Civic masterplan sector1-volume1

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20 Civic Master Plan | Sector 1

SECTOR 1

CHAPTER 1 Executive Summary 23
CHAPTER 2 Sector Conditions 29
CHAPTER 3 Master Plan 35

21

SECTOR 1
CHAPTER 1
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

23

Chapter 1

E XECU T I VE SUMM ARY
INTRODUCTION daily needs within walking or biking distance
• Positions the community for an era beyond
The Sector 1 study area represents the heart of our current pattern of dependence on the personal
Beaufort, SC. It includes many of its major cultural automobile
institutions and significant civic assets, as well as its • Provides attractive parks and greenways on a local
historic neighborhoods and its greatest concentration and regional scale
of commercial activity. As such, Sector 1 was an ideal • Envisions regional connections that will strengthen
point of departure to begin an extensive master planning and invigorate Beaufort’s economy and cultural
process that resulted in the development of the Civic institutions
Master Plan for the City of Beaufort. • Engages a wide variety of people and lifestyles
across a broad socio-economic spectrum
The civic master planning process, led by Beaufort’s • Preserves Beaufort’s historical legacy without
Office of Civic Investment, was an intensely compromising opportunities for new development
collaborative effort between elected officials, city staff,
local residents, and community stakeholders. Marked
by a weeklong planning and design charrette, the Sector PLANNNING & DESIGN CHARRETTE
1 planning process led to specific interventions and
recommendations for the entirety of the sector at a level The Planning and Design Charrette for Sector 1 was held
of detail that engages each individual parcel. The pages from March 22 to March 28, 2011. During these seven
that follow contain the results of this effort for Sector days, over 20 urban designers, planners, architects, and
1 and amount to a collective vision that will carry the engineers gathered in a Bay Street storefront to develop
heart of Beaufort into the next 50 years of its growth and land use plans, renderings, street sections, and specific
development. recommendations for nearly every block and parcel in
the Sector 1 planning area.
In general the plans and recommendations on these
pages describe a future for Sector 1 that: Public meetings and open design sessions were held
• Celebrates the waterfront and the natural context throughout the week to allow members of the public
which the city occupies to interact with the designers, identify concerns, share
• Is mixed use and walkable in character ideas for specific projects, and vet the work of the design
• Enables people to live locally and accomplish their team. This comprehensive input allowed the charrette

MAR 23 MAR 24 M F R 2 5 R U M AR Y2 6
A E B A R MAR 27 MAR 28
USCB Meeting Developer Meeting Redevelopment Mid-Charrette Design Studio Final Presentation
Commission Meeting Presentation
Neighborhood Retail & Merchants
Associations Meeting Meeting Boards & Commis-
sions Meeting

TIMELINE of CHARRETTE EVENTS


25

process to work in short feedback loops where ideas topics to be addressed in this first charrette. The five
are continually refined and presented to the public. public workshops, each with a unique discussion topic,
This inclusive process enriched the final plans and were very successful and provided invaluable comments
recommendations. Specific input was sought from the and feedback, detailed in the following section. The
University of South Carolina at Beaufort (USCB), the workshops included the following:
various neighborhood associations that represent Sector
1 residents, local developers and property owners, • Neighborhood Associations Workshop
local retailers and merchants, the Redevelopment February 17 Approximately 60 participants
Commission, and Beaufort’s various other municipal • Development Community Workshop
boards and commissions. These multiple layers of input February 24 Approximately 50 participants
helped to create plans and recommendations that are • Neighborhood Walking Tour
vibrant, real, nuanced, and appropriate for all members February 26 Approximately 40 participants
of the community. • Redevelopment Commission Workshop
March 3 Approximately 30 participants
• Retail & Merchandising Workshop
SLOW CHARRETTE PROCESS March 8 Approximately 50 participants

In order to maximize the design efforts during the These workshops, combined with the vision for the
charrette week, the Office of Civic Investment took the community described in the Comprehensive Plan and
“slow charrette” approach. Rather than trying to squeeze the data collected through the Sector 1 Synoptic Survey,
all the public workshops into one week, they were spread gave the charrette design team an incredible wealth
out over a month-and-a-half to maximize participation. of information to help guide their efforts during the
The OCI team has hosted a series of public workshops to weeklong charrette process from March 22nd to March
engage the community and solicit feedback on the many 28th, 2011.

JAN 1 FEB 17 FEB 26 MAR 8
Office of Civic Neighborhood Neighborhood Retail &
Investment begins Associations Walking Merchandising
planning work Workshop Tour Workshop

J A N U A R Y F E B R U A R Y M A R C H

JAN 24 - FEB 4 FEB 24 MAR 3 MAR 22 - MAR 28
Synoptic survey Development Redevelopment Sector 1
conducted Community Commission Planning
Workshop Workshop Charrette

TIMELINE of EVENTS

Civic Master Plan
City of Beaufort, SC | www.beaufortcivicinvestment.org

Chapter 1 | Executive Summary

PRE-CHARRETTE PROJECT MAP
(See Appendix A for larger map)


27

IDENTIFIED PROJECTS

Relating specific projects (identified on the “Project
Map”) to the regional systems and connections described
on the previous page help to support their individual
and collective success and contribute to a richer built
environment on a local and regional scale. The projects
identified for closer examination during the Sector 1
Planning and Design Charrette were selected by the
Office of Civic Investment, in concert with the Beaufort
Redevelopment Commission and local citizens, in order
to create a coherent vision for the future of the Sector 1
planning area and to best utilize potential catalyst sites
and city-owned properties.

Some major projects include:
• Old City Hall Redevelopment
• Eastern Boundary Street Road Diet
• Bladen Street Streetscape Improvements
• Duke Street Streetscape Improvements
• Basil Green Park
• USCB Expansion & Student Housing
• Bellamy Curve Infrastructure Improvements
• Ribaut Road Streetscape Improvements
• Post Office Block Redevelopment
• Former Jail Site Redevelopment
• Extension of Waterfront Park
• Washington Square Park
• Marina Redevelopment & Parking Garage
• Piggly Wiggly Redevelopment
• Whitehall Plantation Property Redevelopment

Civic Master Plan

SECTOR 1
CHAPTER 2
SECTOR CONDITIONS

29

Chapter 2

SECTOR CONDITIONS
ANALYSIS of EXISTING CONDITIONS Northwest Quadrant and Higginsonville
neighborhoods.
Prior to the Sector 1 Planning and Design Charrette, • Some of Beaufort’s historic residential
data from the Synoptic Survey was combined with neighborhoods, particularly the Northwest Quadrant,
geographic data from the City and County to create a are hampered by inadequate property maintenance
series of maps that amount to an analysis of the existing and are in need of reinvestment/redevelopment.
conditions in the Sector 1 planning area. In general, the • Neighborhood commercial uses are generally
analysis established the following conclusions: lacking. The Bay Street commercial district serves a
very limited, tourist-driven, retail niche that does not
• There are plenty of infill opportunities on vacant provide for the day-to-day necessities of its
land in the Sector 1 planning area, especially in the residents.

WHITEHALL

E XISTING BUILDING FOOTPRINTS


31

• Beaufort’s existing regulatory structure does not
adequately promote the development of mixed-use
walkable neighborhoods throughout the Sector 1
planning area.

The analysis and corresponding maps were discussed
and distributed to all the of charrette participants at the
outset of the Sector 1 Planning and Design Charrette in
order to familiarize all charrette participants with the
issues presented by the Sector 1 planning area.

EXISTING LAND USE

Civic Master Plan

Chapter 2 | Sector Conditions

O W N E R v s . R E N TA L / S E A S O N A L BUILDING HEIGHT

EXISTING DEVELOPMENT CLASSIFIED VA C A N C T o r A B A N D O N E D P R O P E R T I E S
by TRANSECT ZONES


33

CONDITION OF GROUNDS and EXISTING ZONING
STRUCTURE

SOURCE: Google Earth, March 2011

E X I S T I N G D OWN TOWN B E AU F O RT
Note: Please see the Appendix A for larger versions of the maps shown on this and the facing pages.

Civic Master Plan

SECTOR 1
CHAPTER 3
MASTER PLAN

SECTION 1 Sector 1 Vision & Overview 36
SECTION 2 Transportation & Streets 46
SECTION 3 Natural Infrastructure & Parks 58
SECTION 4 Plan for Downtown 66
SECTION 5 Corridor Plans 76
SECTION 6 Neighborhoods 94
SECTION 7 Specific Interventions 104
SECTION 8 Implementation Elements 112
SECTION 9 Code Recommendations 114

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Chapter 3 | Section 1

S E C TO R 1 V I S I O N & O V E RV I EW
VISIONARY PLANNING AND GREAT to something you would have seen in continental Europe
COMMUNITIES at the time: grand park systems and iconic civic building
architecture. This is a time when much of Chicago’s
The point we have arrived at today is the culmination industry was on Lake Michigan and along the Illinois
of planning and analysis that began on January 2nd, River – rail yards, slag heaps, factories. It was not a
2011 collecting information through meetings with pretty place. Commerce was the law of the land, so
individuals, groups, and organizations, and by collecting imagine the disbelief when he proposed to reclaim the
data, physically through on-the-ground surveys of every entire Lake Michigan waterfront for a park. People
lot, as well as digitally through all the various plans, looked at him as if he were crazy. This is the man for
reports, and studies completed in the past. The results whom the now famous quote has been attributed, “make
from this three-month effort culminate in this Civic no little plans; they have no magic to stir men’s blood.”
Master Plan. Like many plans for great communities One hundred years later, Chicago has one of the most
this plan is expected to generate discussion points, amazing park systems in the world and is also one of a
establish budget priorities, and create implementation handful of communities in the rust belt of the Midwest
objectives for the City of Beaufort over, at least, the that is truly growing and prospering. And, it’s a result
next twenty years. In a sense we believe that this plan of a process similar to what we’re embarking on here in
coherently and properly lays the groundwork for the Beaufort.
city’s next three hundred years.
Another example is Boston’s “Emerald Necklace”
What Beaufort and its leaders have had the foresight to designed by another visionary planner and contemporary
do follows in the tradition of some really great places. of Burnham, Frederick Law Olmsted. Olmsted, known
The great communities of today are great because they today as the nation’s first landscape architect, is also
spent the bad times thinking about what they wanted to credited with the design of Central Park, among many
be when times got good again. In the United States, other wonderful places. He envisioned a future Boston
the era of grand planning during the late 1910’s, 1920’s ringed by parks. For those who have visited Boston it is
and the Great Depression, occurred in many of the easy to see how the City and its residents have benefitted
places that are admired in the country today for their from his vision. Boston has some of the most loved civic
resilient economies and excellent quality of life. The spaces and urban structures in the United States and
one thing these places have in common is that they had easily ranks amongst the greatest cities in the world.
the vision to think outside the box and a desire to take
control of their destinies. Some of the greatest plans We can also look to The Presidio in San Francisco
and architecture that the United States has today - places where Daniel Burnham again inspired its citizens to
and buildings that are admired around the world - can be aspire to greatness. At that time in the late 1910’s, The
dated to this period. Most of the grand civic buildings, Presidio was on the outskirts of town. It was a hilltop
schools and town halls; almost all the impressive upon which he designed a park connected to the rest
museums; and many of the beautiful park systems that of the city with grand civic monuments. Today it’s a
are today the treasures of their respective communities magnificent urban park surrounded by some of the most
had their initial plans prepared during this time period. valuable real estate in the United States. So compelling
was the plan and the illustrations that accompanied
One such example is in the City of Chicago. Chicago it that a few of the monuments were actually built as
hired Daniel Burnham, one of our century’s most drawn.
visionary planners, to prepare its master plan. He laid
out a vision that is extraordinary today for its beauty
and, in his day, for its boldness. It was a vision similar


37

THE SECRET OF SUCCESS have no money.” This is a false excuse – a straw man
argument. No place that has ever accomplished long-
With all great plans, like the Burnham and Olmsted term greatness has had money at the start. In fact, it’s
plans, they aim to improve the fortunes of a place almost a prerequisite that a place be poor in order to be
and they foster change. Just as people questioned able to achieve greatness. All great work starts off with
the drawings Burnham prepared showing parks and an idea. Wealth follows ideas. You make people excited
buildings on private land, we are sure that people will about what it is you’re doing, and clever people rally
examine the drawings in this master plan and have around the vision, and the money follows.
many concerns: “I see you’ve knocked down my
building to construct a park,” or “you have removed my Locally, the Open Land Trust (OLT) is generating the
neighborhood park to construct a building,” or “you’ve excitement and getting the money, and as a result,
put a road through my yard.” Keep in mind the most they have become the de facto regional planners for
powerful tool planning possesses: time. Planning is an the entire County. Through donations and successful
effort that lasts generations, but you’ve got to start at tax referendums, they have made saving the natural
some point, or you will never achieve anything. It is habitat and scenic views of the local area exciting and
almost always the case that what is needed to be done important. Much time and effort by the citizens of this
is impossible to do today. If you were told to learn a community goes into the work of the Open Land Trust
second language and you said I can’t do that today, including the preservation of places here in Beaufort like
does that mean you can never do it? Just because you the Bluff and Bellamy Curve. These purchases have
can’t master Spanish or French by the weekend, do you shaped the image of Beaufort as well as its developable
throw in the towel? Of course not. It took hundreds of footprint. To properly leverage this fine work, it is
years to arrive where Beaufort is today. Nearly all of critical to ensure that as much effort and care are paid to
that time passed without access to an endless pot of gold the Human Habitat, (the neighborhoods and communities
at its disposal. Very little is possible today yet nearly we live in) through excellent planning and urban design.
everything is possible in the long term. The natural habitat has the OLT. The Human Habitat
now has the Office of Civic Investment (OCI). We have
Another important ingredient is “the champion.” You an opportunity to weave the communities we live in with
can have a collection of plans and ideas, but unless they the natural setting they exist in. To succeed, the visions
find a champion that makes it his or her business to will we have and the plans developed to execute them need
them into reality on a daily basis, they never materialize. to be as compelling as the nature that is saved.
The final need is for compelling visions, such as
what Burnham provided the residents of Chicago. It
galvanized the thoughts of the citizens and business THE PURPOSE OF THE CIVIC MASTER PLAN
community to nominate champions, who, over the years
shaped policy that allowed the vision to be realized. This plan is intended to complete the work of the 2009
Comprehensive Plan. That plan did two important
Beside the beauty and technical expertise of the planning things. First it established that the primary means by
and urban design achieved by these masters, there is one which the city could achieve truly sustainable and
additional take away from these examples. They were resilient growth was not through annexation and sprawl
envisioned and executed in a time when these places but rather through infill and redevelopment. And second,
were not wealthy. We accomplished the best community and perhaps most importantly, it tore through decade’s
design and building in this country when it was poor worth of unfulfilled planning efforts to prioritize and
in relation to today. Imagine that. All you hear about consolidate plans that were both unrealistic and lacked
today, if you try to get anything done, from placing champions. The number one priority recommendation
a cross walk on a street to paving a sidewalk, is, “we was for the city to stop focusing on large scale policy

Civic Master Plan

Chapter 3 | Section 1 | Sector 1 Vision & Overview

planning and instead turn its sights on the needs of its some pretty amazing things. It allows us to quickly see
neighborhoods and corridor, the living tissue of the patterns through the creation of thematic maps. This
city, with a block by block physical plan to encourage information allows us to study the City’s DNA - how it
investment and redevelopment. In essence, it was a works on the ground. This is an important step because
roadmap for reversing the slow downward spiral of it allows you to understand how to help it grow while
decline that had become the norm in the city. retaining the charm and character that made it special.
This “urban DNA” was combined with information
The Comprehensive Plan therefore serves as the gathered from several dozen meetings over the previous
framework and undergirding for the Civic Master Plan in months with nearly every key stakeholder in the area
the grand tradition of cities like Chicago, San Francisco who wanted to participate, and even some who didn’t.
and Boston. This is no small feat for a community the
size of Beaufort. But, as we all know Beaufort may be
small in terms of its resident population but it lives large THE SOLUTION TO THE DILEMMA OF
in the historical and cultural memory of the Lowcountry GROWTH
and of this county.
In addition to understanding thoroughly what exists
In order to achieve the necessary level of detailed now, we also took a careful look at what existed before.
planning, we divided the city up into four sectors. In many communities around the country, growth has
We’ve started with Sector 1, the downtown area. When meant the destruction of history, historic buildings, and
we first started this process, someone asked, “you’re places. Beaufort hasn’t suffered that as much. Everyone
going to do a master plan for downtown, so what are you wants growth and prosperity, but with it, post-World
going to do with Bay Street?” Our response was, “well, War II, that growth and prosperity has come with a lot of
Bay Street is not all of downtown: There’s Boundary really bland and uninspiring things that some might label
Street, there’s Bladen Street, there’s Carteret Street and as simply “ugly.”
Pigeon Point Road, the Old Point, and Higginsonville,
and on and on. There’s also the Bluff and the Northwest It’s quite a dilemma for most communities: If we grow,
Quadrant.” Downtown is in fact a series – a collection we lose what we are through the haphazard consumption
of neighborhoods – the core of the larger area that is of a community’s past. However, if we don’t grow,
Beaufort, so you have to study it comprehensively, not we stagnate and lose what we are by neglect. The
just Bay Street. We believe that downtown is not simply reason for the dilemma is because we stopped building
Bay Street and the Waterfront Park. Rather downtown real communities after World War II. This is not to
is a complex web of interdependent neighborhoods and say we stopped building. In fact, we have built more
corridors that geographically is bordered to the west by things in the sixty-five plus years since World War
Ribaut Road and by the Beaufort River on its other three II – houses, shopping centers, offices, factories – than
sides. The three blocks that constitute the historic “Main nearly all of human history prior to that period. But
Street” cannot be the vessel in which every aspiration, rather than building authentic and lovable places like
idea, and need for Beaufort is forced. It is simply too neighborhoods, villages, towns and cities, we simply
small. aggregated real estate product. We have built only a
handful of new “places” since World War II yet we’ve
We started on several fronts simultaneously. For built endless miles of suburban product.
four weeks, students walk every foot of every street
in downtown and collected an extensive amount of Suburban development became an industry unto itself,
information about every house, curb, and sidewalk. The and as you may have heard, it was one of the major
result is a robust database comprised of more than thirty reasons for the financial collapse and the subsequent
unique attributes, the analysis of which allows us to do


39

Great Recession. When you introduce car-oriented TIME TO OUT-MAIN STREET THE MALL
suburban development into traditional urban fabric,
like downtown Beaufort, that development destroys What is available once you arrive downtown cannot
the surrounding traditional development. It might be just “one thing.” A common mistake is to think
not do it initially, but the accumulation of this type of a community as needing only one amenity – be it
of development ends up eradicating what is the most a convention center, a ball park, or a museum. That’s
special part about place-based traditional communities, a suburban mentality. Real places are complex. The
which is their mixed-use, walkable quality of life. fabric of real places must be complex and varied to
meet the needs of a broad range of people and, just
It is important to keep in mind that the suburban as important, the broad range of moods each of these
development model is the default setting for all zoning, people experience over the course of a day, a week, and
financing, and health and safety matters in the United a lifetime. Sometimes you want to sit alone in a park,
States today. Whether you plan or not, whether you have sometimes you want to be in the center of all the action.
zoning or not, the suburban model is so entrenched in Sometimes you want to view a scenic vista, sometimes
every aspect of American development and marketing you want to be walking the crowded sidewalks shopping
that it is what growth delivers. Ironically, not much and socializing. If you are a cyclist, sometimes you
growth has happened post-World War II in Beaufort. The might want to ride fast through the countryside, whereas
side benefit of this lack of growth is that not as much has at other times you might want to be on the street riding
been lost. through town. Every pastime, every facility, and every
motivation takes a different tone depending on mood.
One piece of the community that was lost was the This gets to the point about the need to develop some
buildings along the waterfront. They were unique and of our waterfront. Sometimes you might want to sit on
interesting in a scruffy yet unassuming way. However, it a swing or in the grass and watch people or the water
was largely replaced by something worthy – Waterfront and sometimes you might want to sit on a dock or at a
Park. In city building this is called a fair trade. This is restaurant on the water and eat, dance, work, live, or
an important concept, a litmus test for anyone passionate buy things. The Water Festival need not be limited to the
about community. Development decisions should highly programmed week of activities each July. It can
always be evaluated with this simple question – “Was it last all year long.
a fair trade?” If you lose a piece of marsh land and gain a
village, or a meadow and gain a proper neighborhood the Unfortunately, Americans have been trained to
trade is fair. When either of these is lost to a shopping experience places as a consumer…..to live and shop
center that spends most of life in decline or subdivision as if we’re in a mall. The American retail industry
that condemns it occupants to the use of the automobile has created shopping snobs out of us and we’re very
for every daily interaction, it is not. Yet, even with easily bored, very quick to lose our patience if things
the achievement of the Waterfront Park, Beaufort’s aren’t perfect, and particularly fickle with our attention
waterfront redevelopment has not always been a fair and money. The mall environment and the shopping
trade. Case in point is the present Marina parking lot center environment in the United States is perfection at
with the single largest parcel along the waterfront every level designed by mall planners who subtly and
dedicated exclusively to the suburban pattern of parking not so subtly influence – almost brainwash – you to do
cars to the exclusion of great urbanism. In many ways, it everything that they want you to do when you enter their
is these negative impacts of the suburban development realm. In a sense we are a bunch of snobby zombies.
model are what we are trying to remedy through this
master plan. When you’re someplace where things don’t happen to
click just right – a store might be closed too early, or the

Civic Master Plan


merchandising in the window isn’t quite up to snuff, or predominately purchase whatever high-end wares are
you didn’t get asked if you needed help right away, or sold downtown. The tourists – well, you’ve seen them
it doesn’t smell as you think it should – this is the bar – they buy what’s left and don’t spend much time at the
that’s been set by the retail industry in this country, and park either. Why is this important? Because if we are
most of the older retailers on traditional main streets are only a trinket tourist-stop and our local population is not
the ones who can’t compete. I like to tell people that sufficient enough to support other pastimes that include
it wasn’t Wal-Mart that killed Main Street America, it cultural offerings now unavailable, then our residents are
was the Mall. It replicated the idealized Main Street left with jobs that are not sufficient to build a resilient
experience, air conditioned it, and then did everything community. Places like that are exporters of talent, and
better – Cleaner walkways, consistent hours, superior that is what Beaufort is now.
merchandising, and even pleasant landscaping (inside no
less). Wal-Mart, and what it represents, is only a factor What if the offerings were much more varied and robust
when you have two goals in mind: cheap prices and free – offerings that embed you in the place and its history?
parking. If that’s your town’s goal, you’re probably Imagine getting off the boat and browsing local arts
already standing in the ruins of your Main Street. and crafts markets, visiting a museum or two, staying
at a spa/hotel or inn grounded in wellness and health
and dining at fabulous restaurants that offer indigenous
LET’S BEGIN AT THE BEGINNING -- IT’S ALL local cuisines that only places like the Louisiana gulf
ABOUT THE WATER coast can boast. There’s a lot of history in the area - all
of it scattered about. If properly coordinated it could
The Master Plan for the downtown is not so much be centered here in Beaufort as the hub for those also
about what can be achieved tomorrow or next year looking to do day trips out into the historically rich
by a few individuals. Rather, it is about a collective countryside especially if it is supported by a local
investment by the community through a coordinate university that provides quality environmental and fine
series of incremental yet strategic investments by many arts programming. Because Beaufort is also less busy
hands. This is a plan whose vision was constructed for and hectic than our neighbors to the north and south
the different yet equally important experiences by the we can take the lead in the environmental, wellness,
resident and the tourist in twenty-five years and it all and tourist industry if we so desired. To distinguish
begins at the water’s edge. ourselves, Beaufort needs to provide a compelling reason
for more than a simple afternoon stop on a bus tour of
Wouldn’t it be fabulous if there were a reliable system the region. We must provide a palette of amenities that
of water taxis and ferries that allowed you to travel will make us a multiday or weeklong attraction or most
up and down the Intracoastal Waterway between from importantly a hometown in which to raise a family and
Savannah, Charleston, Hilton Head, and Beaufort? In retire.
such a world, what do we need to do here in Beaufort
to make ourselves a destination that would require a So, if you were to come by boat, what you would come
day, or maybe two, to fully appreciate? After all, if you to, in our vision of this future, would be a new marina-
really look at the region correctly, Beaufort is the belt side development, basically an extension of Bay Street.
buckle of the lowcountry, the mid-way point between Right now, it’s a parking lot. While that’s an important
Georgetown, SC and New Brunswick, GA. What would asset to have at the moment because it provides people
be compelling enough to entice someone who landed with convenient parking, it does happen to be located
here, at a new day dock for example, to walk into town on some genuinely prime real estate – real estate that
and do something besides turn to the right and buy a would be much better used by people, rather than cars.
t-shirt, eat a hamburger or have a drink and then stroll We believe that it’s time to trade up. You can always
the park? Keep in mind that it is in fact the locals who put the cars someplace else, like a parking garage. They


41

normally don’t care about the view as much, don’t like day, and it’s got Bull and Abercorn Streets, which offer
sitting in the sun, and they don’t shop. neighborhood scaled boutique shops and cafes. These
represent three distinct markets, all of which a single
In order to reclaim our waterfront parking lot for human person who wants to spend a day or two in Savannah can
habitation we must relocate the cars to a deck on Port experience as their mood strikes them. The important
Republic Street. They must be in a location that requires fact is that these distinct attractions and shopping
that they experience the full breadth of the Bay Street experiences do not happen on the same street. In spite
area on their short walk from their car to the Waterfront of how long Broughton, Abercorn, and Bull Streets are,
Park to create a more robust and diverse shopping and no one complains and gripes about walking the distances
dining district. Mind you, this distance is shorter and required to reach them or walking along them. They’re
far more interesting than the trip from the edge of the compelling, inviting, and people are drawn to explore
parking lot at the Wal-Mart to it front door (much less them, just like a person is drawn by a mall layout to
from the front door to the electronics section in the back walk from one end to the other and back – the distance
of the store). This same walk through the often hostile of one-half a mile or more. Beaufort doesn’t have the
Wal-Mart parking lot is equivalent to the distance along population or the tourist draw that Savannah does, but
Bay Street from its intersection with Charles Street to the we can do a smaller version of that very easily.
west and Carteret Street to the east, yet with an infinitely
more engaging and satisfying journey. In terms of the commercial improvement downtown, the
four streets that are Carteret, Boundary, Bay and Bladen
And once this impediment is removed, we can continue are the commercial corridors. Three of these corridors
our journey along the waterfront to the west. Connecting allow Beaufort to be able to expand its retail and
the visitor to the beauty of Beaufort beyond Bay Street commercial menu, without destroying the existing fabric
is an important objective. The vision here is to tie the or character of Bay Street. Because, as we said from the
Waterfront Park, the formal front door of the community, beginning, Bay Street is just three blocks. It can’t be the
and its new active dock and marina development, to active main street for all the citizens of Beaufort, while
the more passive open space of the marsh front along also being the historic Main Street for all the tourists.
the Beaufort River. At Waterfront Park the walking It can’t be the place where you go to get whatever you
experience is along an esplanade, which continues as need from a Walgreens or a FedEx/Kinko’s and still
a plaza and pier condition at the Marina. As the walk be the place that has unique furniture shops and art
continues to the Bluff, a boardwalk would be built along galleries. The residents and the city have decided that
the waterline at the foot of the Bluff following the curve the historic structures along Bay Street are important
of the river all the way to Ribaut. There was once a low enough to keep and this plan clearly support that priority.
road in addition to the existing high road (Bay Street). In order to keep it like it is, you have to provide other
The low road is what was used to carry the freight from places for certain things to go that don’t fit into the
the port down to the depot. Within the next 20 years, buildings there. That is the role of Boundary Street. It
this boardwalk could stretch all the way to the Hospital. is the location where residents of the neighborhoods can
That requires some giving. Kind of harkens back to shop for daily conveniences from a broader mix of local,
Chicago’s once industrial lake front, and Burnham’s regional, and national shops and business that require
vision of turning it over to the public. larger lots and more convenient accessibility.

Bay Street has its place and Carteret/Boundary Street The transition then occurs at Bellamy’s Curve where
does to Savannah has its waterfront, where all the the long view of the Beaufort River beyond has for
tourists shop and dine at the touristy establishments. It most of its history greeted travelers and begun their
has Broughton Street, which is the shopping street where decompression from the region at large to the intimacy
you can get just about everything one would need day to of the historic waterfront. It is anchored around the bend

Civic Master Plan


by the campus of USC-Beaufort which serves as an would argue that those against it were short-sighted
important institution embedded directly into the fabric of and selfish because a neighborhood, a proper human
the historic neighborhoods. The University provides an habitat, is a fair trade. Of the few places capable
influx of students and the vitality that age group brings of handling development at high density within the
to the businesses and the shops that they frequent. The sensitive ecosystem in which Beaufort sits, this is one.
integration of higher education into a community is a The volume of water that flows along the Beaufort River
key element for all vibrant places. at this point provides for the greatest amount of natural
flushing. It’s at the foot of the bridge that connects to
The master plan envisions the redevelopment of downtown Beaufort a quarter mile away and it has
the current campus as a more traditional southern been developed on in the past. Instead of sprawling
quadrangle with some current non-historic, under- on Lady’s Island in the form of shopping centers and
utilizes structures giving way to more formally designed car-dependent commercial uses, a town center located at
campus buildings more appropriate to the setting. Also, Whitehall would serve the community more efficiently
the provision of full-time student housing both on and provide more opportunities for residents seeking
campus as well as around the corner on Boundary Street lifestyle opportunities not dependent on car use and long
provides an important symbiotic relationship that can fill commutes.
in certain gaps in the urban fabric with students, giving
both life and character to the corridor simultaneously. Our plan saves a tremendous amount of trees and still
provides a marketable and successful building program
We would be remiss to discuss encouraging pedestrian that leaves about 25 percent of the property open. The
activity and business vitality along Boundary Street main street of Whitehall and the buildings that front
if we did not also address the current geometrics of Sea Island Parkway will have riverfront and park
the four-lane thoroughfare. Very simply, the current views. Through proper design, the new village center
configuration encourages speeding, is hostile to would allow the waterfront walk to continue forming an
pedestrians and cyclists alike, and does not provide any important anchor for pedestrians and cyclists enjoying
convenient, shared on-street parking forcing each site to the now extensive and unique waterfront experience
create their own parking lot. It’s time to put this section we have begun to envision, stretching from maybe the
of Boundary Street on a road diet – shrinking it from Hospital all the way to Whitehall. Imagine landing
four lanes to three with on-street parking – and this can in a boat at the marina and being able to walk three
be done by restriping, not rebuilding, with cans of paint miles, a little over a mile and a half in either direction,
and thermoplastic stencils to be specific. through plazas with cafes and shops, into parks, along
boardwalks that lead to points where you can access the
water by Marina or boat launch, by kayak and boat, and
WHITEHALL AS A COMPLIMENT TO BAY cross the river by foot on the bridge.
STREET

There are those that would scream that the Whitehall AND FINALLY, A STRONG DOWNTOW
property be left undeveloped – and we would join IS SURROUNDED BY STRONG
them, tied to a tree – if a shopping center or a big box NEIGHBORHOODS
store, or a series of gas stations and fast food outparcels
were being proposed. That would not be a fair trade, For too long, the neighborhoods surrounding the
would it? You can’t remove nature and replace it downtown have either been in a state of stasis or
with development that not only degrades the natural deterioration. With the exception of The Point and
environment, but also negatively impacts the human perhaps parts of the Old Commons, investment and
environment. But if you propose a neighborhood, we population have been in decline. This slow decline


43

has left entire blocks in nearly every neighborhood a once dying part of town into some of the highest
vacant, blighted, or otherwise destabilized. For the housing values in the area. Streets in the Point will
entire downtown area to succeed, it must be bolstered benefit from a systematic burying and relocation of the
by continual investment and re-investment in the aerial utility lines that obscure the beautiful mansions
neighborhoods. The pedestrian traffic of the resident and cottages than sit cheek to jowel. Lastly, new housing
population is the constant to the ebbs and flows of has sprung forth from the largely abandoned Post Office
the tourist market. To increase the population is to and around the old Jail. These entire blocks along
improve the market conditions for every business and with the hundreds of vacant sites scattered around the
restaurant in the downtown area. Once we move from downtown will provide a living framework on which
the waterfront area, the Beaufort of 2051 must consist of new homes will rise.
a series of closely connected, highly walkable, diverse,
neighborhoods and mixed-use corridors that maintain
the charm and character of their historic roots amidst A CHARGE TO OUR FUTURE
new construction that has sensitively infilled all of the
missing gaps. As you will see by this Master Plan, we have created a
vision for a community that is walkable and mixed use;
We have identified opportunities for more than 2500 that reinforces its urban character, but also celebrates the
people to move in tomorrow without a new street, sewer natural context in which it sits. We leverage nature to
line, or using any more gas to collect garbage. We will raise awareness of its importance in order to celebrate
simply build on our existing network of well-connected the history and aspirations of the people of Beaufort and
streets and do so at a density that would be generally Beaufort County.
unnoticed by the average citizen.
All in all, we hope that present and future generations
Along Bladen Street in the Northwest Quadrant, new share our vision. Most importantly, for this plan to
mixed-development along an improved streetscape succeed, it will need leadership and determination of
will usher in a wave of housing in the form of few champions and it will need to be powerful and
cottages, duplexes, bungalows, and perhaps even some compelling enough to make visitors think that Beaufort
townhomes and apartments. Up in Higgonsonville, has its act together – and would be a good place to move
many individuals, many of them artists, will reclaim a to and invest in.
number of the homes in the area lost to neglect to create
a thriving community. In Pigeon Point, the former base For this plan, the fabric of each new building in the
housing from Parris Island that were moved to scattered downtown was intentionally set to the same scale as
lots throughout the neighborhood will be expanded, such historic precedents as the Elliott House as well as
renovated, and redeveloped with homes that are more buildings that are now only remembered in photographs.
suitable for the gracious lots that exist there. And in Gone are the days of the mega-project on the superblock.
the Old Commons, particularly along the periphery by If progress is to be made, it will be slow, calculated and
Boundary Street and Carteret Street, large old homes in in small increments. The work will be done by many
decrepit conditions and new homes on empty lots will hands and over a long period of time. But, if we have
be reclaimed by the University and others to provide done our jobs like Burnham did in Chicago, we will have
much-needed housing for faculty, staff, and student for created a legacy that will ably secure our rights as a great
a thriving University that is a regional leader in the arts American city for centuries to come.
and environmental studies. - The Office for Civic Investment, 2010

The Point will continue to be a beacon of the success of
the national preservation movement that has resurrected

Civic Master Plan


SECTOR 1 STUDY AREA EXISTING
BUILDINGS
The study area covered in the Sector 1 Planning and
Design Charrette includes the Beaufort peninsula to
the east of Ribaut Road. Sector 1 also includes the
Whitehall Plantation property on Lady’s Island (just
across the Beaufort River) as a logical extension of
downtown Beaufort.

In addition to Beaufort’s entire 304-acre National
Historic Landmark district, the following neighborhoods
are included in Sector 1:
• Downtown/Bay Street
• Northwest Quadrant
• The Point
• Old Commons PROPOSED
DEVELOPMENT
• The Bluff PHASE 1
• Dixon Village
• Pigeon Point
• Uptown Beaufort
• Higginsonville
• Whitehall
Each of these neighborhoods has a unique character,
form, and personality that were recognized during the
charrette process.

For the Sector 1 Planning and Design Charrette the
Sector 1 study area was split among five design teams
each with a specific focus area for design. The sequence
of images at right illustrates the summation of that work,
across the entirety of Sector 1, in phases. The existing PROPOSED
DEVELOPMENT
building footprints are shown at the top. Below that is PHASE 2
the proposed Phase 1, which illustrates development
potential within 10 to 20 years. Finally, Phase 2 is shown
as a long-term build-out of the Sector 1 planning area.

The image on the facing page (Sector 1 Proposed
Development Plan) is the aggregate of all the proposed
interventions for Sector 1, including short- and long-
term development strategies and key open space
improvements. In total, the plan accommodates about
2,500 new people living in Sector 1, as well as about
180,000 square feet of new commercial (non-residential)
space and 126,000 square feet of new civic space.
PHASES OF PROPOSED
DEVELOPMENT
(See Appendix A for larger maps)


45

SECTOR 1 PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT PLAN

Civic Master Plan


T R A N S P O R TAT I O N
WALKABILITY key corridors such as Boundary Street, Bladen Street,
Ribaut Road, and Carteret Street will foster walkability
The average distance that a typical pedestrian is willing throughout the Sector 1 study area over the long term.
to walk is one-fourth to one-half miles, which equates
to a five to ten minute journey. This distance is often Currently, the historic district, and Bay Street in
referred to as the “pedestrian shed.” The downtown particular, is the most walkable area in town. It includes
Beaufort peninsula is about 1.5 miles across at its the greatest variety of uses at a potentially walkable
widest point (from Waterfront Park up to Pinckney scale. Part of the intent behind the Open Space Plan
Park). Because this distance is greater than a typical is to create attractive walkable corridors throughout
pedestrian shed, it is important to provide employment Sector 1. While the establishment of mixed-use nodes
opportunities, services, neighborhood retail, and spaces along key corridors occurs in the long term, streetscape
for recreation throughout the downtown Beaufort improvements and the development of an open space
peninsula. Encouraging an appropriate mix of uses along network help to extend the walkability of the Bay Street
area in the short term.

10
M
IN

WALK (1/
TE
UT

4
NU
EW
M
I

IL
5M

A L K (1/ 2 M I L E
E)

)

WA L K A B I L I T Y


47

ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION MAP dedicated bike lanes that connect to the regional parks
and greenways system. Finally, the existing marina
Sidewalk improvements throughout Sector 1 are another serves as a terminal for regional water taxis and boat
method of extending the walkability of downtown tourism.
Beaufort. The Alternative Transportation Map below
illustrates blocks where sidewalks are recommended to These improvements all support a more sustainable
be installed, if they are not so already. The introduction built environment for Beaufort residents and strengthen/
of a downtown circulator bus that shares stops with broaden the tourism industry by allowing people to reach
regional routes also improves local and regional downtown Beaufort in new ways, move around more
mobility. easily once they are there, and explore parts of town
that were not previously within a reasonable walking
Bike infrastructure improvements range from “can-of- distance.
paint” solutions that create shared bike travel lanes, to

A L T E R N AT I V E T R A N S P O R TAT I O N M A P

Civic Master Plan

Chapter 3 | Section 2 | Transportation

STREET HIERARCHY Combined with a future development strategy that
promotes a greater variety and mix of uses in Sector 1,
The predominant gridiron pattern of the Sector 1 study Beaufort’s gridded street hierarchy will enable people
area is a tremendous asset for developing a more to live locally and accomplish their daily needs in a
walkable urban environment in downtown Beaufort. short walking, biking, or driving distance. The pages
While the grid network increases the overall efficiency that follow illustrate some transportation strategies
and capacity of the system to convey traffic to and from that will support these street classifications, as well as
destinations within the Sector 1 study area, there are development concepts that will make the most effective
only 3 routes that allow access beyond the downtown use of the street hierarchy as illustrated.
peninsula: Boundary Street to the west, Ribaut Road
to the South toward Port Royal, and Carteret Street to
the South across the US 21 bridge. Because of these
geographic constraints, establishing a coherent street
hierarchy within the downtown environment will be
a key consideration for enabling local mobility in the
future.

The map on the facing page illustrates how mobility
in the Sector 1 Study Area will be enhanced by the
improvement of Beaufort’s existing street network.
• Primary thoroughfares like Ribaut Road, Carteret
Street, and Boundary Street will continue to serve
a regional purpose and convey the highest volume
of traffic to destinations within the downtown
peninsula and beyond. These streets will also
be enhanced to more effectively accommodate
non-motorized (pedestrian and bicycle) modes of
transportation.
• Bay Street, Bladen Street, and Newcastle Street will
serve as local thoroughfares and support
neighborhood commercial development in close
proximity to downtown neighborhoods.
• Port Republic Street is noted as a festival street and
retail counterpart to Bay Street (see page 67).
• South of Boundary Street, the remaining streets
are local roads and alleys that follow a regular grid
and efficiently serve individual lots.
• North of Boundary Street, the local grid is a little
slightly less regular and frequent. As a result, each
neighborhood street plays a slightly more prominent
role in conveying traffic to the major thoroughfare
of Boundary Street.


49

Boundary Street Bay Street
Ribaut Road Port Republic Street
Carteret Street G-5 Street
Charles Street G-3 Street
Bladen Street Rear Lanes

STREET HIERARCHY MAP
NOT TO SCALE

Civic Master Plan


BOUNDARY STREET ROAD DIET

This plan for Boundary Street utilizes the existing
44’-0” of pavement, curb to curb, and reconfigures the
lane striping. It reduces the number of travel lanes
from four to two, adds parallel parking on both sides,
as well as a turning lane in the center. In the future,
when rear access is incorporated into the lots fronting
Boundary Street, the turn lane can be converted into a
planted median. This “road diet”, or reconfiguration of
the street, will slow traffic making the Boundary Street
Corridor more pedestrian-friendly.

B O U N DA RY S T R E ET ROA D D I ET C O N C E P T UA L P L A N
SCALE: 1”= 300’


51

KEY
A - Public Frontage
B - Parallel Parking
C - Travel Lane
D - Turning Lane

SCALE: 1” = 30’

N

Civic Master Plan


C O N C E P T U A L I L L U S T R AT I O N o f B E L L A M Y C U R V E
(Looking west along Boundary Street)

BELLAMY CURVE

Bellamy Curve is a unique gateway to the USCB campus
and downtown Beaufort, and can be an inspiring public
space on the banks of the Beaufort River. The Bellamy
Curve proposal transforms the corner into a pie-shaped
public plaza that transitions from a hardscape treatment
to a natural environment as it fans out to the river. The
inside of the curve is a hardscape plaza with public
art, seating, and planters. In the roadway, the visual
cue and texture change of a plaza paving treatment
slows drivers down and creates a broad crosswalk for
pedestrians. Finally, a terraced lawn on the outside of
the curve creates a connection to the river and to the
USCB campus. The plaza and terraced lawn are heavily
used by USCB students as it marks the transition from
the student housing on Boundary Street to the academic
quads on Carteret Street.

The portion of the plan north of Boundary Street is a
long-term plan for the area. The plan depicts a large
structure that could house a conference center or large
hotel fronting the marsh. The waterfront park is extended
from Bellamy Curve north into Pigeon Point. In addition,
smaller, more dense infill development such as town
houses is possible to the north of the hotel/conference
structure.

B E L L A M Y C U RV E C O N C E P T UA L P L A N
SCALE: 1”=200’


53

RIBAUT ROAD CORRIDOR
BO NEW
UN CITY
DA HALL
The Ribaut Road Corridor begins at the new City Hall RY
ST
building to the north and connects to the Town of Port RE
ET
Royal in the south. It is one of the most heavily traveled
corridors in Beaufort and supports major institutions like
Beaufort Memorial Hospital and the Technical College
of the Lowcountry. For most of its length, the corridor
contains four travel lanes, two in each direction, and
a center turn lane. Reconfiguring Ribaut Road north
of Duke Street allows on-street parking to support
denser town center development as well as continued
redevelopment of the County Government Campus.

R I BAU T ROA D
South of Duke Street, residential-scaled infill will
incrementally add home offices, neighborhood services,
and a greater density of dwelling units.

The corner of Ribaut and Bay Street will be redeveloped
as a major gateway into downtown Beaufort, marked COUNTY
GOVERNMENT
by planted medians, crosswalks in an alternative paving COMPLEX
treatment, wayfinding signage, and a banner stand that
will advertise community events (see plan on following
page).

R I BAU T ROA D C O R R I D O R C O N C E P T UA L
PLAN
NOT TO SCALE

Civic Master Plan


R I BAU T ROA D S T R E ET S E C T I O N S


55

Marsh Road Improvements
B OU
A road diet along Ribaut Road north of Duke NDA
Street is needed to encourage pedestrian activity RY S
T REE
to support the planned town center development T
and continuted redevelopment of the County

ROAD
Government Campus. This road diet would
include closing two travel lanes of Ribaut Road
in order to provide parking. In order to close the

MAR SH
travel lanes, alternative access must be provided
between Duke Street and Boundary Street. To
provide this access, Marsh Road will be improved
and extended to connect to Ribaut Road at Prince
Street. This will allow adequate access and traffic
flow from Ribaut Road to Boundary Street.

RIBAU T ROAD

DUKE ST.

PRINCE ST.

Civic Master Plan


G5 RESIDENTIAL STREET SECTION (PIGEON P OINT AREA)


57

G3 RESIDENTIAL STREET SECTION (DUKE STREET )

Civic Master Plan


N AT U R A L I N F R A S T R U C T U R E & PA R K S
GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE these streetscape improvements will also provide
stormwater filtration on site and more effectively direct
The City of Beaufort is rich with natural beauty. the overflow water into the downtown system.
Places including Waterfront Park and the many pocket
parks connect residents and visitors to nature as they Improvements to Existing Open Space
experience the downtown and Bay Street. It is common The Civic Master Plan also upgrades several areas of
to see visitors strolling along Bay Street, enjoying existing open space. Basil Green Park north of Boundary
the view of the marsh and the enormous live oak Street and Washington Street Square Park south of
trees. These natural features are just one component Boundary Street include enhancements that will benefit
of a critical linked network of open space and natural the surrounding neighborhoods, while also connecting
infrastructure in Downtown Beaufort. Through the into the greater system of open space and infrastructure.
Civic Master Plan the City of Beaufort will build on Both parks are ideal locations for new intermediary
the existing natural infrastructure by enhancing and stormwater runoff measures including rain gardens, bio-
connecting the open space to not only aesthetically retention swales and retention hollows.
improve the area, but to also improve drainage and
stormwater management in downtown. Natural Infrastructure System
Creating opportunities for open space and natural The Civic Master Plan connects the existing natural
infrastructure is a multi-pronged approach with a infrastructure in downtown Beaufort through streetscape
variety of techniques. Each technique used in the natural improvements, stormwater management enhancements,
infrastructure plan is outlined below and highlighted on and new investment in existing open space. Each part
the plan at right. of the plan represents an integral stage in improving the
quality of the built and natural environment.

Streetscape Improvements
Ribaut Road, Bladen Street and Charles Street are
the north-south connections south of Boundary Street
to the river. Each of these streets will have enhanced
streetscapes with street trees, sidewalks, and on-street
parking. The improvements help to mitigate runoff
issues by incorporating tree planting wells that collect,
filter and drain water to the greater stormwater system.
East-west connections north of Boundary Street on Park
Avenue also integrate streetscape enhancements with
stormwater management improvements in Pigeon Point.
For example, a planting strip and pervious parking areas
will filter water before it enters the piping system and
then efficiently channel overflow water into the greater
stormwater management system.

Other street improvements north of Boundary Street on
Pigeon Point Road, Sycamore Street, Lafayette Street,
and Rodgers Street include the addition of street trees,
pervious opportunistic parking and a sidewalk on one
side of the street. To improve stormwater management


59

PROP OSED GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE

Civic Master Plan

Chapter 3 | Section 3 | Natural Infrastructure & Parks

EXTENSION of WATERFRONT PARK Waterfront Park provides a pedestrian amenity that
recognizes and celebrates the significance of the
Waterfront Park is a spectacular public amenity that Beaufort River to the city, in an appropriately low-
draws locals and tourists alike to downtown Beaufort. impact fashion. This boardwalk preserves the natural
However, to the west along the Bluff is an underutilized setting of the Bluff and is also is a key component in the
asset that has the unrealized potential to be a truly great development of a regional parks and greenway system.
public space.

Beaufort’s waterfront is a tangible part of the city’s
history and identity. With a waterfront park extension,
there will is a logical connection from the existing
Waterfront Park to The Bluff. A simple boardwalk EXISTING
extending along the river’s edge to the west of

C O N C E P T U A L I L L U S T R AT I O N o f B O A R D WA L K a l o n g t h e M A R S H
(Looking east toward downtown)


61

BLADEN
N O RT H S T R E ET

C A RT E R ET S T R E ET
CHARLES STREET
BA
Y S
TR
EE
T
D
T ROA
R I BAU

E X T E N S I O N o f WAT E R F R O N T P A R K C O N C E P T U A L P L A N
NOT TO SCALE

Courthouse Sidewalk Travel Travel Parallel
Lane Lane Parking

Naturalized
Bluff

Low Impact
Gravel Trail
with Retaining
Wetland
Wall

B O A R D WA L K A L O N G T H E M A R S H

Civic Master Plan


All Baseball Fields at
Standard Pony Sizes

New Soccer Field
(180’x300’)

New Pavilions

New Park Entrance &
Dropoff

Playground

Reconfigured
Godfrey Street

Existing Stormwater
Retention Parcel

Pervious Parking
Summary
Layfayette St. (34 spots)
14 parallel
20 head-in
Rodgers Ave. (48 spots)
22 parallel
26 angled
Nairne St. (62 spots)
All head-in
Godfrey St. (79 spots
N All head-in
Entrance (108 spots)
All angled

TOTAL: 331 spots

B A S I L G R E E N PA R K C O N C E P T UA L P L A N
NOT TO SCALE


63

BASIL GREEN PARK COMMUNITY GARDENS

Basil Green Park, located in the Pigeon Point At the scale of the block, the natural infrastructure
neighborhood, is one of the most popular and frequently plan includes incremental agriculture opportunities.
used parks in Beaufort. Many sports teams play in the These community gardens provide open space for the
park on the weekends and several nights a week during neighborhood, as well as opportunities for residents to
spring, summer, and fall. In recent years, parking has grow their own food. The gardens can also be integrated
become a problem. The proposed plan (see previous into the stormwater management system to fill cisterns
page) shows how the parking can be reorganized to for watering the growing plants.
handle large crowds. It is also recommended that the
fields be reoriented to create new pavilions and an entry
drop-off point.

P O T E N T I A L L O C AT I O N S f o r C O M M U N I T Y G A R D E N S

Civic Master Plan


WASHINGTON SQUARE PARK support both active and passive recreational uses with
a basketball court, a tennis court, an amphitheater, and
Washington Square Park is an important neighborhood an open lawn for common activities. The basketball and
gathering place for local residents in the Northwest tennis courts will be located so as not to disrupt adjacent
Quadrant. The park’s facilities are dated and in need homes. The plan described and shown here carefully
of improvement. New picnic shelters and restrooms considers the requests made by neighborhood residents.
mark the corners of the park. Play equipment is located
near the structures for easy child supervision. Some of
the play equipment is preserved as it dates back to the
original construction of the park and holds historical
significance to local community members. The park will

GREENE STREET

New Equipment
Shed

New Basketball
NEWCA ST LE ST REET

CHARLES STREET Court

Mixed-use Infill

New Volleyball Area

New Amphitheater

New Pavilion

Historic Swing Set

New Restroom

WA S H I N G T O N S T R E E T

N

WA S H I N G T O N S Q U A R E P A R K C O N C E P T U A L R E D E V E L O P M E N T P L A N
NOT TO SCALE


65

RIBAU T ROAD
Planted Median

Open Air
Pavillion
Grass Swales

Rain Garden
Fitness Loop
Underneath Community Banners
Mature Trees

lk
s wa
ros
dC
nce ET
ha E
En S TR
Y
BA

C O N C E P T U A L L A N D S C A P E P L A N f o r C O R N E R O F R I B A U T R O A D a n d B AY S T R E E T
NOT TO SCALE

BANNER AREA ture trees will be preserved and a pervious fitness loop
will provide recreation opportunities to residents. Both
The intersection of Ribaut Road and Bay Street is corners employ strategic stormwater management tools
the gateway to downtown Beaufort for the majority such as grass swales and rain gardens to treat and filter
of residents and tourists. The northeast corner of the the runoff from Ribaut Road and the areas north of Bay
intersection owned by the Beaufort Open Land Trust is Street.
currently the location used to hang banners announcing
upcoming festivals and events in the town. The gateway The improved gateway and banner location to Beaufort
is now only marked with these informal banners, miss- is further complimented by the streetscape improve-
ing an opportunity to welcome visitors and residents to ments on Ribaut Road that include traffic calming the
the historic waterfront in Beaufort. The Civic Master street from four lanes to two lanes, adding a bike lane
Plan will reinstate this corner as a prominent entrance in each direction, enhanced crosswalks, and new street
to downtown Beaufort. The plan includes a designated trees. The result of these upgrades is a sense of arrival to
location for community banners and a pocket park on downtown Beaufort and a unique opportunity for both
the northeast corner. On the northwest corner the ma- active and passive users.

Civic Master Plan


B A Y S T R E E T a n d t h e WAT E R F R O N T
BAY STREET

The Bay Street and Waterfront Park are the city’s
most recognizable assets. The unique identity and
public amenities combine to create a special sense of
place that permeates the entire city. Unfortunately, the
activity in this area is currently limited in terms of both
geography and diversity. With the changes proposed in
this plan, downtown can be transformed into an even
more memorable and appealing district with resourceful
planning and implementation.

In terms of geography, what most people consider to
be downtown Beaufort is limited to the three blocks of
Bay Street from Charles to Carteret Streets. To become
a unified district, the perception of downtown Beaufort
needs to expand beyond its Bay Street core and develop
a vibrancy of activity that connects to other parts of the
B AY S T R E E T S T U D Y A R E A
city.

C R AV E N S T R E E T
WEST STREET

PARKING
CHARLES STREET

GARAGE

C A RT E R ET S T R E ET
P O RT R E P U B L I C S T R E ET
SCOTT STREET

B AY
STR
EET
MARINA

N

PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT for DOWNTOWN
NOT TO SCALE


67

B AY S T R E E T

PROPOSED MARINA REDEVELOPMENT

BA
In terms of diversity, Downtown Beaufort is an almost Y
exclusively tourist-driven market, with little commercial ST
R
provision for the everyday needs of residents. To become EE
T
an authentic place, Downtown Beaufort needs to foster
and develop an identity and diversity of function beyond
tourist shops and carriage tours.

Four major projects are identified in Downtown Beaufort
to help the area overcome its narrow geography and lack
of diversity: the Marina redevelopment, a Port Republic
Street parking garage and commercial infill strategy, an
extension of Waterfront Park along the Bluff, and the
Whitehall Plantation property development.

Marina Redevelopment

The most underutilized space in downtown is the Marina
N
parking lot. This approximately three-acre asphalt lot
is an unfitting use of a prime location in the middle of
C O N C E P T UA L P L A N f or tha M A R I NA
SCALE: 1”= 200’

Civic Master Plan

Civic masterplan sector1-volume1

Civic masterplan sector1-volume1

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