PAST CHARRETTES
Thomaston Facades Charrette | Thomaston GA | Spring 2023
This design assistance helped fill a gap in Thomaston's revitalization efforts by
providing the drawings that owners must submit to be eligible for matching grants.
The two-day mini charrette provided an opportunity for Historic Preservation students
to learn about a small town’s revitalization successes and challenges, share their
preservation knowledge with interested property owners, and learn illustration techniques
that improve their professional communication skills. In turn, property owners were
provided with a series of hand-rendered illustrations showcasing façade improvements
for their building.
Downtown Douglas Charrette | Douglas GA | Spring 2023
Despite building occupancy in Downtown being around 90% and investors pursuing second-story
loft developments and entertainment venues, Douglas is facing several challenges,
including disinvestment due to absentee ownership and neglect, lack of affordable
housing options, and declining strip mall developments. This charrette focused on
revitalizing the downtown area, enhancing corridors that lead into the city, and showcasing
revitalization potential for appropriate new construction to attract investors.
With a specific intention to identify a handful of big ideas that could be broken down into "small wins" through strategies like tactical urbanism, the charrette team focused on Greenspace & Greenways, Entertainment & Placemaking, Streetscape & Circulation, Preservation & Housing, and the historically African American Carver District.
Final Report | Presentation video
Hartwell Charrette | Hart Co. | Fall 2022
Located in Northeast Georgia, Hart County is rich in natural
and historic resources. Hartwell, the county seat, has a vibrant
historic Downtown that benefits from close proximity to Lake
Hartwell. Hartwell is interested in developing a regional trail system that connects
recreational amenities at Lake Hartwell and Hart County Recreation Centers with Hartwell’s
historic Downtown, neighborhoods, and schools in order to provide multi-modal connectivity,
increase public health, and attract recreational tourism.
At the request of the Archway Partnership, CCDP used a charrette to explore recreational opportunities that connect the assets of Lake Hartwell and Downtown with areas underserved by walking and biking. In-person focus groups and virtual public input helped inform and prioritize design ideas. The final concepts focus on multimodal connections that would allow for longer hiking and biking routes, greater use of public facilities, and revitalization of underserved areas.
Final Report| Midpoint Presentation | Slick Sheet
Hoschton Charrette l Jackson Co. l Fall-Spring 2021
Hoschton, a small town in Jackson County along the I-85 corridor, is experiencing
unprecedented growth as its current population of 3,000 is expected to reach 10,000
within the next five years. Many people are relocating to the area and appreciate
the rural beauty and slower pace, yet expect bigger-city amenities. The influx of
newcomers is contributing to the existing traffic congestion along Highway 53, the
primary north-south corridor.
Using a hybrid approach that blended in-person site visits and stakeholder engagement with broader virtual public feedback, this charrette explored potential solutions to address growth while capitalizing on historic character. The final design concepts encourage land conservation, park enhancements, building rehabilitation, and multi-modal circulation to guide the future of Hoschton.
Final Presentation PDF l Full Report l Slick Sheet
McDuffie County Trails Charrette | McDuffie Co | Spring 2021
McDuffie County stakeholders want to increase recreational opportunities around Clarks
Hill Lake, one of the largest man-made lakes east of the Mississippi River. Development
around the lake is restricted, as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers leases the majority
of land to the state for a Wildlife Management Area. McDuffie County has recently
taken over management of two former Corps campgrounds and has established Georgia’s
Little River Water Trail, a 20-mile paddling route along the McDuffie and Wilkes County
borders.
The McDuffie County Archway Partnership asked the Center for Community Design and Preservation to augment these efforts by developing concepts and an illustrative master plan that increases recreational opportunities and incorporates best practices between different types of trail users. The charrette generated ideas that accommodate self-shuttling for paddlers on the Little River Water Trail, create a trail system for hikers and bike riders within the Big Hart and Raysville campgrounds, and suggest how equestrian trails may be included within the Clarks Hill Wildlife Management Area.
Final Concepts | Full Report | YouTube presentation |Slick Sheet |Article
Brewpub Charrette | Hawkinsville GA | October 2020
Breweries and brewpubs contribute to downtown revitalization efforts by creating active
social spaces and increasing dining options. They have set an industry standard for
being family-friendly, pet-inclusive, locally-driven, and community-focused. Popular
brewpubs are often connected to nature, such as along a riverfront, and/or within
revitalized historic buildings – both of which Hawkinsville is well-poised to market.
The goals of this charrette were to: 1) Develop concepts for a brewpub that utilizes
empty buildings Downtown; and 2) Explore ways that the Downtown riverfront could be
enhanced.
The charrette focused on four potential brewpub locations: a former gas station by
the downtown boat ramp, a historic riverfront cotton mill, a vacant site Downtown,
and a former laundromat. In addition, the team created conceptual designs for Veterans'
Park along the Ocmulgee River to showcase the link between a vibrant downtown, a natural
resource, and brewpub tourism. Sponsored by the Pulaski County Archway Partnership, and in collaboration with the
RSVP team at the UGA Carl Vinson Institute of Government, who generously provided
public input and included the charrette results in their final report.
YouTube video | Posters | RSVP full report