College Hill Corridor / Mercer Village Master Plan _interface studio //
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Why are we here?
The College Hill Corridor is
historic and unique but also a missing link. The Master Plan is an effort to help the College Hill Corridor Commission, City, University, neighborhood groups, and other stakeholders: • create an urban design framework to guide future growth within the area, • calm traffic and encourage alternative modes of transportation, • respect and honor the past, • improve open space, • add vitality and interest, • engage the public, and • build excitement about the University, downtown, and Macon as a whole. •
Why are we here today?
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536 Acres
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Public Outreach: our process in Macon
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This Is What We Heard
[quotes from interviews]
on pride perception and potential and vibe town-gown
not a one-way street.” “What’s great for kids and older folks won’t make young people fall in love with this City.” “This corridor is
perception to catch up to reality.” “There is a lack of creative centers and energy.” “It takes a long time for
no place on the face of the Earth like Macon.” “There is
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makes
“The historic area
Macon’s identity.”
[quote from
interview]
First, a little history…
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The City of Seven Hills…
College Hill began as a weave of location, topography and landscape…
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College Street
Courtesy of the: Middle Georgia Archives, Washington Macon, GA _interface studio // Land Strategies, IncMemorial // Polis StudioLibrary, LLC // Civic Economics
_interface // Land Strategies, IncMemorial // Polis StudioLibrary, LLC // Civic Economics Courtesy of the: Middle Georgiastudio Archives, Washington Macon, GA
_interface studio //
Land Strategies, Inc // Polis Studio LLC // Civic Economics
_interface studio //
Land Strategies, Inc // Polis Studio LLC // Civic Economics
_interface studio //
Land Strategies, Inc // Polis Studio LLC // Civic Economics
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Land Strategies, Inc // Polis Studio LLC // Civic Economics
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Is the medium the message?
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Asphalt is not historic‌ _interface studio //
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“It’s
time to turn the music a little bit louder.” [quote from interview]
College Hill today
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Recent population trends
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Demographics Claritas, 2008
“People have
different needs and priorities.
Students want to be able to walk and bike and go to bars, young families want parks and ice cream stores, seniors are looking for a quiet retirement.� [quotes from interview]
Demographics U.S. Census 2000
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“There is a lack of entrances to the corridor, there is
no sense of arrival.� [quote from interview]
What does College Hill look like? _interface studio //
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Land Use
Land Use‌ simplified greatly
Surface Parking
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Is the glass half full? Half empty?
Or twice as big as it needs to be? _interface studio //
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Parking Usage
Commercial Land Use
Commercial Uses
Commercial Uses
if you don’t have a destination?” “What good is a corridor [quote from interview] _interface studio //
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Institutions
Employers by Size
Distribution of Medical Center Employees
2% of employees live in zip code 31201. 25% of employees live in zip codes 31204 and 31210. Just over
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Sales Since 2000: Median Sale Price
30% of properties in the study area have sold since 2000 23% of properties sold for less than $100 _interface studio //
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There’s room for change…
“We are
turning the corner.” [quote from interview]
Vacancy
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Trees and Parks
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Tree Coverage
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Park Space
7.3 acres/ 1,000 people
Only 9 of the 31 acres of park space is
programmed for recreatio
Tattnall Square: A park with split personalities‌
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Recreation space but largely unconnected
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Where do I walk?
A lack of paths and poor stormwater drainage
Some facilities and some abuse‌
And some underutilized space
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Topography
Frontages
3.25 miles or 26% of street lengths
2.57 miles or 21% of street lengths
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Are there ghost houses in College Hill?
?
?
Getting from here to there
an attitude, a suburban mentality.�
“There is
[quote from interview]
Connections
Macon’s Car Culture
High Speeds – Pedestrians + Overbuilt Roads – Bicyclists + Large Parking Supply
Car Culture
Accident History (2004-2008)
A typical intersection has
4 correctible accidents per year‌
Lack of Pedestrian Protection
Macon’s Car Culture
Encouraging High Speeds
Pedestrian Environment
Pedestrian Environment Rating
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Bicycling in Macon
Where are all the bicyclists?
Transit
Any fool can make things bigger, more complex. It takes a touch of genius - and a lot of courage - to move in the opposite direction.
connect
/ spontaneous and
planned events / sustainable project
recruit and retain best use retail / infill / attract economic vitality /
students and neighbors to use the corridor /
respect history
/ calm traffic /
walkable & bikeable
/ preserve / increase visual appeal / beautiful / redevelopment of the corridor / “college
build consensus
town� / / enjoyable cycling / improve public parks / safe / mix of uses / inspire / reinforce
physical and social links / market the area / tie it all anchors / together
/
new
student
housing
/
Your Turn to Talk
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