QUEEN STREET
CITY OF KINSTON, NORTH CAROLINA
CITY OF KINSTON QUEEN STREET STREETSCAPE MASTER PLAN PROJECT OVERVIEW
Stewart is working with the City of Kinston to re-imagine their downtown historically main commerce street, Queen Street. Kinston is a City in transition garnering recognition as a gastro-tourism destination and the burgeoning Heritage Street food and beverage district. The project consists of a streetscape masterplan and construction for nine city blocks 3/4 of a mile from music park at the south to railroad
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crossing at the north, Heritage Street to serve as a catalyst for continued economic re-development. The City wishes to unify its public realm design and to that end Stewart is collaborating with smART Kinston and NCDOT on public infrastructure improvements and art interventions. The total project budget is $3.2M.
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COMPREHENSIVE UNDERSTANDING OF FUTURE NEEDS
Mission/Purpose Statement Create a master plan streetscape design that envisions the city’s success and supports the goals of the community to guide its decision-making process. Through arts, economics, cultural heritage and importance, as well as ‘complete street’ standards our approach looks to embrace the city’s legacy and enable its growth to accelerate.
Goals & Objectives • Celebrate artistic, musical, & cultural history. • Support economic goals of the commuity. • Create a progressive streetscape design. • Enhance connections to surrounding community. • Provide a welcoming place for visitors to stop, shop, & dine.
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City Goals 1. Received National Endowment for the Arts Grant 2. Design that connects the African American Music Trail Sites (AAMT), Music Park, Commercial Areas, Cultural Areas 3. Develop the connections to ‘Complete Streets’ per NCDOT standards 4. Connect Historical/Cultural site locations established/ identified (coincides with the city’s pedestrian plan and city’s promotion of the Riverwalk) 5. Incorporate Public Art Plan. Engage local artists to help define what goes on in these spaces identified by The Arts Council 6. Elevate Kinston’s musical heritage 7. Design standards that can be implemented over time 8. North and South Queen street are historically separated districts and there is a sense of pride by the public to maintain complimentary but unique character identified by both 9. Special paving where outdoor dining can take place 10. Potentially create sidewalk activity nodes at the mid block for performances or seating 11. Include signage acknowledging the Public Art Trail wayfinding tour.
Previous Feedback 1. Improved pedestrian & bike facilities 2. Explore sustainable storm water elements 3. Walking down Queen St. (Most important to least) • Crossing Queen St. • Personal Security • Lack of Shade on street • Lack of adequate lighting • Crossing side streets • Lack of separation between sidewalk and roadway 4. Important (Highest to Lowest) • Musical Heritage • Agrarian History • Industrial History 5. Reason to not come downtown (Highest to Lowest) • No destinations I’m interested in • Safety • Other destinations in Kinston • Lack of parking 6. Musical heritage should influence (Highest to lowest) • Queen St. from Bridge to Blount • Queen St. from Bridge to Bright • Queen St. from Bridge to South
Opposite Page: Excerpts from Background Research Documents Above: Excerpt from City of Kinston Queen Street Streetscape Master Plan Document
01.16.2018
Project Program Page 5
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GATHER DATA & EXISTING CONDITIONS
Establish a baseline of urban form and issues from which future streetscape ideas can be developed. As a team, we collaborate with city staff to understand the achievements and establish target areas of improvement. This information provides us with a “community profile� that summarizes key facets and figures for each of the indicators in a graphic and easily understandable format. This summary of issues and opportunities provides a point of departure for recommendations in streetscape efforts.
Existing Queen Street Streetscape
Existing sidewalk life
Existing traffic signage and construction.
Existing trees and site furnishings.
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EXPLORE CREATIVE DESIGN SOLUTIONS
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REVISE PLAN DETAILS BASED ON STAKEHOLDER FEEDBACK
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PREPARE DOCUMENTATION AND OVERSEE CONSTRUCTION
Stewart is a multi-disciplinary firm that combines master planning with detailed construction documentation to create streetscape projects. Stewart creates readable and accurate construction documents and assists bidding, construction administration, and project close-out. 
Sample of Site Plan page from Construction Documents set.
Left: Sample pages from Project Manual for Bid Process. Below: Sample of Demolition and Erosion Control Plan page from Construction Documents set.
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LOCATION Kinston, NC OWNER City of Kinston Adam T. Short, MPA, AICP, CZO Planning Director 207 E. King Street Kinston, NC 28502 252.939.3269 DATES Start: 2017 Completion: July 2019 CONSTRUCTION COST $ 2.6 M DISCIPLINES Landscape Architecture Civil Engineering Master Planning and Mobility
RALEIGH / DURHAM / CHARLOTTE 919.380.8750 stewartinc.com