Woodstock Downtown

Location: Woodstock, Georgia, 30309, USA. Town center

This project is located along both sides of Main Street in Woodstock's historic central business district and reflects a natural extension of the city's urban fabric that complements and provides a variety of commercial and residential choices in an area of intense urban sprawl. The project includes a vertically mixed-use core closest to the city's historic commercial blocks, which features a town square, civic buildings, retail, office and multifamily, including affordable and senior units. Moving away from the T6 Zone, the project becomes more residential and includes a diverse mix of townhouses, small lot single family homes, courtyard homes, and intimate neighborhood parks.

Most important among the project's advancements is its integration of higher density mixed-use development into a historically lower density town center. The project is also innovative for its high degree of connectivity, which will establish much needed north/south connections. Developed as a modified grid, the project connects externally to surrounding roads and internally through a system of streets and alleys and several pedestrian paths. The streets and alleys form small blocks that are pedestrian-friendly and offer multiple routes to the commercial center. Sidewalks, street trees, and lighting also contribute to pedestrian-friendly streets, and pedestrian paths provide connections within the central business district.

New parks and open spaces total 11.3 acres of the project, ranging from passive common greens to a neighborhood amphitheater space for local productions to conservation areas that enhance stormwater runoff.

This combinations of critical densities, quality open spaces, connectivity, compatible design, and seamless integration of uses allow the project to truly enhance the historic commercial core by ensuring that it is alive with residents and visitors.

Lessons learned: When the design team developed this mixed-use scenario, the City of Woodstock had never permitted anything like it before, which turned the permission process into an eight month process from what should have been a two month process. Learning from this the design team now includes building inspectors and code enforcement officials in the charrette process in order to continue to think outside of the box-even when dealing with local government officials. Also, the importance of conducting an open planning process and continuing a relationship with local officials.

Transect Zone(s): T1 preserve, T4 general, T5 center, T6 core.
Status: 51-75% Built
Guiding Charter Principle(s): Principles, 6, 11, 12, 13, 15, 18, 20, 24
Project or Plan's Scale: Neighborhood
Features: Transit oriented development.
Land area (in acres): 64
Total built area (in sq. ft.):
Total project cost (in local currency):
Retail area (in sq. ft.):
Office area (in sq. ft.):
Industrial area (in sq. ft.):
Number of hotel units:
Number of residential units (include live/work): 976
Civic uses (type and size): New City Hall, Civic Center
Parks & green space (in acres): 11
Residential types: Low-rise flats, Townhouse/rowhouse/maisonette, Small lot detached.
Project team designers: Tunnell-Spangler-Walsh & Associates
Project team developers: Hedgewood Properties

Previous site status:

Starting/Ending date of construction/implementation: - 2015