Newsletter of the College of Architecture at Texas A&M University
Five graduate students at Texas A&M spent their summer providing the city of Bellville, Texas, with a comprehensive master plan for a downtown revitalization.
"The future holds great promise for this little town, with its abundance of natural resources, a small community of people and most importantly, a wealth of open spaces to manage and develop wisely," said the studio leader, Jon Rodiek, a professor of landscape architecture. Bellville, which had 4,494 residents in 2009, is located approximately 63 miles northwest of Houston on State Highway 36.
With a grant from the city's economic development corporation, the students, in a 123-page final report, proposed guidelines for revitalization in 12 areas: street improvements to accommodate all types of vehicles, building facades, bicycle lanes, pedestrian paths, natural landscaping, artwork, shade structures, signage, parking, lighting, seating and drainage.
They formulated the project guidelines after several preparatory phases.
First, they conducted spatial, architectural and plant life surveys of the site and its surrounding areas, and prepared base maps and printouts. Then they analyzed needs for the 12 previously mentioned areas, performed photo surveys and prepared more base maps.
After creating design guidelines, students met with Bellville's economic development corporation representatives for a preliminary review, then used the input to create their final report, which they presented August 23 in Bellville.
Master of Landscape Architecture students Samantha Giordano, John Martineau, Izel Medina, Wei-Li Lai and Yixiaio Liu and Urban and Regional Science Ph.D. student Tsung-Pei Cheng prepared the plan, which is available at the Bellville Economic Development Corporation's website: www.bellvilleedc.com/BEDC-Revitalization.htm.
- Posted: Oct. 22, 2010 -
Contact: Phillip Rollfing, prollfing@archone.tamu.edu or 979.458.0442.
