City of Richmond Hill Design Considerations | Summer 2020

City of

RICHMOND HILL DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS | SUMMER 2020

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TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S 8

INTRODUCTION

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SCOPE OF WORK

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RICHMOND HILL DESIGN E L E M E N T S C ATA L O G

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P U B L I C P R O P E RT Y I M P R O V E M E N T S

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C o m m u n i t y Tr e e N u r s e r y & G a r d e n

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B r y a n C o u n t y R i c h m o n d H i l l P u b l i c L i b r a r yÂ

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Bryan County Richmond Hill Senior Center

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CORRIDOR IMPROVEMENTS

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Fo r d P l a z a S h o p p i n g C e n t e r

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Fo r d V i l l a g e S h o p p i n g C e n t e r

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PARTNERS & ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Becky Armbrister, Special Projects Manager

Russ Carpenter, Mayor

Richmond Hill Downtown Development Authority Board:

Richmond Hill City Council:

Georgene Brazer, Chairman Paige Glazer, Vice Chairman Eddie Warren, Secretary/Treasurer Brad Brookshire Jitan Patel Catherine Grant Robbie Ward, City Council Representative

The Downtown Development Authority of Richmond Hill, Georgia (DDA) was created by the Richmond Hill City Council in December of 2015 to revitalize and redevelop the central business district of the city. The DDA board consists of seven members appointed by the Richmond Hill City Council to focus on the issues that the downtown district faces.

These members are comprised of local business leaders and involved members of the community who are dedicated to creating a vibrant downtown in a fast-growing small community.

Mission Statement: The Downtown Development Authority of Richmond Hill serves the community by leading public improvements and private partnerships that have meaningful impact in enhancing the downtown area

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Kristi Cox Robbie Ward Mark Ott Steve Scholar

Located on the Great Ogeechee River, just south of Savannah, Richmond Hill, Georgia, is a great place to spend a day, stay the night, and explore Henry Ford’s Southern town. The automotive industrialist made Richmond Hill his winter home for almost 25 years. Visitors today can feel Ford’s influence through exhibits at the Richmond Hill History Museum and on the Coastal Bryan Heritage Trail while also enjoying the scenic beauty of the area that first attracted him here. Richmond Hill is also a great location for exploring historic Savannah, Tybee Island, and all of coastal Georgia.

Special thanks to Paige Glazer of Reflections Media Communications, Christy Sherman of the Richmond Hill Convention & Visitors Bureau, and Russ Bryant Photography for their assistance supplying the many beautiful photographs showcased in this report.

Stephanie Aylworth, Downtown Development Manager

Danny Bivins, Senior Public Service Associate

Chris Higdon, Community Development Manager

Kaitlin Messich, Senior Designer

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, 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.

T. Clark Stancil, Creative Design Specialist and Fellowship Coordinator Allison Cape, Graphic Designer Karen DeVivo, Editor For more than 90 years, the Carl Vinson Institute of Government at the University of Georgia 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 over 10 million, the Institute of Government has helped government leaders navigate change and forge strong directions for a better Georgia.

Emily Whisenant, Downtown Renaissance Fellow The University of Georgia’s College of Environment and Design (CED) has been consistently ranked among the top schools in the nation for both undergraduate- and graduate-level landscape architecture.

CED also provides nationally accredited, innovative, and demanding programs in historic preservation, environmental planning and design, and environmental ethics. Students are challenged to explore their unique, individual interest and creatively problem-solve issues, working with faculty to solve community issues in design charrettes. They also interact with clients, community organizations, and planning agencies. CED aims to connect its students with a large and accomplished alumni network as much as possible. Visiting professors, professionals, and lecturers provide frequent opportunities for students to network with and learn from renowned designers in a broad range of career options.

Cindy Eidson, Director of Economic and Community Development Founded in 1999, the Georgia Cities Foundation 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 revolving loan fund. Its services include the Revolving Loan Fund Program, the Peer-to-Peer Mentoring Tour, Downtown Development Authority Basic Training, and the Renaissance Award.

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THE GEORGIA DOWNTOWN RENAISSANCE FELLOWSHIP

A COMPONENT OF THE GEORGIA DOWNTOWN RENAISSANCE PARTNERSHIP, the Georgia Downtown Renaissance Fellowship pairs emerging design professionals from UGA’s College of Environment and Design with local governments to enhance downtown development in communities across Georgia. Following a competitive selection process, graduate-level student fellows are selected for their design and communication skills as well as overall commitment to community design. Over the course of the 12-week program, Renaissance Fellows work directly with their partner city,

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| RENAISSANCE FELLOW EMILY WHISENANT

producing renderings and plans collaboratively in a studio environment at the Institute of Government. Fellows hone their designs and planning expertise under the direction of four fulltime design faculty and staff members.

With backgrounds ranging from historic preservation and landscape architecture to graphic design, these experts help guide the creation of professionallevel plans and renderings produced by student fellows over the course of the program.

Emily Whisenant, a graduate student studying landscape architec-

Since 2013, the Georgia Downtown

ture at UGA’s College of Environment

Renaissance Fellows have assisted 20

and Design, worked directly with

communities across the state. With the

Becky Ambrister and the Richmond Hill

assistance of the Georgia Municipal

Downtown Development Authority to

Association and the Georgia Cities

address specific design opportunities in

Foundation, the City of Richmond Hill was

Richmond Hill. Whisenant incorporated

selected as one of two communities to

local priorities to create design solutions

take part in the 2020 Georgia Downtown

and develop a vision for several key loca-

Renaissance Fellowship. Partner cities

tions downtown. This project had three

are selected based on the criteria of

primary goals: creating a comprehen-

strong local leadership, community

sive design elements catalog, proposing

commitment, and fiscal readiness to act

public property improvements, and illus-

on projects.

trating corridor beautification ideas.

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INTRODUCTION

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ocated along the Georgia coast just 20 miles south of Savannah, the community of Richmond Hill serves as home to over 13,000 residents. Although incorporated in 1962, Richmond Hill’s roots stretch back much farther. Near the modern-day

site of Richmond Hill, in 1773 Fort Argyle was built along the Ogeechee River to protect colonial Georgia from hostile forces, including Spaniards in Florida and surrounding Native American tribes. Throughout the 19th century, the area surrounding Richmond Hill served as home to some of the most productive rice plantations along the Georgia coast. Growth in this period escalated with the completion of the Savannah-Ogeechee Canal in 1830. Railroad tracks were laid in 1856, and Richmond Hill’s first permanent

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| RICHMOND HILL CITY CENTER

Image courtesy of the Richmond Hill Convention & Visitors Bureau/Russ Bryant Photography

settlement soon developed. Located at rail station Ways No. 1 ½, a crossroads town called Ways Station developed. This humble crossroads is the origin for the modern-day community of Richmond Hill.

Ways Station saw an influx of development beginning in the 1920s, when automotive pioneer Henry Ford began to purchase land for his winter home. Ford and his wife built a 7,000-square-foot Greek Revival mansion at the previous site of Richmond Plantation along the Ogeechee River. Upon completion, Ford named his home Richmond Hill in recognition of the former plantation. Eventually owning up to 85,000 acres in the area, Ford began an interest in social and agricultural improvements and began growing cops and building community facilities including houses, medical facilities, businesses, churches, schools, a community center.

To thank Ford for his contributions, in the 1940s residents renamed the community Richmond Hill in his honor.

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life in 10

RICHMOND HILL

Ford’s operations concluded in 1952, leaving Richmond Hill a quiet, rural community. Over time, suburban growth radiating from Savannah brought a new influx of residents and development. Today, Richmond Hill is still characterized by the crossroads of Highway 17 and Ford Avenue (GA-144). Community buildings and features remain from the Ford Era, including many white clapboard-sided buildings. Often featuring asphalt-shingled roofs, crisp black shutters, and a four- or five-planked equestrian-style fence, these buildings and their period architectural features point to the community’s history and help to define Richmond Hill’s community identity. To inform the city’s future growth, groups like the Richmond Hill Downtown Development Authority (DDA) encourage these elements in renovation and new construction.

The Richmond Hill DDA and Ongoing Planning Efforts The Richmond Hill DDA was established in 2015 to “serve the community by leading public improvements and private partnerships that have meaningful impact in enhancing the downtown area.” The DDA has begun a number of successful initiatives over the past five years. Among these efforts are a façade grant program and an ongoing mural campaign. Together, these program elements are improving key corridors and community spaces, including bringing murals with local relevance to J.F. Gregory Park and throughout the commercial corridor. | HISTORIC & CONTEMPORARY IMAGES OF LIFE IN RICHMOND HILL (LEFT) Images courtesy of the Richmond Hill Convention & Visitors Bureau/Russ Bryant Photography, Reflections Magazine, the Richmond Hill Historical Society, and the New Georgia Encyclopedia

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SCOPE OF WORK Expanding upon the ongoing projects of the DDA, this project aims to provide a vision and guide for improvements and future development along Richmond Hill’s main corridors, Highway 17 and Ford Avenue (GA-144). This project embodies three main objectives of the Richmond Hill DDA: to create a design elements catalog that will guide property owners toward creating a cohesive look and feel in the community, to plan and illustrate potential public property improvements, and to illustrate potential corridor improvements.

Developed in partnership with the Richmond Hill DDA, the scope of work on the next page guided the development of this project and provided the bases for this 12week fellowship.

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Design Elements Catalog Create a standalone catalog reference for recommended streetscaping and architectural elements. Include elements like custom stop signs, wayfinding signage, the unique Ford fence, benches, and more • Include a recommended planting palette with regionally appropriate landscaping • Include potential specifications in appendix

Public Property Improvements Illustrate improvements at key public properties in Richmond Hill. Show the use of recommended architectural, landscape, streetscape, and other elements from the Richmond Hill Design Elements Catalog.

• Potential Tree Nursery • Create one perspective and one conceptual plan illustrating uses

• Bryan County Richmond Hill Public Library • Illustrate landscape and streetscaping improvements between building and road • Create one perspective rendering

• Bryan County Richmond Hill Senior Center • Illustrate landscape improvements and potential connectivity enhancements linking the site to surrounding community assets • Create one perspective rendering and one site plan

Corridor Improvements Illustrate potential landscape beautification improvements at privately owned properties along the two major corridors of Ford Avenue (GA-144) and Highway 17 to serve as examples for all properties.

• Ford Plaza Shopping Center • Create one perspective rendering and one proposed site plan illustrating parking and landscaping improvements

• Ford Village Shopping Center • Create one perspective rendering illustrating improved streetscaping and a potential community space

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ELEMENTS CATALOG

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he Richmond Hill Design Elements Catalog was created to help guide property owners and ensure cohesive downtown corridor development that reflects the character of the community. Local leaders identified the

need for a comprehensive list of elements recommended in property improvements. Local officials believe a graphic catalog of streetscape, architectural, and other elements would be a beneficial resource for both property owners and the local government. The Richmond Hill Design Elements Catalog includes a recommended palette of hardy, culturally appropriate plantings, architectural elements inspired by the city’s history and coastal climate, and streetscaping elements that help visually unify corridor development. With guidance from the Richmond Hill DDA and following the city’s Unified Development Ordinance (UDO), the following elements draw on the city’s history, context, and existing culture. By using the elements included in this catalog, Richmond Hill can help create a more unified appearance along major corridors and celebrate the city’s unique identity.

| GRAND LIVE OAK (LEFT) Courtesy of the Richmond Hill Reflections Magazine

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Corridor Plant Palette Landscape recommendations for Richmond Hill include a variety of trees, shrubs, grasses, and groundcovers suitable for use along the city’s major corridors. The plant palette shown includes both native species and hardy exotics well suited to the coastal environment. With culturally appropriate selections including live oak, magnolia, saw palmetto, and more, these recommended plants evoke Richmond Hill’s character and coastal identity.

Knock Out Rose Rosa radrazz

Distylium Distylium ‘Vitage Jade’

Hardy deciduous shrub that offers seasonal interest and fragrant, showy flowers.

A Southern jack of all trades, these evergreen, compact, and tolerant shrubs require minimum maintenance. Small maroon flowers bloom late January to February.

3-4’ height and spread Uses: Mass plantings, specimen plant

3’ height, 4’ spread

Dwarf Yaupon Holly Ilex vomitoria ‘Nana’

Loropetalum Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum

A hardy native evergreen, dwarf yaupon holly offers a hardier substitute for the traditional look of boxwoods.

SHRUBS

3-5’ height and larger spread with maturity

Evergreen shrub known for showy purple foliage and bright pink flowers. Highly tolerant if planted in well-drained areas.

Sizing varies depending on variety

Use: Formal plantings, hedging, mass plantings, foundation plantings

Use: Mass planting, hedging, visual contrast

Saw Palmetto Serenoa repens

Coontie Zamia pumila

A native coastal plant, saw palmetto provides unique a texture and regional context

An evergreen cycad that should be used as a replacement for saw palmettos where textural interest is needed in smaller spaces

4-7’ height and spread Use: Screening, textural interest, naturalized plantings

Sunshine Ligustrum Ligustrum sinense ‘Sunshine’ Full sun, flowerless- evergreen shrub that provides year-round color interest with its bright yellow foliage.

3’ height and spread Use: Accent color, mass planting, hedging

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Use: Formal plantings, mass plantings

1-3’ height and spread Use: Specimen, foundation plantings, massing, textural interest

Live Oak Quercus virginiana

Natchez Crape Myrtle Lagerstroemia indica ‘Natchez’

Large and long-lasting evergreen canopy tree

Small deciduous tree with dark brown bark and white blooms in the summer/fall. Select single-trunked specimens and refrain from heavy pruning to achieve a graceful form.

40-80’ height, 60-100’ spread.

Plant with a minimum of 200 sq. ft. rooting area.

Use: Large street tree, shade tree, specimen tree, landscape tree

20-30’ height, 15-25’ spread

Laurel Oak Quercus laurifolia

Spartan Juniper Juniperus chinensis ‘Spartan’

40-60’ height, 30-60’ spread

LARGE CANOPY TREES

Use: Street tree, shade tree

Willow Oak Quercus phellos Large and fast-growing deciduous oak. Long and narrow leaves are optimal where leaf drop may block drain grates.

40-60’ height, 30-40’ spread Plant with a minimum of 200 sq. ft. rooting area.

Use: Street tree, shade tree, medians, parking lot islands

Bald Cypress Taxodium distichum Deciduous conifer tree known for its ability to grow in standing water. Bald Cypress performs equally well in dry soils as a street tree.

MEDIUM-SMALL CANOPY TREES

Large and fast-growing semievergreen tree with a dense canopy. A good substitute for willow oak in medians, parking islands, and other locations.

Use: Street tree for narrow spaces and under utility lines, specimen tree

Small and narrow evergreen tree.

Strongly vertical form adds interest and contrast 8-10’ height, 6-8’ spread Use: Light screening, specimen tree

Black Tupelo/Black Gum Nyssa sylvatica Medium-canopy deciduous tree a slow to moderate growth rate. This tree stands out with dark green, glossy leaves and attractive red/ orange fall color.

30-50’ height, 20-30’ spread Use: Street tree, shade tree, specimen tree

Bracken’s Brown Beauty Magnolia Magnolia grandiflora ‘Bracken’s Brown Beauty’ Smaller cultivar of the traditional Southern magnolia.

50-70’ height, 20-45’ spread

20-30’ height, 15-25’ spread

Uses: Street tree, landscape tree, rain garden tree

Use: Screening, specimen tree, landscape tree

Slash Pine Pinus elliottii Fast-growing evergreen conifer tree native to the southern coastal plains.

80’ height, 35’ spread Uses: Landscape tree, naturalized plantings

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GRASSES GROUNDCOVERS

Pink Muhly Grass Muhlenbergia capillaris

Switch Grass Panicum virgatum ‘Cloud Nine’

Drought-tolerant fall-blooming native ornamental grass.

Tall, native ornamental grass with blue-gray foliage that turns gold in the fall and blooms reddish brown plumes in midsummer.

2-3’ height and 3’ spread, blooms reaching up to 5’ high Should be spaced 24-36” apart Use: Massing, borders, specimen

Use: Mass plantings, borders, visual interest

Big Blue Liriope Liriope muscari ‘Big Blue’

Asiatic Jasmine Trachelospermum asiaticum

A tough and showy groundcover with dark green foliage and purple blooms in the late summer.

Fast-growing evergreen groundcover with glossy dark green leaves and small cream blooms

1-2’ height and spread

6-18” height, spread varies

Use: Formal landscaping, edging, groundcover

Use: Formal landscaping, groundcover

White Drift Rose Rosa ‘Meizorland’

Apricot Drift Rose Rosa ‘Meimirrote’

Hardy evergreen groundcover with proliferate white summer blooms when watered regularly.

Hardy evergreen groundcover with proliferate pink-orange summer blooms when watered regularly.

Recommended placement adjacent to the purple foliage of the Loropetalums.

Colors blend nicely alongside Muhly grass, Sunshine Ligustrum, etc.

1 ½’ height, 2 ½’ spread Use: Borders, formal landscaping, groundcover

Variegated Flax Lily Dianella tasmanica ‘Variegata’ A grass-like herbaceous perennial with green and white foliage.

Provides color and textural interest for partially shaded spaces.

1 ½’ - 2’ height, 2-3’ spread Use: Edging, accent plantings, groundcover

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5-7’ height, 2-3’ spread

1 ½’ height, 2 ½’ spread Use: Borders, formal landscaping, groundcover

Corridor Elements Catalog Streetscape Elements

PAVING

The Victor Stanley model RTC-40 trash receptacle boasts sturdy black vertical steel rods. The simplicity of these receptacles pairs well with Richmond Hill’s traditional coastal style.

DUMPSTER ENCLOSURE

TRASH RECEPTACLE

SEATING

The Victor Stanley model RBF-28 bench is a classic and sleek bench that adheres to Richmond Hill’s material aesthetics. The black recycled steel frame will endure over time.

Shaded locations should be prioritized when determining bench placement.

Dumpster enclosures should consist of three sides of light-colored brick veneer and a black metal access gate. Dumpster enclosures should be constructed on a concrete pad capable of withstanding traffic from heavy service vehicles.

PAVING (LEFT): For typical paving surfaces, including driveways and service areas, concrete is an acceptable paving solution. For more public locations or places of high interest, oyster shell concrete or brick paving should be considered. When installed in permeable applications, brick pavers offer a timeless appeal while facilitating stormwater management.

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The Ford Fence In addition to the rehabilitation projects undertaken by Henry and Clara Ford during the 1930s and 1940s in Richmond Hill, Ford oversaw the addition of miles of white fencing. This architectural feature was designed to match his white clapboard buildings and presumably to add character to his newly developed town. Originally, the fences were constructed of wooden posts and boards. After it was discovered that the posts rotted quickly, they were replaced with concrete posts. Marvin Sharpe, who worked as assistant superintendent for the Ford farms, recalled in a 1951 interview, “It was Mr. Ford’s idea to have the fence built with concrete. The wooden posts were always giving way. You always had to have somebody on the repairs, working on it and patching it up. He said, ‘let’s see if we can stop that.’ He told Mr. Gregory to make some concrete posts experimentally, and he told him about how he wanted it.” After experimenting with different sizes, they settled on six-by-six posts and five wooden slats.

Ford added the Cherokee Rose, which had become Georgia’ state flower in 1916, to his white fencing. Historical records indicate he may have gotten the idea from the site of his home, Richmond Plantation, a former rice plantation on the Ogeechee River that was burned during the Civil War. The plantation was described in reminiscences of Thomas Savage Clay as having “fencing covered with the Cherokee Rose, which in its season delighted one with its not fragrant but spotless white petals.”

Today, much of the Ford fencing has been removed due to road widening and construction projects, but some of it remains. Examples of this unique fencing are visible at City Hall, Richmond Hill History Museum (formerly the Ford Kindergarten), Burnt Church Cemetery, Strathy Hall Plantation, Bryan Neck Presbyterian Church, among others.

| HISTORIC FORD FENCE ADORNED WITH CHEROKEE ROSES (ABOVE) Photo courtesy of the Richmond Hill Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB)

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4 Rails Painted White Wooden Posts

6” x 6” Cast Concrete Posts The Ford fence helps define Richmond Hill’s visual character and connect new development to the city’s history.

The Richmond Hill DDA board has identified the Ford fence as “one design element that is uniquely Richmond Hill.”

According to the DDA’s 2020 work program, the board would like to add fencing at sites throughout downtown.

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Architectural Elements Richmond Hill’s architectural heritage rests largely in the city’s historic Ford Era structures.

Constructed by local craftsmen and carpenters employed by Henry Ford, this architecture was influenced by the traditional coastal vernacular architecture of the South. These woodframed buildings often featured white clapboard or board-and-batten siding with symmetrical windows and little adornment. These buildings also featured moderately pitched roofs covered in asphalt shingles or tin. These features help distinguish Richmond Hill’s local architecture and offer design cues for culturally appropriate new construction.

| HISTORIC FORD PLANTATION BAKERY (ABOVE) Photo courtesy of the Richmond Hill Convention & Visitors Bureau/Russ Bryant Photography

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Clapboard Siding Traditionally, most buildings in Richmond Hill and along Georgia’s coast were faced with locally milled pine or cypress siding. Installed as clapboard or board-and-batten exterior siding and whitewashed, this siding provided protection from the elements at a reasonable cost. Many buildings were also elevated with brick piers or above a brick-fronted cellar for cooling and protection from floodwaters. These materials reference the appearance of the city’s historic structures and provide options for modern-day property owners.

Roofing Often designed with fairly high pitches to facilitate passive cooling, roofs on historic Ford Era buildings were often clad with asphalt shingles or tin. Available from a variety of manufacturers, the roofing options shown correspond to roofing used on historic homes in Richmond Hill.

White Facade Shown on the image to the left, crisp white exterior paint complements existing architecture found in Richmond Hill.

Available from a variety of manufacturers, white exterior paints reference the whitewashed exteriors of historic structures found throughout Richmond Hill.

For color specifications, see Richmond Hill’s Unified Development Ordinance.

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Signage

RESIDENTIAL STREET SIGNAGE

COMMERCIAL SIGNAGE

Signage plays an important role in identifying and defining space and character. Recommended corridor signage complements local architecture by using similar material elements like Savannah gray or light colored brick, white wood backgrounds, and black accenting.

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Commercial signage may take many forms, but the consistent style seen here is encouraged. Smaller signage should utilize the white wood hanging sign and wooden posts while larger signage is encouraged to use a brick base and columns. Signage bases may incorporate a central planting bed if desired.

For existing and future residential developments, signage that mimics the city’s new public signage is encouraged. While details like the decorative base remain the same, residential signage should be scaled down as appropriate for the neighborhood context.

C - BRANDON INDUST

CLAMPSHELL BASE

(WWW.BRANDONIN

D - BRANDON INDUST

(WWW.BRANDONIN

E F

4'-9"

3'-2 3/4"

ADDITIONAL TRIMP

- .125" THICK ALUMIN -

.5" THICK ROUTED

G -

APPLIED .060" THIC

H -

FABRICATED ALU

BACKGROUND V3

INSTALL:

- BACKFILL AS REQU

- ALL STRUCTURAL C

9 1/2"

Richard Davis Dr.

Ford Avenue

NOTES:

1. ALL LOCATIONS W

EXACT ORIENTATIO

Ford Avenue

2'-8 1/2"

PUBLIC STREET & WAYFINDING SIGNAGE

13'-6"

7'-0" MINIMUM

1

STREETNAME SIGN - FRONT ELEVATION SCALE: 1/2" = 1'-0"

2

STREETNAME SIGN - SIDE ELEVATION SCALE: 1/2" = 1'-0"

3

STREETNAME SIGN - REAR ELEVATION SCALE: 1/2" = 1'-0"

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The City of Richmond Hill has made great strides towards cohesive signage through the installation of new street signs and wayfinding signage and enacting the city’s Unified Development Ordinance. By implementing the following signage the city has elevated the city’s downtown corridor and emphasized the importance of place, details, and cohesion.

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STRE SCAL

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PUBLIC PROPERTY IMPROVEMENTS

P

ublicly owned properties were identified as an opportunity to elevate the city’s key corridors and set a positive standard for development in the community. As part of the Richmond Hill Downtown Renaissance

Fellowship, three public properties were selected to showcase façade and landscaping improvements. These projects include a potential community nursery along Timber Trail, the Bryan County Richmond Hill Public Library, and the Bryan County Richmond Hill Senior Center. By first focusing improvements on city- and county-owned property, local leaders help set a standard for private property owners and developers. With designs that feature elements that speak to Richmond Hill’s identity and heritage, these properties would provide reallife examples of the city’s unique architectural character for private property owners. Many of the improvements shown rely heavily on the plant and streetscape elements featured in the elements catalog. These recommendations include accentuating Richmond Hill’s Ford fence, installing landscapes of hardy traditional and coastal plants, and installing cohesive city signage. In examining these properties, Richmond Hill’s Downtown Renaissance Fellow analyzed the surrounding context of each parcel, its current usage, site conditions, and vehicular and pedestrian connectivity.

| GRAND OPENING OF THE RESTORED FORD PLANTATION BAKERY (LEFT) now housed by the Richmond Hill Convention & Visitor Bureau

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COMMUNITY TREE NURSERY & GARDEN

I

n conversations with community partners, the Richmond Hill DDA identified a vacant city-owned property on Timber Trail as an ideal site for a potential community tree nursery. Working with community partners,

local leaders envision this property as a potential site to grow and propagate trees and plants for downtown improvement efforts.

Similar efforts can be seen in nearby Savannah. Beginning in 2018,

Savannah received an urban forestry/green jobs grant to turn three vacant city-owned properties into urban tree nurseries. By growing small trees purchased at a reduced cost to an impactful size, these facilities allow more large trees to be planted throughout the city. These trees could be planted to enhance public or private properties or be used to replace trees lost to increasing storm and flood damage. In addition to producing affordable large-canopy street trees, the Richmond Hill community nursery could nourish greater community engagement. Adding a community garden on the property would provide fresh local produce and create an opportunity for community involvement for residents of all ages.

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Property Entrance

PROPOSED: A formal entrance for the nursery and garden amplifies the presence of this community asset. Existing canopy trees should be protected and enhanced by additional live oak plantings along both sides of the entrance. Adding elements like the Ford fence and specified plantings help tie this space to the surrounding community and elevate it to the standard of other cityowned properties. Similarly, the entrance sign includes elements found in other EXISTING: Pictured from Timber Trail, this prop-

signage used by the city. The plantings

erty looks neglected. Currently, the only features

featured, including saw palmetto and

remaining on this lot include a worn driveway and

Muhly grass, are among the recommended

a few scattered canopy trees.

plantings for Richmond Hill corridors.

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Site Plan

A

t approximately two acres, the property on Timber Trail was previously used by the Georgia Department of Transportation for storage.

Following acquisition by the city, storage materials were removed, but

this lot remains vacant. Sandwiched between two residential neighborhoods, a community nursery and garden would provide an efficient use for the space without disrupting the adjacent properties. The plan view below shows the maximum future use of the space. While the nursery and garden operations may start out small, this design outlines a plan for future growth and management of the property. The property has been divided into a fronting public community garden and rear urban tree nursery. Both areas receive ample sun for growing and are illustrated with maximum spacing. The 6-foot walkways between the raised garden beds allows for pedestrian and golf cart access. The 10-foot wide nursery planting beds are separated by 10’ wide rows that can accommodate truck and small fork-lifts. A 24-foot wide drive throughout the property, terminating in a roundabout, provides truck access and maintenance needs for all areas.

Parking adjacent to the community garden serves visitors and volunteers and can be expanded toward the entrance if needed in the future. UGA Cooperative Extension provides additional guidelines for garden and nursery spacing. These materials can be found in the digital appendix to this report.

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Tree Nursery & Community Garden Following the existing gravel drive, this perspective shows a two-way drive along the west side of the property. Parking along the community garden includes two paved concrete ADA-accessible spaces. To minimize stormwater runoff and cost, the remaining parking is shown as gravel. Seen in the distance, a Ford fence creates a visual boundary between the garden and nursery. Additional architectural elements include a central gazebo within the garden and a tool shed located between the two areas. Both structures should follow the city’s architectural recommendations: white clapboard siding with Charleston Green accent elements for the tool shed and dark shingle roofing for the gazebo. Additional engaging elements include a pollinator garden on the opposite side of the drive.

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| PROPOSED

EXISTING: The Timber Trail property is a nearly blank canvas. Only a fragmented concrete slab in the middle of the property and a gravel driveway point to the site’s past as a storage yard.

| EXISTING

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BRYAN COUNTY RICHMOND HILL PUBLIC LIBRARY

T

he Bryan County Richmond Hill Public Library is located along Ford Avenue (GA-144), just north of the intersection of Highway 17 and Ford Avenue. To visitors

and residents traveling along busy Ford Avenue, the library lacks much visual appeal. Mainly brick with a tan stucco front wall, the library does not match the overall aesthetic of other community buildings. Currently, the library features a wide front yard, some heavily manicured foundation shrubs, and a few scattered trees, mainly pines and a small live oak. Between the library and neighboring fish hatchery lies historic Bethlehem Cemetery, a small community burial ground. Currently, this site is defined only by the existing grave markers and flags on the graves of local veterans interred here.

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Site Plan As a public institution, the library should exemplify Richmond Hill’s recommended corridor elements. The historically inspired Ford fence, along with grouped accent plantings of knock-out roses along the roadside, helps emphasize entry areas and improve the appearance of this property. Beautiful and long-lived live oaks scattered throughout the front lawn exude coastal grace, creating a lasting improvement at this public property.

These oaks correspond to the suggested corridor palette while complementing existing pine trees on site. Recommended corridor plantings can also be used to replace the tired existing foundation plantings along the building’s facade. Evergreen shrubs like distylium or dwarf yaupon holly will complement the building’s existing façade without requiring regular heavy pruning. Backed by these low evergreens, drift rose groundcover offers elegant seasonal color. The Ford fence provides an ideal element to demarcate the existing cemetery grounds. A break along the fence should be incorporated in front of the cemetery along Ford Avenue for maintenance access and easy pedestrian entry to the cemetery. Access to the cemetery can also be improved by creating a mulched path from the library’s parking area to the cemetery. As the use of this space evolves over time, parts of the large front lawn could be programmed as a picnic area or place of respite.

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| EXISTING

EXISTING: From the sidewalk along Ford Avenue, this current view of the library and Bethlehem Cemetery shows the lack of definition and overgrown condition of the cemetery site. This photo also shows the overall lack of landscaping elements at the library.

PROPOSED: Looking south along Ford Avenue, the public library and cemetery offer an ideal location for targeted streetscape and corridor improvements. In this image, a Ford fence along the perimeter of the site helps define the historic cemetery and library grounds. Attractive signage and accent plantings of knock-out roses help accentuate and beautify access points. In addition to improved turf, Bethlehem Cemetery now features a graceful peppering of ornamental trees. Appropriate trees for this site include dogwood, serviceberry, or fringe trees. In the foreground of this perspective, a mulch path links the existing parking area with the cemetery. This image also shows live oaks planted on the library grounds for shade and aesthetic beauty, new foundation plantings along the building, and magnolia trees to screen the building’s HVAC and utility units.

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| PROPOSED

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BRYAN COUNTY RICHMOND HILL SENIOR CENTER

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uilt in 1939 with funding from Henry Ford, the Bryan County Richmond Hill Senior Center on Ford Avenue has served various civic purposes

in the community during its 80-year history. Once the home of local government offices, this building now houses the Bryan County Richmond Hill Senior Center.

The building and surrounding property, owned by Bryan County , offer an opportunity to set a new standard for corridor redevelopment in Richmond Hill.

While the main building features white clapboard siding and a tin roof that harken to its Ford Era construction, modern additions and alterations have diluted the historic beauty of the structure. For drivers along busy Ford Avenue, the property’s most prominent feature is the center’s raised reader board sign. Set in a sea of unshaded asphalt parking that continues to adjacent properties, the sign and surrounding yellow painted bollards offers the first impression of this historic property. The original building contains three ground-floor entrances and one second-story entrance on the north side, each accessible from the parking areas flanking the building. The front entrance includes a side porch ramp for ADA accessibility. Currently, the building is surrounded on three sides by an asphalt parking area with 28 parking spaces. As designed, this parking lot features oversized backup areas and an inefficient layout that maximizes paved area on the site. While maintaining a similar amount of overall parking spaces, reconfiguring this parking area could allow for expanded landscaping and plantings for stormwater management and shade. | Photo courtesy of the Richmond Hill CVB

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Currently, the asphalt drive to the south side of the property extends well beyond the property line into the adjacent lot housing Richmond Hill Fire Station 1. Rear property exits are blocked on either side of the property. On the north side, a vehicular connection to Ellis Drive is prevented by a 1960s carport addition. On the south side of the lot, a dumpster blocks the former travel lane connecting the parking area with the alley.

At the rear of the property, an unkempt alleyway that joins Ellis Drive provides access for garbage trucks and other services. While in need of maintenance, Ellis Drive serves as an important downtown service street. By bypassing the busy Highway 17 and Ford Avenue intersection and providing access to a wide variety of downtown businesses, including two prominent shopping centers, this route improves downtown connectivity and enhances the function of neighboring properties. Puddles fill the alley’s many potholes, indicating stormwater drainage issues in the area. The eroded grass swale between the back of the fire station and the courthouse annex is another sign of inadequate stormwater drainage. Adjacent to the swale, a propane tank, dumpsters, and outdoor storage areas lend a chaotic and unpleasant appearance to this valuable, but neglected, alleyway. Seen from the alley, a rear cinder-block building added to the property in the 1960s differs in material, color, scale, and style, lending a haphazard appearance to the property. Currently, the building houses the Richmond Hill Veterans for Foreign Affairs (VFW) Post 7731. The rear building features an ADA ramp and accessible entrance as well as a carport. Because the property lacks shade and outdoor space, this covered carport is frequently used for outdoor activities.

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econfiguring the courthouse annex property could significantly improve this public building.

By shifting parking to the sides of the courthouse

annex, the plan shown maintains 25 parking spots while improving vehicular and pedestrian circulation.

Pedestrian safety and access have also been prioritized by incorporating 6’ sidewalks around the perimeter of the current senior center. These sidewalks now connect parking to the rear of the VFW building. The new 22’ wide semi-circular front drive enhances ease of entry and could serve as overflow parking during events. The two large parallel parking spots on the north side of the building are sized to accommodate bus parking. This plan also includes ADA-accessible van parking in front of the VFW hall.

Located on the north side of the senior center, a proposed courtyard helps connect the two buildings.

This new asset could host outdoor functions for both organizations. The 512-square-foot courtyard more than doubles the flexible outdoor activity space on-site.

Large-canopy oak trees and landscaping incorporated throughout the site significantly improve the appearance and function of this property. As seen in the plan above, a vegetated buffer with an alee of Natchez crape myrtles creates an elegant boundary between the courthouse annex and the fire station while providing shade for parked vehicles. Two rain gardens near the VFW hall have been incorporated to help manage stormwater runoff on the property. These rain gardens help capture the rainwater that is currently causing erosion issues in this area of the property.

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Site Plan

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PROPOSED: Vegetation and targeted façade improvements help re-establish the historic beauty and dignity of the building’s Greek revival architecture. Façade improvements shown include the removal of unattractive black lettering and painting of the brick column pedestals. While providing an improved pick-up and drop-off area, a semi-circular front entry allows for an elegant and compact front landscape.

Formal dwarf yaupon holly hedges create a low-maintenance landscape element that highlights the Greek revival form of this historic structure. Two live oaks flanking the semi-circular entry provide shade and lend a dignified appearance to the front landscape. Paving the entryway with permeable brick pavers elevates the appearance of the front façade while improving stormwater runoff management on site. Expanding landscaping along Ford Avenue with new turf, knock-out roses, and dwarf yaupon holly shrubs would also enhance the appearance of this building from this key corridor. This perspective incorporates a historically appropriate Ford fence set further back from the busy street. The front landscape also features a new entrance sign that matches the city’s suggested sign palette. A break in the front landscaping provides pedestrian access from the sidewalk to the building.

Supplemented by new sidewalks on either side of the senior center, these sidewalks improve accessibility and pedestrian safety at this public property.

EXISTING: Currently, the Bryan County Richmond Hill Senior Center’s front façade is dominated by hot, unshaded asphalt paving. Pulling off of Ford Avenue, visitors are first greeted by the unappealing raised reader board signage and the numerous yellow bollards that enclose three flagpoles.

Vegetation is limited to a single strip of unshaded grass along the roadside. The building itself, while historic, has been marred by a number of unfortunate later additions.

Vinyl siding, poorly placed lettering, and a commercial door with contrasting trim all detract from the appearance of this historic building.

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| EXISTING

| PROPOSED

Beautified Entrance 45

Refurbished Alleyway PROPOSED: Improving the alleyway begins with repaving the road. New asphalt will enhance service access, encourage residents to utilize rear entrances to adjacent businesses, and help create a safe alternative route for local cyclists. Dumpster enclosures shown at Ace Hardware and the senior center/VFW property are an effective way to screen unattractive views of open dumpsters. The light-brick walls of these enclosures coordinate with the recommended brick colors included in the Richmond Hill Design Elements Catalog. As shown, the enhanced VFW building features exterior painting, ADA-accessible parking, extended entrance ramps, and sidewalks.

Additionally, a vegetated rain garden located between the VFW and the fire station beautifies the area while addressing the stormwater runoff issues that persist in this area. The rain garden will help capture water that would otherwise run off the rooftops and down the parking lots before backing up onto the alley.

Option I 46

EXISTING: The rear alleyway that connects the Bryan County Richmond Hill Senior Center with Ellis Drive is neglected and underutilized.

The broken pavement of this rear service alley includes countless potholes and is in need of significant maintenance. Haphazardly placed dumpsters lend a chaotic appearance to this street. This photo shows the entrance to the Richmond Hill Veterans of Foreign Affairs (VFW) hall. Currently, this building does not match the

| EXISTING

adjacent senior center in color, material, or form.

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Refurbished Alleyway

Option II 48

PROPOSED: While initial improvements greatly improve the function and appearance of the alley, new landscaping will further tie the space into the city’s recommended corridor palette. Saw palmettos help soften and screen areas along blank walls and dumpster enclosures. Sunshine ligustrum shrubs provide a pop of color along the VFW’s entrance and front lawn.

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CORRIDOR IMPROVEMENTS

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rom public property improvements to private developments, the landscape, architectural, and streetscaping recommendations included in the Richmond Hill Design Elements Catalog offer a

variety of tools to help establish more cohesive development along key corridors. By using the recommended elements, business owners in the community can help ensure that improvements to their properties speak to local identity and character. As part of the Richmond Hill Downtown Renaissance Fellowship, two prominent developments were analyzed and included to show the potential for improvements at private properties along key corridors. The following section showcases the potential of the Ford Plaza Shopping Center, located at 10104 Ford Avenue, and the nearby shared green space located at the Ford Village Shopping Center. Improvements at these two developments, located within the main downtown corridor of Ford Avenue, could help set a standard for corridor development in Richmond Hill.

| HISTORIC AERIAL OF RICHMOND HILL (LEFT) Photo courtesy of the Richmond Hill Historical Society

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FORD PLAZA SHOPPING CENTER

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he Ford Plaza Shopping Center is an approximately 45,000-squarefoot commercial plaza that houses an array of businesses, including local restaurants, services, stores, and offices. While the center serves

as a hub of local businesses, the appearance of the property does not match the character of Richmond Hill. The plaza contains one entrance directly off Ford Avenue and two entrances on adjacent side streets, Ellis Drive to the north and Edsel Drive to the south. With only a 7-foot unplanted turf strip separating the development from busy Ford Avenue, the vast majority of the shopping center is consumed by parking. Parallel two-way drive lanes, a 34-foot drive and a 28-foot drive, provide access to parking aisles. Both of these travel lanes are significantly oversized and could be reduced to introduce landscaping, sidewalks, or other improvements. While breaking up the parking area, a 7’ turf median with topped crape myrtles and double gooseneck light poles could be replanted to bring more shade to the large asphalt parking area. Landscaping around the plaza is mostly concentrated near the storefronts and along Ford Avenue. While generally attractive and well maintained, none of the existing landscaping provides much-needed shade to parked cars and pedestrians. The total on-site parking capacity of the Ford Plaza Shopping Center is 207 parking spaces.

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Site Plan By minimizing pavement and maximizing vegetation, Ford Plaza Shopping Center could set a new standard for shopping areas in Richmond Hill. Illustrated here, the existing two-way travel lanes have been narrowed to 24’ wide. This allows for a 15’ vegetated buffer along Ford Avenue and for the existing central median to be expanded to 14’ wide.

Expanding these two vegetated areas allows for the planting of large-canopy trees.

Live oaks are proposed along Ford Avenue and laurel or willow oaks are suggested for the central median. Reducing oversized travel lanes and removing unnecessary paving allows for additional vegetated bump-outs and increased sidewalk space on either end of the plaza. This space could be used for outdoor seating or additional landscaping.

While the overall parking capacity has decreased to 190 spots, the availability of shaded parking is vastly expanded, an important factor in the hot coastal sun. Pedestrian safety has been improved with new sidewalks extended throughout the site. Across the center of Ford Plaza, a new sidewalk connects the development to Ford Avenue. The middle walkway extends through the vegetated median, serving as a central axis that visually breaks up the large plaza while improving pedestrian access. Two additional walkways terminate on either end of the central median, further enhancing pedestrian safety in the parking area.

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| EXISTING

| EXISTING EXISTING, ABOVE: The parking area at Ford Plaza Shopping Center dominates this photo. With just a small strip of turf separating the plaza from Ford Avenue, little distinguishes this shopping center from thousands of similar developments across the country. The lack of shade and sidewalks means visitors must walk along hot asphalt and compete with internal vehicular traffic.

PROPOSED, RIGHT: Adding more trees and landscaping could vastly improve the appearance and experience of visiting the Ford Plaza Shopping Center.

Seen here, streetscaping along Ford Avenue reflects the city’s suggested streetscape elements. The Ford fence, along with ,live oaks and saw palmetto shrubs, improves the aesthetics of the shopping plaza and connects the site to Richmond Hill’s coastal identity. To the right, laurel or willow oak trees provide shade along the central aisles, while vegetated bump-outs create a clear boundary between parking and vehicular circulation. The central walkway in the background connects the site with Ford Avenue at the existing shopping center sign, now enhanced with landscaping and new signage. This sidewalk continues across the central median with a proposed crosswalk for pedestrian safety.

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| PROPOSED

Parking Lot Improvements

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FORD VILLAGE SHOPPING CENTER

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urrounded by a number of local businesses, the green space fronting 10175 Ford Avenue includes some majestic live oaks, chaotic business signage, and a central gazebo.

With approximately 180 feet of frontage along busy Ford Avenue, this prominent central green space is visible to the thousands of locals and visitors that travel down Ford Avenue daily. As a shared space, property improvements on this site could benefit all of the surrounding business owners while also contributing to a more cohesive and beautiful downtown corridor.

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Site Plan

In the plan above, elements within Ford Village’s central green space have been rearranged to declutter and elevate this prominent space. For improved visibility, a new monument sign in compliance with the city’s Unified Development Ordinance has been shifted toward the center’s vehicular drive. Intimately scaled lamp posts help define the driveway and parking area. Additional landscaping and a segmented Ford fence improve the streetscape within the property and along Ford Avenue. Replacing the existing broken asphalt paving, a new permeable brick walkway up to and around the gazebo provides greater flexibility for the future infringement of surrounding tree roots.

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| PROPOSED

Central Green Space

| EXISTING

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EXISTING: The north end of this site contains a number of unattractive service features, with various utility boxes, broken light fixtures, telephone poles, and two tall poles with four discordant business signs. A cracked walkway leads from the parking lot up to a gazebo. Surrounded by a few evergreen shrubs, the gazebo is flanked by a temporary flag sign and another wooden business sign.

PROPOSED: Erecting a single monument sign helps remove visual clutter, simplifying and beautifying this space. According to Richmond Hill’s 2017 Unified Development Ordinance, signage should follow requirements of the Ford Overlay District. The principle monument sign should not exceed 6’ in height with a sign face of 30 square feet and not exceed 40% of the total sign area. Utilizing Savannah gray or a similar brick and crisp black and white lettering, this new sign corresponds to recommended corridor material standards. Relocating the proposed sign further toward the entrance gives space around the gazebo and emphasizes the vehicular entrance. Further, adding vegetation around the elements like the sign, gazebo, and existing utilities beautifies the streetscape. Replacing the existing broken lamp posts and the large overhead light with lighting used elsewhere in the community further improves the appearance of this prominent site.

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THANK YOU Thank you to the Richmond Hill Downtown Development Authority, the Georgia Municipal Association, and the Georgia Cities Foundation for making this report possible. We are indebted to Becky Armbrister, Richmond Hill Special Projects Manager, for her continual assistance and guidance during the development of this document. We extend or sincere appreciation to Christy Sherman of the Richmond Hill Convention & Visitors Bureau, Russ Bryant Photography, Paige Glazer of Reflections Media Communications, and the Richmond Hill Historical Society for supplying the many beautiful photographs featured in this report.

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| Photo courtesy of the Richmond Hill Reflections Magazine

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201 N. Milledge Avenue | Athens, Georgia 30602 Telephone: 706-542-2736 | Fax: 706-542-9301 www.cviog.uga.edu

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