December 2016
PORT STREET SMALL AREA MASTER PLAN UPDATE Easton, Maryland
Streets of Talbot Court House (which later became named Easton) were laid out.
1791 -1828
English settlers established Talbot County.
1785
1630s -1698
“We know that the majority of population growth over the next 15 years in Talbot County will occur in Easton. Port Street and Easton Point have the potential to absorb much of that growth responsibly while providing our citizens public waterfront access, a new park, affordable housing, new jobs, and improved streetscapes. This (small area) master plan will provide the much needed road map for that to happen.” –Mayor Robert “Bob” Willey
Easton Point “Boom years:” shipbuilding, timber, sailing/steamship lines.
SUMMARY This Port Street Small Area Master Plan, developed by the Town of Easton and the Easton Economic Development Corporation, is meant to guide future development for the area known as Easton Point and the Port Street corridor connecting Easton Point to downtown Easton. Through its redevelopment, Port Street will become a vibrant gateway into the Town, with diverse uses including cultural, housing, open spaces, walkability, recreation, restaurants and retail. The redevelopment plan is meant to provide a framework for evaluating and locating future commercial and residential projects, determining appropriate levels and locations for civic, commercial and recreational activities, and guiding land use decisions into the future. While focused on the Port Street corridor, this plan was developed in the context of the broader town and regional landscape of land conservation and smart growth, and informed by broader trends in land use, innovative economic development, and protecting the natural resources of the Chesapeake Bay. This plan is intended to be compatible with the Easton Town Master Plan and the Easton Point Park Master Plan. The plan was developed with citizen engagement throughout, engaging hundreds of citizens, residents, government officials, property owners and businesses. Based on the initial draft master plan and study, it is believed that the Port Street corridor could result in: Over $250 million in public and private investment over the next 15 years resulting in 28,000 square feet of new retail space • 53,000 square feet of community/civic space • 90,000 square feet of office space • 323 new construction affordable and market-rate units • 250 new hotel rooms; new waterside public parks • An expanded boat ramp • Strengthened linkages between downtown and the waterfront through investments in streetscape and bike trails
First Eastern Shore schooner line between Easton and Baltimore.
1804 -1814
New Court House built in Easton.
1795
1794
The plan points to a waterfront destination at Easton Point accessible to all.
The Messenger schooner built at Easton Point – later captured by the British.
The showboat, The Adams Floating Theater, docked at Easton Point.
1919
1913 -1940
1878
Frederick Douglass dedicated both the Asbury UM and the Bethel AME Churches in The Hill.
A new school for African-American students was built with Rosenwald Funds.
1 Rails to Trails
3
4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
The Hammondtown neighborhood became a center for African-American life.
1934 -1935
1933
1 - New Gateway Opens to Easton Downtown & Easton Waterfront 2 - F amily Friendly Waterfront Park 3 - Authentic Working Waterfront & Water Access For All 4 - Green Eco-District & Environmental Stewardship 5 - Innovation Center - Co-working - Jobs for the Community 6 - Affordable Living & Investments in Easton’s Existing Housing 7 - Eastern Shore History Comes to Life
“Soft coal” brought to Easton Point helped power the new “Gas House” on West Street.
15
16 17 18 19
1947
2
pedestrian bridge connection Marine/Environmental Center Living Shoreline and Educational Zone Gas Dock Plaza & Amphitheater Pavilion Great Lawn Classroom Relocated Boat Ramp Community Boat Docking Boatel Boat/Trailer Lot Single Family Housing Waterfront Promenade/Eco-inlet Park Boutique Hotel / Pool Deck / Outdoor Dining Boathouse & Maritime Center Restaurant Neighborhood Retail Apartments
20 Brewery 21 Working Waterfront
Piers
22 Gay’s Seafood 23 Townhouses 24 Health & Wellness
Hotel
25 Londonderry Senior
Housing
26 Pedestrian / Bike
Trail to/from Oxford to right - by bypass 27 Architectural Greenhouses 28 Stormwater EcoPond & Pervious Paving 29 Farmers / Seafood Market 30 Stormwater biofiltration 31 Cultural Center 32 Innovation Center 33 Co-living 34 Healthy Lifestyle Center 35 Infill Housing 36 The Hill 37 Eastern Shore Conservation Center (ESCC) 38 Shore Health Hospital
W.D. Gay’s seafood business was operating from Easton Point.
1
10 THINGS YOU’RE GOING TO LOVE ABOUT EASTON POINT AND PORT STREET - EASTON’S OWN WATERFRONT DESTINATION
The first steamboat line on the Eastern Shore docked at Easton Point.
A walkway along the Tred Avon River will lead to a new park created from an old industrial brownfield utilizing environmentally sustainable practices and green technologies.
1863
1817 -1819
Affordable studio apartments, townhomes & senior housing will offer housing options for people of all ages within walking distance of downtown.
7
Steamboats arrive at Easton Point to pick up over 200 “colored troops” volunteering for the Union army.
Jobs in construction, high tech, healthcare, and education will be created by new industries coming to Easton Point’s University/Innovation Center hub.
1870
6
5
Easton’s new gateway at Port Street and the parkway will create a new and welcoming entrance to the town.
The railroad arrives in Easton.
3
A waterfront promenade and public plaza, offering waterfront dining and a new “boatel,” will make Easton Point the perfect boating destination.
Easton Point’s waterfront will be connected to downtown (just a mile away) by trolleys and walking/ biking trails.
“The Hill” became a predominantly African-American neighborhood in Easton.
Walking tours and a new museum will showcase the African-American experience in the Port Street Corridor, including Easton Point and The Hill.
1870s
Easton Point Park, with amphitheater and pavilion, will connect to a new pedestrian bridge across the river to Easton Village.
A farmer’s/seafood center/market and healthy lifestyle center will offer the opportunity to learn about aquaculture, cooking, alternative health and wellness.
10
9
8
1870s
4
The first Talbot County cannery opens at Easton Point.
A waterfront restaurant and replica tall ship will recreate Easton Point’s colonial maritime history.
1874
2
Point Road (later to be called Port Street) was improved with oyster shells.
Easton Economic Development Corporation was launched in 2013 to drive economic vitality, smart redevelopment and business creation in the historic town of Easton, in order to foster a healthy quality of life for all generations. The EEDC works toward managing Easton’s continued growth as a diverse and healthy “smart town,” leading innovation where the land and water meet. The Port Street Small Area Master Plan was prepared in close collaboration between the Town of Easton, the Easton Economic Development Corporation and local residents. The Master Plan is a testament to the creativity, talent and vision of the citizens of Easton, MD and the surrounding area. Over the course of two years, hundreds of citizens, elected officials and government officials participated in small group meetings, visioning sessions, strategic sessions, walking tours and boat tours. Their contributions formed the basis of the recommendations and strategies in the plan.
Planning begins for the Port Street Small Area Master Plan.
2016
The Port of Easton called “the community’s gateway to the water” in the Star Democrat.
2014
1959 -1960
For more information and to see the Port Street Small Area Master Plan in its entirety, visit http://eastonedc.com/projects/port-street-redevelopment/. To add your voice to the continuing conversation about the Port Street redevelopment plan, contact info@eastoneedc.com or call 410-690-7348.
The first joint hearing held to plan the future of Easton Point.