Community leaders, stakeholders and residents will soon take part in pro-bono design projects in Cave Springs, Elm Springs and Rogers. The Legacy Projects are part of the ramp-up for the 34th annual Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU 34) set for May 12-16 in Northwest Arkansas.
More than 1,500 architects, urban planners and real estate professionals from across the United States are expected to attend. This will be CNU’s first Congress in Arkansas. Registration recently opened online at cnu.org/cnu34/registration.
The Revitalizing Downtown Elm Springs Legacy Project will take place from March 2 to March 4. Its goal is “to develop a conceptual downtown plan that strengthens Elm Springs’ small-town character and sense of established community while adding to a walkable, connected and vibrant environment,” according to the project news release.
A three-day workshop will be led by Atlanta-based TSW and take place at event venue Heroncrest in Elm Springs. The public can participate in the design studio March 3. A public open house is set for 6 p.m. March 4.
Legacy Project Coordinator Lauren Mayer said the public can see the design process and provide insights during the design studio. At the public meeting, TSW will present its initial design outcomes.
The Cave Springs Main Street Corridor and Illinois River Watershed Partnership (IRWP) Sanctuary Revitalization Legacy Project will take place from March 17-19. The goal of the project is to expand on a 2024 downtown plan to “create smarter land use, housing and transportation strategies in the downtown area that align with the IRWP’s mission and the vision for the city and its residents,” according to the project news release.
A three-day workshop will be led by Gaithersburg, Md.-based Michael Watkins Architect and hosted at Cave Springs Community Building at 120 S. Main St. The public can participate in the community listening meeting from 5:30 to 7 p.m. March 17. A public meeting will also take place from 5:30 to 7 p.m. March 19.
The La Plaza District: A Multicultural, Transit-Oriented Urban Village Legacy Project will not include public meetings. Its three-day workshop will be led by London-based Arup, working with Alex Vasquez, founder of La Plaza Group, to plan for the district at Eighth and Poplar streets near downtown Rogers. Vasquez’s vision is for a pedestrian-oriented district that blends commercial, cultural and residential uses.
After the workshops, the design firms will refine their work and report their recommendations during a session at CNU 34, Mayer said. The firms will also provide the communities with a final report that they can use to implement short- and long-term recommendations.
The post 3 pro-bono design projects come to Northwest Arkansas appeared first on Talk Business & Politics.