Wednesday, Nov 05, 2008 - 12:08 AM
By WESLEY P. HESTER
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER
Chesterfield County's Brandermill community tonight will hold the first of two public meetings on the creation of a new master plan.
The meetings will gather feedback from residents on the effort to shape the future of the subdivision built in the early 1970s. The second meeting is set for Saturday.
The Brandermill Community Association in September contracted with designforum, a Richmond land-planning and urban-design firm, to develop a plan for $56,000. The goal is to shape a vision for the 4,000-home, 13,000-resident community.
Doug Cole of designforum said tonight's meeting will be to collect information on what residents consider to be strengths and weaknesses of the community. Saturday will be used to break into smaller groups to map out solutions for problem areas.
"They will basically be designing their own community," Cole said.
With property values leveling off and 15,000 new homes planned in the surrounding area, Brandermill is hoping a new plan will help revitalize it, making the 2,800 acre mixed-use development more attractive for residents and businesses.
Several areas are in need of a facelift and a renewed focus on commercial development, and the community's identity and amenities could add value, said community association member Andrea Epps.
"The purpose of the new plan is for the community to define its renewed sense of place and by extension have a positive impact on property values," she said.
Cole agreed: "Brandermill has aged well, but just like houses need upgrades, so does the community."
Cole said the firm wants to complete the plan by March. That would be just before Chesterfield's own comprehensive plan update, scheduled for the latter part of next year.
Tonight's meeting will be from 6 to 9 at Brandermill Church in Sunday Park. Saturday's meeting also will be held there, from 9 a.m. until noon.
Contact Wesley P. Hester at (804) 649-6976 or whester@timesdispatch.com.
Posted in In the News on 11.05.08
Doug was selected by the Virginia Recreation and Park society to participate in a panel discussion that discussed how trails can and should be part of private development. The Panel consisted of Dan Sloane with Mquire, Travis Gardner with HHHunt Communities, and Jenny Pate who is the Trails Coordinator for Fairfax County.
Posted in Staff News on 10.20.08
Goal is a more contemporary vision for 2,800-acre community
By WESLEY P. HESTER
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER
As Chesterfield County looks to change its plan for the future, the Brandermill community is looking to redefine itself.
On Tuesday, the Brandermill Community Association board of directors voted to hire a consultant to modernize the 4,000-home, 13,000-resident development's master plan.
It will be the first time since the project's approval in 1974 that the master plan, which sets guidelines for the future of the community, has been updated.
Andrea Epps, vice president of the Brandermill board, is leading the effort, and the board has selected Richmond-based Designforum, a firm of land planners, urban designers and landscape architects.
"We were named best planned community in America in 1977 by Better Homes and Gardens magazine because of the carefully crafted master plan," Epps said. "It's now time to redefine that vision and embark on the journey that will carry us through the next 30 years."
The idea is to produce a more contemporary vision for the 2,800-acre mixed-use development ahead of the county's overhaul of its comprehensive plan, which is slated to begin early next year. The updated plan will establish new guidelines for countywide growth, as opposed to how the current plan addresses 21 individual areas of Chesterfield.
Epps said Brandermill's plan would cover everything from landscaping, transportation and open space to commercial development and public facilities. She said the goal is to have the plan incorporated into the county's new guidelines.
Several rounds of community meetings will be held to gather feedback, Epps said. She hopes the update will be completed by March.
Chesterfield's planning department and revitalization office support the update, saying it will help the community age gracefully and in line with the county's vision.
"What Brandermill needs really is somebody to go through, look at the existing land-use patterns -- because it's a mixed-use project -- and make sure that they still make sense," Chesterfield Planning Director Kirk Turner said. "They also need to look at those areas that seem to be in need of revitalization and make some recommendations for how they might become more vital."
Turner pointed to Brandermill's Market Square shopping center as a prime example of an area that could benefit from a fresh perspective.
From 2000 to 2007, Chesterfield's housing assessments averaged an annual increase of about 14 percent. Brandermill averaged an annual increase of about 9 percent, the lowest of all major communities in the county, according to a report by the Chesterfield County planning department.
"I think what you see is that Brandermill, given its age, is not increasing in value as rapidly as some other communities in the county, and I would expect them, as a board, to be concerned about that issue," Turner said.
Contact Wesley P. Hester at (804) 649-6976 or whester@timesdispatch.com.
Posted in General on 09.09.08
SHANE FINISHES 16TH IN THE NUE MOUNTAIN BIKE SERIES
Well the season is finally complete on the National Ultra Endurance (NUE) mountain bike race series and Shane was fortunate enough to come in 16th overall in the series. The series ended with the Shenandoah 100 and ended up being a very nice day to end the season. It was a long season and one that was both rewarding and agonizing all at the same time. Each of 4 races were 100 miles off road and in terms of time and effort are equivalent to an Iron Man Triathlon. Each race had its own challenges that took different strategies to overcome, but overall the comradery that developed out of the group of riders that all rode together through all the races and hundreds training miles will remain as the best race result.
Posted in Staff News on 09.08.08
Andrea Almond, ASLA was recently appointed to the Board of Tricycle Gardens where she will be serving on the Programs Committee. Tricycle Gardens is a local non-profit group whose goal is to provide garden building design, resources, and technical support, while helping neighborhood volunteers who build and manage community gardens. Empowered by their success with gardens in Church Hill, Carver, Winchester Green, and Fulton Hill and guided by their vision of creating self-sustaining, organic gardens throughout Richmond, Tricycle Gardens is now working closely with neighborhood organizations, local foundations, educational institutions, and city government to support the construction of several new community gardens. Working in partnership with Virginia Commonwealth University, and with generous support from the Robins Foundation, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, individuals and the business community, they are building a vibrant network of friends committed to making the city a green, beautiful, and healthy place for all to live. www.tricyclegardens.org
Posted in Staff News on 09.08.08
Andrea Almond, ASLA was recently elected as Vice President of Membership for the Virginia Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA). She also serves as Awards Committee Chair. Founded in 1899, ASLA is the national professional association for landscape architects, representing more than 18,200 members in 48 professional chapters and 68 student chapters. The Society's mission is to lead, to educate, and to participate in the careful stewardship, wise planning, and artful design of our cultural and natural environments. Members of the Society use their “ASLA” suffix after their names to denote membership and their commitment to the highest ethical standards of the profession. Learn more about landscape architecture online at www.asla.org.
Posted in Staff News on 09.08.08
Designforum wins praise for use of natural features and its focus on livability. Feature article in the Richmond Times Dispatch
By JOAN TUPPONCE
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
Developer HH Hunt never pictured the mature tree line in its Wilton on the James community as a central boulevard.
That image didn't materialize until the real estate development firm began working with the land planners and landscape architects at Designforum.
"Designforum wanted to preserve the trees and bring the houses closer to the street to create a community feel and increase sociability," said George Moore, HH Hunt's vice president of development. "It will be similar to Monument Avenue."
To emphasize the natural beauty of the land, Designforum positioned the lots in a way that would provide views of the river and the two lakes on the property in eastern Henrico County.
"They understand that every piece of the property is different and has unique environmental features," Moore said. "They incorporated those features into the land plan, and that creates a more desirable place to live."
Designforum partners and landscape architects Doug Cole, Andrew Bleckley and Shane Cusick met when they worked at DesignWorks in Charleston, S.C. They founded Designforum in Richmond in early 2006.
Their company offers services including urban design, community and regional planning, agricultural and rural land-use planning, landscape design and environmental planning, Cole said.
"Developers have an idea of what they want," he said. "They give us the pieces of the puzzle, and we put it all together."
The firm's landscape architects look at ways to improve the way people live and interact through their environment.
"Once you step out of your front door, landscape architecture is everything you see and feel, from designing a residential garden to designing a city and everything in between," Cusick said.
The company's headquarters is in the Emrick Flats development in Jackson Ward, a reflection of the partners' interest in historic preservation.
One of the company's specialties is new-urbanism neighborhoods, which are designed to contain a range of housing and jobs and to be walkable, Cusick said.
Daniel Sloan, a lawyer at McGuireWoods in Richmond, sees Designforum as a strong addition to the Richmond architectural community because of its focus on new urbanism in its designs.
"They are sensitive to new-urban principles and eager to incorporate sustainable-design techniques into their plans," said Sloan, the national counsel for the Congress for the New Urbanism and the U.S. Green Building Council.
Designforum works to put the human element into its designs. "A lot of times it's the intangibles of the project that make it special," Bleckley said. "Somebody has to think about the details that make the place memorable."
Since opening, Designforum has grown from one client to about 50.
The firm is working on projects throughout the local area, including Providence Creek mixed-use community and the Rutland Center office park, both in Hanover County; and Independence Village and Town Center residential and commercial projects in Petersburg.
"We've done well in diversifying," Cole said. "Many of our clients give us multiple projects. We work with local developers and development companies nationwide."
Bob Arnette, president of Coastal Virginia Developers in Suffolk, is working with Designforum on five projects, stretching from Williamsburg to Suffolk.
"We're doing some green communities now because of them," he said. "You don't see a lot of land planners thinking green."
Designforum uses the neighborhood community concept in designing projects.
"We are trying to get kids back out into the community for fresh air and social interaction," Cole said. "Our goal is qualify of life."
The company is creative in its approach, said George Emerson, president of Emerson Cos., a real estate development company that has worked on three projects with Designforum.
"They come up with some designs we haven't thought of," Emerson said. "They add a new dimension to land planning in Richmond that we are not used to seeing here."
Posted in In the News on 07.01.08
June 26, 2008
Doug, Shane and Cameron joined citizens of Hanover County, Hanover County Planning Officials, residents of the Rutland Community and the Rutland project team at the Grand Opening for the Rutland House.
The crowd heard remarks from several speakers, including Dan Schmitt, President of HHHunt Communities. In addition, an African American Cemetery, sensitively re-located to the Rutland House site, was dedicated as a memorial garden.
Renovated to serve as the communities' amenity center, the Rutland House, was originally constructed circa 1790. designforum was instrumental throughout each stage of the project: from the conceptual vision through the design, approval and installation the landscape.
Posted in breaking news on 06.30.08
Staying active in the cycling community Shane has completed the 2nd in 4 100 mile mountain bike races. The race series is part of the NUE (National Ultra Endurance) race series. The four races Shane has selected are the Cohutta 100 www.newleafadventures.com, Mohican 100 www.mohican.com, Wilderness 101 www.mountaintouring.com, and the Shenandoah 100 www.mountaintouring.com.
Posted in Staff News on 06.11.08
Shane moderated a panel discussion for the local ULI chapter for Young Leaders. The discussion examined the park and the river from both a historical perspective as well as a frank discussion of what steps need to be taken to make the park and river attractive for developing housing, attracting companies and promoting tourism.
Panelist included Robin Miller (Monroe Properties), Ralph White (Richmond Parks Department) and Jack Berry (Venture Richmond).
Posted in In the News on 06.11.08
Jon, Cameron, and Shane participate in Bike to Work Day!
Jon enjoyed the ride in so much that he says he is going to do it every Friday!
Cameron said that he is going to purchase a bike just to ride to work and that it only adds 3 minutes to his commute in the morning!
Way to go designforum, next year we hope to grow the participation to 100%!
Posted in Staff News on 05.23.08
Shane recently attended a conference on designing the parks which focused on the history of park design and how that will translate to a second conference in San Francisco to address actual park design for the future. Please read below for a description of the conference.
Feel free to contact Shane directly with any questions.
A Conference in Two Parts
The Charlottesville (Part I) and San Francisco (Part II) sessions of Designing the Parks will be linked in terms of content, themes, participants, and mutual relevance.
At both sessions, participants will include architects and landscape architects, historians, scientists, national and state park managers, partnership organizations, and others involved in park research, design, and management.
Many types of landscape reservations will be the subjects of papers and presentations at both meetings of Designing the Parks, including but not limited to scenic and wilderness reservations, historical and archeological parks, ethnographic and memorial sites, national heritage areas, and protected landscapes of all types.
The purpose of the Charlottesville sessions are to assess lessons learned through an examination of park planning and design history. The research presented will provide a foundation for presentations and workshops addressing the unique challenges facing current park design and management, which will be the subjects of the San Francisco meeting of the conference. The goal of the San Francisco session is to formulate design principles that will guide the NPS and other park managers as they embrace these new challenges and opportunities. Following the San Francisco sessions, graduate schools of design will be invited to apply these principles in design studios to test and validate their conceptual application to future park design.
Both parts of Designing the Parks will also stand independently for those attending one or the other of the meetings.
Posted in Landscape Architecture on 05.22.08
Doug and Shane rode in the Capital to Capital bike ride to show their support for the new greenway that will link Richmond and Williamsburg!
Posted in Staff News on 05.12.08
Staying active in the cycling community Shane has completed the first in 4 100 mile mountain bike races. The race series is part of the NUE (National Ultra Endurance) race series. The four races Shane has selected are the Cohutta 100 www.newleafadventures.com, Mohican 100 www.mohican.com, Wilderness 101 www.mountaintouring.com, and the Shenandoah 100 www.mountaintouring.com.
Posted in Staff News on 05.12.08
Cameron has joined the Richmond Committee on the Environment's Programs Committee. The primary goal of COTE Richmond being assisting the city in implementing the 2030 Global Challenge and achieving a carbon-neutral economy in Richmond. As part of the Programs Committee, Cameron assists in planning programs, events and exhibits which educate the public about 2030 Challenge and other "sustainable" initiatives.
Posted in General on 03.26.08
December, 2007
Cameron has joined the James River Green Building Council's Programs Committee. Serving on the committee, Cameron assists in planning various lecture series, social events and LEED Workshops in the Richmond area.
Posted in General on 01.31.08
CAMERON RUNS THE RICHMOND MARATHON
November 10, 2007
Cameron completed the 2007 Richmond Marathon in 3:42:51, an 8:35/mile pace. His time was just over two minutes faster than his goal of a 3:45 finish for the "first and last marathon" he will run.
Posted in Staff News on 01.31.08
ANDREA ALMOND JOINS DESIGNFORUM
October 15, 2007
“We shall not cease from exploration and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time.” T.S.Eliot
After graduating with a Bachelor’s degree of Landscape Architecture from Virginia Tech, Andrea moved to the coastal resort community of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina to work at Wood+Partners Inc. The Wood+Partners experience exposed her to a wide variety of projects, from large-scale master planning down to the details of construction drawings and construction observation. She quickly moved up from her entry level position to Project Manager Associate and ultimately managed multi-million dollar design projects and several design teams. By choice, her focus towards the end of her time at WPi was primarily on resort design and on zoning and entitlement projects.
When the opportunity presented itself to join designforum and move to Richmond, Andrea felt that her skills and experiences would be a perfect fit for the new firm. Having grown up in the rural community of Appomattox, Virginia, she was very excited to move closer to her family and to work on design projects that would serve to better the community where she grew up. Andrea believes that the current environment in Virginia is ripe for talented professionals to provide design services that will create meaningful and timeless places in the state.
Community involvement has always been an important part of Andrea’s career. She has volunteered with many groups over the years including: Habitat for Humanity, Literacy Volunteers of the Lowcountry, Hilton Head Island Design Review Board, Hilton Head Island Public Art Committee and the Design Arts Partnership of South Carolina. Perhaps most importantly she has been very actively involved in the American Society of Landscape Architects since college, serving in various capacities from National Student Trustee, National Committee Member, to her recent stint as South Carolina Chapter President. She looks forward to becoming just as involved in the Virginia ASLA and other community organizations that promote artful design, environmental sustainability and social justice.
Posted in Staff News on 01.31.08
Officials will gather in the Ladysmith Village subdivision this morning to herald what will become Caroline County’s second-largest park. Plans call for a multipurpose playing field, basketball, tennis and volleyball courts, a playground and picnic areas. Ladysmith Village is near the intersection of U.S. 1 and Ladysmith Road in the western half of Caroline. The groundbreaking ceremony starts at 11 a.m. at the future park site on Clark & York Boulevard. Newland Communities proffered the 10-acre site in its development proposal. After the park is completed, the county will maintain it. Michelle Partridge of Newland Communities said the park will take 18 months to complete, so it should open in April 2009. Planning Director Michael Finchum said only one county park, near Caroline High School, is larger. Finchum said Caroline also has several other park facilities operating in conjunction with the public school system and at the Dawn Progressive Center. Donnell Howard, the director of Caroline’s Parks and Recreation Department, said the park is “absolutely” needed. “I think, in a sense, it’s overdue,” Howard said, “simply because we’ve seen a rapid growth in our soccer program and participation in that particular area of the county.” The park will be inside the subdivision, which is planned to have 3,000 homes. But Howard said he thinks outside residents will use it, just as they use the public library in Ladysmith Village. “With growth in that community and the participation that’s come through our office, it’s advantageous for us,” Howard said. “Participation will increase even more.”
Posted in In the News on 01.02.08
Jobs coming to Petersburg area
Wednesday, Dec 05, 2007 - 12:08 AM Updated: 12:24 AM
By DAVID RESS
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER
PETERSBURG -- A huge development of homes and stores straddling the Petersburg-Prince George County line should generate 1,000 to 1,500 jobs, the project's developers said yesterday.
The ambitious plans of South Crater Road Development Group won approval last night by the Petersburg City Council and the Prince George Board of Supervisors at a joint meeting. Work on Independence Village could begin late next year, said developers from the South Crater Group.
When completed, the development should generate $3.7 million to $4.8 million a year in new real-estate sales and restaurant taxes for Petersburg and $744,000 to $854,000 in property and sales taxes for Prince George, the developers said.
Developers plan to pay $2 million to Petersburg to widen South Crater Road and will spend $1.5 million on water and sewer improvements, in addition to several other expenses.
They said they expected the project would generate more traffic on South Crater Road. The project would likely mean between 159 and 167 more students for Petersburg and Prince George schools.
Earlier this year, Petersburg and Prince George officials agreed on a water and sewer deal to serve the development.
Contact David Ress at (804) 649-6051 or dress@timesdispatch.com.
Posted in In the News on 12.05.07
PG, city near deal on 139-acre development
BY F.M. WIGGINS
STAFF WRITER, The Progress Index
10/18/2007
PETERSBURG — No official vote was taken, but the developer of the mixed-use development Independence Village was pleased with the results of a meeting between Petersburg City Council and the Prince George County Board of Supervisors on Wednesday night.
The two bodies met to discuss utility issues surrounding the development, which straddles the border between the two localities. The $150 million, 138.75-acre development needs water and sewer access to proceed.
If a proposed agreement between the two localities is approved, the entire development will make use of the city’s infrastructure even though 64.15 acres is in neighboring Prince George County.
Independence Village will include four distinct districts: mixed residential, which will be located in Petersburg; a main street district, also within the city limits; regional retail, which will be split nearly evenly between the city and the county; and an age-targeted residential district located completely in Prince George....
*To read more click the title above
Posted in In the News on 10.18.07
JON & KARI GET MARRIED!!!
Jon and Kari were married May 26, 2007 in Harrisonburg, VA.
Posted in Staff News on 07.27.07
Philadelphia, PA
In Mid May, Andrew Bleckley represented Designforum at the fifteenth Congress for the New Urbanism. The Congress featured seminars, tours and discussions that range from “timeless principles and techniques that shape walkable, human-scaled development to the latest strategies on challenges ranging from modern retail formats to affordable housing and foreign oil dependency.”
The tours of the Old City (Philadelphia) were perhaps the most enlightening. William Penn’s plan has experienced growth, neglect, blight, and has persevered. It maintains it sense of history and livability as it thrives in times of modern growth. Check out a few images in the Sketchbook. http://www.designforuminc.com/sketchbook/
Other speakers included:
John Prescott, MPDeputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
Kjell ForshedPrincipal, Brunnberg & Forshed Architects, Stockholm
Hon. Edward G. RendellGovernor, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Peter CalthorpeArchitect, Co-Founder of CNU, Author of The Next American Metropolis
Rep. Barney FrankRep. Barney Frank, U.S. Representative, Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee
Robert A.M. SternArchitect, Teacher, Writer and Dean of the Yale School of Architecture
Witold RybczynskiProfessor, Critic, Architect, and Author of Home
Denise Scott Brown Renowned Architect and Urbanist, and Co-Author of Learning from Las Vegas
Edward Mazria Senior Principal at Mazria Inc. and Founder of Architecture 2030
Elinor R. Bacon, President, E.R. Bacon Development LLC
Victor Dover, Principal , Dover Kohl & Partners
Andres Duany, Principal, Duany Plater-Zyberk & Company
Vincent Graham, President, I'On Group
James Howard. Kunstler, Author
John O. Norquist, President and CEO, Congress for the New Urbanism
Michael Watkins, Architect and Town Planner, Duany Plater-Zyberk & Company
Posted in General on 06.22.07
June 4, 2007
Shane continues the tradition of keeping designforum on the forefront of the green building movement by becoming the second person at designforum to become LEED accredited. He joins a very small group of landscape architects who are LEED accredited. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™ is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high performance green buildings and sites. LEED gives building owners and operators the tools they need to have an immediate and measurable impact on their site and buildings’ performance. LEED promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality.
http://www.usgbc.org
Posted in Staff News on 06.05.07
PETERSBURG, PRINCE GEORGE COULD SHARE MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT
BY T. DEVON ROBINSON 05/04/2007
STAFF WRITER
PETERSBURG — In about a decade, vacant land on South Crater Road in Prince George and Petersburg could be a bustling mixed-use development.
Norfolk-based Axis Development Co., LLC held an introductory session for its proposed development, Independence Village and Town Center, in the cafeteria of HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital last night.
Anthony Collins, president of Axis Development, presented the majority of the concept plan to over 50 local residents.
The 140-acre site straddles the boundary between Petersburg and Prince George near Rives Road.
“It will be a significant commercial input,” Collins said.
The development will use the new urbanism concept, which institutes pedestrian-friendly living, working and shopping spaces.
Cynthia Raitt Devereaux, president of the Petersburg Chamber of Commerce, sees the potential development as complementary to recent proposals from the Regional/Urban Development Assistance Team and the Virginia Local Initiatives Support Corp. These projects intend to revitalize areas of the city, including the Old Towne area, into cohesive and pedestrian-friendly communities.
“I am pleased they developed uses that are reflecting each other,” Devereaux said. “We are talking about creating space that draws people to the center.”
The development’s plans to create a town-like feel that includes shops and businesses that are near roadways, on-street parking and ample public spaces in the residential and commercial regions.
“It’s going to have a very unique identity,” Collins said.
The residential properties in the development will be located in both Petersburg and Prince George, Collins said. Axis Development intends to build about 120 age-restricted single-family homes in Prince George and about 330 multi-family homes in Petersburg.
Craig Wilson, a planner for K.W. Poore and Associates in Richmond, said that the development would spur economic growth more than a large subdivision.
“If you put nothing but homes in it, the impact will be greater,” he said.
The retail portions of the development may add an additional $750,000 in tax revenue in Prince George County and about $4 million in Petersburg, Wilson said.
“I’m excited about this,” said Leon Hughes, director of planing for Prince George County. “This is one of two we’re going to have like this.”
Hughes said another mixed-used development has been planned for the county’s courthouse area.
Leonard Muse, Petersburg’s director of planning, said that the proposal was too conceptual for him to form an opinion on it but he said it would be an interesting challenge from a zoning perspective.
“This is different,” he said. “It represents a new and different type of design.”
Axis Development will have to refine its concept and win approval from the Petersburg and Prince George planning commissions, as well as the City Council and Board of Supervisors.
• T. DeVon Robinson may be reached at 722-5160 or at trobinson@progress-index.com.
©The Progress-Index 2007
Posted in General on 05.04.07
BETTER DEVELOPMENT SYMPOSIUM
In March, Andrew Bleckley participated in the Better Development Symposium in Historic Downtown Staunton, Virginia. The event was hosted by the Valley Conservation Council and featured walking tours and an awards ceremony. Among the highlights was a presentation by Stewart Schwartz of the Coalition for Smarter Growth, and a guided tour of the Miller & Associates’ redevelopment of the historic Western State Campus (aka- The Villages of Staunton).
Posted in General on 05.01.07
DOUG COLE, SHANE CUSICK AND CAMERON BARRADALE TO CONDUCT A CHARRETTE IN THE TOWN OF FARMVILLE TO DEVELOP A GREENWAY AND TRAIL SYSTEM MASTER PLAN
April 2006
Farmville Greenways and Trails to Receive Assistance from American Society of Landscape Architects, National Park Service and Design Forum
By India Cox
Greenways and trails – open space managed for recreation and conservation that are accessible to walkers, runners, bikers, strollers, birders and wildflower enthusiasts – are taking hold in Farmville. Last month the Town’s Trail Advisory Committee and the Greater Farmville Greenway Alliance sponsored a community forum, attended by 50 enthusiastic citizens. Town Manager Gerry Spates was one of the presenters at the forum, providing an overview of the Town’s efforts to-date, including a multi-use trail proposed along Milnwood Road, the Wilkes Lake Trail and a connection from Wilkes Lake to the existing Dogwood Trail.
According to Janet Green, Chair of the Trails Advisory Committee, the focus of the forum was to expand understanding and awareness of greenway benfits, learn from other communities undertaking similar projects, and encourage citizens to participate in future discussion related to greenway and trail development. “There is an incredible amount of support and enthusiasm in the community,” said Green. “Many understand the value of trails similar to the one presently planned around Wilck’s Lake, and want to see the system expanded.
A two-part workshop or “charette” will be held on Tuesday evening, April 24, 2007 from 6:30-8:30pm at the Farmville Train Depot, followed by a Saturday session on April 28, 2007 from 9:00am-1:00pm at the newly completed Farmville Town Hall. Pro bono landscape architecture design assistance will be provided through The Design Forum, a Richmond-based firm that is planning other trail system around the state, including a segment of the Virginia Capital Trail. The Design Forums’ participation in the project was made possible through an agreement between the National Park Service and American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) to assist locally-led trail and greenway initiatives.
According to Lynn Krump, ASLA Virginia Chapter President, the partnership illustrates creative new ways that small town and communities across the country are tapping into expertise that, in the past, was only available to larger communities with larger financial resources.
For more information on Farmville Trails and Greenways and the April Community Workshops contact the Trails Advisory Committee. For information on The National Park Service’s Rivers, and Trails Program, visit www.nps.gov/rtca; for The American Society of Landscape Architects, visit www.asla.org; for Design Forum, visit www.designforuminc.com.
Posted in General on 04.27.07
DOUG COLE & CAMERON BARRADALE ATTEND THE ASLA GREEN URBANISM CONFERENCE
April, 2007
Doug Cole and Cameron Barradale attended the Green Urbanism Conference in Alexandria, Virginia sponsored by American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA). Green Urbanism is the synthesis of urban planning, architecture and landscape architecture combined with sustainable practices of eco-logically-sensitive development and natural resource protection.
Posted in General on 04.27.07
DOUG COLE & SHANE CUSICK ASSIST THE TOWN OF APPOMATTOX IN DEVELOPING TRAIL NETWORK MASTER PLAN
March, 2007
Architects look into park plans
By Sarah Watson
Lynchburg News & Advance
March 31, 2007
Plans for a proposed recreation trail in Appomattox linking the town to two nearby parks are moving closer to reality.
Two volunteer landscape architects met with the Appomattox Heritage and Recreational Trail planning team Thursday. They began discussing what will be needed to design a master plan for a biking and walking trail linking the town to Appomattox Court House National Park and the Appomattox county park.
Richmond-based landscape architects Doug Cole and Shane Cusick will volunteer their time and services through an agreement with the National Park Service Rivers and Trails program, park service project manager Ursula Lemanski said.
Cole and Cusick, both cycling enthusiasts, also are designing a trail between Richmond and Williamsburg.
Cole recently rode his bike from Richmond to Lynchburg, his hometown, and thought it would be cool if a trail linked the two cities so bikers didn’t have to ride next to cars and trucks moving at 60 mph.
Using information in a recently completed study and general project overview conducted by the Region 2000 local government council, Cole and Cusick will design and complete a master plan for the trail system by the fall.
Part of the study included a brief survey from town and county residents about the proposed trail system. More than 90 percent of responders said they wanted a regional trail that would highlight the area’s history.
Almost 60 percent of responders said they wanted the trail system to help link neighborhoods with schools so children had a safer way to walk to classes.
Both the town and county approved the plan in February.
The long-range goal is for the town of Appomattox to act as a trail hub, with other trails linking areas throughout the state feeding into the system, Lemanski said.
Appomattox’s mayor John Wilson is trying to promote the town as a walkable community to benefit residents and to promote economic and tourism development.
“We’ve been looking for many years for opportunities to connect the town with the park and other attractions in the county,” he said.
The town recently applied for a Virginia Department of Transportation grant to study pedestrian movement. Using that information, town officials hope to start revitalizing sidewalks and improve business corridors for those moving around on foot.
The two architects will return in a few weeks to take a tour of the town, Cusick said. “Cycling is one of our passions so it was really a no-brainer to volunteer.”
Posted in General on 04.27.07
SHANE CUSICK IS LICENSED TO PRACTICE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE IN NC
March 16, 2006
designforum is pleased to announce that Shane Cusick has passed the North Carolina Landscape Architect Registration Examination (LARE) and is licensed to practice Landscape Architecture. Shane’s achievement improves the firm’s competitive edge by increasing the number of licensed Landscape Architects in the office and by increasing the regions in which designforum practices.
Shane is an Associate at designforum and provides master planning, site planning, urban in-fill, construction documents and construction observation to clients across the region. His projects have included urban parks, regional parks, neighborhood design. He has extensive experience providing layout, grading and drainage in the preparation of landscape plans; field observation and construction administration; coordination of drawings between architects and engineering consultants; preparation of specifications and preparation and submittal drawings for reviewing agencies of various zoning and permitting agencies.
Shane, an Ohio State University graduate, received his Bachelor’s of Landscape Architecture degree and a minor in City and Regional Planning in 2001.
Posted in General on 04.27.07
DESIGNFORUM OFFICE TAKES TRIP TO CHARLESTON, SC
February, 2007
Charleston, SC was the destination of Designforum’s first annual all office trip. We were lucky to have 100% attendance and perfect weather. In addition to the historical sights of Charleston, the Village of Mt. Pleasant and Rockville, we visited projects that we had worked on in the past such as Daniel Island, Beresford Hall, Ion, One Vendue Range, the Holocaust Memorial, Fresh Fields and Seaside Farms.
Posted in General on 04.27.07
SHANE CUSICK PLACES 3RD IN 12 HOURS OF RAZORBACK BIKE RACE
February, 2007
Shane Cusick and his team placed third in the 12 hour bike race in Reddick, Florida.
Posted in General on 04.27.07
DOUG COLE IS LICENSED TO PRACTICE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE IN MARYLAND
January, 2007
designforum is pleased to announce that Doug Cole licensed to practice Landscape Architecture in the State of Maryland. Doug is also registered in Virginia and South Carolina. Doug’s registration improves the firm’s competitive edge by increasing the states in which designforum practices.
Doug is a Partner at designforum and oversees all projects within the office including re-zoning applications, master planning, park planning, site design, construction documents and construction observation. His award winning projects have included master plans ranging in size from several acres to several thousand acres, park plans including active and passive uses, sustainable design, design guidelines and Planned Unit Developments.
An advocate of neo-traditional planning and smart growth principles, Doug has worked on projects in nine states.
Doug, a Virginia Tech graduate, received his Bachelor’s of Landscape Architecture degree in 1985.
Posted in General on 04.27.07
CAMERON BARRADALE BECOMES LEED ACCREDITED
November 28, 2006
Cameron Barradale has become the first person at designforum to become LEED accredited. He is in a very small group of landscape architects who are LEED accredited. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™ is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high performance green buildings and sites. LEED gives building owners and operators the tools they need to have an immediate and measurable impact on their site and buildings’ performance. LEED promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality.
Posted in General on 04.27.07
DOUG COLE COMPLETES FLORIDA IRONMAN
November 4, 2006
Doug Cole completed his second Ironman Triathlon on November 4, 2006. Located in Panama City, Florida, the Ironman consisted on a 2.4 mile swim, a 112 mile bike ride and a 26.2 mile run. Doug’s time of 12 hours, 7 minutes and 11 seconds placed him in the top third of all finishers.
Posted in General on 04.27.07
SHANE CUSICK COMPLETES SHENANDOAH 100
September, 2006
Shane Cusick completed the grueling Shenandoah 100 mile mountain bike race and finished in 153 out of 400 riders to arrive at the finish line in just over 11 hours.
Posted in General on 04.27.07
DESIGNFORUM PRESENTS BRANNER STATION MASTER PLAN
Branner Station Development Brings Major Road Improvements with It
By Mark Fausz (The Village News)
Sep 20, 2006
Some say it’s all in the presentation. In zoning cases, many times that is true. Almost 200 people gathered last Wed. evening at Carver Middle School to hear about a development that has piqued the interest of many local residents since word that HHHunt, the developers of Wellesley, Twin Hickory and Charter Colony had purchased over 1,600 acres along Branders Bridge Rd. in Chester.
The proposed zoning change would allow Hunt to build a community that, according to some, rivals most in the metro Richmond area. According to the developers the company that designed the project, Design Forum, used practically every smart growth principle that exists, proposing a compact design that allows for expanded green space and public areas. Sidewalks, trails, a town center with shops and more dense development, as well as neo-traditional development are also part of the proposed project and considered to be cutting edge smart growth.
What could be the most important part of the rezoning and the most favorable to Chesterfield’s transportation department is the road infrastructure that is being proffered with the zoning case. Hunt is proffering $70 million in off-site road building. When the project is completed "in about 15 to 20 years," according to Hunt’s president Dan Schmitt, a four-lane highway will extend from the new community north crossing Rt. 10 and then joining Chester Rd., where two additional lanes will be added to connect to Route 288 virtually creating a Chester bypass. One the south end of the proposed community a section of the Cross County Highway, part of the Chesterfield Thoroughfare Plan, will be built eastward to connect with Ruffin Mill Rd. at I-95.
Additional enhancements will be made to a short section of Happy Hill Rd. making improvement east from "new" Happy Hill Rd. to Harrowgate Rd.
These roads will be built in phases as the development proceeds the first phase being a two lane highway between Branders Bridge Rd. north to Route 10 at the Womack Rd. intersection.
As part of the road infrastructure inside the development, a new shoulder will be added to Branders Bridge and Bradley Bridge roads along the projects eastern and northern edges.
At the meeting on Wednesday there was not much opposition to the project itself and several in the room complimented the design of the community and the presentation, but there where concerns.
"You have schools busting at the seams now, and you’re going to add [4500] more homes? Where are we going to put them?" said Brenda Eggleston, who has an child in elementary school.
Hunt is proffering (giving the county) 90.7 acres of land that can be designated for schools. Schmitt said, "The County will have to address that issue and I don’t know right now."
Allen Carmody, of the county’s budget office, said, "If schools had to make a decision today they would more than likely put a high school and elementary school on this property." He added that schools are typically paid for through bond referenda and it will be at least five or six years before another bond referendum is brought to the public.
A 30.8 acre parcel of land has been set aside adjacent to the school sites, as indicated on the developers schematic that would allow for athletic fields as well as passive park area.
Addition park space and trails along the main four-lane boulevard-type north to south roadway, and a 52.8 acre park being called Linear Park is being proposed along the southern edge of the project.
Some individuals present at the meeting said they would be dramatically affected by the project when Happy Hill Rd. is extended into the property as the main east-west thoroughfare and as the main access road enters the property. Schmitt responded that the Hunt company will be a good neighbor and will discuss individual options for those concerned. "We want to be the best neighbors we can," he said.
The proffers on the project are being structured in a very unique way. Instead of paying the current proffer of $15,600 per lot as the development proceed and splitting that cash between, transportation, schools, public safety, parks and recreation and libraries, the lions share of the proffers will go to transportation in the form of roads equaling or exceeding the amount of funds that the county would normally receive from such a project. The other county departments will receive property of some value as mentioned above. According to Planning Commissioner Jack Wilson this option is a win/win opportunity for the county. "The HH Hunt application presents real opportunities to address some of the infrastructure needs in the Chester area. It also, because of its size, incorporates many of the smart growth characteristics we have been striving for at the Planning Commission. I will be paying particular attention to the details of the proffers to ensure that the case we consider is the best it can be for our community."
According to Lynn Crump, president of the Chester Community Association, the organization has been working with the county and HH Hunt to create the best possible scenario for the community. "
"The project is well thought out and sympathetic to the existing conditions. It will be an asset to the community at large and has the developer has done a good job of ensuring only positive impact on the community. We know that the population of Chester and the county is slated to increase in population by about 30 percent in coming years, and as we move from a rural community to a suburban one, how that growth will happen will impact our community greatly. If we are going to see that kind of growth we need to be assured that it happens in such as way as to maintain and enhance the viable and desirable community that we have.
"As this project develops its connection, through roads and trails, to the community is vital. Their proposal to develop connection roads and phasing will drive through traffic to those roads keeping the feel of our current system.
"The developer’s transparency and openness to work with the community and adjacent landowners is admirable. This kind of cooperation ensures a quality development that will become assets to the community.
"We as a community need to be sure that we do not create so many hurdles that the project is sold off and turned over to a variety of other developers that do not have as good a vision," Crump said.
The Chesterfield County Planning Commission has scheduled a public hearing for the Branner Station rezoning for October 17.
© Copyright by Village Publishing LLC
Posted in General on 04.27.07
DESIGNFORUM HOSTS ULI YOUNG LEADERS CONFERENCE
August 8, 2006
designforum hosted a Urban Land Institute (ULI) Young Leaders conference to discuss the design of Wilton on the James, a 1,184 acre 3,209 unit neo-traditional community located in Henrico County Virginia.
The ULI is a nonprofit research and education organization created to facilitate the open exchange of ideas, information and experience among local and national industry leaders and policy makers dedicated to promoting responsible land use in development.
Approximately 50 people attended the conference and everyone came away with a better understanding of designforum and Wilton on the James. Some of the agencies represented at the conference include planners from the City of Richmond, the counties of Henrico, Chesterfield and Hanover, the Redevelopment Authority, real estate agencies, developers, zoning attorneys, and various engineering and design firms.
Wilton on the James is the first neo-traditional community in the Central Virginia area. The overall concept for was to create a richly diverse community that reflects the values and needs of Henrico County and takes full advantage of the great natural resources the land had to offer. The intent of the Master Plan is to provide everyone who lives, works or visits Wilton the opportunity to walk, bicycle or drive from neighborhood to neighborhood without having to go out onto a main road. The design of Wilton will be reminiscent of older, traditional neighborhoods in Richmond and Virginia
The plan for Wilton includes the following:
• access to the James River, including a 2 mile riverfront park
• preservation of the Chesapeake Bay Resource Protection Area and significant wetlands
• a significant number of parks and green spaces
• a town center for retail and office space
Posted in General on 04.27.07
CAMERON BARRADALE JOINS DESIGNFORUM
July 28, 2006
Cameron Barradale joined the designforum team in July, 2006. Originally from Richmond, he received his Bachelor of Landscape Architecture degree from Clemson University. During his studies at Clemson, he studied in Barcelona. After graduation, Barradale worked at DesignWorks in Charleston.
Barradale is a member of the American Society of Landscape Architects, the James River Green Building Council and the US Green Building Council. Barradale’s experience includes site design, environmental design and all facets of landscape architectural services.
In his free time Cameron enjoys traveling and competing in 10K and half-marathons.
Posted in General on 04.26.07
JON HERSHEY JOINS DESIGNFORUM
June 28, 2006
Jon joined the designforum team in June, 2006. Originally from Harrisonburg, Virginia, he graduated from Virginia Tech in May 2006, with a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture Degree. During his time at Tech, Jon received the ASLA Outstanding Student Award for his undergraduate work. Jon is interested in all scales of design, from small urban spaces to large master planning projects. He is also intrigued by sustainable design, and its role within the field of landscape architecture.
In his free time Jon enjoys spending time outdoors, traveling, and spending time with his friends and family. He is looking forward to his upcoming marriage to Kari next May.
Posted in General on 04.26.07
SHANE CUSICK APPOINTED TO COMMITTEE WITH VIRGINIA ASLA
May, 2006
Shane Cusick has elected to join the allied committee with the Virginia Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects. Through this committee, he will serve as the National Park Service liaison for collaborative projects within the state.
Posted in General on 04.26.07
ANDREW BLECKLEY IS LICENSED TO PRACTICE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE IN SC
April 25, 2006
designforum is pleased to announce that Andrew Bleckley has passed the South Carolina Landscape Architect Registration Examination (LARE) and is licensed to practice Landscape Architecture. Andrew’s achievement improves the firm’s competitive edge by increasing the number of licensed Landscape Architects in the office and by increasing the regions in which designforum practices.
Andrew is an Associate at designforum and provides master planning, site planning, construction documents and construction observation to clients across the region in addition to assisting in re-zoning applications for developments throughout the commonwealth. His award winning projects have included master plans ranging from 20 acres to over 4800 acres. He has extensive experience in neo-traditional design and smart growth principles
Andrew, a Clemson University graduate, received his Bachelor’s of Landscape Architecture degree in 2002.
Posted in General on 04.26.07
SHANE CUSICK IS LICENSED TO PRACTICE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE IN SC
March 16, 2006
designforum is pleased to announce that Shane Cusick has passed the South Carolina Landscape Architect Registration Examination (LARE) and is licensed to practice Landscape Architecture. Shane’s achievement improves the firm’s competitive edge by increasing the number of licensed Landscape Architects in the office and by increasing the regions in which designforum practices.
Shane is an Associate at designforum and provides master planning, site planning, urban in-fill, construction documents and construction observation to clients across the region. His projects have included urban parks, regional parks, neighborhood design. He has extensive experience providing layout, grading and drainage in the preparation of landscape plans; field observation and construction administration; coordination of drawings between architects and engineering consultants; preparation of specifications and preparation and submittal drawings for reviewing agencies of various zoning and permitting agencies.
Shane, an Ohio State University graduate, received his Bachelor’s of Landscape Architecture degree and a minor in City and Regional Planning in 2001.
Posted in General on 04.26.07
DESIGNFORUM, INC. OPENS FOR BUSINESS
March 1, 2006
designforum, a design studio focusing on urban design, town planning and landscape architecture opened for business on March 1, 2006. Created from the best of what was learned at some of the country’s most acclaimed and creative design firms, designforum combines innovative design with practical building experience. With over 35 years of experience from founding partners, designforum is a collaboration of ideas, processes and experiences. Current master plans include Wilton on the James, a 1200 acre neo-traditional community in Henrico County; Branner Station, a 1600 acre smart growth community in Chesterfield County; White Hall, a 127 acre community in James City County; Randolph’s Landing County Park, a 200 acre park in Henrico County; Riverbluffs, a 240 acre community in Wilmington, NC; Golden Eagle Resort, a 470 acre resort community in Irvington, VA; Sharpton, a 45 acre community in Sharpton, Maryland; and the Henrico County Visitor’s Center.
Posted in General on 04.24.07
1301 West Main Street Richmond, VA 23220 | 804.340.2848 |