource-Dependent

Main Street

Gateway• Near high-amenity

recreational areassuch as NationalParks, NationalForests, andcoastlines.

• Provide food,lodging, & visitorservices.

• Increasingly popularfor live-work-play.

• Often struggle w/strain on

Edge• Fringe of metro

area, typicallyconnected by stateand interstatehighways.

• Affordableresidential accessto jobs & services.

• Growing fasterthan larger metroarea.

• Constant pressurefor more housingand services.

Resource-Dependent• Home to single

industry such asfarming or mining.

• Fortunes rise andfall with themarket value ofthat resource.

• Key challenge isto diversifyeconomy whilemaintaining ruralquality of life andcharacter.

Main Street• Compact street

design oftenaccessible to atransportation hub.

• Historicallysignificantarchitecture andpublic spaces

• Struggle tocompete fortenants &customers withoffice parks,regional malls,and big box

How Can We Sustain RuralPlaces?Support the rurallandscapeHelp existing placesthriveCreate great newplaces

Changing one thing changes everything.

Context

Former industrial/employmenttown along abandoned rail spur& riverfront

Centers

Mixed-use main street,numerous vacant andabandoned buildings/shops

Connections

Pedestrian-oriented streetscapeand network; indirect access toClay Street gateway

Existing Urban Mixed-Use/Employment CenterDowntown Jeannette


ContextRevived mixed-use businessdistrict

Centers

Interconnected parks and plazas,single and multi-family housingand a pedestrian-oriented mainstreetConnections

Highlight access to Clay Streetwith street trees & transit station

Network of walking paths,plazas, and parks linked to newriverfront greenway trail

SFR

MFR

CIVIC/INSTITUTIONAL EMPLOYMENT/INDUSTRIAL

COMMERCIAL

MIXED USE

Optimized Urban Mixed-Use/Employment CenterDowntown Jeannette


EXISTING SUBURBAN RETAIL CENTER – Westmoreland Mall

Context

Auto-oriented regionalretail development. Mainaccess off of US 30;Parking lot frontshighway.

Centers

Cluster of stores

Connections:Interior “main street”

Existing Suburban Retail CenterWestmoreland Mall


Context

Enhanced retail/office centerwith parallel connections toUS 30.

Centers

Mix of stores, offices andparks/plazas

Connections :Interior block network and re-oriented parking.

Tree-lined streets to promotewalkability

SFR

MFR


COMMERCIAL

MIXED USE

Option 1 – Regional Suburban Retail CenterWestmoreland Mall


ContextSuburban mixed-use centerwith parallel connections offUS 30

CentersMix of stores, offices,parks/plazas, residential &civic gathering places

Connections :Interior block network and re-oriented parking.

Tree-lined streets to promotewalkability

SFR

MFR


COMMERCIAL

MIXED USE

Optimized Suburban Mixed Use CenterWestmoreland Mall


ContextSingle and multi-familyresidential neighborhood

Centers

Mostly individual homes withprivate yards, someapartments

Connections:Lack of sidewalks anddisconnected streetsencourage playing in cul-de-sacs but discourage walking

Existing Suburban ResidentialWimmerton


ContextResidential withneighborhood shops &services

Centers

Homes, apartments, shops &gathering places

Connections

Interconnected roadways;sidewalks; greenways

SFR

MFR


COMMERCIAL

MIXED USE

Option 1 – Local Mixed-Use Suburban ResidentialWimmerton


ContextRegional destination withlocal activities & homes

CentersHomes, apartments, stores,parks, civic spaces

ConnectionsInterconnected roadways;sidewalks; greenways;regional gateway streetconnections

SFR

MFR


COMMERCIAL

MIXED USE

Option 2 – Regional Mixed Use CenterWimmerton


TODAYTOMORROW?


“Centers & Connections”Exercise1.Glance over the

map & summary2.Stick on the trace &

jot down names3.Trace the basic

framework(context)

4.Circle key pieces offabric (centers &connections)

5.Brainstorm 3-6ideas to enhancecenters & improveconnections.

New Bern, NC• Pop 30,000• Growing fast• Gateway to beach

towns• Redevelop public

housing & blightedareas

• Revitalize downtownstreets

Tenino, WA• Pop 1,700• Growing fast• Bedroom for

Olympia/ Seattle/Tacoma

• Historic buildings• Expand/redevelop

downtown districtthat retains smalltown character

New England, ND• Pop 600• Natural resource

“boom” growth• Need good quality

temporaryhousing

• Build localeconomy &infrastructure forlonger-termsustained growth

Brownsville, PA• Pop 2,300• Long, slow decline• Riverfront• Compact streets &

historic buildingsin deep disrepair

• “Spark Plug” highschool kids & civicleaders

• Restore centralpark as catalystfor downtownrenewal

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