9 minute read
Designs by Street: Church Street
Homerville CHURCH STREET
By traffic volume, Church Street (USHighway 441) serves as downtown Homerville’s busiest commercial corridor. According to figures from the GDOT, over 5,600 vehicles travel along this segment of US-441 daily. As the main north-south route to the railroad, Church Street has acted as a key commercial corridor since Homerville’s early days.
Extensive widening of Church Street in the early 2000s removed two blocks of buildings on the east side of the corridor, a significant and irreplaceable loss to downtown. Conditions created during the widening of Church Street, including the continuous medians that block side streets, fencing obstructing access to commercial buildings, and limited on-street parking, continue to harm downtown connectivity and accessibility. Likely due in part to these conditions, today the blocks of Church Street in downtown Homerville feature the largest number of vacant buildings downtown.
Though overengineered for the roughly 5,600 vehicles a day it accommodates, US-441’s importance as a key northsouth state highway means many adverse conditions along this corridor unlikely to change anytime soon. During step one of the Homerville RSVP process, local residents often cited the lack of maintenance along 441, US-84, and other key corridors as an issue that needs to be addressed. The number of tractor-trailers, log trucks, and other heavy equipment along these routes creates a headache for local residents and results in a continual need for road maintenance, litter cleanup, and more. Homerville leaders should consider designating Bypass Road a truck route and working with trucking companies to make sure trucks are routed through the area via Bypass Road when appropriate. Left unplanted by GDOT, the turf medians along Church Street also create a consistent maintenance burden.
To help address these conditions, the renderings that follow show these medians planted with lowmaintenance Natchez crape myrtles. While creating an attractive gateway to downtown, planting the medians could reduce mowing and other regular maintenance demands.
As seen elsewhere downtown, committed and enthusiastic Homerville citizens are working to revitalize properties along Church Street. In addition to streetscape improvements, the designs that follow include concepts for the restoration of several prominent buildings along this corridor. Projects like the renovation of the former flower shop at 14 South Church Street are transforming long-vacant downtown buildings into vibrant small businesses. With characteristic community spirit and grit, Homerville citizens are returning life and activity to this area of downtown.
Homerville 441 DOWNTOWN ENTRY
Proposed: Incorporating Natchez crape myrtles in existing planting beds and medians could create an attractive and low-maintenance gateway to downtown. This concept also shows large-canopy oak trees planted in larger landscape beds. Prominent façades, including the historic hotel in the center of the image, are shown painted and maintained.
(LEFT) 441 Downtown Entry, Existing: Approaching downtown Homerville from the north, visitors are met with unplanted medians, a lack of street trees, and a number of buildings in need of repair.
Homerville HISTORIC HOTEL
(TOP) Historic Postcard
(TOP/Right) Existing: Once home to the Hotel Musgrove, this attractive historic building sits vacant and needs maintenance attention.
Proposed: Removing vines, trimming existing shrubs, repairing windows, and painting trim a unified color transforms the appearance of this piece of Homerville’s architectural heritage. This concept shows the property as a downtown hotel, but any number of uses could work on this site.
Existing
Existing: This image shows Courtland Street and the Clinch County Courthouse in downtown Homerville.
Homerville Streetscape COURTLAND STREET
Proposed: This concept shows improved on-street parking along Courtland Street and the Courthouse Square. New bump-outs bring large-canopy street trees and shade to this area. Planting existing landscape strips with Natchez crape myrtles enhances the appearance of this civic area and makes exploring downtown on foot more enjoyable. Replacing the failing rear addition of the building on the right with an attractively landscaped surface parking area would add parking capacity to this area and could service future redevelopment of the historic former hotel.
Proposed: Planting crape myrtles in existing medians and working with property owners to plant large-canopy oaks where possible could extend an attractive and welcoming shade canopy at this downtown gateway.
Existing: This view illustrates arrival to downtown Homerville from the south.
Homerville US-441 BUSINESS ENTRY
Existing: A railing added along US-441 following GDOT road widening in recent years partially blocks entryways to downtown businesses.
Proposed: Removing this railing in key locations could improve access to buildings along this segment of 441. This concept includes façade improvements to these historic commercial buildings to encourage adaptive reuse.
Proposed, Option II: This concept shows the same improvements with the addition of crape myrtles planted in the existing median.
Homerville Streetscape US-441 MEDIAN PLANTING
Proposed: If allowed by GDOT, incorporating Natchez crape myrtles into these medians could create a welcoming downtown gateway.
Existing: The unplanted medians along Church Street/US-441 could be improved with street trees and plantings.
Homerville THE LITTLE AVRIETT
Façade, Existing: Historic black Carrara tile once gave this building a striking and elegant façade. These tiles were removed roughly six years ago, giving this building a forlorn and patchy appearance.
Façade, Proposed: This concept shows the original glossy black tile façade reinstalled on this prominent storefront. If possible, reusing the historic tiles would preserve a piece of local history and restore the bold appearance of this art deco–era façade. The glossy finish of this tile reflects the sky and surrounding buildings, allowing this façade to appear brighter depending on the time of day. Business owners could consider substituting tiles of a similar color, material, and finish below the awning if some of the original tiles are too damaged to be reused. The original mint green tile work shown provides a welcoming contrast that defines the business name. This bright accent reflects greens used in the Little Avriett logo. This design shows the original plate transom window reading “AVRIETT” returned to a place of prominence above the door. While this design concept mostly restores the historic appearance of the building, it also includes new elements like a streamlined, flat, stainless steel or aluminum awning. The foreground of this image shows improvements to Church Street, including street sweeping and the addition of native ornamental grasses along the existing median.
The Little Avriett Rear Façade, Existing: This image shows the existing condition of the property at 14 South Church Street. Currently this space is largely neglected and used mainly for back-of-house services. The building on the left connects to the adjacent Merry Avriett boutique. The property owner requested that this portion of the property be improved for visitors approaching the building from the rear parking lot.
Proposed, Option II: This design concept preserves and restores the original brick, doors, and other architectural elements to create a welcoming rear entry to this exciting new boutique. Painting the doors, windows, and trim a subtle sage green reflects greens used in the Little Avriett logo concept as well as the green trim used in the Averitt House. The green shown is similar to Wishful Green (M410-2) by Behr. This design shows arched windows in the existing window openings and a new window with traditional styling in the previously boarded up opening. If the property owner wishes to preserve the existing windows, new mullions like those shown could enhance the traditional appearance of this historical property.
Above the doors, matching gray-and-white striped awnings help unify the appearance of the two portions of this building. Sturdy planters with a collection of spilling sweet potato vines and flowering annuals provide an attractive pop of color. Necessary back-of-house service meters and gutters are shown with dark paint overlaid with a whimsical collection of stylized black-eyed Susan flowers. Relocating the dumpster to a centralized service area would make more space available for a rear walkway and landscaping. A restored vintage “kiddie ride” provides a touch of nostalgia that mimics the rocking horse featured in the Little Averitt logo. A similar ride could become a popular destination for local children and incentivize purchases at the boutique. The owners of the boutique could consider offering a free ride with every purchase.
Homerville REAR PARKING AREA
Existing: This image shows existing conditions at the rear parking area behind Church Street. Unscreened trash, excessive paving, and deteriorating rear entries give this area a neglected feeling.
(BELOW) Proposed, Option II: Extending the painted asphalt into two adjacent spaces could create a larger flexible event space for businesses along Church Street. This area could accommodate parked cars when not in use.
Proposed, Option II
Proposed: This concept relocates existing parking to incorporate new flexible space, landscaping, and attractive dumpster screening. This design uses a stenciled water lily pattern evoking Homerville’s location as the gateway to the Okefenokee to delineate pedestrian space. Plantings including Asian jasmine, muhly grass, and laurel oaks, and ornamental trees provide shade and enhance the appearance of this area. Curbing with breaks like those shown allows proposed landscape beds to function as rain gardens to mitigate stormwater runoff.
Proposed, Night: This concept shows the same proposed elements with the addition of attractive lighting in the trees and along the buildings.
