Canter Group Planning & Design Blog

  This local landscape strip in the parking area exhibits several flaws.  The area is too narrow for the selected tree species (Live Oak) The topsoil within the planting area has been eroded away either by foot traffic or rainfall, or both There is no mulch around the tree to aid in moisture retention. It is possible that the soil is so compacted that the roots must surface to get the oxygen needed to survive. A path is not provided between areas separated by the landscape strip, making traversing an area like this, with exposed roots, hazardous to pedestrians.  A mitigating feature is that the planting strip is, placed at a 90 degree agnle with reference to the store entry so that pedestrians are not forced to cross the strip in order to reach the front entry. Some Suggested Design Considerations Ensure the species of tree is well suited at maturity for the space provided.  Know the characteristics of the development of the root system. At ...

Utility Screen after about 1.5 years

While finishing a recent project, we received a request from Tallahassee Growth Management to consider screening the required fire apparatus and backflow preventers from drivers on the adjacent roadway.  The challenge was to find a way to make these less noticeable and still maintain the required 7-foot clearance around the equipment. BEFORE   We decided to camouflage the backflow preventer by approximating the background color of the landscaping behind the units, and block the view to traffic with landscaping.       We photographed the surrounding installed landscaping, then use Adobe Illustrator to match the average color with Pantone color chips.  The result was presented to the Owner for approval.      Covers for the irrigation and potable water backflow preventers were added.  As in many construction projects, the instructions were "creatively" interpreted by the ones doing the ...

 This famous Bread Company is located on a major roadway in St. Petersburg, Florida.  It’s close to mid-day.  Can you tell if it’s open for business? This structure meets most of the parameters for situation according to Form Based Codes:  It addresses the street with the front of the building pushed as close as possible to roadway, still allowing for a sidewalk in front; Parking is located at the rear and is accessed by an alley on the corner and by a small drive/roadway along the rear.  The building façade includes windows along the front, so there is no bare wall. But it looks lifeless.   At the driveway / alley looking across the front. At the driveway /alley, looking the other way. It looks forced and pretentious. Notice the backflow preventers out front. At the front… At the front…apparently no signs allowed. Not even way-finding.  Below is a view across the street, with more of the same...  Sunken Gardens...

I grew up in a small town outside of Nashville Tennessee. Since it was the County Seat, the courthouse was, like in many small towns, located on a square in the center of town. On many mornings, you could find the city elders (not the politicians) sitting together on benches outside the courthouse with pocketknives, blocks of pine and the problems of the world to solve. I suppose each shaving cut from the pine carried with it, as it fell, a part of whatever problem that was being discussed, until there was nothing but the pile left at the men’s feet. Whether it just became impractical, or was finally prevented by some city ordinance, the elders stopped meeting there long ago. Although the meeting place has changed to a local fast-food restaurant, there are still elders meeting nearly every morning discussing the news and issues of the day; and a new batch of young guys (in their 60’s) constantly filling the places of those who are gone. My Dad, now in his eighties, has met with these...

  The following was a short discussion on Linked In "The creation of community --fundamentally based on the relations between people -- is largely beyond the reach of government... and the sooner we understand that the better. Otherwise we'll wait a long time for government (or any other large organization, for that matter) to build urban villages, and then they may be named Potemkin."--David Sucher in "City Comforts. How To Build An Urban Village" A fine book, full of great photos and suggestions. I've found that illustrations are some of the greatest tools in working with clients to see possibilities and consider options beyond their current experience...and they often work far better than the regulatory hammer Pete Pointner FAICP, ALA, ITE • Jim, Government controls land use; the type, pattern, density, quality and timing of development. Not all governments want to exercise their authority or do so badly, agreed. But are you saying that the physic...

Just after Christmas this year, I drove from Tallahassee to my hometown, Gallatin. I was surprised to see that the small square had been renovated. Huge Bradford pear trees that had obscured the art deco style courthouse had been replaced with Eastern Redbud trees and (what appeared to be) East Palatka Holly. In addition, the streetscape had been significantly altered to provide widened sidewalks, mid-block crossings, improved parallel parking, etc. I was able to meet with Jim Svoboda, the Community Development Coordinator for Gallatin to find out more. In a time when these types of changes to downtowns may be seen as just more government social engineering, it looks like this town got it right from the beginning.

First 3 Photos : These formless and sometimes blighted sites, located on North Monroe Street, not far from the Capitol Complex, have remained unchanged for several decades.     Photo 4: It’s unclear whether or not this unkempt post and chain barricade (foreground) located at the front of the State Capitol serves any purpose. The public sidewalks lie on the other side of the barricades (mid-ground in photo).

Seen some great ideas? Contact us. If we agree, we'll post them here and credit you with the find! It's always good to have a rainbow at the entrance to the City. Lakeside Bat "roost" for mosquito control Water feature installed in landscape area at drive- thru restaurant A deck constructed around this office building side door stoop converts wasted area into a sunny break area. Gazebo style covered bus stop at apartment entrance Stormwater facility wall constructed of stone instead of concrete or concrete block Restaurant patio overlooks landscaped stormwater facility. Floodplain volume accounted for beneath the building. Note columns softened by climbing vines.

(Click on photos to enlarge) Sadly, this cross walk apparently met local codes for providing pedestrian access from the frontage. Directional arrows point both ways: White to the left; yellow to the right, around to the drive-through window and by-pass aisle. Landscaping boulder installed near H/C curb cut ramp Bicycle chained to H/C sign (no bike parking available) Note the raised concrete behind the H/C aisle on the left. Live Oaks planted in small planters in this shopping center parking lot This Live Oak planted about 10 feet from a building edge. This newly constructed shopping center parking lot has planter sized islands in the center of the asphalt parking bays. Why plant this? Sidewalk interruptus

Shaker Heights, Ohio has embarked on a 5-10 year plan to change the 60-acre commercial district located at the intersection of Warrensville and Van Aken into a district with a mixture of apartments, retail and offices, recreation amenities and a transit hub that includes light rail. A summary of the plan and rationale may be found here-- http://www.shakeronline.com/dept/planning/ShakerMakeover.asp#thinkbig A copy of the final report may be found here-- http://www.shakeronline.com/Media/PDFs/Uploader/71820081132432-FinalReport.pdf