WELCOME EXERCISE Share your thoughts on the study area by: Placing a GREEN DOT on areas you like or where something good is happening and; Placing a RED DOT on areas you don t like or where area needs improvement.
Buford Livable Centers Initiative 10-Year Update January 27, 2016 Kickoff Meeting January 27, 2016
PROJECT TEAM
WHAT IS THE LIVABLE CENTERS INITIATIVE? Forward Buford is the 10-Year Update to the City of Buford LCI (Livable Centers Initiative) program administered by the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC), which: Courtesy of Atlanta Regional Commission Links land use, transportation + market analysis in town centers, activity centers, and corridors. Provides planning grants Provides transportation infrastructure funding
LIVING CENTERS INITIATIVE GOALS 1 2 Utilize an inclusive planning process Access to a full range of transportation modes create new plans for quality growth and help develop innovative policies that support more vibrant, connected communities. (ARC) 3 4 Promote a diverse mix of land uses and housing options Focus future growth where it makes sense
STUDY AREA 2,752.3 ACRES AND INCLUDES: Downtown Core South Hill St Historic District Buford Hwy Corridor Main St Corridor Residential communities north of Buford Hwy Commercial sites south of Buford Hwy Connection to I985 Major retail locations - i.e. Home Depot and Walmart Light industrial in westernmost section of study area Central Buford schools in easternmost section of study area
ORIGINAL LCI PLAN
ORIGINAL LCI CONCEPT PLAN
ORIGINAL LCI COMMUNITY GOALS
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 =8 9 Reinforce the role of the Main Street as Buford s center Provide an interconnected street system supporting a range of route options, transportation modes and reduced congestion. Ensure that walking is safe, convenient and enjoyable. Create a dignified public realm that encourages human interaction and promotes civic identity. Preserve a sense-of-place by protecting downtown s historic buildings and ensuring that new buildings provide quality architecture appropriate to Buford. Provide a mix of land uses within close proximity, while protecting existing residential areas. Provide well-maintained roads that facilitates the smooth flow of traffic on the community s terms. Increase the use and convenience of GCT buses and the viability of bicycling in the study area. Create a cohesive, pedestrian-oriented retail environment along Main Street that functions as a unified whole, rather than a collection of parts.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 =8 9 Reinforce the role of the Main Street as Buford s center Provide an interconnected street system supporting a range of route options, transportation modes and reduced congestion. Ensure that walking is safe, convenient and enjoyable. Create a dignified public realm that encourages human interaction and promotes civic identity. Preserve a sense-of-place by protecting downtown s historic buildings and ensuring that new buildings provide quality architecture appropriate to Buford. Provide a mix of land uses within close proximity, while protecting existing residential areas. Provide well-maintained roads that facilitates the smooth flow of traffic on the community s terms. Increase the use and convenience of GCT buses and the viability of bicycling in the study area. Create a cohesive, pedestrian-oriented retail environment along Main Street that functions as a unified whole, rather than a collection of parts.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 =8 9 Reinforce the role of the Main Street as Buford s center. Provide an interconnected street system supporting a range of route options, transportation modes and reduced congestion. Ensure that walking is safe, convenient and enjoyable. Create a dignified public realm that encourages human interaction and promotes civic identity. Preserve a sense-of-place by protecting historic buildings and ensuring that new buildings provide quality architecture appropriate to Buford. Provide a mix of land uses within close proximity, while protecting existing residential areas. Provide well-maintained roads that facilitates the smooth flow of traffic on the community s terms. Increase the use and convenience of GCT buses and the viability of bicycling in the study area. Create a cohesive, pedestrian-oriented retail environment along Main Street that functions as a unified whole, rather than a collection of parts.
RECENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS - PUBLIC Buford City Hall Buford Town Park and Community Center Buford High School Underway City Conservation Buford Highway School Central Office Main Street Park
RECENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS - PUBLIC South Hill Street South Lee Street Forest Street/Sawnee Avenue Connector Main Street Directional Signage
RECENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS - PRIVATE Buford Village Mason Building Oak Brook Plaza Brickton North Hamilton Point Buford Youth Sports Complex Buford Care Dale Brown Building Espy Street Subdivision - Planned
MOVING FORWARD
THE PLANNING PROCESS WE ARE HERE! RESEARCH & ANALYSIS VISIONING DRAFT PLAN FINAL PLAN DECEMBER/JANUARY Site visit Existing conditions assessment Previous plans assessment Core team meeting 1 Kickoff meeting Stakeholder interviews
LAND USE + DESIGN Housing? Parks and Open Space? Development Opportunities? Business and Commercial Centers? Public Facilities? What does it look like?
MARKET STUDY Demographics Retail & Commercial Employment Housing Business Development
MARKET STUDY: Demographics Buford Population Change 2000-2010 23% population growth 2000-2010 6.8% projected by 2020 $49,354 Median HH Income Region 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 2% 23% 70% Robust growth since 2000 Rates slowed during recession, increasing Highest growth/income highest income = Suwanee, Forsyth Co, Sugar Hill Study Area Marginal growth and projection, but Trade area outpacing much of region in growth, incomes $100,000 $90,000 $80,000 $70,000 $60,000 $50,000 $40,000 $30,000 $20,000 $10,000 $0 2015 Median Household Income $37,730 $49,354 $66,923
MARKET STUDY: Retail Greater Buford area is retail magnet Study Area = $234 million inflow Buford = $584 m 10 min = $1.27 B (Mall of Georgia) Still localized demand in key categories Grocery, Specialty foods Apparel women s, accessory Specialty retail jewelry, gifts, sporting goods, used mdse Restaurants full service Potential for study area, downtown $100,000 $90,000 $80,000 $70,000 $60,000 $50,000 $40,000 $30,000 $20,000 $10,000 $0 2015 Median Household Income $37,730 $49,354 $66,923
MARKET STUDY: Residential Buford Market $181,785 median value 30518 avg Listing = $225k Gwinnett avg Sales 12/15 = $236k 90% of market Single Family detached Regional Market Strongly affected by housing bubble. Starts and prices declined, days on market increased Improved, stable, slow 10000 8000 6000 4000 2000 0 $300,000 $250,000 $200,000 $150,000 $100,000 $50,000 $- SF Residential Building Permits - Gwinnett County 200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014 30518 - Buford Market Activity Avg List Avg Sold
MARKET STUDY: Employment Buford Predominantly Retail & Accommodation/Food Exit 115 89.7% commute outside of Buford Key clusters exist at: Hamilton Mill Business Center Bristol Industrial Way Lee, Highway 23 Gwinnett County Professional, Technical 3% Health Care 4% Other Serv. 4% Educational Services 5% Admin/ Support 8% Wholesale Trade 9% Buford 2013 Employment Warehousing/ Trans 3% Construction 9% Retail Trade 22% Accommodation / Food 15% Manufacturing 12% 4.6% Unemployment (GA 5.5) 60% commute $49,036 avg. wage Atlanta regional WIA
TRANSPORTATION Roadways? Sidewalks? Bicycle facilities? Connectivity? Shuttles? What are the priorities?
AFTER BEFORE TRANSPORTATION SOUTH HILL STREET
AFTER BEFORE TRANSPORTATION SOUTH HILL STREET
AFTER BEFORE TRANSPORTATION SOUTH HILL STREET
AFTER BEFORE TRANSPORTATION SOUTH HILL STREET
PROJECT WEBSITE www.forwardbuford.com
Q+A
1. IMAGE PREFERENCE SURVEY Housing Parks + open space Development opportunities Business + commercial centers Public facilities 2. COMMENT STATIONS Land use and design Transportation Market Study 3. AFFIRM PREVIOUS GOALS EXERCISES NEXT STEPS: Community Workshop Date To Be Determined