Designs by Street: Plant Avenue

Homerville PLANT AVENUE

Plant Avenue, downtown’s traditional commercial corridor, grew and developed in conjunction with the railroad immediately to the south. Until West Dame Avenue was connected to the Valdosta Highway in the 1930s, Plant Avenue served as the primary route through town and the heart of local commerce. With the decline of rail transportation and the shift of vehicular traffic to Dame Avenue, businesses along Plant Avenue began to decline after World War II. In the early 2000s, GDOT began a major realignment and widening project that converted two-way traffic along Plant Avenue into an eastbound one-way pair of US-Highway 84. This project removed angled parking along the corridor, made businesses along the corridor inaccessible to westbound traffic, and demolished a significant number of historic commercial buildings. Since the 1990s, roughly half of the commercial buildings along Plant Avenue have been lost to demolition or neglect.

In step one of the RSVP process, local residents expressed concern about issues like heavy truck traffic, dangerous speeding, and difficult parking conditions along Plant Avenue. With 4,090 average daily vehicle trips, Plant Avenue is significantly oversized for current demand. While posted speed limits are 35 mph along Plant Avenue downtown, two one-way travel lanes create highway conditions that encourage speeding through the area. Over time, local leaders should negotiate with GDOT to shrink travel lanes, decrease the speed limit to 25 mph, and return angled parking to Plant Avenue. While returning angled parking to the corridor would take a significant investment of time and money, a number of more modest improvements could improve safety and accessibility along Plant Avenue in the near future.

Reducing the speed limit in the downtown core, installing trafficcalming measures like bump-outs, clearly marking on-street parking, and striping crosswalks along Plant Avenue would go a long way toward ensuring a more accessible and safer downtown corridor. In addition to improving access to on-street parking, local residents want a safer and greener pedestrian experience. Planting trees ranks among the most affordable, effective, and enduring improvements that any community can make. Expanding landscaped bump-outs and planting large-canopy street trees where possible along Plant Avenue could help beautify downtown, bring shade and comfort to pedestrians, and slow vehicular traffic.

Thanks to the efforts of Homerville Main Street, the DDA, and community partners, Plant Avenue has witnessed significant reinvestment since the mid-2000s. Improvements like the attractive Empire Plaza, accessible public parking areas, and street trees planted in landscaped beauty strips have all enhanced the appearance of this corridor. Following the development of a façade grant program and Homerville’s recognition of eligibility for Rural Zone Tax Credits, a number of prominent properties along this corridor are witnessing rehabilitation and restoration. As part of the RSVP process, planners at the UGA Carl Vinson Institute of Government worked directly with Homerville Main Street and downtown property owners to create façade renderings and plans for key projects along Plant Avenue. The design concepts that follow include these in-progress improvements as well as long-term concepts that illustrate the potential of traffic-calming measures and expanded tree planting along Plant Avenue.

One-way streets became popular among traffic engineers in the 1950s and 1960s to more rapidly move large numbers of vehicles into and out of congested downtown areas. More recent research shows that one-way streets create conditions that encourage speeding. One-way streets also reduce the visibility of businesses, depress surrounding property values, and can even elevate crime rates. With 4,090 average daily vehicle trips, Plant Avenue is much bigger than it needs to be. While posted speed limits are 35 mph along Plant Avenue downtown, the two one-way travel lanes and minimal traffic along this street make dangerous speeding commonplace.

Estimating that most vehicles are traveling at above the posted speed limit downtown, in a collision with a vehicle traveling 40 miles per hour, 9 out of 10 pedestrians would be killed. The dense collection of businesses, parked vehicles, and pedestrians downtown make this area unsuitable and unsafe for travel speeds above 25 mph.Local leaders should continue to work with GDOT to reduce posted travel speeds to 25 mph or lower in the downtown area. Doing so now may save lives in the future.

Homerville Gateway Highway 84 Entry

Existing: This image shows the existing entry to Homerville along Highway 84. The sidewalk pictured is part of the “Local Loop” trail encircling downtown. Maintaining sidewalks and adding much-needed shade could improve the pedestrian experience. The trees also beautify the area and help create a welcoming sense of arrival.

Proposed: Adding a grove of pecan trees creates a welcoming gateway to Homerville. Elements shown include “Local Loop” signage and improved paving with fresh striping. This image shows existing sidewalks with improved maintenance and weed removal.

Homerville Maintenance Public Buildings

With roots dating back to the mid-1800s, Homerville boasts a wealth of historical commercial, industrial, residential, and institutional buildings. These buildings are reminders of Homerville’s rich history and heritage. While residents are proud of their history and praised the city’s architecture throughout step one of the Homerville RSVP planning process, they overwhelmingly noted that building condition, vacancy, and maintenance are among the most pressing issues facing downtown. More than any other issue, Homerville residents are united in the belief that improving the appearance of buildings, maintaining existing properties, and addressing the high rate of downtown vacancies must be prioritized to restore downtown as the vibrant heart of the community.

While developing the mechanisms to respond to this challenge, city and local government must look inward first and improve the appearance and maintenance of publicly owned property. Local officials must ensure that government offices set a high standard of property maintenance. It would be hypocritical to create codes targeting property owners while turning a blind eye to the conditions of public buildings and infrastructure. Public buildings become a model for surrounding private businesses and properties. While many public buildings, including the Homerville Depot and the Mattox House, are attractive and well cared for, other government offices, parks, and public spaces need significant maintenance. Focusing on public property and addressing necessary maintenance of city- and county-owned parcels, including the Homerville Municipal Complex, is an essential first step in creating a downtown that feels worthy of outside investment.

Homerville Municipal Complex Maintenance:

The Homerville Municipal Complex houses city hall, local government offices, and the Huxford-Spear Genealogical Library, a major attraction to the area. Several areas of the complex require attention. The “Honey Do” list featured (right) indicates issues that need to be addressed at the complex.

Homerville City Hall Complex

Existing: Once home to Homerville Consolidated School, this 1928 building includes a number of attractive architectural features worthy of showing off. With additional maintenance and care, this public building could better reflect the welcoming and inviting community of Homerville. Issues in this image include a fallen palm tree, failing lettering, doors and trim in need of paint, and overgrown evergreen shrubs.

Proposed: Public buildings speak to our values and priorities as a society. Ensuring adequate maintenance of the historic Homerville Municipal Complex sends the signal that the city is worthy of investment. This concept shows overgrown evergreen shrubs trimmed or removed to more prominently showcase the building’s 1920s windows. This view also shows the collapsed palm and fallen bunting removed, and the Municipal Complex lettering repaired.

Homerville Gateway Downtown Entry

Existing: This image shows the existing entry to Homerville along Highway 84. Trees incorporated in the parking lot on the left provide shade and enhance the experience of visiting downtown. Proposed: Formalizing on-street parallel parking clearly indicates these parking opportunities for visitors. Planting jasmine along the chain link fence that defines the railroad right-of-way could create an attractive flowering hedge. Proposed, Option II: Formalizing on-street parallel parking clearly indicates these parking opportunities for visitors. Planting a native species like wiregrass along the chain link fence that defines the railroad right-of-way could create an attractive gateway befitting Highway 84’s designation as Georgia’s Wiregrass Parkway.

Proposed

Proposed, Option II

Homerville C&S Beauty Supply

SIDE | Existing: Located at the corner of Church Street (Highway 441) and East Plant Avenue (Highway 84), this corner building, home to C&S Beauty Supply, occupies a prominent space in downtown Homerville.

Proposed: This design concept shows a new logo for C&S Beauty Supply painted on the side of the building and displayed as a mounted corner sign. The paint colors shown, Waterscape (HGSW2307) and Tidewater (HGSW2317) from Sherwin Williams’ HGTV Home Collection, complement the white boutique next store. FRONT | Existing: This image shows the front façade of C&S Beauty Supply along East Plant Avenue (Highway 84).

Proposed: This design concept shows signage updated with simple, elegant lettering. Additional improvements include unifying the exterior with an attractive paint color, installing branded hanging signage, and adding landscaped planters.

SIDE | Proposed

FRONT | Proposed

Homerville Empire Plaza

Existing: This image shows existing conditions at Homerville’s downtown Empire Plaza area. The crape myrtles planted in this space have been harshly cut back, leaving unattractive stumps that provide no shade and detract from the appearance of the plaza.

Proposed: Expanding the existing planting beds could create the space necessary for larger-canopy street trees. Laurel oaks in these beds could create an attractive shade canopy within a few years. This image shows the planting beds underplanted with Asian jasmine, a tough and dependable groundcover. This concept also includes an EV charging station to encourage visitors to explore downtown while charging vehicles.

Homerville Parallel Parking

Existing: This image shows US-84/East Plant Avenue near the historic depot.

Proposed: Defining existing on-street parking with clear striping could encourage more visitors to patronize downtown businesses. This concept includes Natchez crape myrtles planted in the existing landscaping strip, flowering jasmine along the chain link fence, and large-canopy oak trees planted on the depot property. A welcoming line of live or laurel oaks could create an impressive canopy of shade over time. This concept includes a downtown welcome mural and exciting new photo opportunity. Proposed, Option II: This secondary concept shows the same improvements as the previous rendering, but with striping replaced by an attractive rain garden. Rain gardens can be used to mitigate stormwater runoff and bring more attractive plantings downtown.

Proposed

Proposed, Option II

Homerville Postcard Mural

Concept: Institute designers worked with area leaders to develop an attractive mural concept that highlights Homerville’s local character and sense-of-place. Modeled on a mid-1900s postcard, this concept features elements like the Clinch County Panther, alligator skin, live oak and pine trees, blueberries, honeycomb, and other elements with local relevance within historically-appropriate block text.

Homerville Postcard Mural

Existing: This image shows a prominent building adjacent to Empire Plaza along Plant Avenue.

Proposed: This blank wall could serve as the perfect site for the Homerville postcard mural concept.

Homerville Mural Implementation

Implementation: In August 2022, Homerville successfully applied for a Vibrant Communities Art Grant from the Georgia Council for the Arts to fund implementation of the Homerville postcard downtown welcome mural. Local representatives selected Lee Mobley, a self-taught artist from nearby Douglas, Georgia, to complete the mural. A full-time elementary school principal, Mobley’s other passion is creating large-scale murals and street paintings. Mobley’s background in early childhood education influences his work, which can be found throughout Georgia and the Southeast. Mobley completed the Homerville postcard mural in October 2022.

Homerville Depot Streetscape Plan

Existing: This aerial image shows current conditions along South Plant Avenue at the historic depot. Plans exist for more parking along South Plant Avenue to serve events at the depot.

Proposed: This plan for South Plant Avenue and the Homerville Depot includes nearly 100 new on-street parking spaces and extended sidewalks throughout the area. This concept dedicates space for two dozen street trees and preserves much of the existing tree canopy. This design also shows and improved parking arrangement with new landscaped bump-outs at the adjacent Homerville United Methodist Church.

Homerville Depot Streetscape

Existing: This image shows existing conditions along South Plant Avenue near the Homerville Depot.

Proposed, Short Term: This short-term concept includes a whimsical railroad-themed crosswalk and new oak plantings along South Plant Avenue.

Short Term

Proposed: Incorporating formalized on-street parking and extending continuous sidewalks along South Plant Avenue improves the experience of visiting the depot for events. Planting large-canopy oaks along the existing lawn provides shade and enhances the appearance of downtown. This concept shows an expanded parking area near the depot. PLANT AVENUE

Proposed

Homerville Depot Planting Bed

Existing: The small lawn area between the historic depot and the street was identified as a potential site of landscape improvements.

Proposed: Creating a landscaped bed adjacent to the depot could bring color and beauty to this community landmark. Constructed of landscape timbers, this bed features oakleaf hydrangea, Natchez crape myrtle, and liriope groundcover.

Proposed

Homerville Depot Entry

Existing: This image shows the western entry to the historic depot.

Proposed: A compass rose on this customized floor mat indicates the terminus of the “Local Loop” downtown.

Proposed

Homerville Depot Viewing Platform

Existing: The existing platform at the Homerville Depot offers a great opportunity to watch trains passing through downtown.

Proposed: Incorporating rocking chairs, flexible signage, and attractive plantings, this train-viewing area offers a welcoming respite for visitors. The city could install speakers so visitors can hear train announcements and railroad radio chatter.

Proposed

Homerville Depot Screening

Existing: This image shows the property of the Homerville First Methodist Church across the street from the historic depot. The large salvage yard seen in the background was a frequent topic during step one of the Homerville RSVP.

Proposed: Over time, evergreen trees including eastern red cedar, magnolias, and live oaks could create an attractive living screen to limit views of the salvage operation. Leyland cypress or arborvitae could be considered for a faster-growing screen. Proposed, Church Picnic: With screening and additional shade, this space could be the perfect setting for church picnics, homecoming events, and other activities.

Proposed

Proposed, Church Picnic

Homerville Panther Alley Plan

Existing: This aerial image shows the block between Carswell Street and King Street. The large vacant lot on the eastern half of the site could be improved as downtown parking or a long-term infill development site.

See Page 70 for Proposed Panther Alley Concepts

Proposed: Beginning at the northwest corner of this site, this plan shows a potential corner courtyard in front of a proposed café/Georgia Grown space. This design includes tough Chinese elm street trees in 4’ x 4’ tree grates. This concept includes parallel parking along the western half of the block. On the eastern portion of the site, this plan shows one arrangement that includes both semi-truck/RV parking and overflow parking for the new businesses on the block. This design also shows nine angled parking spaces along this part of the street. In the short term, these spaces could be painted along the existing paved area. In the center of the block, this plan shows the current service alley extended across the existing concrete pad and formalized with a 6.5’ planted buffer. This concept shows the service alley extending across the older rear additions to create a central service area behind the Strickland building. The plan includes a masonry dumpster enclosure that can accommodate two standard eight-yard dumpsters. This service area is shown screened with a 5’ planted buffer. The design for Panther Alley includes reclaimed high school bricks used as pavers, a new stairway to access the second story, and six proposed Chinese elm street trees. These trees could be underplanted with a tough groundcover like Asian jasmine or liriope. Along East Plant Avenue, this design shows the existing parking area defined with striping. This concept also shows 10 new Natchez crape myrtles in the existing planting beds. The total parking capacity shown is 39 spaces (two being ADA spaces), plus six spaces for RVs or semi-trucks.

Homerville Carswell Building

Existing: Bringing new businesses to the vacant Carswell Building and former Blitch Ford dealership along East Plant Avenue could make this area of Homerville a lively destination.

Proposed: This concept shows exterior façade improvements to the Carswell and Blitch Ford buildings including improved storefronts and awnings, new windows, fresh paint, and attractive signage. This concept includes up to five leasable ground-floor storefronts and upper-story residences or event space. The 1940s-inspired signage, awning, and industrial doors and windows at the building on the right were inspired by dealerships from that era.

Proposed

Homerville East Lot

Existing: This image shows the Blitch Ford and Carswell Buildings looking west along US-84/East Plant Avenue. The vacant lot and log trucks were a commonly cited issue during step one of the Homerville RSVP. Proposed

Proposed: This design concept shows this site as the home of a rejuvenated block of buildings and an attractively landscaped public parking area. Along East Plant Avenue, striping existing parallel parking and incorporating Natchez crape myrtles makes utilizing these spaces more attractive for visitors. The vacant concrete pad adjacent to the Blitch Building offers a prime location for a regular downtown food truck. This concept could bring regular activity to the proposed Panther Alley. This design shows the partially collapsed cinderblock building on East Dame Avenue replaced by an appropriately scaled infill building. This site could house an inexpensively constructed Butler-type building with an exterior façade that matches the traditional commercial style of other downtown buildings.

Homerville Icehouse Mural

Existing: The historic icehouse at the edge of downtown is a familiar landmark.

Proposed: Painting a welcome mural on the metal roof of this building could invite visitors downtown. This design shows improvements including industrial doors and windows as well as attractive signage for Chauncey Heating and Air.

Proposed