North Carolina A

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THE CITY OF LEXINGTON DEPOT DISTRICT MASTER PLAN

• North Carolina AT State University
• Department of Landscape Architecture

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DESIGN PROCESS

• The Lexington Depot District Master Plan will be
  produced in phases.
• Phase Descriptions
• Phase 1 Proposal / Site Analysis / Preliminary
  Research
• Phase 2 Public Involvement / Program Elements /
  
• Concepts
• Phase 3 Detailed Design Enhancements
  Refinements
• Phase 4 Synthesis / Final Recommendations/
  Visions

3
PHASE ONE
Proposal / Site Analysis / Preliminary Research
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PHASE ONE OVERVIEW

• Quick Facts Lexington, NC
• Location
• Existing Conditions
• Research Topics
• Brownfields
• Stormwater Runoff
• Pedestrian Friendly Design
• Uptown Revitalization
• Depot Redevelopment

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LOCATION

• Lexington is the County Seat, and it is
  located in central Davidson County.
• Davidson County is in the Piedmont Region of
  North Carolina
• Land area is approximately 20 square miles

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LOCATION

• Southwest of the Triad
• Near the intersection of I-85, U.S. Highway
  29, U.S. Highway 70, U.S. Highway 52 (soon to be
  I-285) and U.S. Highway 64.

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QUICK FACTS

• Uptown Lexington is on the National Registry of
  Historic Places
• Home of artist and designer Bob Timberlakes
  gallery
• Home of Childress Vineyards, owned by NASCAR team
  member Richard Childress.
• Barbecue Capital of the World
• Nearly 20 different barbecue restaurants

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EXISTING CONDITIONS

• Land Uses
• Topography
• Vegetation and Views
• Hydrology
• Drainage
• Sidewalk Inventory
• Constraints and Opportunities

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EXISTING LAND USES

• Color Codes
• Percentage of parcels/uses
• Davidson County GIS

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EXISTING LAND USES
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TOPOGRAPHY

• The higher elevations are along Main St.
• The lower elevations are along Railroad Tracks
• The lowest point is found at the tunnel
  between Elk Street and South Railroad Street

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VEGETATION AND VIEWS

• Train Depot not visible from Center Street Bridge
• Desirable views from Main Street
• Very little vegetation
• Lack of vegetation is increasing stormwater
  runoff. There is nothing for water to permeate
  through.

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HYDROLOGY

• All water drains southeast from Main Street to
  the area along the railroad tracks.
• Tremendous amount of impervious surface results
  in a large amount of runoff.

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DRAINAGE

• Currently, the water is routed away from the
  site through drainage pipes.
• Various stormwater collection/treatment
  techniques to be utilized.

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SIDEWALK INVENTORY

• Existing sidewalks are sporadic
• A uniform sidewalk system needs to be
  established for safe pedestrian traffic.

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SIDEWALK INVENTORY

• Existing sidewalks are sporadic
• A uniform sidewalk system needs to be
  established for safe pedestrian traffic.

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QUADRANT AND COMMUNITY SERVICE DISTRICT MAP
Potential Uptown Lexington Expansion Area
Existing Community Service District Site
LHB Plant 1 Site
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OPPORTUNITIES AND CONSTRAINTS
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OPPORTUNITIES

• Town Themes
• Festivals
• Market
• BBQ
• Demolition
• Flexibility in design ideas
• Views
• Good views from Center Street Bridge
• LHB site visible from Main Street
•  

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CONSTRAINTS

• Extreme amount of impervious surface
• Results in poor drainage
• Runoff solution in water supply
• Building Upkeep
• Few historic buildings
• Vacant lots
• Eye sores
• Rundown
• Safety Concerns
• Lack of lighting
• Intersection problems
• Lack of visibility in tunnel
• Not pedestrian friendly

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RESEARCH TOPICS

• Brownfields
• Stormwater Management
• Pedestrian Friendly Design
• Downtown Revitalization
• Depot Redevelopment

An area of the site in Lexington, NC showing
drainage issues
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WHAT IS A BROWNFIELD?

• Brownfields are real properties where the
  expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may
  be complicated by the presence or potential
  presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or
  contaminant .

A small section of the site in Lexington, NC
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CLEAN UP BENEFITS

• Increase local tax bases
• Facilitate job growth
• Utilize existing structures
• Protects the environment

Before and After photos of a Brownfield Site in
Greensboro, NC
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BROWNFIELD PROCESS

• Assessment completed in April 2007
• Phase I
• Research deeds and history of property
• Visually assess site
• Phase II
• Water, soil, and air samples
• Estimated costs and priorities

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STORMWATER RUNOFF

• Why is Runoff a Problem?
• More impervious surface More runoff
• More runoff More stream and riverbank erosion
• More stream and riverbank erosion More flooding
• More flooding More pollution in our water

From the NC Department of Natural Resources
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WHAT CAN WE DO?

• Pervious Pavers
• Rain Gardens
• Green Roofs
• Vertical Parking
• Cisterns
• Filter Strips
• Bioswales
• Stormwater Planters

All images were found using Google Images
All images were found using Google Images
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PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY DESIGN ELEMENTS

• Greenways, trails and sidewalks
• Linear connectivity in a safe pleasurable manner
• Using plants to reduce the scale of structures

• Traffic calming through the use of
• Street Scapes
• Speed Bumps
• Speed Humps
• Lighting

Walking across the Campus at UNCG
Taken from the Pedestrian Mini-Roadshow
Presentation
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UPTOWN REVITALIZATION STRATEGIES AND DESIGN
ELEMENTS
Walking down Main Street Lexington, NC

• Integrate new buildings with the architectural
  character of the neighborhood.
• Aim for a multi-functional use
• Develop a pedestrian-friendly area that offers a
  mix of activities

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UPTOWN REVITALIZATION BENEFITS

• Smart growth strategy for preserving open space
• Boosts the economic health and quality of life
• Brings new jobs and small businesses to the
  community as well as raises property value
• New options for goods and services

Building façade in Uptown Lexington, NC
Street view of Uptown Lexington, NC
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PROPOSED AND EXISTING PASSENGER STATIONS ON
AMTRAKS PIEDMONT LINE
Hillsborough
High Point
Durham
Lexington
Cary
Salisbury
Raleigh
Greensboro
Kannapolis
Burlington
Charlotte
Populations Within a 10 Mile Radius
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DEPOT REDEVELOPMENT

• Built in the late 19- early 20th century
• Two Styles
• Simple single story with overhang
• Victorian
• Depot revitalization often results in a mixed use
  space

Photos depicting the different architectural
styles of historic depots.
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DEPOT REDEVELOPMENT

• Typical Scope of Work
• Exterior and interior preservation and
  restoration
• Structural repairs
• Configuring mechanical systems
• Lighting, woodwork and hardware
• ADA specifications
• Site design (parking, landscaping etc.)

Above Depot in Greensboro, NC Below Depot in
Salisibury, NC
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DEPOT REDEVLOPMENT

• Lexingtons historic passenger depot was torn
  down in the mid 70s
• Actively working toward a passenger stop
• A stop would add 5,600 riders
• Currently used as a backdrop for farmers market
• Used during Barbeque Festival

The existing freight depot in Lexington, NC
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CASE STUDIES
Salisbury / Kannapolis / Greensboro / High Point
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SALISBURY DEPOT

• Built in 1908, restored to its original grandeur,
  and re-opened in May 1993
• Example of a Spanish Mission style brick
  structure
• The building spans the length of two city blocks
• Other uses?
• Weddings
• Ceremonies
• Conferences

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SALISBURY DEPOT
The Depot in Salisbury, North Carolina
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KANNAPOLIS DEPOT

• The renovated station opened on February 23, 2005
• The 6,800 square foot station has downtown
  Williamsburg architecture, a 30-passenger waiting
  area and two meeting rooms
• The Piedmont runs daily between Raleigh and
  Charlotte. The Carolinian stops in Kannapolis on
  its daily route from Charlotte to Raleigh
• NCDOT paid for 90 percent or approximately 2.16
  million of the costs for the new structure

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KANNAPOLIS DEPOT
The Depot in Kannapolis, North Carolina
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GREENSBORO DEPOT

• The J. Douglas Galyon Depot is the largest
  historic station in the state of North Carolina
• The station/depot is currently used for railroad
  purposes, and it is open to the public
• When the station/depot is not being used for
  railroad purposes, it is used for a Consolidated
  transportation hub
• Transportation offered
• Amtrak
• Greyhound Bus Lines
• Greensboro Transit Authority

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GREENSBORO DEPOT
The Depot in Greensboro, North Carolina
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HIGH POINT DEPOT

• The passenger station was built by the Southern
  Railway Company in 1907. Southern Railway closed
  its downtown agency in 1975, and Amtrak took over
  Southerns passenger operations in 1979.
  Currently, six Amtrak passenger trains serve High
  Point each day.
•       The restoration project was funded with
  more than 5.6 million in federal and state
  grants and a local match of 622,300 from the
  city and the High Point Historical Society.

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HIGH POINT DEPOT
The Depot in High Point, North Carolina
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PHASE TWO
Public Involvement / Program Elements / Concepts
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COMMUNITY DESIGN WORKSHOP

• Why was the workshop conducted?
• To get ideas and opinions from the community
  members

• How was the workshop conducted?
• Six groups were formed
• Each group had 1-2 students, and the rest were
  citizens of Lexington
• Surveys were completed
• Each group developed a concept
• Concepts were discussed

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SURVEYS

• The citizens of Lexington were asked to fill out
  a survey regarding the Depot District Master
  Plan.
• The results determined the following
• Extent of demolition
• Desirable uses and amenities
• Desirable public facilities and tourist
  attractions

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CONCEPTS

• Results from the surveys were used to create
  conceptual diagrams
• Citizens were given a large base map of the study
  area and were asked to take their ideas and put
  them on paper.

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Downtown Living Green
GROUP ONE

• Linear green space
• Retain Smokestack
• Amphitheater with
• surrounding green
• space

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Livable, Green and Convenient
GROUP TWO

• Amphitheater visible
• from Main Street
• Green space
• Housing on the top,
• retail on the bottom

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Living and Growing Green
GROUP THREE

• Everything surrounding
• residential life
• Preserve historical value
• of the site
• Sustainable residential
• development

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The Place to Be No Matter How You Get Here
GROUP FOUR

• Multimodal trans-
• portation hub
• Creating pedestrian
• streets
• Strong emphasis on
• streetscapes

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An Invitation to Lexington Green
GROUP FIVE

• Catch basin on South Side
• Underground parking
• Multi-Use facility

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A New Lexington for the 21st Century
GROUP SIX

• Light industrial near
• tracks
• Hotel/Conference
• Center and DCCC
• Satellite campus
• Centrally located green
• space

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COMMON IDEAS

• Green theme
• Transportation Hub and Depot
• Mixed Use
• Buffers Along Railroad
• Amphitheater
• Walkable
• Connection to Existing Uptown
• Selective Demolition

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DIFFERENT IDEAS

• Location of specific uses
• Integration or separation of housing

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FAVORITE IDEAS

• Amphitheater with connection to Main Street
• Water features
• Band of development with uses providing buffers
  and sense of community
• Underground parking with green roof
• Keep smokestack
• Perimeter walking trails

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• After the Community Design Workshop, the studio
  design team compiled the survey information and
  rough concepts. From here, we could start
  refining the broad concepts that were developed
  in the workshop.

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CONCEPTUAL DIAGRAMS
Darlington Samuel
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CONCEPTUAL DIAGRAMS
Matt Mitchell
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CONCEPTUAL DIAGRAMS
Brian Tilley
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CONCEPTUAL DIAGRAMS
Niki Gouge
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CONCEPTUAL DIAGRAMS
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CONCEPTUAL DIAGRAMS
Proposed Vehicular Transportation System
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CONCEPTUAL DIAGRAMS
Proposed Vehicular and Pedestrian Transportation
System
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CONCEPTUAL DIAGRAMS

• A series of street options were developed to fit
  various streets depending on their widths.

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BUILDING INVENTORY
LEGEND
Buildings to Preserve
Buildings to Demolish
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PHASE THREE
Detailed Design Enhancements Refinement
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PROPOSED ROAD SYSTEM STREETSCAPES

• Phillip and Matt

LEGEND
Vehicular Traffic
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PROPOSED PEDESTRIAN SYSTEM
Richard and Nicole
LEGEND
Pedestrian Traffic
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STORMWATER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
Alex
LEGEND
Water Flow
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DEPOT AREA/MULTI-MODAL TRANSPORTATION HUB AREA
Matt and Niki
LEGEND
Study Area
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AMPHITHEATER AREA/MULTI-PURPOSE COMPLEX
Brian
LEGEND
Study Area
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THE SOUTH WEST QUADRANT
Linley and Sam
LEGEND
Study Area
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PROPOSED ROAD SYSTEM STREETSCAPES
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PROPOSED SIGNAGE
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STORMWATER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
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DEPOT AREA/MULTI-MODAL TRANSPORTATION HUB AREA
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AMPHITHEATER AREA/MULTI-PURPOSE COMPLEX
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THE SOUTH WEST QUADRANT
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GREEN ROOF MODEL

• Certain roof areas will be utilized as green
  roofs

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EXAMPLE OF A MIXED USE BUILDING

• Business space on lower level
• Living space on above floors

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PHASE FOUR
Synthesis / Final Recommendations/ Visions
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ROAD SYSTEM STREETSCAPES
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ROAD SYSTEM STREETSCAPES

• This model is a representation of the
• streetscape plan containing sidewalks
• and on-street parking to the left and
• right, stormwater planters and traffic
• circulation in both directions.

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PEDESTRIAN AREA DETAILS
View in front of the Museum courtyard

• This view is showing plant material on either
  side of the pedestrian walk, as well as seating
  and lighting.

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PEDESTRIAN AREA DETAILS
Section View from the Art Center

• This view is a closer view of the pedestrian
  area

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PEDESTRIAN AREA DETAILS

• Gazebos will provide shelter and seating at
  pedestrian intersections

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STORMWATER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

• Any runoff piped off site will be cleaned first
  in the constructed wetlands area.
• Runoff from streets will be directed into a
  series of stormwater planters.

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THE DEPOT AND TRANSPORTATION HUB AREA
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THE DEPOT AND TRANSPORTATION HUB AREA
Section for 1st Avenue facing northwest with
South Main Street to the left and Railroad Street
to the right
The existing structures on 1st Avenue located
closer to South Center Street (left) will remain
intact with aesthetic improvements. 2nd Avenue
will feature an urban orchard, pedestrian way,
residential village with central greenspace and a
shopping plaza.
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THE DEPOT AND TRANSPORTATION HUB AREA
Section View of 2nd Avenue Facing Southwest
2nd Avenue will feature a parking deck with
balcony access, retail areas, an eight story
hotel with an arcade for vehicular access, office
space, and the existing businesses along Main
Street.
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THE DEPOT AND TRANSPORTATION HUB AREA
Hotel and Conference Center The Lexington
Green
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THE DEPOT AND TRANSPORTATION HUB AREA
Railroad Street Section Facing Northwest
Railroad Street will feature A parking deck, an
existing structure to be renovated for commercial
use, a renovated depot with historic attributes,
the existing Southern Lunch will remain, a
shopping plaza and residential village.
93
AMPHITHEATER AREA/MULTI-PURPOSE COMPLEX
Section View of Amphitheater Area facing East
The Amphitheater/Multi-Purpose Area will feature
Views of the Lexington Green Hotel, an
amphitheater that fits the natural topography of
the land, a multi-purpose building that mimics
the shape of the amphitheater, and residential
condos.
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PROPOSED PARK ENTRANCE

• There are four proposed entrances into the park
  They are on 5th Ave, Salisbury St, E. 6th Street
  and S. Main Street.
• The studio design team had an idea of a welcoming
  entrance constructed with recycled brick from the
  demolition of the LHB Plant 1 site.

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THE SOUTH WEST QUADRANT
Section View of 6th Avenue Facing Southwest
This section features a 20-Lane bowling alley, 3
screen movie theater, a historical museum with a
green walled enclosed courtyard, and a mixed use
building.
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THE SOUTH WEST QUADRANT
West Pedestrian Section View Looking Towards 8th
Avenue
The West Pedestrian Section features the light
industrial center, a job center /small business
incubator, and an art museum.
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THE SOUTH WEST QUADRANT
Section view of the Mixed Use area facing
northwest
This section features mixed use buildings
containing businesses, retail, and outdoor café
areas . All main entrances are located along the
pedestrian path to minimize pedestrian and
vehicular conflicts.
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LEXINGTON DEPOT DISTRICT MASTER PLAN MODEL