Every year, seniors in Alfred State College Architecture and Design’s urban design studies classes reach a high level of skills and imagination, according to their professor Bill Dean.
Those high levels were on display for three hours Tuesday night at the VFW as ASC students presented roughly 100 Bath villagers with one idea after another on how to take what the village has to offer and make it sparkle.
They passed on dozens of ideas — covered walkways, a splash park, a clock center, landscaping around the Steuben County Historical Society building, a coffee and flower shop, an expanded farmer’s market, a walking tour guide – and perhaps, above all, attention to the village’s rich history.
Dean said the students come from various urban and rural backgrounds, and bring that perspective to the eight-week project.
“They do it all themselves,” he said. “We just provide the framework.”
For the students, the project gives them something to add to their portfolio, Dean said.
For the residents, the project offers new eyes on their beloved village.
While local resident Sheri Nobles approached Dean three years ago, the project took off last September, after approval by the village board.
After the class toured the village, they met with Bath officials to learn more about the village board’s vision for the area. They studied the village Comprehensive Plan and recent recommendations by the Buffalo-based consultant group peterjsmith.
They began to dream.
According to ASC Business Management Senior Ryan Webb, vital characteristics of the village include Pulteney Park and more than 200,000 square feet of green space. It also holds particular historic value, with the National Cemetery, Bath VA and a Civil War Memorial.
Ryan recommended the village set up a community fund to keep assets and resources in the community and identify projects. He noted there are grants available to help with projects and urged officials to update the village and town websites and connect to the social media, such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
While many of those dreams may take shape in the future, if ever, the students and the residents were clearly galvanized Tuesday night.
“It just happens, sometimes,” village Mayor John Stranges said. “It was one of those nights when everybody was really into it.”
Stranges said the recommendations will be turned over to a committee set up by Arbor Development, a non-profit group that spearheads building rehabilitation in the region.
It is likely the group will target a couple of low-cost, easily accomplished projects to keep the momentum and set the stage for other projects, Stranges said.
Stranges said he favors moving the Civil War Memorial from its current location between Haverling and Geneva streets as one of the first projects.
“And there’s the park over by the library,” he said. “But I understand other people have other ideas. So we’ll have to see.”
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The students’ renditions will be on public display in the municipal hall on Monday.
For more information on the program, visit its Facebook page: Urban Design Studio @ Alfred State College
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