Downtown District V I S I O N

April 1, 2011 | Draft I

DRAFT IA project of the Community Design Resource Center at the University of Houston in partnership with the City of Angleton, the Greater Angleton Chamber of Commerce,

and the Downtown District Committee.

CDRC Team: Susan Rogers, Director; Maria Oran, Senior Research Assistant; Nahid Shabnam Haimonty and Alex Lara,

Research Assistants

The mission of the Community Design Resource Center is to enhance the quality of

life in low and moderate income communities throughout the Houston region through design research, education and practice.

Established in 2005, the Community Design Resource Center works to address issues of community development, design, planning, affordable housing and civic projects that

meet the goals and visions of our partners.

Contact:Susan Rogers, Director

Community Design Resource CenterGerald. D. Hines College of Architecture

University of Houston122 Architecture Bldg.

Houston, TX 77204-4000713.743.2403

skrogers@mail.uh.edu

Downtown District VISION

Velasco

Vision

Front Street

Introduction

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Alleys

Chenango

Courthouse Annex

City Hall

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The Community Design Resource Center at the University of

Houston’s College of Architecture is working in partnership

with the City of Angleton, the Greater Angleton Chamber of

Commerce, and the Downtown District Committee to develop a

“vision” and implementation plan for Downtown Angleton.

The “Downtown District Vision” report is the second step in our

process. The “Vision” document includes an overall “Vision

Plan” and a number of detailed sketches and option studies

for different parts of our proposal. In this document we have

focused on the opportunities for Front Street, the alleys,

Velasco, the Courthouse and Annex Building, City Hall, and

Chenango.

The “Downtown Vision” plan focuses on the area bounded by

Cedar Street to the north, Peach Street to the south, Arcola

Street to the east, and Loop 274 to the west, but also explores

areas beyond these boundaries as a means to enhance the

viability of the plan, and the district overall.

Introduction

ABOVE: City of Angleton Location Map

Houston

Angleton

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Our analysis of the existing conditions, the goals of our stakeholders, the current challenges, and the opportunities that exist in the downtown district of Angleton have helped us to develop a comprehensive draft “Vision Plan.” The vision is to:

Create a downtown district that is green, lively, local, and thriving, and a destination for residents and visitors alike.

Our “concepts” or ideas for the overall plan work to enhance the current strengths of the area as well as provide greater connectivity, vibrancy, and visibility to downtown.

Vision

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Vision Plan Proposals

Chenango Street Parking Public Parking Green Space Street Trees

Velasco Street Trees Continuous Sidewalks Building Lighting Artful Crosswalks History Timeline Project

Front Street Close Front Street and create additional green

space and a promenade

Courthouse Annex NewStreetTrees

alongVelasco CloseFrontStreet

westofthebuilding Installatrellis/shade

structuretoconnecttomaincourthouse

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Veteran’s Park Alley Create a pedestrian walkwayProvide shadeProvide additional green space

Stair Alley Create a pedestrian walkwayCreate places to sit and gatherProvide shade

City Hall and Liberty Garden

ExpandLibertyGardennorth

NewStreetTrees EncourageoutdoordiningatMulberryBarand

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Front Street

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Velasco Concept DiagramLegend: Proposed Sidewalks and Crosswalks Proposed Building Lighting Proposed Street Trees

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Options

Along Velasco we have concentrated on adding streetscaping that will provide an enhanced identity for the street. Street trees are a major component of this strategy as there are many vacant lots and parking areas facing the street. In addition to street trees, we recommend “artful” crosswalks, a creative building lighting program, and a facade improvement program, to work to create continuity along the street. We have also developed ideas for a history project along the street.

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Velasco

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Street Trees We propose that street trees be added, where possible, along the length of Velasco. In some cases, such as in front of the Brazoria County Court Annex Building, we propose that several parking spaces be removed for the addition of trees.

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Velasco

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Sidewalks and CrosswalksVelasco, as the “Main Street” of Angleton should have continuous sidewalks. In addition, we propose a “Crosswalk Art” program where children and youth in the city will develop designs for the crosswalks through a school contest, the designs can then be painted on all the crosswalks between Cedar and Mulberry running parallel to Velasco. We also propose two additional crosswalks where the proposed pedestrian alleys cross Velasco.

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Precedents: Each of the precedents to the left illustrate new techniques in building lighting that are becoming increasingly affordable. A simple strip of LED lights along the top of each building on Velasco has the potential to dramatically change the atmosphere of the downtown district in the evening.

Velasco

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Building LightingWe propose a building lighting program for Velasco that will add a “spark” of creativity to the downtown district. LED lighting is becoming increasingly affordable and can dramatically transform the character of the district in the evening.

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History ProjectWe are proposing a history project along the eastside of Velasco that would work like a timeline. The project would include a timeline of important events stenciled on the sidewalk; markers for important dates and buildings; and potentially large historic photos to fill the windows of vacant storefronts. The project would celebrate the history of Angleton and its important events, landmarks, and people.

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OPTION A Front Street is closed between Highway 35 (Mulberry) and Locust, and west of the Courthouse Annex. Magnolia and Myrtle remain open.

OPTION B Front Street is closed completely between Highway 35 (Mulberry) and Locust.

OPTION C Front Street remains open but becomes primarily parking, with a promenade between Mulberry and Locust.

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Options

Front Street has the potential to serve as the gateway to the downtown district. Based on this concept of “gateway,” we have developed a set of options for the re-design and beautification of this important street.

Front Street Re-Design To begin, we have identified three options for re-designing Front Street to become a new park, path, and gateway, welcoming residents and visitors alike into the downtown district. The options are illustrated to the left, as A, B, and C. Option A, maintains vehicular circulation in the downtown district while also enhancing the amount of green space, pedestrian amenities, and connection between the new public space and the downtown area is the preferred option.

Additional details and options for the re-design of Front Street, including signage and streetscaping proposals, are provided on the following pages.

Front Street

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Precedents (above, from left to right): Create tree lighting; “Seven Wonders” by Mel Chin; “I

amsterdam”

Gateway Proposals (below, from left to right): Tree Lighting; Cut metal sign; Large lit letters

Gateway Project

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Front Street Gateway We have developed a set of ideas to enhance the identity of Angleton based on the concept of Front Street as the “gateway” to the city. Concepts for the gateway are illustrated below, and include (from left to right): creative lighting of the existing trees along Front Street to provide interest and energy to the downtown district; a large, creative sign constructed from laser cut metal, in the case of the precedent image (top) of the “Seven Wonders” by artist Mel Chin, the metal sculpture pieces are based on pictures drawn by local children; large lit letters, either along the ground or elevated on columns; and finally a simple light sculpture.

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Precedents (above): LAX Sign, Light Sculptures

Gateway Proposals (below): Front Street Light Sculptures and Promenade

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Front Street Wayfinding We are proposing two wayfinding signs, one at the intersection of Front Street and Highway 35 (Mulberry), and the other at Front Street and Cedar. The signage pieces should be designed to compliment the character of Angleton and provide information on the businesses in the Downtown District. The sign should also allow for changes and modifications as businesses open and/or close.

The Wayfinding project could be a joint effort between the City of Angleton and downtown business owners who would be required to purchase their signage piece. The precedent image above from Napa, California illustrates how the sign could work, though in Angleton the sign would be scaled differently to address the speed of the automobile, see image opposite page, left.

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Precedents (from left to right): The Red Ribbon–Tanghe River Park in the coastal

city of Qinhuangdao in Hebei Province, China; The Blackpool Promenade, Northwest

England; Battery Park City Promenade, New York

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Front Street ParklineThe Front Street Parkline is proposed to replace the existing Front Street and will be continuous from Peach Street north to Cedar Street, which is just under a half of a mile. The Promenade could be extended south to Plum Street.

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Front Street Parkline The Front Street Parkline is a proposed path and linear park that would replace the existing Front Street. The Parkline could include amenities for walkers, joggers, and bikers with a wide path flanked by benches, trees for shade, lighting, and other amenities. Below are two design ideas for this important gateway to Angleton.

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Alleys Concept DiagramLegend: Velasco Proposed Pedestrian Alleys Existing Vehicular Alley Proposed Front Street Parkline

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Options

The alleyways are an opportunity to create pedestrian links and small public spaces in the downtown district, specifically the alleys have the potential to connect the proposed Front Street Parkline to destinations along Velasco, and the parking along Chenango. We focused on two alleys for transformation into pedestrian ways, the undeveloped alley between Locust and Magnolia which connects to Veteran’s Park and the proposed public parking on the site of the school; and the alley between Myrtle and Mulberry, which includes the stair on the east side of Velasco (see photo, above right) which is a popular photography site. The alleyway between Magnolia and Myrtle Streets we propose to remain vehicular.

Alleys

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Image, Left: Illustrates a proposed trellis system that would run from Velasco east to Chenango. Images, Above (right to left): A curving path with additional greenspace; A canvas shading system; A wide trellis system; A path and benches along the alley.

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Veterans’ Park AlleyThe Veterans’ Park Alley is located between Locust and Magnolia Streets and runs east and west from Front Street to Chenango. The alley has the potential to connect the proposed public parking at Chenango and Magnolia with the courthouses and proposed Front Street Parkline to the west. Because this alley is currently undeveloped west of Velasco and under-developed east of Velasco we believe that it has the potential to be envisioned in a much different way. With this mind, we have developed a number of sketches, design strategies, and precedents for the alley. The sketches to the left focus on creating shade along the alley from Velasco east to Veterans’ Park, while also providing places to sit and additional green space. The parking that is currently located adjacent to the alley can be easily accessed from the main streets allowing the alleyway to be entirely pedestrian.

Precedents (from left to right): Small murals depicting the history of the town; a translucent shade structure; a trellis system

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Image, Right: Illustrates a re-designed alley with strand lights, chairs and tables, and

additional green spaces.

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Stair Alley The “Stair” Alley is located between Myrtle and Mulberry Streets and runs east and west from Front Street to Chenango. The alley is a popular site for prom and other photos because of its history and scale. We are proposing that east of Velasco the alley become strictly pedestrian and that new shade trees or structures be added as well as seating. We recommend that no major changes occur adjacent to the stair to maintain its prominence as a site for photos. The parking that is currently located adjacent to the alley can be easily accessed from the main streets allowing the alleyway to be entirely pedestrian.

Precedents (from left to right): Strand lighting in an alley; tables and umbrellas; seating under shade trees

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Chenango

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Options

Chenango is the “service” street for the downtown district, in this Vision we supplemented this idea by providing additional parking and using the alleys as pedestrian connections between the parking and destinations to the west, for example along Velasco. Overall, we have added nearly 50 parking spaces to the Chenango corridor. The map below highlights the added parking.

Chenango

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Two options were developed for the Brazoria County Courthouse Annex block. Option A is the preferred strategy.

Each option is described in detail below. In addition, we recommend that the annex parking lot be programmed on

weekends and in the evenings for festivals, markets, sports, or other events that bring Angleton residents and families

together.

OPTION AProposes that Front Street be closed to the west of the courthouse, new street trees added along Velasco, and a shade structure constructed to traverse the parking lot, connecting to the main courthouse across the street.

OPTION BThis Option provides for minimal change. Front Street remains open west of the courthouse and new street trees are added along Velasco.

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Options

The Brazoria County Courthouse Annex, located just west of Velasco between Live Oak and Locust Street, is one of the major destinations in the downtown district. Because of this we have developed a set of options for both medium and small design interventions adjacent to the Annex as a means to better connect the area to the rest of the downtown district and to make it overall more attractive.

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OPTION A Proposes that Liberty Garden be expanded to include the vacant to the north of City Hall.

OPTION BProposes new street trees along Velasco adjacent to the vacant lot just west of Mulberry Bar and Grill, as well as a new outdoor patio.

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Options

City Hall and Liberty Garden are located at an important intersection, Velasco and Highway 35. Similar to the Courthouse Annex, City Hall is a destination in the downtown district. Adjacent vacant lots are detracting from the importance of the block. We have proposed two options for this area, Option A looks at the potential for expanding Liberty Garden into the lot just north, and Option B simply recommends the addition of street trees along Velasco.

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Options

We are proposing an amphitheater between the Brazoria County Museum and the Brazoria County Courthouse. The site is centrally located, provides a beautfiul setting, and is surrounded by ample parking for events.

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