Suburban centers have lost a sense of pride. Many people moved to the metro outskirts to escape the crime, poverty, traffic, etc. However, in many ways expanding suburban sprawl is simply extending these negative downtown affiliates. People tend to venture to the "city" to shop, attend sporting events or concerts, work, or just enjoy a night on the town. Though, for some unexplainable reason, many people want to associate their "home" with a different location than their "work." People move to the suburbs to rid themselves from the hassle of what busy downtown centers bring, but usually end up short-changed in many aspects of life. Suburbs are now filled with predictable chain restaurants and obsolete shopping centers, yet a more affordable way of life. For every negative aspect of suburbia, however, there seems to be a positive.
Studies have shown that attitudes towards suburbia are changing, but a shift in city planning is not following accordingly. The Urban Land Institute has highlighted 7 factors as to why this is occurring and I am going to discuss McDonough's status amongst these:
1. The suburbs are no longer dominated by white, middle-class families but house a diverse array of people coming from different cultural and economic backgrounds.
-This is becoming increasingly more applicable to McDonough as the years go by. The white population in McDonough is 15% below the national average, while the minority population is about 20% above the national average. This means that shopping and housing accommodations need to change in order to best serve the entire population. Besides, differing cultures, McDonough also hosts are multiple age groups that would benefit from a great downtown center.
2. The problems associated with downtowns have deteriorated and are slowly becoming "cool" again.
-Crime in McDonough has been gradually decreasing for 6 years now, despite the demographic changes that would suggest otherwise. Or perhaps it is the fact that the majority of the people are sitting in traffic instead of vandalizing the high school gym. Nevertheless, the city is ready for a trendy city center, one that is not solely dominated by traffic, and the actions of its citizens are displaying a desire for some sort of economically and mentally stimulating gathering point to exist.
3. The need for a car to travel everywhere is becoming an unsustainable (didn't even know that was a word) solution.
-While this may not only be unsustainable, but also inconvenient, time-consuming, and expensive for the weary traveler, McDonough does not have the capacity for public transportation as of yet. That does not mean that the concept needs to be dismissed because I am all for planning for growth, but McDonough is not in the financial position to bring some sort of mass transit to the city center. Though, I have been contemplating proposing some sort of awesome ski-like lift or underground train to enter the square, but I am afraid that idea would be lost in its hilarity. Besides, I am curious as to how much revenue Atlanta is making from the gas tax. I have no knowledge of any information pertaining to the tax (even whether or not it is a federal or state tax, I have no clue) and am just speculating that it might be an anchor, revenue generator in the big city. Though I could be very wrong about this, which I probably am. One thing I do know is that everything revolves around money, a fact that can neither be dismissed or denied no matter how idealistic you may be.
4. There is a powerful desire to create a sense of community amongst downtown areas once again
-Now, I am not sure if every McDonoughian feels a sense of pride for the beloved town, but McDonough is just far enough away from Atlanta to highlight to strangers that we are not necessarily big city people. One thing for sure is that it is not necessarily convenient to travel to Atlanta spontaneously for a nice dinner, movie, or museum event in the evening and having those in a much more accessible location is something McDonough needs. Besides, I can say with a fair amount of certainty that McDonough will never be a legitimate tourist attraction so staying in Atlanta for the evening at one of the many 5-star hotels it possesses will always be a nice get-away instead of staying in one of the (though pretty underrated) Holiday Inn's in Henry County. Still, unless McDonough is graced with a Ritz Carlton or St. Regis in the near future, those romantic anniversary over-night stays will not be taking place within the McDonough city limits. No matter if people deny it or not, being from McDonough will always hold a place in their hearts and nobody would refuse a better city center.
5. Suburbanites harbor more convenience in their lives
-This is an entirely true statement for people in McDonough but, honestly, is a true statement for everyone. Who wants to be inconvenienced? That would be preposterous! McDonough already hosts, what I endearingly call, the JoBo Road strip which contains an anchor Super Target (probably the greatest Target ever built and that is not an exaggeration), Home Depot, Belk, Starbucks and other chain companies and restaurants. This is an entire corporate shopping center, though, with no redeeming qualities to bolster the local entrepreneur but is, nevertheless, convenient. In fact, this shopping center has attracted people from counties south of us to come and do their everyday shopping when they would otherwise travel to Macon. The fact that people in McDonough no longer travel north to Morrow, GA for this somewhat specialty shopping and dining and that others are relying on McDonough as a supplier of everyday goods indicates that it is slowly becoming a nucleus as a south metro shopping district. It, therefore, needs to do more to attract visitors to multiple parts of the city and not just a 3/4 of a mile corporate strip. The square definitely needs to remain dominated by local stores, but there is nothing wrong with placing a corporate anchor in it to get the ball rolling.
6. Voters are beginning to notice the "hidden" costs of suburban development practices.
-I apostrophized hidden because I do not think that it is a very inconspicuous fact that it is cheaper to live in the suburbs than the city. In fact, with Screengems moving into Atlanta soon property values in the suburbs, especially the south metro areas, are going to boom. At least, that is my hope, and if I had $20,000 to spare I would definitely invest in a house in East Point or Lakewood because those up-and-coming areas are going to grow drastically within the next 10 years. Assuming this prediction is correct, McDonough needs to be able to offer its citizens and visitors more in order to keep up with the successful downtown suburban centers of Decatur or Roswell that are definitely models to reference.
7. Though people may want the sophistications of an urban lifestyle, they may not want to live downtown.
-This is a statement that I do not think is too generalized. One could argue that they live in the suburbs because it is ultimately cheaper and it has better school districts, but I believe that may not always be the case. I have heard others argue that no nice things can be built in McDonough because the people who live there are not "classy" enough to keep those businesses alive. But I want to give my fellow citizens the benefit of the doubt. So far there has not been a model company (besides Bliss) in McDonough for other companies to want to stand by or help sustain and that is why there has not been a truly successful restaurant on the square. Honestly, and I hope I am not betraying any McDonough patriots out there, but Seasons Bistro, Pasta Max, and PJ's are mediocre at best. Who wants to pay a lot for mediocre? There is a reason why chains are successful and that does not need to be undermined. But, I am just praying that someone comes along who has a great business model for an awesome, trendy, new restaurant and I will be their biggest advocate.
Hopefully, I will be able to move out of the programming phase of the project and into the schematic design and development phases soon and I cannot wait to being posting initial site plans and would greatly appreciate any comments and even criticism.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Don't Doubt the Roundabout
Besides being an awesome word, especially when said with a British accent, a roundabout is a circular intersection with design features that promote safe and efficient traffic flow. Now, before you anti-anything European haters out there offer your rebuttal, hear me out.
A study performed in 2005 in Minnesota states that traffic signals could be a major reason for traffic, road rage, and even pollution in heavily populated areas. They are not monitored closely enough and most traffic signals are set in place before a viable plan for their use has been conducted and set in motion. Some people blame the inefficiency on signal timing, and that might be one factor, but no matter how many studies are done on the most appropriate timing of traffic signals at certain intersections there is still going to be stop-and-go traffic. However, roundabouts can be a solution to that problem at many intersections including the McDonough Square.
Right now, there are four intersecting roads at the Square that run on traffic signals, leading to a very hectic and slow-moving quarter of a mile. But, if a roundabout was in place then it could potentially eliminate a majority of the traffic and make the Square an enjoyable place to visit. Since it is the nucleus of the city and a picturesque unavoidability when traveling locally, commuters that do not plan to stop at the square but must drive through it in order to reach their destination will find the experience much more pleasurable.
The biggest resistance to roundabouts comes from the population of the public that are unfamiliar with how they should be used. Dan Winn, a retired Superior Court Judge who lives in Cedartown, wants to see the Georgia Department of Transportation come around to the idea of roundabouts and to have them implemented as the first step in new city planning around the state. In an article, he uses Elijay as a case study, highlighting the graceful aesthetic a roundabout produces in a city center. However, studies have shown that constructing a roundabout can also reduce the usage of millions of gallons of gasoline a year as well as the amount of energy used to power traffic signals. Estimates claim that roundabouts reduce the amount of fatal and incapacitating injury crashes by 90%! Ultimately, there just doesn't seem to be a reason not to use a roundabout.
Roundabouts are appropriate in locations with large traffic delays (i.e. the McDonough Square), complex geometry (i.e. the McDonough Square), and frequent left turns (i.e. the McDonough Square). In fact, the Square is already shaped with the intention of producing a constant, counterclockwise motion, but there are just traffic signals in place that inhibit any sort of quick travel. With multi-land roundabouts, as what I would propose be in place in the McDonough Square, signs and lane markings should help drivers choose the appropriate lane when entering and exiting a roundabout. Unlike old traffic circles, modern roundabouts give the right-of-way to vehicles inside the perimeter of the circle, while those on the outside must yield. Still, there should never be a stalled motion of travel inside the circle. Some more information about roundabouts and all their greatness can be found here.
The Washington State Department of Transportation offers a good tutorial on how to drive in a roundabout since most Americans are not used to having to deal with crazy European contraptions and the city of Brookefield, Wisconsin offers some good information about roundabouts as well. I am going to have to do a lot of innovative planning and thinking about how to orient the lanes and signs of the roundabout in order not to force vehicles to change lanes as they approach their destination turn. Roundabouts are good speed monitors because drivers must negotiate a sharp curve to enter and are forced to travel at slower speeds. Another factor about the roundabout that I am going to have to brainstorm about is the fact that pedestrians are normally not supposed to cross the roundabout into the middle of the circle. Right now, McDonough has a small park with benches and a statue in the middle commemorating General MacDonough, which is a good place to walk your dog or take wedding photos. Therefore, I would not want to shut off access to that completely. I am all for underground tunnel or bridge building, but am not quite sure how the Henry County Zoning and Planning Commission would feel about that one...
Sunday, January 23, 2011
The Highwayman by Alfred Noyes
One of my favorite poems from middle school, romanticizing travel
The Highwayman
The wind was a torrent of darkness upon the gusty trees,
The moon was a ghostly galleon tossed upon cloudy seas,
The road was a ribbon of moonlight looping the purple moor,
And the highwayman came riding--
Riding--riding--
The highwayman came riding, up to the old inn door.
He'd a French cocked hat on his forehead, and a bunch of lace at his chin;
He'd a coat of the claret velvet, and breeches of fine doe-skin.
They fitted with never a wrinkle; his boots were up to his thigh!
And he rode with a jeweled twinkle--
His rapier hilt a-twinkle--
His pistol butts a-twinkle, under the jeweled sky.
Over the cobbles he clattered and clashed in the dark inn-yard,
He tapped with his whip on the shutters, but all was locked and barred,
He whistled a tune to the window, and who should be waiting there
But the landlord's black-eyed daughter--
Bess, the landlord's daughter--
Plaiting a dark red love-knot into her long black hair.
Dark in the dark old inn-yard a stable-wicket creaked
Where Tim, the ostler listened--his face was white and peaked--
His eyes were hollows of madness, his hair like mouldy hay,
But he loved the landlord's daughter--
The landlord's black-eyed daughter;
Dumb as a dog he listened, and he heard the robber say:
"One kiss, my bonny sweetheart; I'm after a prize tonight,
But I shall be back with the yellow gold before the morning light.
Yet if they press me sharply, and harry me through the day,
Then look for me by moonlight,
Watch for me by moonlight,
I'll come to thee by moonlight, though hell should bar the way."
He stood upright in the stirrups; he scarce could reach her hand,
But she loosened her hair in the casement! His face burnt like a brand
As the sweet black waves of perfume came tumbling o'er his breast,
Then he kissed its waves in the moonlight
(O sweet black waves in the moonlight!),
And he tugged at his reins in the moonlight, and galloped away to the west.
He did not come in the dawning; he did not come at noon.
And out of the tawny sunset, before the rise of the moon,
When the road was a gypsy's ribbon over the purple moor,
The redcoat troops came marching--
Marching--marching--
King George's men came marching, up to the old inn-door.
They said no word to the landlord; they drank his ale instead,
But they gagged his daughter and bound her to the foot of her narrow bed.
Two of them knelt at her casement, with muskets by their side;
There was Death at every window,
And Hell at one dark window,
For Bess could see, through her casement, the road that he would ride.
They had bound her up at attention, with many a sniggering jest!
They had tied a rifle beside her, with the barrel beneath her breast!
"Now keep good watch!" and they kissed her. She heard the dead man say,
"Look for me by moonlight,
Watch for me by moonlight,
I'll come to thee by moonlight, though Hell should bar the way."
She twisted her hands behind her, but all the knots held good!
She writhed her hands till her fingers were wet with sweat or blood!
They stretched and strained in the darkness, and the hours crawled by like years,
Till, on the stroke of midnight,
Cold on the stroke of midnight,
The tip of one finger touched it! The trigger at least was hers!
The tip of one finger touched it, she strove no more for the rest;
Up, she stood up at attention, with the barrel beneath her breast.
She would not risk their hearing, she would not strive again,
For the road lay bare in the moonlight,
Blank and bare in the moonlight,
And the blood in her veins, in the moonlight, throbbed to her love's refrain.
Tlot tlot, tlot tlot! Had they heard it? The horse-hooves, ringing clear;
Tlot tlot, tlot tlot, in the distance! Were they deaf that they did not hear?
Down the ribbon of moonlight, over the brow of the hill,
The highwayman came riding--
Riding--riding--
The redcoats looked to their priming! She stood up straight and still.
Tlot tlot, in the frosty silence! Tlot tlot, in the echoing night!
Nearer he came and nearer! Her face was like a light!
Her eyes grew wide for a moment, she drew one last deep breath,
Then her finger moved in the moonlight--
Her musket shattered the moonlight--
Shattered her breast in the moonlight and warned him--with her death.
He turned, he spurred to the West; he did not know who stood
Bowed, with her head o'er the casement, drenched in her own red blood!
Not till the dawn did he hear it, and his face grew grey to hear
How Bess, the landlord's daughter,
The landlord's black-eyed daughter,
Had watched for her love in the moonlight, and died in the darkness there.
Back, he spurred like a madman, shrieking a curse to the sky,
With the white road smoking behind him and his rapier brandished high!
Blood-red were his spurs in the golden noon, wine-red was his velvet coat
When they shot him down in the highway,
Down like a dog in the highway,
And he lay in his blood in the highway, with the bunch of lace at his throat.
And still on a winter's night, they say, when the wind is in the trees,
When the moon is a ghostly galleon tossed upon cloudy seas,
When the road is a gypsy's ribbon looping the purple moor,
The highwayman comes riding--
Riding--riding--
The highwayman comes riding, up to the old inn-door.
Over the cobbles he clatters and clangs in the dark inn-yard,
He taps with his whip on the shutters, but all is locked and barred,
He whistles a tune to the window, and who should be waiting there
But the landlord's black-eyed daughter--
Bess, the landlord's daughter--
Plaiting a dark red love-knot into her long black hair.
The Highwayman
The wind was a torrent of darkness upon the gusty trees,
The moon was a ghostly galleon tossed upon cloudy seas,
The road was a ribbon of moonlight looping the purple moor,
And the highwayman came riding--
Riding--riding--
The highwayman came riding, up to the old inn door.
He'd a French cocked hat on his forehead, and a bunch of lace at his chin;
He'd a coat of the claret velvet, and breeches of fine doe-skin.
They fitted with never a wrinkle; his boots were up to his thigh!
And he rode with a jeweled twinkle--
His rapier hilt a-twinkle--
His pistol butts a-twinkle, under the jeweled sky.
Over the cobbles he clattered and clashed in the dark inn-yard,
He tapped with his whip on the shutters, but all was locked and barred,
He whistled a tune to the window, and who should be waiting there
But the landlord's black-eyed daughter--
Bess, the landlord's daughter--
Plaiting a dark red love-knot into her long black hair.
Dark in the dark old inn-yard a stable-wicket creaked
Where Tim, the ostler listened--his face was white and peaked--
His eyes were hollows of madness, his hair like mouldy hay,
But he loved the landlord's daughter--
The landlord's black-eyed daughter;
Dumb as a dog he listened, and he heard the robber say:
"One kiss, my bonny sweetheart; I'm after a prize tonight,
But I shall be back with the yellow gold before the morning light.
Yet if they press me sharply, and harry me through the day,
Then look for me by moonlight,
Watch for me by moonlight,
I'll come to thee by moonlight, though hell should bar the way."
He stood upright in the stirrups; he scarce could reach her hand,
But she loosened her hair in the casement! His face burnt like a brand
As the sweet black waves of perfume came tumbling o'er his breast,
Then he kissed its waves in the moonlight
(O sweet black waves in the moonlight!),
And he tugged at his reins in the moonlight, and galloped away to the west.
He did not come in the dawning; he did not come at noon.
And out of the tawny sunset, before the rise of the moon,
When the road was a gypsy's ribbon over the purple moor,
The redcoat troops came marching--
Marching--marching--
King George's men came marching, up to the old inn-door.
They said no word to the landlord; they drank his ale instead,
But they gagged his daughter and bound her to the foot of her narrow bed.
Two of them knelt at her casement, with muskets by their side;
There was Death at every window,
And Hell at one dark window,
For Bess could see, through her casement, the road that he would ride.
They had bound her up at attention, with many a sniggering jest!
They had tied a rifle beside her, with the barrel beneath her breast!
"Now keep good watch!" and they kissed her. She heard the dead man say,
"Look for me by moonlight,
Watch for me by moonlight,
I'll come to thee by moonlight, though Hell should bar the way."
She twisted her hands behind her, but all the knots held good!
She writhed her hands till her fingers were wet with sweat or blood!
They stretched and strained in the darkness, and the hours crawled by like years,
Till, on the stroke of midnight,
Cold on the stroke of midnight,
The tip of one finger touched it! The trigger at least was hers!
The tip of one finger touched it, she strove no more for the rest;
Up, she stood up at attention, with the barrel beneath her breast.
She would not risk their hearing, she would not strive again,
For the road lay bare in the moonlight,
Blank and bare in the moonlight,
And the blood in her veins, in the moonlight, throbbed to her love's refrain.
Tlot tlot, tlot tlot! Had they heard it? The horse-hooves, ringing clear;
Tlot tlot, tlot tlot, in the distance! Were they deaf that they did not hear?
Down the ribbon of moonlight, over the brow of the hill,
The highwayman came riding--
Riding--riding--
The redcoats looked to their priming! She stood up straight and still.
Tlot tlot, in the frosty silence! Tlot tlot, in the echoing night!
Nearer he came and nearer! Her face was like a light!
Her eyes grew wide for a moment, she drew one last deep breath,
Then her finger moved in the moonlight--
Her musket shattered the moonlight--
Shattered her breast in the moonlight and warned him--with her death.
He turned, he spurred to the West; he did not know who stood
Bowed, with her head o'er the casement, drenched in her own red blood!
Not till the dawn did he hear it, and his face grew grey to hear
How Bess, the landlord's daughter,
The landlord's black-eyed daughter,
Had watched for her love in the moonlight, and died in the darkness there.
Back, he spurred like a madman, shrieking a curse to the sky,
With the white road smoking behind him and his rapier brandished high!
Blood-red were his spurs in the golden noon, wine-red was his velvet coat
When they shot him down in the highway,
Down like a dog in the highway,
And he lay in his blood in the highway, with the bunch of lace at his throat.
And still on a winter's night, they say, when the wind is in the trees,
When the moon is a ghostly galleon tossed upon cloudy seas,
When the road is a gypsy's ribbon looping the purple moor,
The highwayman comes riding--
Riding--riding--
The highwayman comes riding, up to the old inn-door.
Over the cobbles he clatters and clangs in the dark inn-yard,
He taps with his whip on the shutters, but all is locked and barred,
He whistles a tune to the window, and who should be waiting there
But the landlord's black-eyed daughter--
Bess, the landlord's daughter--
Plaiting a dark red love-knot into her long black hair.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Innovative Parking Ideas
Upon further evaluation of why the McDonough Square cannot sustain itself I have concluded that it is because of the inconvenience of the parking. McDonough was not created to be a walkable community whatsoever and public transit has not trickled down to Henry county yet, mainly because of politics. I have a feeling any sort of bill proposing any sort of mass transit in McDonough, i.e. MARTA, trolleys, trains, large buses, will not occur in the near future, if ever, so now we are forced to work best with what we are given. If you are interested, this is an interesting proposal of a conservative pro-transit stance of how transit benefits everyone, even non-riders. Cars are the most convenient, affordable forms of transportation that provide the greatest amount of freedom. If mass transit was not provided, in even the small form that it is in Atlanta, then more cars would definitely be on the road. Cheap cars are very easy to find and with gas prices on average $.40 lower in the suburbs than downtown more people would buy cars who normally ride public transit, even if they could not necessarily afford to do so.
Still, with public transit not an immediate option, I have been researching innovative parking solutions that are being implemented around the world. One solution that a company is offering called Urban Parking Concepts LLC by creating buildings dissimilar to parking garages in the fact that humans do not drive their cars into designated spots, yielding more efficient use of space. As technology progresses, this concept could become a great solution to urban areas that rely on cars as their main mode of transportation. A similar implementation in Germany is an innovative way to store VW's at the Volkswagon factory. Unfortunately, designs such as these are too modern for McDonough, which takes pride in its local charm and history, not to mention financially impossible.
Volkswagon Parking Garage
Seeing as how the McDonough Square strives to attract people of all ages, with local restaurants, antique shops, bakeries, and businesses, a parking garage is not the best option because, truthfully, people 60+ are statistically scared of parking garages and/or getting parking tickets. It's true, just ask my grandmother. Also, older people are less likely to walk into a downtown area because of health reasons. The ungodly heat index that surrounds Atlanta in the summer and frigid winters that just keep getting longer are other reasons supporting why walking into a city is not feasible if the square wants to attract the most people as possible.
Atlantic Station
Atlantic Station, a residential and commercial community located off the 17th bridge in Atlanta (which is a Georgia Tech MCRP grad creation, btw) is a great example of utilizing parking to the fullest. Though the parking meters in front of the stores are ridiculous overpriced ($.05 a minute!) the free, 2-hour underground parking is successfully innovative. It offers 7,300 parking spaces across the entire propertyw with the majority of the spaces being underground. However, Atlantic Station is catered to 18-35 year olds who enjoy name-brand shopping, fine cuisine, and a sophisticated nightlife. With condos between the downtown area and IKEA, Atlantic Station is a great addition to the city and is a case study I am using for research.
Detroit Theatre Parking
One solution that I feel could be implemented in McDonough is an accidental parking creation in Detroit. After decades of disuse, Detroit's Michigan Theater is now a glorified parking lot. While some might argue that it is unfortunate it's come to that, the fact that it is still standing and has some sort of function is a success story in and of itself. This solution ultimately saved it from destruction. In fact, one of the reasons the theater was forced to close was because it's lack of parking. Oh the irony! However, that could be the same fate of stores in McDonough and I am hoping that I can propose a solution that will not come to that. Therefore, I think that creating a parking lot using a building's exterior as the shell could begin to scratch the surface of bringing functional parking created for an intentional purpose to the square's perimeter. Using buildings located on
View Larger Map">Macon St. and Hwy. 42 could be an aesthetic solution to this problem. By ultimately doubling the square footage of the buildings by constructing multiple stories on existing structure provides easy re-locations to these businesses.
Any suggestions or comments on this idea or any others is greatly appreciated!
Still, with public transit not an immediate option, I have been researching innovative parking solutions that are being implemented around the world. One solution that a company is offering called Urban Parking Concepts LLC by creating buildings dissimilar to parking garages in the fact that humans do not drive their cars into designated spots, yielding more efficient use of space. As technology progresses, this concept could become a great solution to urban areas that rely on cars as their main mode of transportation. A similar implementation in Germany is an innovative way to store VW's at the Volkswagon factory. Unfortunately, designs such as these are too modern for McDonough, which takes pride in its local charm and history, not to mention financially impossible.
Volkswagon Parking Garage
Seeing as how the McDonough Square strives to attract people of all ages, with local restaurants, antique shops, bakeries, and businesses, a parking garage is not the best option because, truthfully, people 60+ are statistically scared of parking garages and/or getting parking tickets. It's true, just ask my grandmother. Also, older people are less likely to walk into a downtown area because of health reasons. The ungodly heat index that surrounds Atlanta in the summer and frigid winters that just keep getting longer are other reasons supporting why walking into a city is not feasible if the square wants to attract the most people as possible.
Atlantic Station
Atlantic Station, a residential and commercial community located off the 17th bridge in Atlanta (which is a Georgia Tech MCRP grad creation, btw) is a great example of utilizing parking to the fullest. Though the parking meters in front of the stores are ridiculous overpriced ($.05 a minute!) the free, 2-hour underground parking is successfully innovative. It offers 7,300 parking spaces across the entire propertyw with the majority of the spaces being underground. However, Atlantic Station is catered to 18-35 year olds who enjoy name-brand shopping, fine cuisine, and a sophisticated nightlife. With condos between the downtown area and IKEA, Atlantic Station is a great addition to the city and is a case study I am using for research.
Detroit Theatre Parking
One solution that I feel could be implemented in McDonough is an accidental parking creation in Detroit. After decades of disuse, Detroit's Michigan Theater is now a glorified parking lot. While some might argue that it is unfortunate it's come to that, the fact that it is still standing and has some sort of function is a success story in and of itself. This solution ultimately saved it from destruction. In fact, one of the reasons the theater was forced to close was because it's lack of parking. Oh the irony! However, that could be the same fate of stores in McDonough and I am hoping that I can propose a solution that will not come to that. Therefore, I think that creating a parking lot using a building's exterior as the shell could begin to scratch the surface of bringing functional parking created for an intentional purpose to the square's perimeter. Using buildings located on
View Larger Map">Macon St. and Hwy. 42 could be an aesthetic solution to this problem. By ultimately doubling the square footage of the buildings by constructing multiple stories on existing structure provides easy re-locations to these businesses.
Any suggestions or comments on this idea or any others is greatly appreciated!
Thursday, January 20, 2011
The Importance of City Planning
Ancient civilizations remained isolated for generations, relying only upon the vast expanse of what was above them for spiritual guidance and a subconscious knowledge that they were not alone. Global monumental construction became commonplace, and erecting megaliths became a statement by many technologically advanced peoples; that is, that they were here and that they had a purpose. Since the beginning of time, people have utilized construction methods as a means of communication. Whether it is for religious, ceremonial, or astronomical objectives, leaving physical legacies for future generations has been a central goal for humanity and a means of allowing connections through communication, thereby dissolving their social isolation.
Ruins of Sacsayhuaman
Urban design and city planning are not recent concepts. They have advanced over thousands of years into organized thought-processes that can lead to purpose-driven development and sustainable economic and social communities. There are many facets to this field and even encompass the realms of ecology, sociology, economics, urban geography, and law. City planning programs at universities are so vast and students must specialize in such fields as economic development, environmental planning and systems, geographic information systems, land and community development, land use planning, transportation, and urban design.
As I have begun to research for the McDonough Square, concepts of different forms of transportation in cities have caught my attention. The south metro area of Atlanta is growing too fast for the department of transportation to maintain roads and by the time new roads are built, construction takes so long that they simultaneously become obsolete. Typically thought of as having the worst traffic in the country, a recent study has found that Atlanta traffic is the 10th worst. Seeing as it took me 2 and a half hours to get to work yesterday, I cannot imagine a more worse commute. A blog I have been reading focuses on transportation around the country though he has not had a post about Atlanta traffic which I am kind of surprised about.
McDonough Square
In order to be successful, a commercial, business, and residential center needs to have some sort of anchor store such as a Starbucks in order to attract people in the first place. Ultimately, placing local McDonough or other Georgia-based businesses on the square would be ideal, but people are not extremely trusting of and confident in new stores initially. Attending school in Athens at UGA for the past 4 years has provided me with a great example of how a downtown can thrive. In fact, Athens has one of the oldest, economically sustainable downtown areas in the country and it most certainly has the University to thank for that. Now, since there is not a major University in McDonough it cannot rely on just people in their late teens and early twenties for profit. But since the majority of people living in McDonough are 24 to 45 it has good potential for a classy nightlife scene. Opening up a small theatre music venue, and cinema much like Cine in Athens would be a good option to extend the hours by which the McDonough Square is profitable.
Restaurants are another big factor when planning a downtown area and since exits off the interstate have their fair share of chain restaurants, choosing restaurants that offer unique dining is key. One such restaurant is Mirko which has locations in Athens, Watkinsville, Monroe, Buford, Peachtree City, and Macon. This is a counter service pasta restaurant where customers choose their pasta and sauce a la carte. It is interactive, priced well, has a great atmosphere, and is very good quality with a menu that changes seasonally. I believe that it would be a great addition to any downtown area. Figo in metro and downtown parts of Atlanta is very similar, though I believe that Mirko one ups it.
Bliss Cupcakes
The McDonough Square is not all bad, however. An awesome cupcake shop called Bliss opened about a year ago and is doing great! It began as just a wedding cake bakery and then began serving cupcakes and other baked goods at the front of the store in order to attract customers shopping for the day. The interior is very well-designed, completely executed by the owner who is a business major passionate about baking, with a French boutique look split into three sections: the bakery front with seating, a small shop in the middle where you can buy baking products and unique accessories to make cakes look like how you see them on tv, and the bakery in the back. Though it closes at 5 and is not open on the weekends, the shop is definitely the hero of the square. Hopefully more local businesses can open up and thrive, but as Bliss displays it needs an owner who has an economic and business background who knows what he/she is doing.
Next to it, however, is another cupcake bakery. That zoning conclusion astounds me, but that is for another post on a less cynical day.
Beginning of McDonough Square Revitalization Project
It is my last semester as an undergrad interior design student at UGA and I am going to spend the rest of my semester on one project. Since I am in the process of applying to the Masters of City and Regional Planning program at Georgia Tech I decided to use this project as a means of connecting my two passions.
Growing up in a relatively small suburb in the south metro Atlanta area has allowed me
to experience the energy of a busy city from a distance while relishing the slower pace of life in a one-street neighborhood. Lately, however, these lines have been blurred and the exponential growth occurring in McDonough, Georgia has brought an
exorbitant amount of traffic with streets unable to withstand this increased congestion, fused with zoning ordinances that do not take into account the rising growth in population. Combine these issues with countless amounts of conventional chain restaurants and corporate businesses, and you have a city disintegrating into historical oblivion with an ever-depleting local charm. That is not the city in which I want my children to grow up; that is not the place that I have always called home.
At the heart of the city, however, is a delightful town square desperately grasping to the prosperity of the 1990's. Teeming with potential, the McDonough Square has an inordinately high store turn-over rate coupled with poor planning for adequate parking that prevents it from being developed to its potential. Yet, it is the nucleus of the county and a picturesque unavoidability when traveling locally. A passion of mine has been to refurbish hometown squares like my own into balanced, viable commercial properties by which businesses can invest. Any town, no matter the size, needs to communicate a direct purpose with a comprehensive plan to encourage a workable business plan for the area. Creating a walk-able community flourishing with successful, local businesses and suitable housing, however, cannot occur overnight. Nevertheless, with community and government involvement, citizens, designers, planners, and politicians can come together to propose a cooperative, sustainable, and economically effective district able to adhere to the needs and functions of multiple age groups, whereby conserving its historical integrity.
Design tells a story: to create new things from old. Learning from our heritage, we can highlight the fact that everything that occurs within the universe and, therefore, in design, comes full circle. Complexity stems from simplicity, and vice versa. We can then apply these lessons to products, interiors, and even cities. With an interior design background, and an emphasis on sustainability through projects and a LEED preparation class, I have discovered a new-found focus on the importance of programming and site-analysis portions of assignments. After all, the users of architecture will always know more about buildings than the architects themselves. This notion is the foundation of architect Christopher Alexander’s novel, “A Pattern Language,” and can be directly applied to construction at its largest scale. Whether fabricating a new city or revitalizing an existing town square;whether regulating vernacular architecture or enacting classical patterns of design, the concept of timelessness must encompass every aspect. Successful design creates a sense of home for every occupant and allows them to leave their own, minute footstep in the vast expanse of our planet.
Growing up in a relatively small suburb in the south metro Atlanta area has allowed me
to experience the energy of a busy city from a distance while relishing the slower pace of life in a one-street neighborhood. Lately, however, these lines have been blurred and the exponential growth occurring in McDonough, Georgia has brought an
exorbitant amount of traffic with streets unable to withstand this increased congestion, fused with zoning ordinances that do not take into account the rising growth in population. Combine these issues with countless amounts of conventional chain restaurants and corporate businesses, and you have a city disintegrating into historical oblivion with an ever-depleting local charm. That is not the city in which I want my children to grow up; that is not the place that I have always called home.
At the heart of the city, however, is a delightful town square desperately grasping to the prosperity of the 1990's. Teeming with potential, the McDonough Square has an inordinately high store turn-over rate coupled with poor planning for adequate parking that prevents it from being developed to its potential. Yet, it is the nucleus of the county and a picturesque unavoidability when traveling locally. A passion of mine has been to refurbish hometown squares like my own into balanced, viable commercial properties by which businesses can invest. Any town, no matter the size, needs to communicate a direct purpose with a comprehensive plan to encourage a workable business plan for the area. Creating a walk-able community flourishing with successful, local businesses and suitable housing, however, cannot occur overnight. Nevertheless, with community and government involvement, citizens, designers, planners, and politicians can come together to propose a cooperative, sustainable, and economically effective district able to adhere to the needs and functions of multiple age groups, whereby conserving its historical integrity.
Design tells a story: to create new things from old. Learning from our heritage, we can highlight the fact that everything that occurs within the universe and, therefore, in design, comes full circle. Complexity stems from simplicity, and vice versa. We can then apply these lessons to products, interiors, and even cities. With an interior design background, and an emphasis on sustainability through projects and a LEED preparation class, I have discovered a new-found focus on the importance of programming and site-analysis portions of assignments. After all, the users of architecture will always know more about buildings than the architects themselves. This notion is the foundation of architect Christopher Alexander’s novel, “A Pattern Language,” and can be directly applied to construction at its largest scale. Whether fabricating a new city or revitalizing an existing town square;whether regulating vernacular architecture or enacting classical patterns of design, the concept of timelessness must encompass every aspect. Successful design creates a sense of home for every occupant and allows them to leave their own, minute footstep in the vast expanse of our planet.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
