TSW recently won three Chapter Awards from the Georgia Planning Association (GPA). The awards were announced at the organization’s fall conference in Savannah, Georgia, September 10th. The three TSW projects that were honored are: the Downtown Alpharetta Master Plan and Zoning Code, the Clarkston LCI 10-year Update and the South Downtown Atlanta MARTA Transit Stations Enhancement Plan. GPA makes awards each year to projects and plans that demonstrate innovation, transferability, quality, effectiveness of implementation, comprehensiveness, public participation, technology, equity, sustainability and collaboration.
“We are delighted to have three of our recent planning projects recognized by the Georgia Planning Association,” said Bill Tunnell, TSW founding partner and director of the firm’s Planning Studio. “It’s always nice to receive recognition for our work, but it’s especially meaningful when it comes from an organization of our peers and others involved in community planning and economic development.”
Details of the three award-winning projects are below:
Downtown Alpharetta Master Plan and Zoning Code – TSW worked with the City of Alpharetta, Ga. to create a new Downtown Master Plan to leverage the recent City Center development and promote greater connectivity between major activity centers, while fostering increased economic sustainability. The process included a dynamic, hands-on approach involving community leaders, property owners, business owners and residents. The resulting plan included a roadway plan, bicycle/pedestrian paths, parking meter recommendations, a parking deck plan, stormwater system and downtown district plan. TSW also crafted comprehensive plan amendments and design and development guidelines so the community vision could be implemented.
Clarkston LCI 10-year Update – The City of Clarkston, Georgia, assembled a multidisciplinary team led by TSW to update the city’s initial Livable Centers Initiative (LCI) study from 2004 to reflect current market conditions and changing local needs. The team conducted an extensive existing conditions assessment of the downtown study area, focusing on previous LCI accomplishments, land use, transportation, markets and economics, urban design, historic resources, public facilities and spaces and life-long community elements. As part of the public outreach, a project website was created along with public meeting notices and translation of materials to engage Clarkston’s international residents. The final update included such recommendations as mixed-use, transit-oriented development, an increased range of housing options, downtown building reuse and rehabilitation, redevelopment of Stone Mountain Trail Village, road improvements for pedestrian and bicycle activity, political and organizational infrastructure to facilitate and promote redevelopment, quality urban design guidelines and standards and new public spaces and pocket parks.
South Downtown Atlanta MARTA Transit Stations Enhancement Plan – TSW was retained by Central Atlanta Progress to create implementation-focused design recommendations for the Five Points and Garnett Street Stations in south downtown Atlanta as part of an overall strategy to increase public transit ridership. The recommendations were divided into short, medium and long-term needs. As part of the project, TSW created a “tactical urbanism” installation at each station, which could become a permanent fixture. Through a vigorous public engagement process, the team obtained feedback about current riders’ desires for the stations and surrounding neighborhoods. The resulting plan was organized around three principles: to reconnect interrupted corridors, enhance views to the stations and activate underutilized public areas.
About GPA:
The Georgia Planning Association is an official chapter of the American Planning Association that provides a forum for professional planners to share their expertise and ideas with policymakers and the public for the benefit of our state and its citizens. Its members consist of professional planners and planning officials who serve Georgia’s communities at all levels of government, the private sector and non-profit organizations. Through conferences, planners lunch events, partnerships with other organizations for special events, the Community Planning Institute and other activities, GPA has provided important resources to Georgia communities for over three decades.
