After receiving their first look at a consulting group’s proposals and recommendations for revitalizing Prince Frederick earlier this week, the county commissioners expressed support for the ideas.

During the Calvert County Board of County Commissioners meeting Tuesday, the consulting firm that conducted the Prince Frederick Town Center Charrette, The Lawrence Group, presented its report from the charrette.

“It’s real different. It’s very, very different,” Commissioner Susan Shaw (R) said. “It’s long-range and a lot of what we’ve heard about up ’til now has been what’s marketable or what’s profitable now — right now, not maybe such a long-range view.”

The hourlong report closely mirrored The Lawrence Group’s final presentation from the charrette process back in June. The charrette was a weeklong public process conducted by The Lawrence Group with the help of county staff, resulting in the firm’s recommendations and proposals. During the charrette week, there were public workshops, topical discussions and meetings at the end of each day to present the firm’s information, drawings and concepts to the public and receive feedback.

Craig Lewis, managing principal and director of planning with The Lawrence Group, told the commissioners to envision Prince Frederick in 2049 — a time when there are about 6,500 residents and more than 5,000 high-quality jobs in the town.

Included in that vision are several mixed-use townhome and apartment neighborhoods; the shopping centers have been revamped to include high-quality tenants and mixed-use infill development; there is a public square in the Historic Courthouse District; the “Hospital District” has expanded across Route 2/4, which is crossable with streetscaping and medians; and pedestrians and bicyclists have up to 6 miles worth of trails and paths to get anywhere in the town.

Overall, The Lawrence Group’s design would increase the existing 1,689 acres in the town center by 529 net acres, resulting in a 2,228-acre town center. The increase includes added land north of Calvert Memorial Hospital and to the west of the town center to include the College of Southern Maryland Prince Frederick Campus. The southern portion of the town center is proposed to be excluded from the town center boundary as well.

The consulting firm also proposed three districts for the town center: the Hospital District, a Cultural District that would encompass Calvert High School and the proposed Armory Square, and the Civic District along Main Street. In addition to the districts, the firm proposed 10 activity centers, such as CSM, the Edward T. Hall Aquatic Center, Calvert Memorial Hospital, the Calvert Library Prince Frederick, Calvert Pines Senior Center and one at each of the public schools within the town center.

The housing density in Prince Frederick, which is currently permitted at a maximum of 10 or 12 units per acre, would be about three units per acre with all of the proposed housing in the town center.

Lewis said the consulting firm is recommending to decrease the parking standard because the actual parking standards are much less than a decade ago. The extra parking that exists today, he said, is already conducive to redevelopment of outparcels in the shopping centers — which could help create more mixed-use, “walkable” communities.

The county needs to prioritize the regulations, Lewis said during Tuesday’s presentation, beginning with streetscape, then frontage, building placement, parking location, height, roof type, building design and then, finally, use.

The design also includes 11 to 15 acres of public space and 10 to 25 acres of athletic fields. Of note are the eight outdoor spaces throughout the town for sporting events, gatherings, picnics and other special events, not including neighborhood parks and playgrounds. The consulting firm also added extensive streetscaping and plant infill throughout the town along roadways, Route 2/4 and in parking lots.

The consulting firm also made its own revisions to the Prince Frederick Loop Road, such as altering starting and ending points and changing where the road would lie because of the hilly topography for which the road is currently proposed.

The heart of Prince Frederick would be Armory Square, Lewis told the commissioners.

“The key things here are to create a great place,” Lewis said. “It’s going to be a different place than you have here around the courthouse because this is off the beaten path. … The key here is to think about this area as a mixed-use space.”

Armory Square would be a walkable, mixed-use village center, according to the design. The Lawrence Group presented four options for the square. Several included an area for a large retailer, while all had a range of retailing options with entertainment and restaurants. All options retained the Armory building but repurposed it for a community need, such as a community center, a black box theater, offices or a farmers market. All four options have a 1- to 1½-acre public space with extensive landscaping stretching into the entire square.

To make this area successful, though, Lewis said there needs to be housing, connectivity, circulation, jobs, a public space, things to go do and things to buy.

To implement all these changes throughout the town center, the consulting firm also made recommendations to the Prince Frederick Town Center Zoning Ordinance, such as reforming the transferrable development rights program to offer exemptions for development in the town center or for strip/big box retail or single-story development. In addition, the consulting firm recommends placing “walkable urbanism” as a goal for the town center.

Commissioner Gerald W. “Jerry” Clark (R) said, “This is actually very different than what we’ve seen before when we’ve looked at town center master plans’ updates, rewrites and things like that. It’s truly for the future. I would venture to say that a lot of the folks that participated in the charrettes and that were there basically are seeing this as a vision that may happen when they’re not here because 35 years is a fairly long period of time.”

Clark said he would like to see what public’s reaction will be when this begins to move to public meetings and hearings.

“It’s interesting. I’m curious to see going forward with this how it shakes down in public opinion,” he concluded.

“It’s almost a bit overwhelming to picture all this in a span of a short time, which is what most people want to see,” Commissioners’ President Pat Nutter (R) said.

Commissioner Evan Slaughenhoupt (R) was one of those people.

“To me, I’m very impatient. I want to see that today. But it’s not gonna happen today, I know,” he said.

Slaughenhoupt also warned and reminded everyone, “There will be naysayers. I’m not one of them, but there will be naysayers that complain that we’re doing something different to the TDR program. In reality, I think we’re going to work to try to help improve and save the TDR program and use such to help for incentives to achieve some of these visions. You’ll hear naysayers about traffic.”

In addition to traffic and TDR concerns, he said there will also be those who will say this is The Lawrence Group’s plan for Prince Frederick.

“We need to remind them that’s not the case, that this consultant is presenting a vision as articulated by citizens at these charrettes. This is the citizens’ concept to be modified over time, sure.”

Slaughenhoupt said he supports the concept for Prince Frederick.

“I like the activity centers. I like how you took, and currently a new district — I’ll call it the New Town District — and within that one district, you subdivided five districts. … And what I liked about that was those circles showed like a five-minute walk. I think that’s very keen, very helpful to help focus energy on this concept.”

According to Lewis’ presentation, the consulting firm is preparing a presentation book for the county that will include a summary of the charrette and all the recommendations.

Moving forward, Acting Director of the Calvert County Department of Community Planning and Building Mary Beth Cook said staff plans to have the proposed amendments to the Prince Frederick Zoning Ordinance before the end of the year followed by the first public hearings taking place in the first quarter of 2014.

ascott@somdnews.com

<!– –>

Photos by Shoshanah Siegel/Signal Tribune
Size does matter when it comes to lighting fixtures for the outside of your home. However, BB Hardware, located in Long Beach, takes it to a fun extreme.

Shoshanah Siegel
Columnist

Recently, I have had a chance to work with quite a few clients who have wanted a facelift for the outside of their homes. If you are now ready to do the same, or perhaps do so in the future, here are some items you might want to start considering. Of course, my approach is always to be aware of your budget while still getting great results. Also, know that these “curb appeal” makeovers can be done in stages.

Get a new perspective
The first thing I would suggest doing is to go across the street from your home and look at the front of your house. Take some photos. This will allow you to review what you saw or may not have seen, and will possibly give you a new perspective. Try and be as objective as you can.
Your home’s front entry should be the focal point of its curb appeal. I suggest looking at various elements such as: house numbers, front door, mailbox, lighting, doorbell and entry door lockset. All of these can add interest to your home’s exterior, but in their current state, might not be conveying the aesthetics you want. These elements need to work together, creating a harmonious look while enhancing the style of your home. You might not even need to purchase all new items, especially if all they need is a good metal polish and/or paint. So that your task at hand is not too daunting, let me break it down, step-by-step.

Shut the front door
I look at the front door as the cherry-on-top. In order to create interest and depth, I like to add a pop of color to various parts of the exterior of the home. The front door is one of these places to do just that. Paint is one of the most inexpensive ways to freshen and liven up an area. Because it is so cheap and easy to do, you might even consider changing your door color with the seasons.

Is your front door working for you?
Ask yourself if the current door matches the style of your home? What other materials might you consider? First, determine your needs. Doors now come in steel, fiberglass, aluminum, vinyl and composite. How is it functioning? Do you want to let more light into your home? If the answer is yes, consider purchasing one with windows. If privacy is not an issue, you might select one that has vertical panels of glass that flank one or both sides of the door. Also, most come with various types of glass, some obscuring the view more than others. Looking from the inside out is important as well.
A recent client of mine, who has a post-modern home, found the perfect door. It has staggered square windows running vertically down the right side of the door. In keeping with the architecture, we selected a bright chartreuse color to paint the new door. Craftsman homes are often made of high-quality wood and have windows and detail moldings. Do your homework. Research and narrow down your options and then determine where might be the best selection and prices. I like looking at the Habitat For Humanity stores. You could get a great door while contributing to a great cause. Visit habitatla.org/restore/products .

This home exemplifies how great the front entrance of your home can be when all the elements are done to perfection

When one door opens…
From a practical point of view, exterior doors and their hardware need to keep occupants and property safe inside the building and also need to allow people to quickly get out in an emergency. Door hardware is considered the handshake of the home because it is one of the first things that greet a visitor. As mentioned previously, check to see what condition your hardware is in. It may just need a cleaning. Stay true to the architecture of your home. Ones for Craftsman-style homes are often made of brass with stylized shapes. Postmodern and contemporary homes might just have a single rod for the handle with a separate locking system. Once again, do your research and be creative. For color, consider other elements such as hardscape or roof colors. Be consistent. If you select brass for your hardware be sure to also select brass for other elements in the same location, such as a mailbox or lighting fixtures.

Ring my bell
Whether you have an intercom, doorknocker, or doorbell, this is a way that visitors alert you that they are at the front door. Depending on your architecture, or how you want visitors to announce their presence, why not make it fun? You are only limited by your imagination. I have seen them made of tile, metal and wood. We have a doorknocker made of wood in the shape of a woodpecker. There are many styles from which to choose. Let your tastes and interests be your guide.

Lighting the way
Outdoor lighting has three purposes. You want to create a welcoming entrance to your home as well as be able to walk safely up the steps and, from the inside, clearly identify who’s coming to visit. Since your front door is usually what most guests approach first, the front-entrance door is the place to choose to make a statement! Lighting is one very important way to create a great first impression. A pair of wall sconces or lanterns flanking the entryway can complete the look you want, whether it’s contemporary, rustic or artistic, the lighting needs to fit the style of your home.

Wall lights, lanterns, ceiling lights or pendants?
Depending on the architecture of your home, it might be possible to use wall sconces or lanterns flanking the doorway or lights mounted to or recessed into the ceiling– or a combination of both. (In a future article I will be going into more detail about lighting for porches and how to coordinate the porch lighting with lighting for the rest of your landscaping.)

Size matters!
According to Lette Birn, on her blog Form + Function, wall fixtures should be anywhere from one fourth to one third the height of the door.
She mentions that if you are using two sizes of sconces for your front door as well as your garage, you’ll want to use the larger sconces at the front door, since this is where you want to create the focal point. Also, as a rule of thumb, outdoor sconces or lanterns should be mounted with the center of the light source about 5 feet 6 inches to 6 feet from the ground and 8 to 10 feet apart.

Is your mailbox delivering the right message?
Whether it’s hanging on the front porch, the garage or the wall surrounding the home, the right mailbox is one of those details that can’t be overlooked. Once again, mailboxes can enhance the architecture of your home, and they need to coordinate with the other items near your front door and the rest of your home.
Be sure you check with your homeowners association or check with the U.S. Postal Service before you decide what kind of mailbox to purchase and where to put it.
When it comes to picking the size, there are really no rules (except for those set by the USPS). If you’re the type of person who gets larger packages and likes your accessories to make a statement, then a larger, bolder-color box is probably right for you. If you would rather your design elements blend together, then a smaller box might be just right. I find it helpful to tape off the measurements of the box to see how it would look and if the size meets your needs. If you’d prefer not to have a mailbox at all, a mail slot in your front door is always an option.
Many homeowners choose the color of their mailbox based on the color of their home and the other accessories on their porch and in their front yard. Black is one of the favorite choices for adding contrast and curb appeal. It is classic and clean, and it stands out. However, if black is too harsh of a color, you might consider copper and other metals. Your mailbox can make an artistic statement. The sky is the limit.

We’ve got your number
Selecting house numbers follows pretty much the same process as selecting the other elements previously mentioned. The selection of the fonts, materials and colors of your house numbers should enhance the curb appeal of your home and work in tandem with the style and other items selected. Check out these sites for some fun alternatives: accurateimageinc.com; Neutra numbers from homedepot.com (cheap); and Ebay.com (specify what architectural style you are looking to buy).

How to choose the right size number?
According to The House Number Lab, a manufacturer and site for purchasing house numbers, the general rule of thumb is that your number will be as wide as it is tall. So if you order a number that’s 4 inches tall, you can expect that three digits will be approximately 12 inches wide (not accounting for the space between the numbers). This is true for most numbers that are neither wide nor condensed, which would be 20 percent wider or narrower than the average number.
Some consideration:
• Distance from street. Homeowners that are far from the street may want to choose numbers a little bigger.
• Angle. If a home sits on a hill, the angle alters how someone sees the size of the number.
• Interferences. Things that block view of the numbers can affect their visibility, so make them larger.
Once you’ve got a good idea, cut a piece of paper out to size and place it in the window. Does it look right? If so, go with it. If not, try something else.

Keep a lookout for future articles in which I will be sharing ideas and advice regarding more “curb appeal,” for items such as porches, porticos, trellises, architectural elements such as moldings, shutters, window boxes, fences, hardscapes, outdoor art, seating, colors, landscaping and many more. ß
Shoshanah Siegel provides color and design consulting as well as space planning, remodeling/upgrading and staging through her firm Your Color Diva. She can be contacted at (562) 427-0440 or at Shoshanah.siegel @gmail.com . Samples of her work can be found at houzz.com .

As Harry Knabb stands at the corner of Sixth and Trade streets in the heart of the Downtown Arts District, he takes a second to look up.

“We call this the Art Tower,” he says, pointing to a 17-foot-tall structure made of metal and concrete. “This thing is solid, man. It’s going to be here a long time.”  

Embellished with paintings and crowned by a metal fish, the Art Tower is the latest public art project brought forth by Arts for Arts Sake (The AFAS Group), a nonprofit organization that supports local artists. Knabb, who serves as president of AFAS, says the group has made public art its top priority in recent years, using a mix of grants and private funds to commission local artists for their creativity.

In just a few years, the group has colored downtown with more than a dozen murals, sculptures, and other works through its public arts initiative.

“We think it’s important to have art that’s available for everyone,” Knabb says. “People are sometimes intimidated to go in galleries to see art, but everyone has access to public art. It’s free; you don’t have to dress up nice to see it. It’s really a quality-of-life thing.”  

Studies also show that public art can create a sense of place in one’s community.

A 2012 report by The Knight Foundation surveyed nearly 50,000 people in 43 cities and found that aesthetics and social offerings (including public art) ranked extremely high in a “driver of attachment” to a place (higher than education, the economy, and public safety).

Marianne DiNapoli-Mylet has seen the community that public art can create firsthand. A local artist and muralist, DiNapoli-Mylet has painted some of the city’s most prized and prominent scenes, including a number of murals downtown. She moved to Winston-Salem in 1989 by way of New Jersey and brought the “mural-fever” with her. Not only did she paint some of the Arts District’s first murals, she also wrote the grants to fund the works.  

These days, DiNapoli-Mylet often sees others admiring her works from the windows of her Trade Street studio.

“It’s always fun when someone stops and takes a photo with something I created,” she says. “They probably don’t even know who I am or that I made it, but I’m thrilled that they’re enjoying the work.”  

She stresses community involvement with most of her murals, allowing the public to have a hand in their creation. She recently started an arts-based nonprofit called POWAR! (People of Winston-Salem Art Reclamation Program) that introduces art and mural techniques to at-risk middle- and high-school students. Among the group’s art projects are several murals downtown (including a lovable alien mural on the side of Lucky Strike Boutique). Why does she feel public art is important for the city?

“Because it’s the people’s art, and it’s something they can take pride in,” she says. “It can help distinguish Winston-Salem from all the other places in America.”

Still Not Enough?

Despite the efforts DiNapoli-Mylet and groups like AFAS, there’s still a sentiment that Winston-Salem isn’t living up to its billing as the “City of the Arts”—at least not in terms of public art. It’s something Eric Elliott has heard a lot through the years.

A local advocate for public arts, Elliott was once the head of a public-arts exploratory committee in Winston-Salem. He says that while the city has made progress in the way of public art, it still lags behind other similarly-sized cities.  

“For a city that’s blessed with an outsized amount of art institutions, Winston-Salem has been behind the curve on its commitment to public art,” Elliott says. “One problem is that we have no foundation fund for public-art purchases, even though we have great foundation support for the arts. Most of the Arts Council funding goes to local institutions (not projects). Other towns smaller than us—Cary, Hickory—have public-art commissions to help guide and get citizen input on how art can shape their place.”  

With that said, he’s quick to note the formation of Creative Corridors Coalition (CCC) has been a step in the right direction. Composed of local architects and community leaders, the nonprofit was established a few years ago with a mission of enhancing downtown roadways with creative elements. Most of its focus centers on a one-mile stretch of Business 40, which, in 2016, is set to undergo a $70 million makeover. The CCC wants to use the project as a chance to create a series of artworks that will leave an “indelible impression” for all those entering the city. Ideas have included artistic lighting, artwork, architecture, and landscaping that could cost between $5 and $10 million. CCC officials say they’ll soon begin writing grant applications and seeking private donations for the project.

Another grass-roots group has its eyes set on the historic RJR smokestacks rising over downtown. The group wants to repurpose the iconic 14-story smokestacks to create one of the world’s largest kaleidoscopes.  

The city of Winston-Salem is also on board with the idea of more public artwork, as they recently announced plans to commission a piece of public art to mark the city’s centennial. The artist selected will receive $30,000 to create the work, which will be used to highlight the city’s history. Elliott hopes projects like this will help draw attention to the dramatic effect public art can have on a place.  

“Public artwork helps reveal what a place values, what it memorializes, and how it feels about itself in the world,” he says. “It’s why so often public art comes to be place-makers as well as place markers. It’s ultimately a celebration of life itself.”