Washington Streetscape

STREETSCAPE ENHANCEMENTS

One Mile Radius of Downtown Core East End Approach
Downtown West End Corridor

West End Approach Rehabilitation Corridor East End
Corridor Rehabilitation Corridor

Situated can benefit from comprehensive planning services and improved
approximately streetscape design. These areas are both the east and west blocks that immedi-
100 miles east of ately precede the downtown core. Both blocks share two similar issues that
Atlanta, Washington, GA contribute to their disconnection to the downtown and outlying areas aesthetic. The
is a town rich in southern first is the lack of or an incomplete “street wall” and the second is the loss of side-
charm. As a town with a storied and walk and driveway definition due to years of road resurfacing. Together these two
colorful history, Washington claims host to an issues result in a vast expanse of hardscape which is visually undesirable and poten-
impressive collection of historically and culturally signifi- tially dangerous for pedestrians and vehicular traffic.
cant landmarks, some of which have achieved National Register of Historic Places notoriety.
Such examples include the Callaway Plantation, Washington Historical Museum, The Robert
Toombs House and State Historic Site, The Mary Willis Library, Kettle Creek Battlefield, and
the recently renovated Fitzpatrick Hotel. Today, Washington is a modern southern town in
many respects, with a downtown supporting many shops and restaurants along its main
corridor. Additionally, much of its economic infrastructure is supported in the preservation
and representation of its old historic structures. While downtown Washington maintains
much of its historic infrastructure and supports a healthy amount of local business in its
central business district, there exist two key areas of improvement along the corridor which

OVERVIEW MAP

The City of Washington, GA has done well to capitalize upon its historic assets,
creating a rich sense of history and culture. Whether approaching downtown from
either the east or the west, the viewer experiences a rich sense of place, with strong
connections to the past. Both the eastern and western approach corridors are lined on
either side with multiple, well-maintained examples of historic Victorian, Antebellum,
and Colonial period architecture with large, sprawling lawns and green spaces extend-
ing the length of the right-of-way to the edge of the sidewalk. Although this trend is
momentarily interrupted, once in the downtown core, a positive draw into the city is
made by way of a strong architectural streetscape further enhanced by thriving local

businesses. The true core of the downtown
is the central greenspace that lies before the
magnificent courthouse. This public space
provides opportunities for public interac-
tion that adds life and vitality to the city.

DOWNTOWN CORE WASHINGTON, GA

STREETSCAPE ENHANCEMENTS

Although a cross walk does exist
mid-block in front of the First Baptist
Church, pedestrian striping is also
needed at this important intersection.

View from Pope St.
looking east

The north and south sides of the street have lost most of their
curb and driveway definition due to over paving. This creates
not only aesthetic issues but also safety concerns as traffic
may enter or exit the street at any point creating potential
conflicts with both other cars and pedestrians.

Here are two potential infill opportunity sites.
Encouraging the redevelopment of these open
parcels would help improve the strength of the
street wall and streetscape character.

WEST END - ISSUE ANALYSIS

Red zones indicate poor views
due to large expanses of unin-
terrupted pavement

Green zones downtown core

Blue zones indicate opportunity
areas for pedestrian
Improvements

View from Alexander
Ave. looking east

The north side of the street has lost its curb
and driveway definition due to over paving.
This creates safety issues as traffic may enter
or exit the street at any point.

EAST END - ISSUE ANALYSIS WWAASSHHIINNGGTTOONN,,GGAA

SSTTRREEEETTSSCCAAPPEEEENNHHAANNCCEEMMEENNTTSS

The reestablishment of a curbline will Adding crosswalk stripping to the intersection of Encouraging redevelopment of this open parcel will help
create clear separation between the Lexington Ave and Allison St. will improve strengthen the commercial viability of the block. Cur-
rently the use of this parcel for Sunday parking is not a
sidewalk and street. It will also redefine pedestrian safety at the intersection. The striping
the driveway cuts along the street. also has the potential to calm traffic as cars enter significant contributor to health of the district. The use of
this parcel for commercial retail or office space would
the downtown core.
improve the viability of the corridor. It is likely that park-
The establishment of landscape along the street ing could be shared by the existing user and the proposed
will help reduce undesirable views of expansive
development due to the offsetting times of use. If this
hardscape. parcel is redeveloped, building setbacks should mirror the
existing conditions of the church across the street as well

the use of multiple stories if possible.

Adding a landscape strip between the street and the
sidewalk will help define the two thoroughfares. This

design element exists to the east in the residential
portion of the corridor. Continuing this element will
help create a connection between the residential and

commercial areas.

Adding a landscape strip behind the sidewalk will
provide room for street trees. Adding trees along the
street has numerous benefits including traffic calming

effects and improvement to the definition of the
“street wall”. This will improve the aesthetic of the
street by focusing the user’s view down the corridor
and also by screening views into the open commercial
parcels. The street trees and landscape strip will also
provide some division in the open expanses of hard-
scape which is currently dominating the view along

the street.

WEST END - IMPROVEMENT ANALYSIS

Proposed changes to Lexington Avenue.
Image taken from Pope Street looking east.

Existing Conditions WASHINGTON, GA

WEST END - CONCEPTUAL RENDERING STREETSCAPE ENHANCEMENTS

Driveway widths should be reduced to GDOT The reestablishment of a curb line will create a clear separation
standards to increase safety and allow for between the street and sidewalk. The sidewalk may need to be
additional landscape opportunities.
raised to accomplish this change. Examples of this can be
found on this same block nearer to downtown. New sidewalks

should be constructed to match the existing brick sidewalks
that exists along the corridor.

Reducing driveway cuts in this location will allow
for better opportunities to enhance the streetscape

with landscaping and street trees. It will also
improve safety by increasing the separation distance

between the driveway and the intersection.

The establishment of a new curb and raised side- The establishment of landscape along the street
walk at the intersection will provide a refuge for will help reduce undesirable views of expansive
pedestrians which will greatly increase crossing
safety. This improvement will also largely enhance hardscape.
the aesthetic of the intersection which is a key

gateway into the business district.

Adding a landscape strip behind the sidewalk will
provide room for street trees. Adding trees along the
street has numerous benefits including traffic calming

effects and improvement to the definition of the
“street wall”. This will improve the aesthetic of the
street by focusing the user’s view down the corridor
and also by screening views into the open commercial
parcels. The street trees and landscape strip will also
provide some division in the open expanses of hard-
scape which is currently dominating the view along

the street.

EAST END - IMPROVEMENT ANALYSIS

Existing Conditions Proposed changes to Lexington Avenue.
Image taken from S. Alexander Ave. looking west.
EAST END - CONCEPTUAL RENDERING
WASHINGTON, GA

STREETSCAPE ENHANCEMENTS

WILLIAMS & ASSOCIATES

IS A LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE, CIVIL ENGINEERING AND
SURVEYING FIRM LOCATED AT:

2470 DANIELLS BRIDGE RD. STE. 161
ATHENS, GA. 30606

WWW.GAPLANNING.COM

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

SCOTT HAINES, RLA, LEED AP
DIRECTOR OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
[email protected]
706.310.0400