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Over the past decade, several workshops were held and many residents and volunteers dedicated their time and hours to develop a vision for the Town Square. The purpose for developing the vision was to derive the quality of life and appearance desired for the downtown.
As the design evolved, it became apparent that certain architectural components were desired in the downtown, therefore, design guidelines began to evolve. A book was created in 1998, the Downtown Maitland Development Patterns and Guidelines (the Pattern book), to guide development in the Town Square. Images from the Pattern Book follow the site plan evolution images below. The Pattern Book is evolving depending upon input gathered from citizens; field observations; and, input from property owners.
The images below represent a synopsis of the sequential evolution and changes that still occurred over time to refine the design. The Town Square is a flexible design that is still currently being refined through citizen input and information gathered at community forums.
Town Center Redevelopment Request for Qualifications/Proposal
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Town Center Design Standards [PDF 50MB]
Town Square Conceptual Master Plan
City Hall Conceptual Design
Public Safety Building |
Plan 1
One of the first designs proposed for the Town Square was prepared by Environmental Design & Development, Inc. in 1998, which included the following key distinguishing features:
The design was very similar to the design prepared for the Winter Springs Town Center
The design included fake facades (storefronts) that were two-story to disguise other uses behind the facades.
Plan 2
Another design was developed in 1998 by Environmental Design & Development, Inc. that included one large unadorned parking garage on Independence Lane.
Plan 3
A conceptual site design was prepared by LS3P Associates, LTD. In July of 2001. Approximately 340,000 square feet of retail and the new 75,000 square foot City Hall were proposed. The design also proposed one large unadorned parking garage on the Maitland Avenue side of the block. Horatio Avenue was also proposed for closure and the City Hall complex was proposed as the end of the vista along Horatio Avenue. There was a large area of green space proposed in the southwest corner of the site, at the intersection of Ventris Avenue and Maitland Avenue as part of an Open Market.
Plan 4
The firm ACi Associates prepared a revised concept of the Town Square in August of 2001, one month after the LS3P Associates design. This design centered the City Hall complex on Horatio Avenue, but allowed the traffic to flow around the building and did not prevent vehicular access along Horatio Avenue from US 17/92 to Maitland Avenue. A public lawn was proposed in front of City Hall. Two structured parking garages were proposed along Maitland Avenue with pedestrian bridge interconnects into City Hall. Exposed Parking spaces?
Plan 5
ACi Associates and LS3P Associates, LTD combined and prepared two site plans in September of 2001. This concept plan included residential mixed-use component in the Town Square of approximately 310,000 square feet. There were 425,000 square feet of retail proposed. The City Hall structure was reduced to 19,200 square feet. The parking garages were separated from City Hall. Separate structures were proposed for fire and police stations adjacent to the green space in the southwest corner of the site. This alternative was determined to lack community and functional open space.
Plan 6
The second alternative prepared by ACi Associates and LS3P Associates, LTD began the Village Green concept. This design maintained two mid sized parking garages, however, liner buildings were proposed surrounding the parking garages to provide a visual buffer for pedestrians. The liner buildings along the parking garages could house retail and office uses. Residential uses were also proposed in this concept. City Hall was centered on Horatio Avenue again, but vehicular access was maintained to flow around the building. City Hall was proposed to connect to the two parking garages via pedestrian bridges.
Plan 7
A third concept was prepared by the ACi Associates and LS3P Associates, LTD team in November of 2001. This concept plan included residential mixed-use component in the Town Square of approximately 300,000 square feet. There was 425,000 square feet of retail proposed. The City Hall was reduced to 18,500 square feet. This concept removed pedestrian bridges from the garages into City Hall. A 12,500 square foot, two-story police station was proposed as a portion of the liner building for the northern parking garage. This design increased a lot of surface parking screened by buildings from the primary rights-of-way. Horatio Avenue was still routed around City Hall. Although this concept maintained the green space in the southwest corner for the Cultural Corridor, the concept was determined to lack public and green space.
Plan 8
In December of 2001, ACi Associates developed a concept that created a large Central Park with City Hall as a focal point in the Park. The vehicular connectivity was maintained along Horatio, which again circumvented the proposed City Hall structure. The liner buildings were maintained around the parking structures and began to form the street walls of Central Park. An axis was created that connected the proposed Central Park to Lake Lily.
Plan 9
The Central Park concept created by ACi Associates was further refined to open the Central Park up even further. The buildings were pushed back to form a true public square and lawn area around City Hall. The ring road around City Hall was maintained within the public square. More on-street parking was provided for each building.
Elevation Drawing
An elevation was prepared to illustrate the City Hall and flanking mixed-use developments that provide an entrance into the Town Square.
Downtown Maitland Development Patterns and Guidelines
"People can shape buildings for themselves, and have done it for centuries, by using languages. A pattern language gives each person who uses it the power to create an infinite variety of new and unique building spaces, just as his or her ordinary language gives him or her the power to create an infinite variety of sentences."
– The Timeless Way of Building by Christopher Alexander, Professor, Center for Environmental Structure, Berkeley, California
A Pattern Book was developed as an expression of guiding principles contained in the Downtown Maitland Master Plan that were to be relied upon as a basis for future development planning and implementation within the public-private sector process. Below are a couple of images from the Pattern Book that demonstrate the level of detail and expression stipulated for new development to conform to the desired streetscape manifestation.
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