The Kinston Waterfront Now!

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The Kinston Waterfront - Now!

Recommendations for Rebuilding the Riverfront

This project is a joint venture of the Downtown Design Studio and the Department of Landscape Architecture at College

of Design, North Carolina State University; Lenoir County Center - NC Cooperative Extension; and the Pride of Kinston.

Spring 2006

CONCEPTUAL VISION PLAN


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Kinston Waterfront Design Project Team:

Project Directors:

Dr. Celen Pasalar, Director of Downtown Design Studio, Extension Planning Specialist

Ko Boone, Assistant Professor of Landscape Architecture

NCSU Landscape Architecture Graduate Students (LAR 500):

Adam Bell

William Davis

Claudia Gabaldon

Richard Ham

Courtney Hinson

Micah Linker

Em Lyford

Brad Maples

Harmony Miller

Michael Ouchakof

James Prestien

Darren Sandvik

Caitlin Sloop

Eric Surratt

Molly Wood

Sponsored by

North Carolina State University, University Extension, Engagement, and Economic Development Grant

August 2006


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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This document is the result of true collaboration of many groups working together.

We would like to thank the city of Kinston and its residents for their support and input throughout the project. This projec

is a reection of the dreams and aspirations of many people who are devoted to improve their community. We would like

to thank the Pride of Kinston, Inc., the Kinston Waterfront Taskforce, and specically Adrian King, Dr. Lyn C. Turner,

and Thomas Pressly for their unending enthusiasm and commitment to assist with any tasks through the entire

process. We also would like to thank to Tommy Lee, the Planning Director, for his support and his insights through the

development of the project ideas.

We would like to thank Tammy D. Kelly, County Extension Director of Lenoir County Center, North Carolina Cooperative

Extension, for her support and ability to connect us with so many participants to the project.

This project would not be possible without the input and support of all those who attended the workshops, reviews

and presentations and answered surveys and students questions. We also would like to thank the U.S. Army Corps o

Engineers and North Carolina Emergency Management representatives and Rodney Swink, the director of the North

Carolina Ofce of Urban Development, for their constructive feedbacks. Our thanks go to the College of Design, Land

scape Architecture faculty, who attended the reviews at various times.

Our special thanks also go to the College of Design, Dean Marvin Malecha for his strong support to conduct this project

We also would like to thank Arthur Rice (Associate Dean for Graduate Studies, College of Design), Jim Clark (Specia

Assistant to the Vice Chancellor, Ofce of Extension, Engagement, and Economic Development), Jon Ort (Assistan

Vice Chancellor, Extension and Engagement), and Wanda Sykes (Southeast District Extension Director) for their

continuous support and recommendations on the progress of the project.

We also would like to thank Joshua Peery, who contributed to editing and assembling of this document. Finally we would

like to thank all of our students for their hard work throughout the semester.


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This project and document are dedicated

to our friend and third year master s of

Landscape Architecture student, Claudia

Gabaldon-Cotrim. Claudia, you will be sorely

missed but you will never be forgotten.

(LAR 500 - Spring 2006)


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CONTENTS

1. Introduction................................................................................................................................................................1

2. The Community..........................................................................................................................................................2

2.1 Context.........................................................................................................................................................2

3. Community Goals......................................................................................................................................................3

3.1 Design Challenge........................................................................................................................................3

3.2 Design Process...........................................................................................................................................3

3.3 Case Study Research.................................................................................................................................3

3.4 Trip to Chattanooga....................................................................................................................................4

3.5 First Kinston Trip........................................................................................................................................5

3.6 In-house Design Competition....................................................................................................................6

3.7 Seminars and Meetings with Outside Agencies......................................................................................6

3.8 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and North Carolina Emergency Management......................................6

3.9 Stormfest.....................................................................................................................................................6

4. Community Involvement...........................................................................................................................................7

4.1 The First Community Workshop...............................................................................................................7

4.2 The Second Community Workshop..........................................................................................................8

4.3 The Final Presentation...............................................................................................................................8

5. Project Goals............................................................................................................................................................10

5.1 Analysis of the Existing Conditions........................................................................................................10

5.2 Programming.............................................................................................................................................11

6. The Conceptual Plan................................................................................................................................................14

6.1 Strategic Actions.......................................................................................................................................14

6.2 Vision Plan and Proposed Conceptual Design Principles.....................................................................15

7. Implementation.........................................................................................................................................................38

7.1 Policy..........................................................................................................................................................38

7.2 Management and Funding Opportunities...............................................................................................38


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Cities are growing and changing as a result of the evolving

needs of people living in the cities as a reaction to changing

conditions of geography, topography, climate, technology,

demographics, economics, history, and politics. A society

projects its concept of good life in their core cities and

immediate surroundings in the form of its public assets

such as waterfronts, streets and boulevards, parks, andplazas.

Many American cities, unlike their European counterparts,

have neglected their economic and social development

opportunities inherent in their river, lake, and ocean

waterfronts. Only in recent years are cities in United

States rediscovering their waterfronts. In cities that grew

from manufacturing or trade, working waterfronts were

often dominated by the needs of industry and commerce.

Rarely were such places thought of as places for relaxation

and recreation, or other environmental pursuits. As the

economic forces shaping American cities continue to shift

from heavy industrial trades to the service and high-techindustries, there will be an increasing demand for areas of

recreation and leisure. The ability for cities to provide these

areas is becoming an important factor in attracting people,

jobs, and resources. In the urban landscape, underutilized

waterfronts are a unique and valuable resource.

In the 21st century, waterfronts are being asked to fulll

multiple objectives. Cities consider redevelopment of

a waterfront as an economic effort. Often, the ability to

maximize private developer interests is the beginning of

the process; how can a community attract entities with

sufcient resources to redevelop a community? Residents

and activists, attracted to the natural beauty of the water,

are interested in restoration and ecological issues. In

many communities, there are also residents, who have felt

the wrath of water-based issues such as ooding and they

are interested in strategies for living with the potential for

catastrophe.

The community design process has a long legacy of

reconciling these often conicting perspectives. Every

step in the design process provides settings for debate

and dialogue, challenges each participant to discover the

costs and benets of their decisions, and makes all of

the information gathered along the way accessible to thepublic. Further, in the modern language of sustainability,

the most sustainable solutions balance the Economic,

Ecological,and Equityissues presented by efforts such as

waterfront development. Solutions that are economically

sound but lack ecological or equity merits are not viable.

Likewise, equitable choices that lack ecological integrity or

economic rigor are of little value. Balancing the three Es

is a hallmark of the best of community design.

The product of the community design process is a vision. A

vision represents a collectively developed set of objectives

and it provides a framework for future decision making

However, it only provides the trajectory; it does not provide

the nal destination. The fact that visions are broad makes

them better able to attract support and build consensuses

attract resources for future study, and give a structure forcontinued community organization. Additionally, a vision

leaves an archive of valuable information that can be

leveraged for future use, as well as a committed group of

community residents.

The project of The Kinston Waterfront Now! is the

evolving intent of the citizens of Kinston to determine the

fate of the waterfronts along the Neuse River. This projec

was prepared as a class project by the students enrolled

in the graduate program of the Landscape Architecture

Department at North Carolina State University. The

conceptual design ideas presented in this document are the

result of an approximately ve-month long study involvingresearch and studio design activities designed to follow the

process of preparing a community design using the best

techniques employed by professional designers today. The

project was in general orchestrated by the collaborative

effort of College of Design, NC State University projec

team, Lenoir County Center North Carolina Cooperative

Extension, and the Kinston Waterfront task force launched

on July 29, 2005 by the citys downtown revitalization

organization Pride of Kinston, Inc. The project, which

integrates the waterfronts of Kinston with existing main

streets and buildings, land-use and transportation, has

been a desirable approach for the residents of Kinston.

The project was conducted with a grassroots approach

where the participants, through a series of workshops

identied the positive and negative issues, presented

by the history and existing conditions of Kinston and the

Neuse River. The participants then described how they

desired the waterfront areas to appear and what the

areas could offer in the future. The College of Design

team took this communal vision and, utilizing the basic

principles of community and urban design, turned it into

the conceptual design ideas. The rst purpose of this

studio project is to provide a learning experience fo

the students, who participated, and to aid them in theirtransition into the profession. Second, the project aims to

help the community of Kinston engage in organized and

proactive discussions about the future of the waterfront

areas, develop a vision of the future, and how best to take

advantage of available services and programs that wil

help increase economic activities within the community. I

is our hope that the following vision inspires future efforts

and provides a guide for strategic action in Kinston. The

process was invaluable to all who participated and offers a

hopeful guide to complex problem solving in the future.

1. INTRODUCTION


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2.1 Context

Kinston, North Carolina is a community of 27,000 that is

1 hours east of Raleigh. It is the county seat of Lenoir

County and one of several towns that have direct access

to the Neuse River. The Neuse received its name from

the Neusioc Indians, who lived in North Carolinas easternregion prior to European colonialism. Although the Neuse

extends west as far as Raleigh, Kinston is the westernmost

town that is navigable by boat. This has played a signicant

role in Kinstons development.

British colonists established farms in the area that

eventually grew into protable plantations. Plantations

required manpower, thus enslaved Africans outnumbering

the plantation owners provided that labor. The planters

with the newly developed prots, dubbed their new townKingston. After the American colonies united to ght

the revolutionary war, the g was removed (Kinston) to

eliminate the overt reference to British royalty. Kinston

emerged on the north side of the Neuse River; on a bluff

approximately 12 feet about water level. The Neuse River

was used for transportation, irrigation, and later as a

resource for mills. But other than small areas of downtown,

no physical linkages between town and river were made.

To date, buildings, streets, and other town features do not

take full advantage of the river.

The Civil War marks the next milestone in Kinston history.

The CSS Ram Neuse, a confederate navy ironclad, was

under construction when the Union Army was moving

upriver from New Bern. To prevent the incomplete ship

from being captured, the Confederates scuttled the ship

in place. The site of its construction and sinking became

historic sites, as did areas around Lenoir County whereCivil War battles occurred. The history of the CSS Ram

Neuse remains one of Kinstons most signicant historic

landmarks and is the object of current interpretive efforts.

Post Civil War Kinston remained active agriculturally until

after World War II. Additionally, textiles emerged as higher

wage jobs, spurring growth at the edges of Kinston and

throughout Lenoir County. Later, general modernization

strategies applied throughout North Carolina came to

Kinston. State economic development efforts led to

the founding of Lenoir County Community College,

the attraction of industrial employers such as DuPont.

Finally, the Global Transpark a large airstrip along with anindustrial/high tech campus has begun to operate in the

area.

The decline of textiles, as well as valuable cash crops

such as tobacco, in North Carolina resulted in many

negative impacts on Kinston. Loss of jobs, a slow start to

the development of the Global Transpark, as well as the

devastating impacts of Hurricanes Fran and Floyd have

slowed the citys redevelopment. The hurricanes resulted

in ood damage to many structures in the ood plain and

application for FEMA buyout funds to purchase signicant

lands along the river.

However, sustained community organization and

resources have been built from signicant assets. Queen

Street retains valuable building stock and the Main Street

Program has successfully supported several development

initiatives. Land acquired in the FEMA buy out program

has resulted in an extraordinary amount of open space

along the rivers edge. Agencies have developed plans

and funding for restoration of portions of the Adkin Branch,

a tributary of the Neuse River. Active ight schedules at

the Global Transpark are activating high-tech industrial

sites. Regionally, communities in eastern North Carolina

have organized into the Inner Banks, agreeing to sharedmarketing and coordination of tourism activity, including

Civil War historic sites. In addition, residents of Kinston, via

the Pride of Kinston, have organized to form the Kinston

Waterfront task force; a group leading the re-envisioning

of the Neuse River.

2. THE COMMUNITY

Figure 1:Downtown looking northeast, 1984 (DTE).


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3.1 Design Challenge

The City of Kinston, through the leadership of the Kinston Waterfront task force, requested the assistance of the

Downtown Design Studio at College of Design, NC State University in developing a redevelopment vision for waterfronts

in Kinston. The task force argued that their waterfront was underutilized, and that a vision of how the town could grow

to better connect to the river, was necessary to establish. Connections for the task force meant the ability to walk to and

along the river, as well as recommendations for new development and adaptive re-use in strategic sites. After severameetings and a preliminary workshop, the following design challenge was proposed:

To develop, together, a riverfront that is healthy, diverse, active, memorable, and accessible to all.

The resulting conceptual design ideas were developed based upon the following main themes:

Understanding the history of Kinston, Neuse River, and the built environment: By knowing the past we can build on

the existing strengths and lessen weaknesses.

Maintaining or enhancing sight lines to and from the river: The design ideas indicate and propose ideas to enhance

the view corridors of the city.

Connecting the river and the riverfronts to residents needs for living, for beauty, for social engagement, for work,

and for recreation: The design ideas aim to create a satisfying experience for all the citizens of Kinston.

3. COMMUNITY GOALS

Student engagement and their interaction with the

community, developing conceptual design ideas for

enhancing the global importance of achieving sustainable

communities through citizen participation is a central focus

of this project. Therefore, landscape architecture students

in the College of Design at NC State University under the

guidance of their faculty members engaged in an effort to

provide resources, design and planning guidance, through

participatory workshops during the entire process. The

process was designed to provide educative collaboration

between students and the community in Kinston.

3.3 Case Study Research

Case studies are widely used in most professions,

including law, engineering, business, and architecture.

It is becoming increasingly common in design education

and practice as well. It is a technique used to bring out

different information about the projects involving context,

process, key participants and partnerships, project budget,

key goals and program elements developed, key design

concepts and how the goals are translated into form, scale

and time line for the project, as well as the social impact of

the project on the communities.

For many of the students, this community design and

development project in Kinston represented their rst work

on a waterfront. Therefore, it was important to help the

students explore the potential of design in this context.

Students were asked to research waterfront development

in various cities across the country as case studies.

Students produced 24 x 36 posters of each case study,

focusing on the unique issues, processes and design

3.2 Design Process

products in each place. These posters were used as

reference throughout the project. Case studies ranged

from unbuilt work proposed by Project for Public Spaces

to the famous San Antonio River.

Case study analysis revealed some of the information

that was common and unique to riverfront projects and

their contexts, which were useful in advancing the design

process. Many of the riverfront projects proposed and

focused on the following design themes:

Improving water quality by restoring a clean and active

river.

Eliminating barriers and providing access by building trai

and walkway systems, which will connect the waterfront

with surrounding trail systems, neighborhoods, and key

destinations.

Creating active recreation areas including passive o

nature based recreation and trails accessible for everyone

Enhancing and protecting the distinct character/culture o

the waterfront destinations.

Building strong waterfront walkable neighborhoods with

mix use opportunities for commercial activities.

The following themes also emerged from the case-study

research.

Many of the waterfront projects were implemented

through a public/private partnership led by an organization

solely tasked with waterfront development.


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Many of the completed projects incorporated public space

and private development, the sequence of how each was

developed varied.

Many of the projects used extensive public participation,

innovative fund raising, and required a decade to build

momentum.

Several of the project communities have documented the

economic impact of waterfront development on the health

of the entire community; Chattanooga was by far the most

advanced in this regard.

3.4 Trip to Chattanooga

As part of the case study research, the studio later took an

actual tour of ongoing riverfront development activities in

Chattanooga, Tennessee. Chattanooga has been a national

leader in sustainable urban development and many of its

riverfront projects came from the community design process.The city established the River City Company, a public/private

partnership to coordinate waterfront investment. Their rst

step was the development of the Tennessee aquarium.

Developing this attraction leveraged development of portions

of their river walk and the conversion of a railroad truss into

a pedestrian bridge. This connection activated both ends

of the bridge and attracted mixed use development. James

Bowen, assistant director of the River City Company gave a

tour of their latest efforts including a new boat dock, two new

riverfront parks, and the development of urban inll housing

between the aquarium and the bridge (Figures 2 and 3).

Some lessons learned from the Chattanooga trip involve:

River focused public/private partnership the community was able to sustain support for waterfront development through

creative partnerships between the government and the private sector. Land acquisition, streetscape improvements,

development incentives, and waynding have all been the product of cooperation.

Urban catalysts Chattanoogas waterfront sprung from interest around the Tennessee aquarium. Identifying

momentum shifting projects and leveraging them for additional development activated the interest to the area.

Time and vigilance the Chattanooga waterfront vision is over 20 years in the making and has required constant

commitment from all partners.

Figure 3:

A v iew of Chat tanooga

riverfront.

Figure 2:

River front Chattoonoga - A view of the information panel

along the riverwalk.


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3.5 First Kinston Visit

After a thorough case study analysis, the studio received

a tour of Kinston from the Kinston Waterfront task force,

as well as a canoe ride along the Neuse River (Figure

5). Students prepared a photo essay of their rst trip,

documenting the riverfront and neighborhood character.

Important initial observations of the community led to some

of the design recommendations found in the report. Some

observations that emerged from the trip are as follows:

Queen Street, the main street of Kinston, has valuable

and attractive building stock.

The Nature Center is an important amenity and the site is

a signicant location for accessing the river.

There are few places at downtown where one feels

connected to the river (lack of views, lack of physical

access points, etc.). Per Nature Center staff, uctuations

in water level, storm debris, and irregularities in the depth

of the channel make navigating the Neuse River difcult

without any experience and equipment (Figure 4).

Figure 6:

A view of a neighborhood

in Kinston with shot-gun

houses.

Figure 4:A view of the vacant power-plant building from the river

Figure 5:Students experiencing the river and the surrounding views from canoes.


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3.6 In-House Design Competition

After the rst eld-trip to Kinston and prior to full community

engagement, it was important to encourage the students

to consider big issues and promote thinking outside of the

box. An in-house design competition was used to foster

this process. The studio was divided into four competing

teams, each with different parameters. One team was only

allowed to use existing public space and vacant land in their

master plan. Another team was charged with strengtheningthe Lincoln City area with inll and mixed use. A third team

was allowed to reprogram everything within the 100 year

ood plain, and the fourth team was allowed to re-program

everything within the 500 year ood plain.

As each team pursued their design concepts to the extreme,

the ensuing dialogue framed some broader questions that

were useful throughout the process:

What scale of riverfront development is most appropriate

for Kinston?

How interested in waterfront recreation are the people ofKinston?

How should Confederate Civil War history be handled in

a predominately African American town?

3.7 Seminars and Meetings with Outside Agencies

Emeritus Professor of Architecture, Henry Sanoff, who

is an expert in Participatory Community Design process,

was invited to give a lecture on community participation

theory and application. The seminar provided students

with information that was useful for the structured designprocess. Of Sanoffs points, the following were adopted

into the process:

Run community workshops which will allow the

involvement of the community members. Work in small

groups6-7 with a facilitator through workshops.

Have some short-term implementation strategies in place

to continue the momentum of the exercise.

Provide a structure for community design, a specic

project or aim, and empower the community to make

decisions. This requires some work with existing decision

makers to be supportive of sharing power during the

process.

3.8 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers andNorth Carolina Emergency Management

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and North Carolina

Emergency Management also expressed interest in the

project and scheduled a meeting with the studio. This

agency is engaged in a multi year study of the lower

Neuse corridor, of which Kinston is a part. They expressed

the need to adhere to several guidelines to protect water

quality and reduce ood risk.

Surface material changes in the ood plain introducing

minimally intrusive paths and other materials in the ood

plain, per review, have little affect on the ood plain and

permitted.

Obstructions in the ood plain introducing structures,

signicant objects, or any obstructions (including changing

the shape of the land) in the ood plain required a detailed

engineering study, and was strongly discouraged. Adding

obstructions in the ood plain was considered the most

signicant threat to ood plain environmental quality, and

put development at risk during hurricanes and ood.

The US Army Corps of Engineers expressed an interest

in habitat restoration along the Neuse River. Their area

of concern was the estuaries and restoration of coastal

sheries. However, they did refer to a 50/50 matching

funding program where local communities and the Army

Corps develop partnerships for habitat restoration. The

Adkin Branch, a tributary of the Neuse River, is currently

going through stream restoration. In the community prole,

students reported a drain, roughly paralleling Lincoln Street,

which was a viable candidate for wetland restoration. This

drain would be a candidate for future funding.

3.9 Stormfest

During the project, the Department of Landscape

Architecture at College of Design, NC State University

sponsored an in-house workshop on contemporary

storm water management techniques. Stormfest brought

national and local experts in these practices together with

landscape architecture professionals and students. The

lessons learned had a direct impact on the conceptual

designs of most studio projects. Concepts were applied

to streetscape designs, guidelines for new urban inll,

and stream restoration proposals throughout the Kinston

vision plan.


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4.1 The First Community Workshop

In February 2006, the rst Community Workshop was

held in Kinston. The preliminary research of the existing

conditions of riverfront areas in Kinston was presented and

the community was asked for feedback. The participants

were also involved in identifying key issues of major

concern throughout their community (Figures 7 and 8).

The students designed a base map to be used in community

workshops. It was a simplied aerial photo of Kinston with

landmarks and major roads labeled. The students then

generated icons; each representing a specic proposed

use on the river (picnic shelter, garden, walking trail, etc.).

Additionally, the students prepared notes for community

stakeholders to self-report existing issues and opportunities

for Kinston to be better connected to the Neuse River.

The rst workshop was held in the Lenoir County Library

and over 100 residents and stakeholders participated.

The group was diverse in many respects. For example,

a teacher and several students from a nearby high

school provided valuable insight about the potential for

educational and vocational activities along the river; they

were most concerned with creating job skills along with

training opportunities for youth in the community. Several

town historians were in attendance and reiterated the rich

history of the town and the river as important interpretive

and recreational opportunities. Many expressed a strong

desire to access and use the river for recreation. However,

very few reported any current or previous use of the river.

Few residents of Lincoln City and Sugar Hill and few

African Americans participated the rst workshop. The

group that participated expressed many concerns about

those neighborhoods. But lacking actual representation,

4. COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

it became clear that a secondary outreach effort was

necessary. The current group was not representative of

the ethnic diversity of the community.

Each small group generated separate recommendations

and reported them to the entire group. The sum total of

these recommendations provided the design program for

the vision plan. The most popular proposal was places

to walk along and to the river, followed by places to view

birds and wildlife, and historical landmarks. References to

redevelopment were made, especially in downtown and

the power plant sites, as well as community gardens.

Some key concerns of residents about the riverfront areasincluded:

Limited or no public access to the river.

Limited recreational and educating activities on the

riverfront areas.

Limited or no public facilities on the riverfront areas.

Accumulated trash/debris along the river.

Water quality and ooding problem.

Feeling of unsafe and fear of crime.

Unattractive built environment along the river (vacant

properties, unkempt garage, parking areas).

Lack of activities and a showcase to present the rich history

of Kinston including Civil War events along the river.

The residents also discussed and indicated opportunities

and objectives on the riverfront areas focusing on the

Figure 8:A group discussion during the rst community workshop

Figure 7:A graduate student interacting with a resident.


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general vision, safety and accessibility, housing and

commercial development, public services and facilities,

open space and other special concerns. The ideas were

collected from each group and compiled into a master list

of key issues from which the planning process could build

off. The key opportunities that the participants identied

were as follows:

Rich historical context of Kinston and the Neuse River.

Proximity of the river to the downtown.

Existing tourist spots and public facilities along the river.

existing natural environment along the river.

The residents also identied objectives for enhancing

the riverfronts and providing economic development

opportunities for the City of Kinston.

a) Riverfront Enhancement Objectives

Add and improve public access to the river (by walking,

boat and car). Prevent and control ooding impact.

Clean up the river and improve the water quality.

Provide recreational and educational activities on the

riverfronts (wet land, biological environmental center,

gardening, etc.).

Add and improve public facilities on the river (parks,

trails, boating, shing, picnic area, recess rooms,

restrooms etc.)

Improve the existing visual beauty of the natural

environment on the riverfronts.

b) Economic Development Objectives.

Encourage mixed use development along river, which

will involve residential, commercial, retail, and services.

The development of the riverfront acts as catalyst to

facilitate the downtown revitalization.

Encourage various nancial sources to sponsor the

riverfront development.

Advertise and introduce the tourist spots in Kinston to

attract both in-state and out-of- state tourists.

A subsequent meeting was also held in Lincoln City

area with ministers of local churches and community

organizers. Although they were supportive of the efforts

proposed through the rst workshop, they did voice

concern about the handling of the FEMA buy out areas.

Many residents of Lincoln City were displaced in the

aftermath of the hurricanes Fran and Floyd. This loss

of homes had a negative impact on the vitality of the

community, depopulating it, and making it more difcult

to attract businesses and sustain remaining communities.

The members of the group were unanimous in their desire

to repopulate Lincoln City and provide educational and

training opportunities to its residents.

4.2 The Second Community Workshop

The second community workshop was the rst opportunity

for the studio to show initial conceptual design ideas.

Approximately 60 residents were in attendance. After a

brief overview of the draft vision plan, as well as design

principles (explained in detail below), small groups

organized around study areas to offer critique andfeedback. Of all design concepts, the idea of removing a

block of Heritage Street to allow Neuseway park to grow

into the downtown was the most debated by community

residents. They were critical of trafc impacts on the

town, as well as the impact on existing buildings in the

vicinity. However, the participants were unable to read

plan drawings verifying that the proposed plan did not

impact any existing buildings. Generally, there was some

confusion about context, and there was difculty reading

some of the plans. But after some explanation, the studio

effort received positive feedback.

Periodically, students presented their work progress tocommunity representatives through open-house sessions.

The open house sessions allowed the project partners to

review the work in draft form and provide insights to help

improve the designs.

4.3 The Final Presentation

The studio presented its nal design proposals on the

rst day of the Neuse River festival at the Lenoir county

courthouse. Approximately 100 people participated,

including local media and many community residents who

followed the entire process. After a brief overview of the

nal vision plan, students presented their design proposalsin gallery style (Figures 9 and 10). A brief summary of

community comments followed, which included:

Nature center proposa l was a potential short term

projectthe overwhelmingly positive feedback to the

nature center proposal caused the group to think of

techniques for making it a short term design project.

Wastewater treatment plantAquaponics, a combination

of aquaculture and hydroponics facilities proposed as

re-use strategies for the wastewater treatment plant

were well received. The group wanted to study the ideas

proposed.

Landfillthe proposed 4-H camp/urban agriculture

program was well received. More study was requested

by the workshop participants.

The workshop participants praised the students for their

effort in their nal projects and agreed to use the ideas

proposed to continue the design process. Residents were

very interested in short term implementation strategies.


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Figure 9: Landscape Architecture student presenting his project to US Army Corps Engineers representatives.

Figure 10:Residents of Kinston listening to the nal presentations.


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5.1 Analysis of the Existing Conditions

Students prepared extensive research on Kinston, through review of historic Sanborn maps and historic photographs.

It was found out that the cluster of community uses that constituted the town center (courthouse, etc.) has changed

locations several times in history. Those uses used to be several blocks south from their current location on Queen

Street (known as Sugar Hill.) Queen Street is the historic main street, locally known as the miracle mile due to its

broad range of shops. Miracle mile was once dotted with cisterns and fountains at intersections. These were public

water facilities and gave subtle reference to the river, mere block away.

The Neuse River has an extensive 100 year and 500 year ood plain. The majority of downtown and communities north

west are above both ood plains. The downtown and southern neighborhoods are largely in the ood plains.

Kinston continues to be made up of several districts including Mitchell Town, Sugar Hill, and Lincoln City.

Happersville, the lowland peninsula, just west of downtown and current site of the nature center, was the sin city

of the region; home to bars and brothels frequented by many in the region. It was a popular destination for soldiers at

nearby military bases, Camp Lejeune, Fort Bragg, and others.

Kinston is a comparatively low income and predominately African-American city. The median income of Kinston is below

the median of the state of North Carolina and it is 60% African-American. Despite its more recent history as a growing

manufacturing center (Global Transpark, etc.), Kinston is in an agricultural economic context and it has been hit hard by

the decline in tobacco and other cash crops.

Kinston is economically and racially segregated with strict divisions apparent at the level of US Census block group.

Sugar Hill (so named because it was the location where the citys honey pots were dumped) and Lincoln City

are predominately African American and have the highest rates of poverty. Mitchell Town and areas northwest are

predominately white, and have much less poverty. Queen Street forms the border between these different groups.

Additionally, demographic trends mirror geography; areas closest to the ood plain and in the ood plain (Lincoln

City) are predominately African-American and lower income. Areas out of the ood plain and away from the river are

predominately white and higher income. This distribution mirrors other southern towns where settlement patterns, race,

and class all combine to create higher exposure to ood and water based disasters to those with the fewest resources.

This phenomenon was revealed in Kinston in the aftermath of hurricanes Fran and Floyd, each resulting in widespread

ooding in Lincoln City which led to FEMA buy out and relocation of dozens of African American families.

The US census surveys show that the majority of working adults in Kinston commute to work outside of the central city.

People travel as far as Goldsboro and New Bern for employment. Locally, DuPont, the Caswell Center (a state mental

health institution), and the Global Transpark are major sources of jobs. Kinston is an aging community, demographic

trends suggest that Kinston may become a place where issues of accessibility and mobility will rise to the fore.

5. PROJECT GOALS


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5.2 Programming

After a thorough examination of the existing conditions on the riverfront areas, the studio focused on developing more

detailed program statements and site analysis for specic sites along the Neuse River. Due to the size of the project, i

was necessary to subdivide the entire study area into themed units. The unites included the downtown, Mitchell Town

power plant and former textile plant buildings, nature center, Sugar Hill, wastewater treatment plant, land ll, Lincoln

City, and Adkin Branch areas (Figure 11).

Figure 11: The conceptual master-plan proposed for Kinston riverfronts.


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Downtown residents requests included

a new amphitheater, a new pedestrian

bridge connecting the nature center

to the downtown, improved streetscape,

and a continuous river walk.

Mitchell Town residents asked for

better access to the river as well as a

continuous river walk.

Power plant and former textile plant

residents expressed interest in adaptive

re-use of these facilities for retail,entertainment, and other mixed uses.

Nature center residents use and

admire the nature center, but its

educational efforts are exclusively

indoors. Residents were interested in

expanding the center to develop the

outdoors as a series of environmental

educational opportunities.

Figure 12: Conceptual plan

proposed for downtown and

Mitchell Town areas.

Figure 13: Conceptual plan

proposed for power plantand former textile plant

areas.

Figure 14: Conceptual

plan proposed for nature

center.


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Sugar Hill students were interested

in using its history and best practices

for storm water management to

strengthen the urban fabric.

Wastewater treatment plant

residents were interested in adaptive

re-use strategies for the site, with

emphasis on education and training.

Land fll --- residents were interested

in adaptive re-use strategies for the site,

with emphasis on education and

training.

Lincoln City residents of Lincoln

City were interested in developmentstrategies that balanced the loss of

population due to FEMA relocation.

Adkin Branch residents were

interested in extending ongoing

restoration strategies, including

environmental education and

interpretation.

Figure 15: Conceptual plan proposed for Sugar Hill, waste-water treatment plant,

land ll, and Lincoln City areas.

Figure 16:Conceptual plan proposed for Adkin Branch area.


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At the end of a highly interactive design process, students

nalized their design projects in May, 2006. The following

principles and strategic actions were extracted from the

numerous individual design proposals generated by

the studio. They can be applied to the ten miles of river

front passing through Lenoir County, as well as the ve

miles in this study area. They offer broad guidelines and

recommended actions that can facilitate the intent of thevision plan. Although the specic issues and characteristics

of the designs can be modied, the core principles of

the vision plan represent the essential considerations

necessary to guide future design and implementation.

6.1 Strategic Actions

A healthy riverfront community needs a healthy river.

Protect and enhance water quality through design.

Protect the ood way, conserve the ood fringe.

Preserve all mature vegetation within 50 of the Neuse

River.

Use best practices for development along the edges of

the ood plain.

Reduce the use of non-porous surfaces in new

development, and slow storm water runoff into the

Neuse River.

Find riverfront ecological restoration opportunities and

partner with agencies for development.

A sustainable riverfront community needs a diverse

mix of uses along its river edge.

Remove policy and other constraints to sustainable

riverfront revitalization that will enhance local character

and economic vitality.

Over 70% of Kinstons riverfront land is zoned

industrial. Although most uses are allowed in the

category, re-zoning riverfront land will provide more

opportunities for enabling the vision.

Encourage mixed use along the rivers edge, and plan

for pedestrian-oriented retail/entertainment opportunities

along the river.

Distribute development opportunities equitably across

neighborhoods with river access.

Consider identfying an overlay district for major

redevlopment areas on the river that will allow the

6. THE CONCEPTUAL PLAN

community to develop a set of design and development

guidelines specically for areas with conservation and

development potentials.

Develop urban design guidelines, including architectural

standards, for all major redevelopment areas along the river.

An active riverfront community treats the river as thecommunitys front yard.

Combine public access and open space with private

development to maximize community river use.

Strive for a continuous river walk.

Balance modes of transportation; all modes of

transportation should have some riverfront access.

A unique riverfront community builds from its local

culture, history, and diversity.

The Civil War is one of many historical events that are

of value to the community. Make sure to enhance the

rich historical context of Kinston and the Neuse River

through new developments.

Students at local schools represent history in the

making. Find opportunities throughout the planning,

design, and implementation stages for student

participation.

Continue establishing opportunities for public comment

and communication for future developments bydesignating community ambassadors that represent

local neighborhoods, churches, stakeholders, and other

groups.


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6.2 Vision Plan and Proposed Conceptual Design Principles

The vision plan highlights specic sites and linkages through the town and to the river. Emphasis is given to Queen

Street, the main street of Kinston. But recommendations cover the range of the Neuse riverfront.

a) A Vision for Downtown (Designed by Micah Linker, Courtney Hinson, Eric Surratt, and Bill Davis)

The downtown area benets from the proximity of an important bend in the Neuse River. This bend is strategic for views

along the river, as well as pedestrian crossings at several locations (one re-tracing the historic location of a previous

bridge). The vision plan proposes a series of streetscape improvements (Figures 17, 18, 21). These improvements areproposed to better facilitate pedestrian connections from Queen Street and neighborhoods north and west of the river

Most important of these is Caswell Street, which continues across the river as a pedestrian bridge connecting to the

nature center (Figure 19).

The segment of Heritage street, between King and Caswell streets, is removed to allow Neuseway park to expand

east into the downtown (Figure 20). An expanded Neuseway park covers areas that are currently parking lots. Existing

businesses edging the park are proposed to undergo renovations which maximize park location and river views (Figures

24, 25). Strategic inll, anchored by a public building and a relocated farmers market, activate the proposed space.

An amphitheater occupies the slope at the bend in the river (Figure 26). This area, edged by a new public building

becomes the spot for town and river festivals, gatherings, and rituals (Figures 22, 23). A new riverwalk follows the edge

of the new park and travels along the high side of the amphitheater towards Mitchell town.

Figure 17:Streetscape design proposed for Caswell Street.

Figure 18: Streetscape design proposed for Queen Street.


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Queen Str. Before

Queen Str.After

Figure 19:Plan view of the proposed streetscape and plaza designed for Intersection of Queen and Caswell Streets (above).

Figure 20:Aerial view of the intersection of Queen and

Caswell Streets (below).

Figure 21:A view from the proposed streetscape design for

Queen Street (before and after).


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North Elevation on Heritage St.

Gordon St. Section

Plan view of the blocks of North, Gordon, and

Mitchell Streets

Figure 22:Downtown inll and adaptive re-use vision plan.

Figure 23:Axonometric view of the proposed downtown inll area.


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Plaza

Pedestrian Walk through

Figure 24:Proposed new plaza at Heritage Street.

Figure 25:Plan and aerial view of the proposed plaza at Heritage Street.


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b) A Vision for the Power Plant and the Textile Plant Areas (Designed by Adam Bell, Claudia Gabaldon, and James Prestien)

The riverwalk traces the high side of the bluff between Mitchell Town and the river. Streets, which currently dead end at

the bluff, are redesigned to provide views and access to the water. The woods along the river are severely degraded and

are in need of ecological restoration. Part of the restoration process will require removal of plants that are preventing

native plant communities from stabilizing. As a short term strategy, the vision plan proposes the use of goats to eat

exotic invasive plants, clearing the woods, and preparing it for restoration. Goat movement would be controlled through

fences and paddocks, and the end product of this urban agriculture would be goat meat and milk, two of the fastest

growing animal products in North Carolina (Figures 27, 28).

The closed textile plant occupies a prime location along the river. It has great mixed use and educational potentials

due to its proximity to an established community and its history as an important local industry. Existing building would

be programmed for a range of educational and training opportunities. New streets and pedestrian-oriented mixed use

would transform the existing parking lots into community development opportunities. Also, the riverwalk would extend

through the site (Figure 29).

The abandoned power plant has great adaptive re-use potential. The high vaulted ceiling, landmark smoke stack, and

navigable boat slip make it a local icon. The vision plan proposes that the site to be transformed into a leasable special

event center. The area between the building and the river would become an arboretum, part extension of leasable event

space, part community garden, and part ecological restoration. Collections in the arboretum would feature native plants

and be irrigated using constructed ponds which collect and treat storm water run off (Figures 30, 31).

Figure 27:Plan view of the proposed riverwalk area along the river


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Figure 28:Proposed riverwalk trails.


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Figure 30:Proposed re-use plan for the power plant site.


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Figure

31:Proposedadaptivere-useforthepowe

r-plantsite.


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c) A Vision for the Nature Center (Designed by Molly Wood and Emmita Lyford)

The nature center expands to encompass the entire site, not just the buildings. Outdoor classrooms, restored ood

plain forests, and constructed ponds add new amenities to the site. A boardwalk on the south side of King Street

provides interpretive opportunities through the existing wetland forests. The road and parking network, as well as a

newly developed RV parking area, are realigned to provide a more coherent and memorable experience throughout the

site. A proposed bridge connecting Caswell Street and a pedestrian bridge at a former railroad truss connecting to Suga

Hill are also a part of the nature center vision (Figures 32, 33).

Figure 32:Proposed master plan for nature center and planetarium.


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Figure 33:Proposed pavilion and recreation areas.


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d) A Vision for Sugar Hill and South Queen Street (Designed by Darren Sandvik and Micheal Ouchcauf)

South Queen Street is strengthened through extensive building rehabilitation and strategic inll that ts the context of

the district. A median is proposed for Queen Street and streetscape improvements to enhance the areas image and

pedestrian comfort. Alley ways are redeveloped as designed spaces for pedestrian use and storm water management

These storm water alleys provide points of interest on Queen Street, mark historic elements in the neighborhood,

irrigate all streetscape elements, and lter runoff as it ows to the Neuse River (Figure 34).

An existing industrial site just west of Sugar Hill is proposed to become urban inll and open space. Urban inll on

the eastern edge of the site will compliment the existing neighborhood grain. Denser mixed use occupies the forestedwetland edge and the two sides of the development share a park space framing views north to downtown (Figures 35, 36).

Figure 34:Proposed streetscape and stormwater alleys for South Queen Street.


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Figure 35:Proposed redevelopment plan for Sugar Hill - Industrial Site.


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Figure 36:Proposed urban inll and open space design at Sugar Hill area.


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e) A Vision for Landll and Wastewater Treatment Sites (Designed by Richard Ham and Caitlin Sloop)

Post-industrial sites were not the rst options discussed as opportunities for Kinstons riverfront. However, both the

landll and wastewater treatment plant sites represent land that could be reclaimed for multiple uses. In the case of the

landll, phyto-remediation, or the use of plants to remove toxins from the soil, can be an effective process. After this

process, community gardens, agro-forestry, and alternative cash crops could occupy large portions of the site. Queen

Street frontage would have a market specically selling produce generated from the site. Between the market and the

landll, a new meeting and training facility provides space for 4-H related programs (Figures 37, 38, 39).

The wastewater treatment plant contains ideal infrastructure for hydroponics and aquaculture (Figures 40, 41, 42).Freshwater sh hatcheries are in demand and the existing tanks at the plant are well suited for this purpose. Fish

waste would be used to fertilize plants for harvest, with excess waste being treated by constructed wetlands. Clean

water would return to the system or be released into adjacent streams feeding the Neuse River. The site could have

educational and economic development opportunities.

Figure 37:

Plan view of the

proposed uses at

the landll area.


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Figure 38: Scenes from the proposed vision plan for Landll area.

Figure 39:Site sections from the landll area.


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Figure

40:Proposedadaptivere-useofPeachtreewaste-wate

rtreatmentplant.


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Figure

42:S

cenesfromt

heproposedwastewatertreatmentplant


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f) A Vision for Lincoln City (Designed by Bradley Maples)

Residents of Lincoln City were very passionate about their wishes to repopulate the community and about the need

for education and skills training to reinvest in the existing residents. The ooding and the aftermath of the FEMA buy

out resulted in a depopulated community. The southernmost areas of Lincoln City are in the 100 year ood plain and in

danger of ood damage. However, technologies exist that can protect homes. Existing historic and vernacular homes

were built with porches and elevated rst oors; raising living spaces above base ood elevation (BFE). FEMA has

guidelines for raising the foundations of existing houses above BFE. Areas closest to the river could become community

gardens; replacing rooftops, roads and other hard surfaces with plants and living materials, capable of absorbing storm

water runoff (Figure 43).

A crossroads between Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and an existing rail line would become Lincoln College, evoking

the spirit of historically African-American schools that once were in the neighborhood. Lincoln College would be a

technical school, providing residents training in building, construction, and other skills directly related to community

development. The rail provides ideal access for the delivery and storage of materials. The college would provide a

terminus to the axial views created from the west.

The streetscape is also an opportunity to improve the function and image of the area. Using a pattern inspired by wes

African patterns, trees, and other elements would provide a unique image, honoring the history of the place.

Figure 43:Proposed vision plan for Lincoln City area.


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g) A Vision for Adkin Branch (Designed by Harmony Miller)

Several North Carolina state agencies are currently engaged in Adkin Branch restoration efforts. However, they do

not fully address the environmental education or recreation potential of connecting to the surrounding neighborhood.

Streetscape becomes a key opportunity for extending the potential impact of the creek restoration into its context. Curb

and gutter would be replaced with bio-swales, drains planted with native vegetation that slows and cleans storm water

before it reaches Adkin Branch (Figures 44, 45).

Interpretive signage along with other amenities would communicate why creek restoration is important to the health

of the entire community. Restoration of Adkin Branch can occur without removing any homes or encroaching on anyproperty. However, street ends become good opportunities for improved views and pedestrian connections to the creek.

Publicly owned portions of the ood plain would be restored to ood plain forest, wet meadows, and wetlands.

Figure 44:Proposed vision plan for Adkin Branch restoration area.


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Figure

45:ProposedmasterplanforAd

kinBrancharea.


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This section of the recommendations for redeveloping the

riverfront areas in Kinston, North Carolina describes the

ways in which the Plans goals can be further improved

and implemented. Nonetheless, it is the responsibility of

the County of Lenoir, the City of Kinston, as well as other

public agencies and community organizations, to further

study, administer, maintain, and implement the proposedconceptual design ideas. It is also our intention to ensure

that the goals herein are consistent with and build upon

the existing goals, policies, and tasks identied at the

county and city level, as well as, with other public agency

documents.

Implementation of the conceptual design ideas will require

interagency coordination between not only the countys

and the city of Kinstons agencies but also other agencies

and community organizations outside of Kinston. Doing so

will not only concentrate the efforts of all of these agencies

and organizations to a common end, but will enable

efcient timing and lessen the overall costs associatedwith implementation.

7.1 Policy

The suggestions made through this document are in light

of the presented conceptual design ideas. It is necessary

rst to analyze the changes required at the policy level,

which will encourage the recommended developmental

ideas on the riverfront areas. It is clear that further detailed

investigation of the policy challenges existing at the county

and city levels has to follow this proposed vision plan.

The primary means of implementation is through zoning

categories dened by the Land Use Ordinance and related

maps. Zoning means to classify any specic land within

the communitys borders into specic uses. Compatible

uses are grouped together, while non-compatible uses

are separated from each other. The Land Use Ordinance

should be consistent with the goals, design principles

indicated in this plan. In that respect, the city should show

exibility in changing zoning and coding to build desirable

new features, which will enhance local character and

economic vitality.

The city should capitalize on historic heritage as well

as create links to area employee at Global Transpark

and incubator ofce /business spaces at downtown and

riverfront areas. There should also be a considerable

effort of increasing attraction to families and year-round

residents, as well as visitors by using the potentials of the

natural environment.

7. IMPLEMENTATION

7.2 Management and Funding Opportunities

This project initiated the dialogue with residents as well

as with local stakeholders and many other agencies

regarding Kinstons future opportunities along the river.

Therefore, it is necessary to continue the dialogue with all

these groups.

It is also recommended to provide future services of a non-

stake holding facilitator to manage future dialogue and

consensus building process between public, private, and

institutional sectors on many sensitive issues needed to

move forward in improving and implementing any of these

conceptual design ideas.

There are variety of funding resources, which may be

readily apparent, however, the City of Kinstons long-term

vision, especially in the area of private investment, will be

improved, if there is a physical plan which can be used

as a goal and a marketing tool. It should also include aphased time schedule for implementing it. This project

aims to start that process.

There are grants available to the communities to help fund

various projects. For example, one of the larger grants

available is the Community Development Block Grant

(CDBG), provided by the US Department of Housing and

Urban Development (HUD) and the State Department of

Housing and Community Development (HCD). This grant

supports projects ranging from housing rehabilitation and

community development to public facilities and economic

development. However, further extensive study of other

funding strategies are recommended.

The process for adopting these recommendations

includes hearings and presentations with the Planning

Board, the City Council, and the Lenoir County Board of

Commissioners. To adopt any of these recommendations

the vision plan should be consistent with the previously

established plans.

Overall the proposed conceptual vision plan envision the

development that promotes the pedestrian atmosphere,

human scale, mixed-uses and community serving

businesses and facilities along the riverfronts of Kinston.Hence, the conceptual design ideas of this plan deliberately

address the needs of the community of Kinston.


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For further information on the Kinston Waterfront Now Project and the Downtown Design Studio at NC State Uni-versity, College of Design, please contact:

Dr. Celen Pasalar, Director and Extension Planning SpecialistDowntown Design Studio, College of DesignNorth Carolina State UniversityCampus Box 7701

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