February 2007
Lincoln Village Charrette
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On February 9, 2007, the
Loudoun County Design Cabinet participated in a
charrette in Lincoln, which occurred after
Lincoln residents spoke to the Cabinet about the
need to provide a productive public discussion
about increasing traffic and vehicle speeding in
the village, and the need to develop streetscape
options to help mitigate the traffic problems.
At the charrette, held at the Lincoln Studios in
Lincoln, the Design Cabinet received public
input and came up with conceptual designs. A
summary of the February 9 meeting is online:
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September 2006
South and Harrison Streets, Leesburg Charrette
On September 22, 2006, the Loudoun County Design
Cabinet came together with the public at the request of
Peter Burnett and the Leesburg Crossroads to look at
possible redevelopment for the intersection of South and
Harrison Streets in Leesburg. This intersection is an
important node since it is in the transition zone
between the Historic District and the future Crescent
District. After receiving input from the community, the
Loudoun County Design Cabinet broke into two groups to
come up with solutions to two different scenarios.
The first design maintained the current zoning uses,
keeping the house at 204 South Street as a duplex, group
home, home office. The team proposed making streetscape
improvements, adding sidewalks and crosswalks to make
the area more pedestrian friendly.
The second design assumed that zoning could change. This
team proposed intensifying the corners of the
intersection. The current parking lot would become
office complex; the house at 204 South Street would be
moved and built out further. Streetscape improvements
would also include sidewalks and traffic calming
devices.
A copy of the summary report is available online:
November 2005
Lucketts Community Vision Charrette
On November 18, 2005, the
Design Cabinet assembled with many community
stakeholders to embark on an initial discussion of what
the future of Lucketts would be. This discussion
was viewed strictly as a preliminary exploration to see
where various citizens and stakeholders could agree on
common ground themes.
The attendees were divided into two smaller groups to
make it easier to brainstorm and gather ideas. The two
groups did not have separate agendas nor strategies, but
were asked to look at the baseline assumptions and
future vision of the region.
The group then reconvened as a whole to identify common
threads of discussion and "ideas that sparkle" -
suggestions from one group or the other that warrant
particular attention. Shared responses included:
resolving traffic issues; preserving the historic
village; need for more restaurants & small town shops;
maintain a heart and center of Lucketts; explore
alternative walkability solutions; maintain chance for
affordable housing; making zoning revisions; options for
a sanctioned community advisory group; and incorporation
of the Historic District. Two ideas that "sparkled" were
to meet with Round Hill to share experiences and connect
the neighborhoods with bike, walking trails. |
September 2005
Lovettsville "Seamless Transition" Charrette
The Design Cabinet held an interactive Conceptual Design
Charrette to establish a vision of the possibilities of
Lovettsville new central commercial district along
Broadway.
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May 2005
Middleburg
Visitor and Transportation Center Charrette
The Design Cabinet
met with the Main Street Middleburg Committee on May 26,
2005, to work on a Commuter Transport Design. The goal
is to develop an exemplary project that makes a great
first impression on visitors and capitalize on the new
gateway to the Town's commercial district.
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April 2005
Hamilton Downtown
Development Charrette
On April 15, 2005,
the Loudoun County Design Cabinet worked with the town
of Hamilton to develop a design for infill in Hamilton's
downtown along Colonial Highway. The objects of the
charrette were to develop a plan to attract small
businesses to downtown, develop a downtown compatible
with present town design and community image, and
effectively use space and building that were available
for redevelopment. The goal was also to maintain a
vision of a walkable town and small community.
July 2004
Barber & Ross Redevelopment Charrette
Main Street Loudoun and Leesburg
Crossroads requested the service of the Loudoun County
Design Cabinet to help Barber & Ross contract purchaser
(Mitchell & Best) gain understanding of the concepts and
desires of the community, Leesburg town staff, officials
and citizens, in order to prepare and submit plans for
the redevelopment of the central site that will be in
conformance with the towns ordinances and regulations,
but at the same time be cost-effective for the owners.
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May 2004
Round Hill Downtown District Charrette
Town
representatives, Main Street Loudoun members, and the
Loudoun Design Cabinet’s group of architects, designers,
and planners gathered to develop a plan for the
future of Round Hill's commercial development. The
session was held at the Round Hill Arts Center, and was
hosted by the Center’s Wally Johnson and Hope Hanes.
At issue were three locations in and around Round Hill:
the Main Street district, the 12-acre Eckles property at
the intersection of Route 7 and Evening Star Drive, and
the Hill High Orchards site east of town on Route 7.
Participants developed a list of ideas for Round Hill’s
overall identity, including its possibilities as a
center for visual and performing arts, and as a hub for
outdoor recreation.
Participants then split into two groups and created more
specific ideas for the individual sites. Among the
concepts developed were expanding Round Hill’s
commercial tax base by redeveloping existing structures
on Main Street for commercial use, and increasing the
numbers of small local businesses and parking
availability.
At the same time, participants stressed that the Eckles
property should be a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood
convenience center, while not replicating services
provided on Main Street. Additionally, the group
explored the idea of using Hill High Orchards, with its
prime location and visibility on Route 7, as a gateway
or visitor’s center for those heading east towards
Leesburg or west towards the Blue Ridge.
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Design Cabinet members illustrate ideas for downtown
redevelopment during the Round Hill charrette. |
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March
2004
Loudoun Valley Shopping Center-IGA in
Purcellville
The
Loudoun County Design Cabinet, in cooperation with Main
Street Loudoun and the Town of Purcellville, held a
successful design charrette on March 19, 2004 at the old
IGA center on E. Main Street in Purcellville. The
Cabinet worked with representatives of the property
owner and town officials to develop some ideas for the
redevelopment and rehabilitation of the shopping center,
built in 1967-68.
These ideas will be considered by the town in its
current comprehensive plan update, and by the property
owner as they make decisions on how to best redevelop
the center so that it is more profitable for the owner
and enhances the Main Street corridor.
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This architectural sketch was developed
by the Loudoun County Design Cabinet during the March
2004 charrette in Purcellville. |
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The Loudoun County Design
Cabinet teamed up with Main Street Loudoun on a
charrette December 15, 2003, to assist a nonprofit Taylorstown community organization that has purchased
the store property. The group is working to renovate
the two buildings on the site to open the store for the
community again. The great ideas generated by the
Cabinet are being used by the community to move forward
with the renovation plans.
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May
2003
Cole Property/Purcellville's Eastern Gateway Charrette
The Loudoun County Design Cabinet met on May 16, 2004,
to develop design ideas for future improvements to
Purcellville's eastern gateway area (Rt. 287 from the
Bypass to E. Main and E. Main between Rt. 287 and Maple
Avenue). Recommendations for East Main Street/ 287
Entrance Corridor included: creating a "telescopic
gateway" – maintain rural "feel" of the streetscape,
making the corridor more pedestrian friendly, and more
downtown as you travel west from Pickwick Drive;
creating entrance features including signage, lighting,
traffic circles and sidewalks
Recommendations for Cole Property: developing a "Village
within a village" with respect to existing historic
buildings, preserving the character, including lodging
to fill a needed gap in the community as a whole,
needing to address the property owner’s interest in
creating a service station on the site – including
examples of "country store" style gas stations with
subdue lighting and respect to adjacent residential
areas.
March 2003
Leesburg Executive Airport Charrette
The Loudoun County Design Cabinet conducted a charrette
March 21, 2003, to develop design alternatives for a new
welcome center/gateway for the Leesburg Executive
Airport. The meeting included members of Leesburg’s
airport commission and staff, and representatives from
Leesburg’s and Loudoun’s Departments of Economic
Development and The Metropolitan Washington Airports
Authority.
Ideas presented at the meeting focused on creating
exterior gateway features as well as an interior visitor
display area at the airport. The goals of the project
are to draw more visitors to the airport as a
destination and to more effectively link the airport
site with Leesburg’s history and tourist attractions.
The group also considered using the display area to
inform visitors about the airport’s original benefactor,
Arthur Godfrey. Godfrey was a Loudoun resident, an
advocate of civil aviation, and donated the land for
Loudoun's first airstrip and later for the area which
today is Leesburg Airport.
Following the September 11, 2001, attacks, the county
received a $350,000 Recovery Grant from the U.S.
Economic Development Administration, and $70,000 of the
grant was earmarked to help the airport. The ideas
presented at the charrette will be summarized and used
to help Loudoun's Department of Economic Development
develop a thorough request for proposals for the design
of the airport gateway project. |
September 2002
George C. Marshall
Foundation-Dodona Manor, Leesburg Charrette
The
Loudoun County Design Cabinet hosted
members of the George C. Marshall International
Foundation Board of Directors, staff from the Town of
Leesburg and the Department of Economic Development
September 20, 2002. Marshall Foundation Board member
Cate Wyatt sought the assistance of the Design Cabinet,
which is comprised of local architects and engineers, in
brainstorming master plan possibilities for the
foundation’s properties in Leesburg’s historic district.
In addition to the foundation's centerpiece, Dodona
Manor, the group has acquired eight surrounding
properties, including the Inglenook building, and those
currently housing Mom’s Apple Pie, La Chosita Grill, the
shops at Southern Exchange, a private residence, and
several antique stores.
During the session, participants were divided into three
groups and addressed three different potential
scenarios. The first proposal focused on the adaptive
reuse of the existing historic structures while having a
minimum impact on the open landscape. The proposal’s
objectives included showcasing George C. Marshall,
preserving natural features on the land, and working to
promote the architecture of the area. The second
proposal sought to create a mixed-use area that
maximizes the area’s potential, in part by using the
Foundation’s properties for a series of office,
residential, and event locations, while working with the
Loudoun Museum to create a mass of museum and
educational uses in the historic district. The third
plan creates a more pedestrian-friendly area with
disguised parking structures, traffic calming measures,
a new visitor’s center at the current location of Mom’s
Apple Pie, and a new two or three story commercial area
on Loudoun Street that would also include residential
space at the back of the buildings. This commercial area
would be surrounded by retail locations.
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