City of Perry Strategic Master Plan

CITY of PERRY S EPT E MB E R 2 0 1 4 CRE DI T S STEERING COMMITTEE Shrad Amrit Mike Beecham Rob Brooks Joe Brownlee Chad Bryant David Campbell Trish Cossart Dr. Robin Hines Brian Jones Sheila Jones Carl Lumpkin Mary Beth Bass Joe Posey Larry Walker Randall Walker Ross Yashin David Grossnickle, DDA Chair Chantez Ford

MAYOR & CITY COUNCIL Mayor James Faircloth Jr. Phyllis Bynum-Grace Joe Posey Randall Walker Willie King William Jackson Riley Hunt DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY David Grossnickle, Chair Bryan Fountain, Vice Chair Lee Jones Victoria Brown Carl Lumpkin Russell Walker Kelly Hillis Catherine Edgemon, Executive Director

CITY MANAGER Lee Gilmour COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR Mike Beecham

PARTNERS GEORGIA MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION/ GEORGIA CITIES FOUNDATION

Perry Hiott, Director, Research & Redevelopment Services Chris Higdon, Manager, Community Development CARL VINSON INSTITUTE OF GOVERNMENT

Langford Holbrook, Public Service Associate, Principal Investigator Danny Bivins, Public Service Associate Kaitlin McShea, Senior Designer Jan Coyne, Public Service Associate Karen DeVivo, Editor Jeremy Arnett, Graduate Assistant Brian Chernoff, Graduate Assistant Cecile Riker, Graduate Assistant Clark Stancil, Summer Fellow Molly Longstreth, Michelle Bailey, & Minsoo Kim; Survey Research and Evaluation Unit Chris Stebbins, Graduate Assistant

CO N T E N T S 2 INTRODUCTION........................................................................................................................................................................................................

RECENT HAPPENINGS & FUTURE PLANS............................................................................................................................................. 2

4 PARTNERS...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................

STRATEGIC VISIONING & PLANNING PROCESS...................................................................................................................................5 PLANNING TIMELINE....................................................................................................................................................................................... 6 PUBLIC INPUT........................................................................................................................................................................................................ 9 PERRY VISION & GUIDING PRINCIPLES....................................................................................................................................................13 WORK PLAN...............................................................................................................................................................................................................17

19 WORK PLAN ITEMS 18-24 MONTHS................................................................................................................................................................

INT RO DU CT I O N Perry is a community with a historic downtown that is proud of its small town atmosphere and agricultural heritage while firmly focused on the future. Located adjacent to I-75 with four interstate interchanges in the city limits, Perry has opportunities that many other communities its size do not. Other significant assets in Perry include the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter and associated Go Fish Education Center, which bring almost 900,000 people to town annually.

Additionally, the Guardian Center is an 830-acre disaster preparedness and tactical training center that also attracts many visitors.

RECENT HAPPENINGS & FUTURE PLANS

Maintaining Perry’s small town atmosphere while planning for quality growth and maximizing the benefits of these key assets is a priority for the community. The purpose of the Perry Master Plan is to develop a vision for growth for both downtown Perry and the key corridors to and from I-75 and the Georgia National Fairgrounds. Identifying ways to get people attending fairground events or traveling on I-75 to stop and spend time and money in Perry is a key focus.

Nodal development patterns: Perry promotes a nodal development pattern with high intensity uses at major intersections with a gradual reduction of land use intensity to prevent strip development patterns along the major corridors.

In late 2013, a team from the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government, the Georgia Municipal Association, and the Georgia Cities Foundation began working with Perry’s leaders to develop a strategic masterplan for the city. While the team’s public input approach revealed many of the city’s needs and potential areas for improvement, it also highlighted how proactive and successful Perry’s leaders have been in recent years.

Examples of recent and planned actions include the following:

Future road improvements: There are major road projects and widening projects planned over the next 10– 20 years to serve Perry’s continued growth: • Exit 136 Landscaping-Sam Nunn Boulevard: Plans

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to beautify all of the exit ramps along I-75 since these are the primary visitor corridors into Perry and create the first impression (see pages 65-67).

• St. Patrick’s Drive: Proposed frontage road between exit 136 and exit 138 to provide access to land for more commercial development and to improve connectivity within Perry.

• Courtney Hodges Blvd lighting Improvements: Transportation Enhancement (TE) Grant received from the Georgia Department of Transportation to install pedestrian lights along both sides of the corridor to improve pedestrian safety and aesthetics.

• Commerce Street Improvements: TE grant to install brick sidewalks and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)–compatible crossings and to remove some utilities on Commerce Street for aesthetic reason.

• Ball Street Widening: Widening Ball Street to improve safety and connectivity with downtown and the fairgrounds.

• Third Street Improvements: Intersection improvements to Third Street and Houston Lake Drive to remove an unsafe intersection and to improve aesthetics.

• Perry Sidewalk Improvements: TE Grant to install sidewalks and ADA-compatible crossings on some of Perry’s major corridors (see pages 22-24).

• Alternative Transportation Routes: Long-range plan to improve city mobility by improving sidewalks along major corridors to allow multiple transportation modes, including bicycles, pedestrians, and golf carts (see pages 22-24).

• Walking Trails: Plans to develop a pedestrian-only nature trail system to link parks and the fairgrounds separate from the alternative transportation routes described above (see pages 22-24).

• Goodroe Property: Property acquired by the city where Courtney Hodges Boulevard enters downtown. The dilapidated house was removed the week of August 15, 2014 with the intention to redevelop the site to spur economic activity in this part of downtown (See pages 50-51).

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PART N E RS The partnership, consisting of the Georgia Municipal Association, the Georgia Cities Foundation and the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government, assisted the City of Perry in creating a strategic vision, plan, and short-term implementation program.

employee benefit, and technical consulting services to its members. GMA’s purpose is to anticipate and influence the forces shaping Georgia’s communities and to provide leadership, tools, and services that assist local governments in becoming more innovative, effective, and responsive.

CARL VINSON INSTITUTE OF GOVERNMENT

GEORGIA CITIES FOUNDATION

The Georgia Cities Foundation, founded in 1999, is a nonprofit subsidiary of the Georgia Municipal Association. The foundation’s mission is to assist cities in their efforts to revitalize and enhance downtown areas by serving as a partner and facilitator in funding capital projects through the revolving loan fund. Its services include the Revolving Loan Fund Program, the Heart & Soul Bus Tour, the Peer-to-Peer Mentoring Tour, the Downtown Development Authority Basic Training, and the Renaissance Award.

For more than 85 years, the Carl Vinson Institute of Government has worked with public officials throughout Georgia and around the world to improve governance and people’s lives. From Georgia’s early days as a largely agrarian state with a modest population to its modern-day status as a national and international force in business, industry, and politics with a population of almost 10 million, the Institute of Government has helped government leaders navigate change and forge strong directions for a better Georgia.

GEORGIA MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION

Created in 1933, the Georgia Municipal Association (GMA) is the only state organization that represents municipal governments in Georgia. Based in Atlanta, GMA is a voluntary, nonprofit organization that provides legislative advocacy, educational,

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STRATEGIC PLANNING and VISIONING PROCESS STRATEGIC VISIONING is a collaborative planning and decision-making process that relies on broad

stakeholder participation and a focus on asset-based development to create a shared community vision, plan, and implementation strategy.

Strategic visioning helps communities better understand their assets, more clearly identify priorities, and then use both as a basis for planning. Throughout the development of the plan, community members identify issues that are affecting their community, articulate big-picture goals, and develop short-term and long-term strategies to address the issues.

There are three key steps in the strategic visioning and planning process:

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WHE R E A RE WE N OW?

It is essential to understand the current conditions of Perry. The first step involves demographic research, plan reviews, and public engagement. Focus groups, oneon-one interviews, a town hall meeting, community-wide surveys, and a visual preference assessment are used to reveal the community’s story as well as issues and opportunities.

WH E RE ARE WE GO I N G?

In phase two of the process, the community looks to the future to shape a new vision. This vision is interpreted through illustrations and design recommendations so that all can see the physical translation of the collective vision.

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H OW DO WE GE T T H E RE ?

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The final step in the strategic visioning process is to create an implementation plan that moves the community toward its vision for the future. Community input and effort form the foundation for the implementation plan, which is critical for a successful outcome.

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P L A NN I N G T I ME L I N E Representatives from the City of Perry, the Downtown Steering Committee to identify the major issues and Development Authority, the Chamber of Commerce, actions identified in each plan. and other key stakeholders chosen by city leaders were STEERING COMMITTEE included on a Master Plan Steering Committee, which MEETING TWO — 2/21/2014 worked with and advised the Institute of Government planning team to create a shared and implementable • City project update: included what is complete, what vision and action plan for Perry. is under way, and what is in the works The planning process engaged the community in • Finalized stakeholder list and engagement multiple ways, ensuring that the final vision and plan techniques is one that is both of and for the residents, business • Plan review report: identified what the reviewed owners, and other stakeholders in Perry. plans called for, what the priorities were, and implementation schedules The Institute of Government also worked with the Steering Committee to ensure that the implementation • Finalized planning area map plan includes action steps, funding options, and other guidance for achieving the plan’s vision, resulting in PUBLIC & STAKEHOLDER strategies that have community support and can be ENGAGEMENT PROCESS implemented.

Based on decisions made by the Steering Committee, the Institute of Government implemented the public KICKOFF MEETING — 11/21/2013 • Charged Steering Committee and requested and stakeholder engagement process.

• Focus groups: 8 focus groups were conducted.

These groups were representative of the city as a whole but particularly focused on downtown and the fairgrounds/I-75 exit 135, Sam Nunn Boulevard/I-75 exit 136, and North Perry Parkway/I-75 exit 138.

service and time commitment • Reviewed project including planning boundaries and primary objectives • Identified existing plans and other efforts focused on the project area that need to be reviewed

• Identified the individuals, organizations, businesses, neighborhoods, and others that need to be heard • Survey: An online survey was used to gain a broad sample of residents and visitors to Perry. from to make the plan successful and to get the The survey was distributed through existing input and perspectives needed to develop a plan community websites, email lists, and social media. with strong community support The Institute also relied on local businesses, churches, and community organizations such as RESEARCH AND PLAN REVIEW Rotary to point their membership to the web-based • Existing plan review: The Institute of Government survey. reviewed existing plans recommended by the

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kickoff meeting

steering committee meeting 2.21.2014

11.21.2013

RESEARCH & PLAN REVIEW

strategic planning session FINAL

PUBLIC & STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT PROCESS

7.19.2014

IMPLEMENTATION AUDIT

PLAN

FINAL PLAN • Stakeholder Interviews: 25 interviews with elected officials and other decision-makers as well as Following this session, the Institute of Government individuals specifically identified as critical by the took the information generated during the Steering Steering Committee were conducted.

Committee planning session and drafted a final plan • Town Hall Meeting: More than 100 people attended that included three sections: a vision for Perry, which this session to identify their vision and discuss is the overall image (in words, illustrations, and maps, where appropriate) of what the city seeks to be known priorities for Perry. for and how it wants to represent itself beyond the STRATEGIC PLANNING SESSION TO city limits; an implementation plan outlining the DEVELOP THE VISION & PRIORITIES strategies to achieve this vision, including action MEETING THREE, 7/19/2014 steps and benchmarks, along with potential funding opportunities; and a comprehensive review of the As part of this planning session, the Steering process used to develop the vision and plan.

Committee was asked to complete a visual preference assessment. This assessment helped to clarify how the IMPLEMENTATION AUDIT community sees itself, its positive and negative aspects, and what should and should not be changed.

At six months and one year following the completion

of the Master Plan, the Institute of Government will conduct an implementation audit with the city and Downtown Development Authority. This audit will determine where implementation is working and where it might need adjustments

Drawing on the information gathered during the public and stakeholder engagement process, Institute of Government faculty worked with the Steering Committee to create a detailed vision along with an implementation plan for the city including downtown and three additional districts: the Fairground/I-75 exit 135; Sam Nunn Boulevard/I-75 exit 136; and North Perry Parkway/I-75 exit 138. During this meeting, the Steering Committee • Identified the key elements of the community vision, • Determined the specific areas where the city will focus in the first 18–24 months of the plan to move toward the vision, • Selected the courses of action to be implemented, and • Began developing strategies (including financing options), action steps, and benchmarks for each of these priorities.

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PUBLIC INPUT

PUBLIC INPUT More than 400 electronic surveys were completed.

WHAT MAKES PERRY UNIQUE?

Eight focus groups were conducted, including:

According to the multitude of survey responses, public meeting feedback interviews, focus groups, • Steering Committee members and town hall participants, people genuinely cherish • Hospitality/tourism industry members Perry’s “small town” feel. They recognize that the • High school youth town is composed of friendly people who help to foster • Young professionals a safe, clean, and close-knit community. Perry is widely • Downtown merchants regarded as a good place to raise children due to the • Property owners hospitable nature of its residents and business owners, • Courtney Hodges Boulevard business and property the school system, and effective law enforcement. owners • African American community members People also identified a variety of places and community Individual interviews were conducted with other key events in town that make Perry stand out in relation stakeholders and members of the community. to other communities in the region. Most notably, the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter—a hub The following information is derived from that input. for conferences, livestock shows, and large outdoor

GEORGIA NATIONAL FAIRGROUNDS & AGRICENTER PHOTO CREDIT: TIM GUNTER

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events—draws in an estimated 900,000 people each year. Downtown Perry carries a unique charm as well, offering a variety of shopping and dining options for both residents and visitors. Annual events such as the Buzzard Drop on New Year’s Eve and the Dogwood Festival appeal to families and people of all ages. These attractions, coupled with Perry’s proximity to Interstate 75, make it a favorite stop for travelers from all over.

WHAT IS WORKING WELL IN PERRY?

Feedback from the community demonstrates a positive view of the local government and law enforcement in Perry. Efficient communication between elected officials and citizens has helped to develop a trusting relationship over time, and the community values opportunities for their involvement in decisions affecting Perry at large.

Favorable views of the police department also indicate that the people of Perry appreciate and want to maintain a high standard of safety. The school system also has a good reputation among residents.

Many citizens acknowledge the existing aesthetic value in Perry, specifically in the downtown area. Things are clean and well-kept, and the benches and sidewalks contribute to its individuality. Unique shopping and dining opportunities create a distinctive feel for downtown that appeals to people from Perry and beyond. Perry is committed to economic growth and development.

2014 DOGWOOD FESTIVAL 5K RACE PHOTO CREDIT: DEAN THORNTON

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WHAT NEEDS IMPROVEMENT IN PERRY?

Visitors traveling on Interstate 75 should know what a clean and beautiful place Perry is. With beautification efforts focused on the exit ramps, whether it be landscaping or regularly picking up litter, a perception of cleanliness would help to draw in visitors directly from I-75. Cleaning up and beautifying Courtney Hodges Boulevard would significantly change the visual perception of the main corridor leading downtown from the Georgia National Fairgrounds. A clean, litter-free town gives the impression that residents care about their community; property values decline in less “beautiful” places, and unsightly litter invites crime, vandalism, and more litter.

Visitors to the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter are not taking full advantage of the restaurants and shops in Perry. Without the appropriate signage and promotion, many do not know that Perry has a vibrant downtown and thriving commercial corridors. Once people are downtown, some struggle to find parking. The perception of limited parking availability discourages Perry residents from visiting downtown more often and may deter potential business from locating downtown.

Although downtown Perry offers a number of shopping and dining opportunities, feedback shows that an increased variety of dining, drinking, and shopping options would draw people downtown more often. Survey respondents expressed a desire for more nightlife and extended store hours at night and on the weekends as well as places that cater to the 21+ crowd.

While the downtown district is already a great place to take a leisurely stroll, more walking trails and outdoor green spaces would provide recreation and respite for families and the elderly.

The lack of quality hotels has hampered tourism in Perry.

Without quality lodging options, visitors are discouraged from staying overnight and business goes elsewhere. The residents of Perry want to be able to recommend the city’s hotels to family and friends, but many feel they cannot given the current condition of much of the in-town lodging.

Although Perry already hosts a number of annual festivals and outdoor activities, residents hope to see more in the future and recognize that proper accommodations for out-of-town guests is vital to the future.

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WHAT IS YOUR VISION FOR THE FUTURE OF PERRY?

The majority of respondents envision Perry being an economically robust, continually growing, unique area that attracts families and people of all ages with its variety of recreational and leisure services. With increased business investment and economic development, there will be more viable job opportunities as well as an increased variety of dining and shopping venues.

A large selection of shops and restaurants in downtown coupled with a lively nightlife will appeal to younger visitors and residents of Perry. Cleaner streets and more attractive interstate exits and gateway corridors will help Perry invite tourism from the Georgia National Fairgrounds, I-75, and the region. Perry will be viewed as a destination for a unique Middle Georgia shopping and dining experience and will not have problems drawing travelers off of the interstate.

2014 DOGWOOD FESTIVAL PHOTO CREDIT: DEAN THORNTON

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PERRY VI SI O N & GUIDI N G P RI N CI P L E S

Perry is a close-knit, family-friendly community with • Perry’s nightlife will attract more business from an undeniable “small town” feeling. Residents of Perry younger crowds with extended store hours on value safety, an excellent education system, and an nights and weekends. open and honest relationship with public authorities.

A vibrant downtown district filled with welcoming neighbors and diverse businesses offers a unique shopping and dining experience to both residents and visitors. In the future, Perry will continue to be a destination for guests from all over the state and will draw travelers directly off Interstate 75.

GUIDING PRINCIPLES

• Perry will take advantage of the thousands of visitors to the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter by directing their business to the shopping and dining options located along the city’s gateway corridors and into downtown.

• Perry will improve its “curb appeal” along Interstate 75 by developing a beautification plan for the exit ramps. Litter abatement efforts and simple plantings will give the impression that Perry is a clean and beautiful place to live or visit.

• Perry will maintain and enhance its distinct “small town” feel by developing the businesses in its downtown district; more shops and restaurants will contribute to its uniqueness and draw residents and visitors more often. Economic development will also provide more viable job opportunities.

• Increased recreational events such as festivals or street fairs will provide people from Perry and surrounding areas with more incentives to visit.

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COFFEE CUP RESTAURANT

PHOTO CREDIT: LAMAR (FLICKR USER BAMABOY1941)

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CIT Y o f PE RRY TOP ISSUES FROM PUBLIC INPUT

• Improve downtown alleys

• Connect, extend, and repair sidewalks

• Improve gateways and corridors into downtown including Sam Nunn Boulevard and Courtney Hodges Boulevard through clean up, streetscaping, and plantings

• Enforce existing codes: building code, nuisance, sign, public safety, etc.

• Improve the appearance of the closed Rite Aid site • Extend Carroll streetscape down Courtney Hodges Boulevard and to other downtown streets • Install wayfinding signage, particularly from I-75 and the Georgia National Fairgrounds into downtown • Improve I-75 interchanges: clean up, streetscape, and add plantings

• Create incentives for businesses: façade, sign improvements, and landscaping • Expand retail diversity • Identify bicycle- and golf cart– friendly corridors • Upgrade the New Perry Hotel and include a small convention space • Attract new hotels and clean up and/ or replace substandard lodging • Improve promotion of Perry and what it has to offer along I-75, at the Georgia National Fairgrounds, and within neighboring communities

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WORK PLAN

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WO RK P L AN The Carl Vinson Institute of Government is using an organized and systematic approach to downtown redevelopment and revitalization modeled after the Main Street Four-Point Approach.® The process involves creating a community vision based on broad community engagement and input that leads to the development of an implementation plan with a stepby-step guide for success. The plan focuses on four program components: Organization, Promotion, Design, and Economic Development. To be successful, communities must look to address issues and opportunities in each of the components, working with broad public support for the betterment of the community.

Across each of the four program components, there is one critical element: public input and engagement.

Those who live in a place know more than anyone what is needed and what is wanted. The buy-in and support of the community are essential so that we can address issues and seize opportunities. A community must, first and foremost, meet the needs of its residents— after that, opportunities to increase tourism and other economic opportunities will follow. Perry has created a work program built upon the input of its residents that addresses the following components: Organization refers to 1 ORGANIZATION: working to establish accord and co-action among the various and diverse groups that have a stake in the downtown district. By getting everyone in the downtown district to work together toward a unified goal, the coordination of the Main Street Program can provide direct and consistent management for downtown.

The goal of promotion is two2 PROMOTION: fold: creating a positive image of downtown

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that will both ignite community pride and improve consumer and investor confidence in the downtown. Promotion includes advertising, retail promotion, special events, and the marketing of events.

Design simply means re-creating 3 DESIGN: downtown to be a safe, beautiful, and welcoming space for all who visit, work, and live there.

Design includes giving attention to public and private buildings, storefronts, signage, public spaces, parking areas, street furniture, public art, landscaping, merchandizing, window displays, and promotional materials.

DEVELOPMENT (the Four4 ECONOMIC Point Approach uses the term “economic

restructuring”): Economic development means building on and strengthening a community’s existing economic assets while diversifying the economic base. Economic development can be achieved through techniques to retain and expand successful businesses and thus providing a balanced commercial mix. Other strategies include sharpening the competitiveness and merchandizing skills of business owners and attracting new businesses the local market can support.

These four points work together, each supporting and assisting the others, to improve the social, political, physical, and economic vitality of a downtown.

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ITEMS 18 to 24 MONTHS WO RK P L AN ORGANIZATION

1. Address code enforcement issues within the planning area including I-75 interchanges, gateway corridors, and downtown. Focus on building codes, nuisances, zoning/signage, and public safety. Issues to be addressed include junk and trash, overgrown lots, unsafe or dilapidated structures, and illegal signs.

2. Develop, promote, and use incentives for business along gateway corridors and downtown, including faรงade and sign improvements and landscaping.

3. Identify walking, bicycle and golf cart friendly routes in Perry, both existing and future.

PROMOTION

5. Complete, connect, and repair the sidewalks within downtown, key gateway corridors Sam Nunn Boulevard and Courtney Hodges Boulevard, and adjacent residential areas.

6. Improve the appearance of vacant buildings in downtown and along Sam Nunn Boulevard and Courtney Hodges Boulevard, and encourage infill development on vacant sites or those ready for redevelopment.

7. Clean up and improve the aesthetics of the I-75 interchanges.

8. Improve the appearance and quality of existing hotels.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. Develop brand for Perry to be used in multiple ways including wayfinding signage and promotional material.

1. Expand retail diversity in downtown and along key commercial corridors including Sam Nunn Boulevard and Courtney Hodges Boulevard.

2. Promote Perry more aggressively (including shopping, dining, and recreation opportunities) at the Georgia National Fairgrounds, to travelers on I-75, and within the region.

2. Work with the owners to upgrade and improve the appearance of the New Perry Hotel, including adding a small convention space for downtown.

DESIGN

1. Improve the appearance and function of downtown alleys.

2. Work with the owner of the vacant Rite Aid on Washington Street to improve the appearance of this key entryway into downtown.

3. Upgrade the streetscape and appearance of existing properties along both Sam Nunn Boulevard and Courtney Hodges Boulevard from I-75 to downtown.

4. Extend the Carroll Street streetscape further down Carroll Street and to other streets in the downtown.

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3. Work with the Houston County Development Authority to attract new hotels. Start by contacting hotel industry personnel to determine how they make location decisions and how Perry can get them to locate within the city limits.

4. Design and implement a wayfinding signage program to direct visitors along key commercial corridors such as Sam Nunn Boulevard and Courtney Hodges Boulevard and into downtown from the Georgia National Fairgrounds and I-75 and to key sites within the city.

ORGANIZATION

O RGAN I Z AT I O N

One request received from the Perry community was to complete a sidewalk inventory and propose where new sidewalks could be installed and to create a downtown that could be easily accessible from all directions. Linking key locations such as schools (marked on the map as the red school icons) to downtown was also important to the community. For walkers and joggers, we also outlined where safe and scenic routes through downtown could be located after sidewalks were completed.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

DESIGN

PROMOTION

WORK ITEM: IDENTIFY WALKING, BICYCLE AND GOLF CART FRIENDLY ROUTES IN PERRY, BOTH EXISTING AND FUTURE.

Map 1: The map above shows the existing sidewalks (green) and existing trails (purple).

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ORGANIZATION PROMOTION

Map 2: The orange lines denote where new sidewalks need to be installed to create a more connected downtown.

DESIGN

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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Map 3: The orange lines denote where new sidewalks need to be installed to create a more connected downtown. The blue line shows a 4.5 mile loop route for walkers and joggers.

ORGANIZATION PROMOTION ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

DESIGN

Map 4: The orange lines denote where new sidewalks need to be installed to create a more connected downtown. The red line shows a 4.5 mile loop route for walkers and joggers.

Map 5: The orange lines denote where new sidewalks need to be installed to create a more connected downtown. The purple line shows a 5.75 mile loop route for walkers and joggers.

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ORGANIZATION

PRO MO T I O N

WORK ITEM: DEVELOP BRAND FOR PERRY TO BE USED IN MULTIPLE WAYS INCLUDING WAYFINDING SIGNAGE AND PROMOTIONAL MATERIAL.

Murals are a cheap and beautiful way to promote downtown. Buildings with large blank walls like the one shown right provide opportunities for murals.

The rendering below shows a “Welcome to Perry” mural with dogwood flowers, referencing Perry’s annual dogwood festival and repeating the design found in the painted dogwood flowers located in crosswalks throughout downtown.

PROMOTION

BEFORE

Downtown Murals

AFTER

DESIGN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

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ORGANIZATION

WORK ITEM: DEVELOP BRAND FOR PERRY TO BE USED IN MULTIPLE WAYS INCLUDING WAYFINDING SIGNAGE AND PROMOTIONAL MATERIAL.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

DESIGN

PROMOTION

New downtown branding concepts could be based on the existing dogwood theme found painted on the ground in crosswalks (as shown in the photograph below).

New Perry Dogwood Branding Signage: The rendering (shown right) shows a new dogwoodinspired welcome banner that could hang from street lamps downtown and along gateway corridors into downtown.

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ORGANIZATION

PROMOTION

DESIGN

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

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ORGANIZATION

WELCOME TO

PROMOTION

PERRY

IT'S BLOOMING FABULOUS

downtown

PERRY

W E L C O M E TO

DESIGN

IT'S BLOOMING FABULOUS

PERRY

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

TUNE IN TO 1610 AM

New Perry Dogwood Branding Signage: The concepts above show different layouts for downtown signs and banners. This design could also be applied on marketing materials such as bumper stickers, window decals, t-shirts, hats, and many other options as shown on the following page.

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ORGANIZATION

PROMOTION

DESIGN

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

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ORGANIZATION

WORK ITEM: DEVELOP BRAND FOR PERRY TO BE USED IN MULTIPLE WAYS INCLUDING WAYFINDING SIGNAGE AND PROMOTIONAL MATERIAL.

Perry Dogwood Branding: Planting dogwood trees downtown would be a great addition to the other dogwood branding and marketing concepts proposed in this report. The photograph to the left shows the courthouse in downtown Perry. The rendering below shows dogwood trees planted in the courthouse lawn as well as the existing crape myrtle tree in bloom and wellmaintained.

PROMOTION

BEFORE

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

DESIGN

AFTER

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ORGANIZATION

WORK ITEM: PROMOTE PERRY MORE AGGRESSIVELY (INCLUDING SHOPPING, DINING, & RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES) AT THE GEORGIA NATIONAL FAIRGROUNDS, TO TRAVELERS ON I-75, AND WITHIN THE REGION. Proposed Oversize Parking Map

PROMOTION

In order for downtown promotions to be effective, the city should make sure that oversize vehicle parking is available downtown, especially during events such as the State Fair. The map below shows possible locations that could accommodate travelers with oversize vehicles. Regular-sized vehicles would be allowed to park in these lots as well. This is simply to encourage Fairground patrons with large vehicles to come downtown.

DESIGN

Possible locations for oversize (RV) parking

This lot at the corner of Meeting Street and Main Street could be used for oversize parking during special events

This row of diagonal parking located next to the court house on Carroll Street could be reconfigured to oversize parallel spaces

This lot at the corner of 1st Street and Main Street could be used for oversize parking during special events

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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

This empty lot at the corner of Ball Street and Commerce Street could be used for oversize parking

ORGANIZATION PROMOTION

WORK ITEM: PROMOTE PERRY MORE AGGRESSIVELY (INCLUDING SHOPPING, DINING, & RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES) AT THE GEORGIA NATIONAL FAIRGROUNDS, TO TRAVELERS ON I-75, AND WITHIN THE REGION.

AFTER

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

DESIGN

BEFORE

Before: An announcement billboard on Courtney Hodges Boulevard across from the Georgia National Fairgrounds would benefit from an updated design.

The existing information is difficult for drivers to understand while speeding along this road.

After: Bold, unique fonts, contrasting colors, and well-defined groups of information will help clarify the content from a moving vehicle. At the top of the sign is a clear reference and distance to downtown Perry, and will be seen first by drivers passing by.

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ORGANIZATION

DE SI GN WORK ITEM: IMPROVE THE APPEARANCE AND FUNCTION OF DOWNTOWN ALLEYS.

BEFORE

PROMOTION

Connectivity in downtown through alleyways and spaces behind buildings: Before: The existing alleyway off of Ball Street, with its patchy asphalt and blank walls, can be interpreted as exclusively industrial use; which does not appeal to either the casual or the deliberate pedestrian.

AFTER

DESIGN

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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

After: Fresh pavement offers a sense of a space that is cared for, while a new wall mural provides both artistry and functions to advance the identity of Perry’s downtown district and annual dogwood festival. The addition of ornate and playful lighting satisfies visibility and safety, and completes an appealing new space that encourages pedestrian use.

ORGANIZATION

WORK ITEM: IMPROVE THE APPEARANCE & FUNCTION OF DOWNTOWN ALLEYS. Alley Parking

PROMOTION

(This photograph is the same alleyway looking the other direction to Ball Street.)

Before: Another service alleyway off of Ball Street maintains a similar sense of an unmanaged, unsafe industrial area with its patchy asphalt, overgrown weed-grass and unadorned cinder block wall.

Currently, business owners use this space for parking.

BEFORE

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

DESIGN

AFTER

After: An essential repaving of asphalt and the weedy planting strip will provide the sense of good management and care. The parking strip behind the businesses can be better defined by the elegant herringbone paving pattern already associated with downtown Perry, while a new brick wall with a formal white cap can replace the plain cinder block construction, further bolstering the downtown district and identifying this alley as accessible to pedestrians.

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ORGANIZATION

WORK ITEM: IMPROVE THE APPEARANCE AND FUNCTION OF DOWNTOWN ALLEYS. Connectivity in downtown through alleys and spaces behind buildings:

PROMOTION

Before: A large, open space behind downtown businesses currently appears uncared for, underused, and unappealing. With this space’s entire surface covered in rough gravel and weed growth, with no visible delineations for different uses, this space feels like a leftover industrial space. Adjacent to this space is a newly paved, well landscaped area. Therefore, this space should also possess the same design elements and carry through the same overall aesthetic since they are connected to one another.

BEFORE

AFTER

DESIGN

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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

After: Fresh pavement offers a sense of a space that is cared for, while a new wall mural provides both artistry and functions to advance the identity of Perry’s downtown district and annual dogwood festival. The addition of ornate and playful lighting satisfies visibility and safety, and completes an appealing new space that encourages pedestrian use.

ORGANIZATION

WORK ITEM: WORK WITH THE OWNER OF THE VACANT RITE AID ON WA SHINGTON STREET TO IMPROVE THE APPEARANCE OF THIS KEY ENTRYWAY INTO DOWNTOWN. Before: As drivers head southwest along Sam Nunn Boulevard before entering downtown Perry, they encounter a large, empty lot located between the split of Washington and Ball Street. The adjacent commercial building visible behind the lot is currently vacant. (A smaller traffic island is encountered previously along the boulevard that has an existing welcome sign, yet is in a poor location with small lettering, making it difficult to see as drivers move along.)

PROMOTION

BEFORE

DESIGN

AFTER, Option 1

After: Until the vacant lot is occupied with new development, wildflowers and dogwood trees are planted throughout the space and streetscape treatments should continue down both streets into downtown.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

AFTER, Option 2

After: An essential repaving of asphalt and the weedy planting strip will provide the sense of good management and care. The parking strip behind the businesses can be better defined by the elegant herringbone paving pattern already associated with After: Until the vacantwhile lot is aoccupied withwall new with development, welcome sign shouldthe be installed downtown Perry, new brick a formala new white cap can replace plain here with a design that matches the other welcome signs proposed throughout the city. To beautify block construction, further and bolstering the downtown district and identifying thisand thecinder area behind the sign, wildflowers willow oak trees are planted throughout the space streetscape treatmentstoshould continue down both streets into downtown. alley as accessible pedestrians.

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Sam Nunn Boulevard Before: The photograph below shows an area along Sam Nunn Boulevard coming from the Interstate-75 direction. Currently, the I-75 exit looks great because of the oak trees that are planted along the exit ramps. However, the trees planted along the median on Sam Nunn Boulevard are in poor condition and there are multiple gaps in the median where either trees have died or have never been planted.

ORGANIZATION

WORK ITEM: UPGRADE THE STREETSCAPE & APPEARANCE OF EXISTING PROPERTIES ALONG BOTH SAM NUNN BOULEVARD & COURTNEY HODGES BOULEVARD FROM I-75 TO DOWNTOWN.

PROMOTION DESIGN

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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

After: The rendering shows how the median would be improved if trees were planted in the empty spaces and all trees along the median were cared for and healthy.

ORGANIZATION

WORK ITEM: UPGRADE THE STREETSCAPE & APPEARANCE OF EXISTING PROPERTIES ALONG BOTH SAM NUNN BOULEVARD & COURTNEY HODGES BOULEVARD FROM I-75 TO DOWNTOWN. Courtney Hodges Boulevard Before: Where a driver exits Golden Isles Parkway onto Courtney Hodges Boulevard, lies an excellent location to create an attractive gateway toward downtown Perry. The field on this corner is currently bare other than scrubby turf grass.

PROMOTION

BEFORE

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

DESIGN

AFTER

After: An existing sign located in downtown could be repeated here. The sign, along with accompanying plantings, is positioned on this corner so traffic on Courtney Hodges Boulevard has a clear indication that they are approaching downtown Perry. Several intermediately-aged trees should be installed throughout the field behind the sign to gracefully convey the welcoming gateway into the city. The recommended streetscape design elements and the Courtney Hodges Planting Palette should begin from this point and continue into downtown.

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Courtney Hodges Boulevard, Tire Shop Improvements Before: The Wholesale Tire Shop on Courtney Hodges Boulevard should represent the other greening and planting treatments recommended along this vital gateway into Perry. This shop’s parking lot is currently lacking trees and planted areas, with only a chain-link fence serving as a buffer between the business and the highway.

ORGANIZATION

WORK ITEM: UPGRADE THE STREETSCAPE & APPEARANCE OF EXISTING PROPERTIES ALONG BOTH SAM NUNN BOULEVARD & COURTNEY HODGES BOULEVARD FROM I-75 TO DOWNTOWN.

PROMOTION

BEFORE

DESIGN

After: The rendering shows how the median would be improved if trees were planted in the empty spaces and all trees along the median were cared for and healthy.

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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

AFTER

ORGANIZATION

WORK ITEM: UPGRADE THE STREETSCAPE & APPEARANCE OF EXISTING PROPERTIES ALONG BOTH SAM NUNN BOULEVARD & COURTNEY HODGES BOULEVARD FROM I-75 TO DOWNTOWN. Courtney Hodges Boulevard, Scottish Inn & Suites Hotel Improvements

PROMOTION

Before: The Scottish Inn is a two-story 70’s-era hotel located on the four-lane Courtney Hodges Boulevard. The building is brick with tan trim, and all surrounding turf or plantings are either minimally maintained or overgrown. The front of the property has a well-worn chain link fence that is overgrown with vining plants. The center planted median of the boulevard, which is 20 feet at its widest point in front of the hotel, is minimally planted with scrubby low turf grass and a small collection of boxwood shrub.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

DESIGN

BEFORE

BEFORE

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ORGANIZATION After: The Courtney Hodges Planting Palette, which is an assortment of trees and shrubs carefully selected for recommended use along this corridor, are shown here in front of the hotel as well as the center median of the boulevard. The intention here is to provide screening and a variety of verticality, texture, and color to this gateway into the city. Another added benefit would be the shade provided by the Natchez Crape Myrtles along the sidewalk in front of the hotel.

PROMOTION

AFTER

dogwood trees

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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

They are easy to maintain and could be planted almost anywhere downtown, such as in the courthouse yard and along the sidewalks.

DESIGN

Dogwood trees would be a great addition to the downtown streetscape.

Not only are they beautiful when flowering, but they go well with the existing dogwood theme found downtown in the painted flowers in the crosswalks and with the Dogwood Festival.

ORGANIZATION PROMOTION

CO U RT N EY H O D GE S B O U L E VAR D

p lanting palette

Connecting the historic and civic heart of downtown Perry, Georgia with busy Interstate 75, Courtney Hodges Boulevard is a vital corridor and gateway to the city of Perry. The trees recommended below, selected both from plantings along the corridor and from tried and true street trees used throughout the South, are all excellent options for creating an urban canopy and place of welcoming along the boulevard.

All are low-maintenance options well adapted to harsh urban conditions and environmental stresses. To raise the profile of the corridor, define the community and reflect Perry’s unique sense of place, address public health and safety concerns, and create a welcoming gateway to the city, we recommend the use of one of the street tree options listed below.

COMMON NAME: Skyline Thorn less Honey Locust BOTANICAL NAME: Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis ‘Skycole’ MATURE SIZE: 35-45’ Height; 25-35’ Spread COMMENTS: A tough, dependable native deciduous tree well adopted to compacted soils, drought, and urban stresses. Skyline is a nearly seedless, thornless variety with a strongly upright form, noted for lacy foliage with an attractive yellow fall color.

DESIGN

COMMON NAME: Ginkgo, Maidenhair Tree BOTANICAL NAME: Ginkgo biloba ‘Autumn Gold’ MATURE SIZE: 40-50’ Height; 25-30’ Spread COMMENTS: A strikingly beautiful specimen or street tree with an impressive tolerance for urban conditions. Adaptive to a wide range of soil conditions, compaction, pollution and heat. Unique fan-shaped leaves host an exceptional display of yellow fall color.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

COMMON NAME: Shumard Oak BOTANICAL NAME: Quercus shumardii MATURE SIZE: 40-40’ Height; 30-40’ Spread COMMENTS: A durable and long-lived native Southern oak with impressive tolerance of drought, compaction, and urban conditions. A moderately fast grower with handsome rounded canopy and dependable red-brown fall color.

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ORGANIZATION

S PECIME N T REES

COMMON NAME: Weeping Yaupon Holly

PROMOTION

Specimen trees selected for Courtney Hodges Boulevard reflect both existing plantings along the corridor and, where not already present, include options well adapted to conditions along the boulevard.

All selections were chosen with an eye for economical, low-maintenance planting solutions with an outsized aesthetic impact and all-season interest. For a bold specimen at entryways and focal points, the native Weeping Yaupon Holly creates an alluring, eye-catching statement. Building on and improving the existing mass Crape Myrtle plantings, we recommend the stunning, disease-free Natchez cultivar for pedestrian canopies and masses. For an attractive screening option that reflects Perry’s antebellum heritage, we recommend the elegant Little Gem Magnolia.

BOTANICAL NAME: lex vomitoria ‘Pendula’ MATURE SIZE: 15-30’ Height; 5-15’ Spread SUGGESTED USES: Accent, containers, parking islands COMMENTS: A native South Georgia evergreen with picturesque weeping form.

Tolerant of a wide range of environmental stresses, from waterlogged soil and salt spray to drought. Showy red fruit, attractive to birds, persist through winter into spring.

BOTANICAL NAME: Lagerstroemia (indica x fauriei) ‘Natchez’ MATURE SIZE: 15-25’ Height; 20-30’ Spread

DESIGN

COMMON NAME: Natchez Crape Myrtle

SUGGESTED USES: Mass plantings, median plantings, areas of pedestrian focus COMMENTS: A spectacular specimen with year-round interest, impressive disease resistance, and few maintenance issues. Profuse, recurring white summer blooms with yellow to crimson fall color. Cinnamon bark and sculptural canopy provide winter interest.

BOTANICAL NAME: Magnolia grandiflora ‘Little Gem’ MATURE SIZE: 15-20’ Height; 5-10’ Spread SUGGESTED USES: Screening, accent COMMENTS: Dwarf cultivar of the native evergreen Southern Magnolia.

Fragrant white late spring to summer flowers, glossy deep green foliage with bronze undersides, elegant pyramidal form. Effective as flowering specimen or attractive screening.

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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

COMMON NAME: Little Gem Magnolia

ORGANIZATION

1 0 BE NE F ITS of H EA LTH Y TREES 1. Reduced and more appropriate urban traffic speeds 2. Increased pedestrian safety, activity, and security

PROMOTION

3. Added value to adjacent properties and tax base 4. Increased business along corridor 5. Decreased stormwater runoff 6. Decreased air pollution, Carbon Monoxide, and asthma-causing exhaust emissions

7. Softening and screening of unattractive views, increased aesthetic appeal 8. Decreased air temperatures and urban heat island effect 9. Reduced blood pressure, improved overall mental health 10. Improved community definition and investment

EV ER GREEN SH RU B S & G R O U N D C O V E R COMMON NAME: Gray Owl Red Cedar

DESIGN

BOTANICAL NAME: Juniperus virginiana ‘Grey Owl’ MATURE SIZE: 3-5’ Height; 6-8’ Spread SUGGESTED USES: Informal hedging, shrub border, low screening, mass plantings COMMENTS: A dwarf cultivar of the native Eastern Red Cedar. A medium growing, widespread juniper with cool grey-green foliage and dramatic, wide spreading branching. Produces profuse glaucous berries attractive to birds.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

COMMON NAME: Emerald Blue Moss Phlox; Thrift BOTANICAL NAME: Phlox subulata ‘Emerald Blue’ MATURE SIZE: 3-6” Height; 2-3’ Spread SUGGESTED USES: flowering groundcover, bedding, erosion control COMMENTS: A beloved native perennial groundcover common on old homesteads and roadsides. Plants thrive in sandy or gravely soils and tolerate hot, dry exposures.

Emerald Blue is smothered with clouds of lilac blue flowers in spring. Attracts butterflies.

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BOTANICAL NAME: Ilex vomitoria ‘Pendula’

ORGANIZATION

COMMON NAME: Autumn Joy Sedum MATURE SIZE: 15-30’ Height; 5-15’ Spread SUGGESTED USES: Accent, containers, parking islands COMMENTS: A native South Georgia evergreen with picturesque weeping form.

Tolerant of a wide range of environmental stresses, from waterlogged soil and salt spray to drought. Showy red fruit, attractive to birds, persist through winter into spring.

PROMOTION DESIGN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

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ORGANIZATION

WORK ITEM: EXTEND CARROLL STREETSCAPE DOWN COURTNEY HODGES BOULEVARD & TO OTHER DOWNTOWN STREETS

Carroll Street Improvements

PROMOTION

Before: Downtown Perry already has trees along the sidewalk that help beautify and shade the streetscape. However, in some places on Carroll Street, there are pavement-level tree planters that are empty like the one shown in the “before” image below.

After: With the addition of new street trees, the downtown streetscape is improved and the tree canopy is continuous down Carroll Street. Research has shown that street trees can increase safety by reducing crime, by promoting the feeling of a downtown well-looked after. This design element should be continued all the way to and along Courtney Hodges Boulevard.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

DESIGN

BEFORE

BEFORE BEFORE

AFTER

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Downtown Streetscape Improvements

ORGANIZATION

WORK ITEM: EXTEND CARROLL STREETSCAPE DOWN COURTNEY HODGES BOULEVARD & TO OTHER DOWNTOWN STREETS

Before: This building is located on Carroll Street in the heart of downtown, which is fronted by an excess of sidewalk and a large painted island; all of which present an excellent opportunity for a small green space.

After: A relatively large planted island can fill this space, planted with turf grass and a couple of street trees. This treatment is not only attractive, it also creates a cooling effect by the shade of the trees and the reduction of heat-radiating concrete.

PROMOTION DESIGN

BEFORE

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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

AFTER

ORGANIZATION

WORK ITEM: EXTEND CARROLL STREETSCAPE DOWN COURTNEY HODGES BOULEVARD & TO OTHER DOWNTOWN STREETS

Downtown Streetscape Improvements Before: The photograph below shows a sidewalk along Courtney Hodges Boulevard.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

DESIGN

PROMOTION

After: The rendering below shows the sidewalk improved by adding shade trees along both sides of Courtney Hodges Boulevard, continuing the same design elements of the downtown streetscape to Courtney Hodges Boulevard.

BEFORE

AFTER

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Downtown Streetscape Improvements

ORGANIZATION

WORK ITEM: EXTEND CARROLL STREETSCAPE DOWN COURTNEY HODGES BOULEVARD & TO OTHER DOWNTOWN STREETS

Before: The photograph below shows a sidewalk along Carroll Street.

After: The rendering below shows the sidewalk improved by adding shade trees planting grass into the parking lot, and adding flowering plants to the business sign.

PROMOTION DESIGN

AFTER AFTER

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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

BEFORE

ORGANIZATION

WORK ITEM: EXTEND CARROLL STREETSCAPE DOWN COURTNEY HODGES BOULEVARD & TO OTHER DOWNTOWN STREETS

Downtown Streetscape Improvements Before: The photograph below shows a building and parking lot on Main Street.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

DESIGN

PROMOTION

After: The rendering below shows the building and parking lot with improvements including: planting a buffer strip between the two properties, defining the cut-through road and parking area; adding a grass strip between the parking lot and sidewalk; and planting trees along the sidewalk.

BEFORE

AFTER

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ORGANIZATION

WORK ITEM: EXTEND CARROLL STREETSCAPE DOWN COURTNEY HODGES BOULEVARD & TO OTHER DOWNTOWN STREETS

Courtney Hodges Boulevard; Streetscape Improvements and Traffic Circle Concept Before: As a primary entrance point into downtown Perry, the current five-point intersection lacks any identifying features that suggests that drivers are entering into the downtown district. Streetscape elements found in the center of downtown, such as shade trees and landscaping, are not found at this major gateway. One request from a public input session was to reconfigure this intersection by changing it into a traffic circle with crosswalks, landscaping, and welcome signage.

PROMOTION DESIGN

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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

BEFORE

ORGANIZATION PROMOTION

Proposed Traffic Circle, Perspective View

After: Characteristically with traffic circle design, there are many opportunities to introduce appealing planting beds in-between traffic lanes. Moreover, a traffic circle design inherently has a large, circular empty space in its center, where both a welcome sign and attractive shrub and tree plantings can be located.

The plantings here follow The Courtney Hodges Planting Palette established throughout the entire gateway corridor that enters here.

U LE BO ES D G H O EY N RT U CO

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

VA R

D

DESIGN

AFTER

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ORGANIZATION

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PROMOTION

CO M

M

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ST

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Goodroe Property (This corner brick building is shown on the following page.)

IN

ST

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This plan view shows how the roads would need to be reconfigured in order to install a traffic circle.

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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Proposed Traffic Circle, Plan View

DESIGN

MA

ORGANIZATION

WORK ITEM: IMPROVE THE APPEARANCE OF VACANT BUILDINGS

Goodroe Property: A Key Gateway Building

After: The rendering below shows what the building would look like if a new awning was installed, replacing the existing hazardous and dilapidated one. Broken windows have also been replaced and a hot dog business occupies the space.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

DESIGN

PROMOTION

Before: The photograph (right) shows a vacant brick building located at the intersection of Courtney Hodges Boulevard and Main Street, located at a prime gateway into downtown.

AFTER AFTER 52

ORGANIZATION

PROMOTION

BEFORE

DESIGN

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

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ORGANIZATION

WORK ITEM: IMPROVE THE APPEARANCE OF VACANT BUILDINGS

“Brew & Grill of Perry” Concept

After (shown in the rendering, right): Introducing a highly-visible, socially-active location in the heart of downtown Perry: The “Brew and Grill of Perry” can be another successful example of an old gas station converted into a local, identifiable eatery, but with relatively minimal redesign. The building and space are primarily upgraded with a new roof, brick patio, engaging signage, and beautification with appropriate plantings and shade trees. The outdoor patio, particularly, has the potential to boost social activity in the downtown area--a place to see and be seen.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

DESIGN

PROMOTION

Before: The photograph below shows a vacated gas station that is located in central downtown Perry, directly across the street from a well-landscaped town square. The structure itself is solid and the location ideal, which represents a terrific re-purpose opportunity.

BEFORE

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FP ERR

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BR

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ORGANIZATION

O

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& GR W E

PROMOTION

The Brew & Grill of Perry logo concept idea is based on a rustic bottle cap. The red and white color scheme and branding would be applied to both the interior and exterior building design.

DESIGN

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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

AFTER

ORGANIZATION

WORK ITEM: IMPROVE THE APPEARANCE OF VACANT BUILDINGS

Vacant Brick Building on Ball Street Before: The photograph below shows a small commercial brick building located on Ball Street, which has been long vacated and fallen into disrepair. It currently has no roof. An alley follows along one wall, leading into a small, unused open space directly behind it, wedged between the adjacent commercial buildings.

DESIGN

PROMOTION

BEFORE, exterior

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

BEFORE, interior view

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ORGANIZATION PROMOTION

AFTER

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

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DESIGN

After: The rendering above shows what this building could look like after restoration. There are many different functions for this building, however, the rendering shows it with a barbecue restaurant occupying the space. Here lies the opportunity to restore and transform the building into a takeout barbecue restaurant, with outdoor dining spaces both beside and behind the restaurant. On nice days, the back space can host live music or other small events. The building itself is only large enough to accommodate the takeout counter and kitchen, so the restrooms and barbecue smoker are both located behind the building.

ORGANIZATION

WORK ITEM: ENCOURAGE INFILL DEVELOPMENT ON VACANT SITES OR THOSE READY FOR REDEVELOPMENT.

Part of a healthy, vibrant downtown is having dense building development where vacant lots are filled with new infill that respects the history and architecture of the existing environment. Perry has several vacant lots where appropriate infill would benefit downtown. The map below shows possible infill locations. Primary infill locations (shown below in pink) are locations which should be addressed first as they will help to “complete” downtown streetscapes. Secondary, or long-term infill locations, should be addressed after primary locations have been filled.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

DESIGN

PROMOTION

Infill Development

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ORGANIZATION PROMOTION

BEFORE: Vacant Lot, Corner of Commerce Street & Ball Street

DESIGN

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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

AFTER, SHORT-TERM SOLUTION: Infill is not always an option right away due to lack of funding and/or other challenges, however, landscaping improvements like those shown in this rendering can improve the lot while also making it more attractive to a developer.

ORGANIZATION PROMOTION ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

DESIGN

BEFORE: Vacant Lot, Corner of Commerce Street & Ball Street

AFTER: The rendering shows infill that is appropriate for this location downtown. The brick structure is oriented to the corner, similar to the Walgreen’s building directly across the street.

It has two stories like other buildings along Commerce and Ball Streets. The new infill could be a mixed use building with retail space on the first floor and office or living spaces above.

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Infill Development The property shown in the photograph below is located at the corner of Macon Road and Carroll Street and across the street from the beautiful “Welcome to Perry” sign. This corner is an important one because it is the first property that visitors encounter when they arrive downtown from Macon Road. New infill would help to strengthen that sense of arrival, and make better use of existing space for a new mixed use development that could include office, restaurants, and upper story residences.

ORGANIZATION

WORK ITEM: ENCOURAGE INFILL DEVELOPMENT ON VACANT SITES OR THOSE READY FOR REDEVELOPMENT.

The Village design concept, shown in the renderings on the following pages, is meant to encourage future development that will respect the established design traditions of downtown Perry and contribute to the economic development of downtown. Currently, there is a large underutilized parking lot with multiple curb cuts and a vacant one-story building.

PROMOTION

BEFORE

DESIGN

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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Aerial View of Proposed Development

ORGANIZATION PROMOTION

SMALL-SCALE INFILL DESIGN OPTION

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

DESIGN

SMALL-SCALE DESIGN OPTION, VIEW 1: This design concept proposes new construction that would take advantage of the available lot space and corner orientation and a main downtown gateway. The new infill would be a small scale, two-story, mixed use structure.

SMALL-SCALE DESIGN OPTION, VIEW 2: The rendering above shows an elevation of what new small-scale infill could look like.

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The Village

The large-scale design of The Village is similar to the infill design concept for the corner of Commerce and Ball Streets. Design elements such as setback, building materials, and scale are consistent with existing downtown buildings. The streetscape elements such as paving materials (such as the herringbone pavers located across the street) and plantings are also consistent with the rest of downtown in order to help create a more cohesive downtown aesthetic.

ORGANIZATION

LARGE-SCALE INFILL DESIGN OPTION

The large-scale design option maximizes the lot space. As shown in the site plan below, existing buildings on the site are demolished and replaced by new construction. The large-scale design option includes: • Raised planters provide necessary shade, proper soil composition, and seating • Interior multi-use courtyard • Water feature • 45 space parking lot on site • New exterior on water tower • 1500 ft2 building bays • Larger, more prominent building on corner • Minimum 10’ wide sidewalks

PROMOTION

• Gateway signage at Swift Street and Macon Road • Orientation is facing corner • Entrance signage at primary corner with plantings • Similar paving style to adjacent park • Pedestrian island and proposed median on Macon Road to overflow parking • Street trees and beds create shade and buffer

DESIGN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

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ORGANIZATION PROMOTION ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

DESIGN

LARGE-SCALE DESIGN OPTION, VIEW 1: The rendering above shows the main corner entrance to The Village, welcome signage, and rooftop restaurant dining space.

LARGE-SCALE DESIGN OPTION, VIEW 2: This bird’s eye view looks South over the proposed parking lot.

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ORGANIZATION PROMOTION

LARGE-SCALE DESIGN OPTION, VIEW 3: The rendering above shows the water feature and planter seating in the interior courtyard.

DESIGN

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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

LARGE-SCALE DESIGN OPTION, VIEW 4: The rendering above shows the proposed welcome sign and corner entrance to The Village. This is what a pedestrian would see from the sidewalk.

ORGANIZATION PROMOTION ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

DESIGN

LARGE-SCALE DESIGN OPTION, VIEW 5: This rendering shows another view of the interior courtyard and first level commercial spaces.

LARGE-SCALE DESIGN OPTION, VIEW 6: This view of The Village from Macon Street shows first floor commercial spaces and upper story loft apartment or office space.

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Perry Parkway Interchange

PROMOTION

The Perry Parkway/Interstate 75 Interchange is an important gateway into downtown. The interstate interchanges are the first impressions that travelers get of Perry and are the first opportunities to entice them to stop off of the highway or even to get them to visit downtown. Currently, this interchange at Perry Parkway does not have much in terms of landscaping. In order to clean up and improve the overall look of this major gateway, large trees should be planted and grass should be maintained. Large shade trees are found along Sam Nunn Boulevard and in downtown already, so that design element should be continued to the Perry Parkway and Marshallville Road interchanges. The trees and well maintained landscape will give travelers a sense of arrival as they approach Perry.

ORGANIZATION

WORK ITEM: CLEAN UP & IMPROVE THE AESTHETICS OF THE I-75 INTERCHANGES.

DESIGN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

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ORGANIZATION PROMOTION

BEFORE

DESIGN

AFTER

Perry Parkway Interchange, perspective view

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Before: The photograph (top) shows a view of the Perry Parkway/Interstate 75 interchange. There are no shade trees and the grass is not well maintained.

After: the rendering above shows the improved interchange with shade trees and a well-maintained landscape.

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Marshallville Road Interchange

ORGANIZATION

WORK ITEM: CLEAN UP & IMPROVE THE AESTHETICS OF THE I-75 INTERCHANGES. The Marshallville Road/Interstate 75 Interchange is also an important gateway into downtown.

Before: The photograph below shows a driver’s view of the Marshallville Road/Interstate 75 interchange.

After: The rendering below shows what a driver would see if large shade trees were planted along the Marshallville Road/Interstate 75 interchange.

PROMOTION

BEFORE

DESIGN

AFTER

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

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ORGANIZATION

WORK ITEM: IMPROVE THE APPEARANCE & QUALITY OF EXISTING HOTELS. Swan Motel Improvements The Swan Motel is a small, one-story motel located downtown on a highly-visible corner of Main Street and Jernigan Street. The motel is typical of Southern mid-century architecture from the 1950s and 1960s.

PROMOTION

BEFORE

Before: The motel in its current state has a large, underutilized parking lot which is chiefly characterized by an abundance of aging asphalt. The roof of the building itself is looking weathered and it’s color fading.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

DESIGN

AFTER

After: Capitalizing on the mid-century architecture, the motel identity could be re-imagined with new, charismatic, 1950’s-inspired signage. Simple building treatments may include a new roof with painted red accents which match the new sign. Landscape treatments, at a minimum, will benefit from a repaving of the asphalt, yet more effectively enhanced through extended turf grass beds, low shrubs, and shade trees.

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Swan Motel Improvements

BEFORE

PROMOTION

Before: In its heyday, the Swan Motel once had swimming and baby pool amenities for its patrons, located in a separated area of the front lot. The concrete pool structures still exist, yet at one point had been filled with soil and left to overgrow.

ORGANIZATION

WORK ITEM: IMPROVE THE APPEARANCE & QUALITY OF EXISTING HOTELS.

AFTER

DESIGN

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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

After: Revitalizing the visible space in front of the motel would do much to elevate this stretch of Main Street in downtown Perry. The smaller, existing sign can be replaced by the new, charismatic, 1950’s-inspired design, which would attract the eye of incoming drivers into town.

ORGANIZATION

E CONO MI C DE VE L O P ME N T

PROMOTION

WORK ITEM: WORK WITH THE OWNERS TO UPGRADE AND IMPROVE THE APPEARANCE OF THE NEW PERRY HOTEL, INCLUDING ADDING A SMALL CONVENTION SPACE FOR DOWNTOWN. A Registered National Historic Landmark, New Perry Hotel was established in 1894 as Cox’s Inn. It has been known as “The New Perry Hotel” since 1944. The New Perry Hotel is located just a few miles from the Georgia National Fairgrounds, Myron Mixon Cooking School, Warner Robins Air Force Base, Massee Lane Gardens - Home of Camellia Society, Fort Valley State College, and is within easy driving distance of Macon and Atlanta, GA.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

DESIGN

This charming hotel could be elevated as a centerpiece of downtown Perry’s history and identity with some simple landscape treatments and interior renovations. It could also serve as the main conference hotel in Perry with some improvements. The photograph below shows what the New Perry Hotel looks like today:

BEFORE, Hotel front entrance 72

ORGANIZATION

AFTER, Hotel front entrance

PROMOTION

After: Improvements include replacement of asphalt with granite cobblestone pavers, an installation of a planted island and formal sign with the hotel logo, and a walkway redesign to link up the disconnected sidewalk. An additional modification would includes the removal of external air conditioning units from each window, following with a conversion of the hotel to a central cooling system.

DESIGN

BEFORE, hotel rear

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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

AFTER, Hotel rear: The rear of the hotel is improved by repaving the parking lot, planting two spaces along the center entry with g rass, shrubs, and trees, and overall general landscaping maintenance.

ORGANIZATION

WORK ITEM: DESIGN & IMPLEMENT A WAYFINDING SIGNAGE PROGRAM Design and implement a wayfinding signage program to direct visitors along key commercial corridors such as Sam Nunn Boulevard and Courtney Hodges Boulevard and into downtown from the Georgia National Fairgrounds and I-75 and to key sites within the city.

Before: The photograph (left) shows the entrance and exit to the Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter on Courtney Hodges Boulevard. Over 900,000 people visit the fairgrounds each year. Many of these visitors are driving oversize vehicles (See page # for ideas about attracting and accommodating oversize vehicles downtown). The fairgrounds provide an excellent opportunity to attract visitors to downtown to eat, shop, and stay in local hotels.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

DESIGN

PROMOTION

BEFORE

After, Painted Ground Directional Sign: This rendering shows the fairgrounds’ exit with the Downtown Perry logo and an arrow pointing the way to downtown. This option is the most economical of all the signage options and could be easily painted onto the ground using a stencil. This concept could be applied to other gateways to downtown, such as interstate exits and corridor roads.

AFTER

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ORGANIZATION

AFTER

PROMOTION

After: The rendering shows economical directional signage constructed of wood with the Downtown Perry logo and “RV Parking 1.6 miles” pointing the way to downtown. Landscaping improvements such as shade trees, shrubs and flowers have been planted to make the area more attractive and draw attention. Downtown Perry should take advantage of the traffic coming from the fairgrounds during events and advertise downtown amenities.

AFTER

DESIGN

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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

After: The rendering shows higher end, brick directional signage with “RV Parking 1.6 miles” pointing the way to downtown. Landscaping improvements such as shade trees, shrubs and flowers have been planted to make the area more attractive and draw attention. Downtown Perry should take advantage of the traffic coming from the fairgrounds during events and advertise downtown amenities.