Façade Improvements

Buena Vista FAÇADE IMPROVEMENTS

The property at the corner of 6th Avenue and McDuffie Street housed two properties that burned down over the past few years. The prime empty lot gives property owners various options for utilizing this space on the main square. This lot could easily be used to provide services for those driving through, including a visitor parking lot with RV spaces. A public lot could encourage visitors to stop and explore Buena Vista and visit downtown businesses while preserving this area for future redevelopment. This property also has potential to provide the square with more commercial real estate by developing a mixed-use infill building on this property.

EXISTING: This empty lot is bordered by sidewalks along 6th Avenue and McDuffie Street, an adjacent building, and a parking lot to the south.

Google Image from 2014, before the two properties burned down.

PROPOSED, OPTION I: This rendering depicts the lot transformed into RV parking to better serve egional visitors, with a tree-lined buffer and pavement for easy parking. The lot is shown lined with trees to provide shade and paved for easy parking.

PROPOSED, OPTION II: The lot could hold a new retail space to expand commercial development in Buena Vista’s main square. This two-story building could include offices or businesses on the ground floor with residences above. Based on a recently completed infill building in Madison, GA, timeless design elements like brick and a traditional appearance allow this building to blend in with surrounding structures. Crosswalks, new sidewalks, and street trees provide continuity throughout the square connecting the property to the remainder of the area.

GIBSON PLAZA PLAN

EXISTING: The parking area at Marion County courthouse is currently used by a handful of employees and during court sessions. A plan created by the Department of Community Affairs envisions this parking area removed and replaced by landscaping. This parking area could be improved to preserve necessary ADA parking while enhancing the appearance of the area.

PROPOSED: This plan reimagines this parking area as a public plaza honoring Josh Gibson. The pavers shown on this lot are an attractive addition that could allow stormwater runoff to flow through the paving, creating a better environment for the trees on site. This concept allows for flexible uses like festivals and events while preserving on-site parking.

EXISTING: The oddly shaped existing parking lot encroaches on existing large canopy trees and the front of the historic courthouse. The paving goes right up to the trunks of several mature oaks.

PROPOSED: The new plaza space is a potential location to honor baseball legend Josh Gibson. The permeable pavers shown elevate the appearance of this space to create a more formal, civic atmosphere. These pavers could allow rainfall to percolate through the soil, nourishing the historic oak trees on site. The reengineered parking area more efficiently serves the Marion County Courthouse while allowing for more greenspace.

MCDUFFIE and 7th AVENUE

EXISTING: Moving toward 7th Avenue, McDuffie Street could be formalized to incorporate parallel parking.

PROPOSED: This design shows McDuffie Street with fresh asphalt, formalized parallel parking, and a bump-out with a white flowering Natchez crape myrtle. The improved sidewalk to the right leads to a site envisioned as a future community park.

Streetscape Planting and Materials Palette

The Buena Vista planting and materials palettes were created to help guide property owners and ensure cohesive downtown development that reflects the character of the community.

In conversations with city officials, local leaders identified the need for a comprehensive list of elements recommended in property improvements. Planting palettes created for the courthouse square and the overall downtown streetscape include a recommended selection of hardy, culturally appropriate plantings. Local officials see a graphic catalogue of streetscape elements as offering a beneficial resource for both property owners and the local government. With guidance from local leaders and partners, the following elements draw on the city’s history, context, and existing culture. By using the elements included in these resources, Buena Vista can help create a more unified appearance along major corridors and celebrate the city’s unique identity.

STREETSCAPE PLANTING PALETTE:

Landscape recommendations for Buena Vista include a variety of trees, shrubs, grasses, and groundcovers suitable for use along the city’s major corridors. The plant palette created for the downtown streetscape includes both native species and hardy exotics well suited to Southwest Georgia. These tried-and-true plantings can take heat, compaction, minimal rooting area, and other conditions commonly found along downtown streets.

WILLOW OAK LAUREL OAK NATCHEZ CRAPE MYRTLE CHINESE ELM

BLACK GUM PURPLE MUHLY GRASS LIRIOPE GROUNDCOVER ASIAN JASMINE

COURTHOUSE SQUARE PLANTING PALETTE:

The secondary planting palette created for the courthouse grounds includes similar plantings but with the addition of culturally appropriate selections including Southern magnolia, crape myrtle and more. These recommended plants help evoke Buena Vista’s character and identity. The more park like setting of the courthouse grounds could also allow for plantings of more sensitive ornamental species or plants with higher water and soil area requirements.

WILLOW OAK SOUTHERN LIVE OAK LAUREL OAK

CHINESE ELM RED MAPLE NATCHEZ CRAPE MYRTLE

SOUTHERN MAGNOLIA CAMELLIA JAPONICA ASIAN JASMINE LIRIOPE GROUNDCOVER

Streetscape Elements

Streetscaping elements identified in the materials palette could help visually unify downtown. Local leaders commented favorably on the look of materials in downtown Americus and Ellaville. This curated selection of streetscape elements would coordinate with many materials already used downtown and create a unified appearance along city streets.

STREETSCAPE ELEMENTS PALETTE:

SEATING: The Victor Stanley model RB-28 bench is a classic and sleekly styled bench whose black recycled steel frame will endure over time and refresh the look of downtown streets and public spaces. Shaded locations should be prioritized when examining bench placement.

TRASH RECEPTACLES: The Victor Stanley model RB-36 trash receptacle boasts sturdy black vertical steel rods. The simplistic style of these receptacles pairs well with elements already used in the courthouse square area.

LIGHTING: Lampposts along the courthouse square could endure for many years to come with basic maintenance and fresh paint. Where new lighting is needed, street lights like the option pictured could blend in well with existing lighting. This model, with Lexington decorative post top and a York pole shaft, is available on Georgia Power’s GPC Marketplace.

PUBLIC STREET & WAYFINDING SIGNAGE: Buena Vista has a great opportunity to develop a cohesive look through the installation of new street signs and wayfinding signage. Signage plays an important role in identifying and defining space and character. The attractive street signs pictured were recently installed in nearby Cusetta. Similar signage would be an appropriate choice in downtown Buena Vista.

PAVING: For everyday paving surfaces including rear driveways or service areas, concrete or gravel is an acceptable paving solution. More public locations, or places of high interest should consider permeable pavers. When installed in permeable applications, brick pavers offer a timeless appeal while facilitating storm water management.

DUMPSTER SERVICE AREAS: Dumpster service areas should be kept simple and neat for easy access and maintenance. Dumpster service areas should be constructed on a concrete pad or gravel capable of withstanding traffic from heavy service vehicles.