VISION
The Center Street Marketplace is an attractive and vital pedestrian space serving as a destination that enhances the commercial downtown and the City as a whole.
THE CENTER STREET MARKETPLACE ENVIRONS
This plaza, in the heart of downtown Rutland, is surrounded by historic buildings housing a mixture of public and private uses. The plaza is the backyard for the Bardwell House (75 units of housing to elderly and disabled residents), the Paramount Theater (downtown’s gem), the Rutland Natural Food Coop (whose business is growing despite the economic downturn), the Winter Farmers Market (Vermont’s only year-round market), and the Service Building (downtown Rutland’s historic skyscraper). The surrounding buildings create a well-defined boundary around the space that gives it a special feeling not found in many other spaces within Vermont.
GOALS
- Create a vibrant public gathering space - a destination that attracts people into downtown Rutland to experience community and engage in commerce.
- Demonstrate that a small rural downtown can redefine itself in the face of increasing competition from commercial development on the outskirts of town.
PHASE I – RECONSTRUCTION OF THE SPACE
The first phase involves complete renovation of the surface of the plaza. This will create a completely functional space that: (1) removes the hiding spots that foster illegitimate activity, (2) creates a much safer pedestrian space, (3) constructs a space suitable for public events, (4) fixes the problematic stormwater system, (5) improves the ability for fire response vehicles and delivery trucks to function, and (6) demonstrates the public commitment to this project, thereby spurring the private investment that is vital to its success.
This phase includes:
- Remove existing features which create hiding spots and/or are in disrepair,
- Level the grade of the space to improve its function for public events and to remove obstacles to full access for people with disabilities,
- Re-establish a subgrade and surface that supports expected activity (including some truck traffic for deliveries etc.),
- Construct an underground room for utilities and for storage space for event equipment,
- Install vastly improved sewer and stormwater system, including features which represent best practices for dealing with stormwater
During the design process extensive public input was solicited from key stakeholders and the public at-large. The resulting concepts are reflective of that input and are widely supported, including by all of the surrounding building owners and City officials. In addition, relevant utility companies were consulted and review of the designs were done by those parties to incorporate their needs in this process. Finally, the design consultants, Stantec Inc., used their in-house engineers to do preliminary work and to provide the cost estimates.
PHASE II – CREATING THE PLACE
The second phase of this project involves creating the amenities and features that will make this space a destination.
KEY ELEMENTS OF PHASE II
- Attractive and comfortable public gathering space
- Alteration of surrounding buildings to introduce supportive commercial activity onto the space
- Incorporation of the best available technology infrastructure
- Prominent entrances that announce the presence of the space to passers-by
- Direct connection to the main downtown commercial blocks of Center Street and Merchants Row
- Flexibly designed space that allows for a range of activities and programs
- Control the space via aesthetic, yet functional, gates
- Innovative stormwater features such as rain gardens and an underground stormwater detention chamber
- Introduction of a major water feature to add ambience
- Incorporation of public art installations
PROJECTED IMPACT
This project will serve the entire region (approx. 65,000 people). Construction jobs will be created during Phase I and II and new commercial activity upon completion. Phase I will stimulate an additional $1.1M investment in the public portion of this space as well as an estimated $3M in private investment in the surrounding buildings. The Rutland Redevelopment Authority estimates that this private investment will result in a $4.5M increase in the assessed values of the surrounding properties, resulting in a subsequent increase in the level of property taxes collected.
COMMUNITY SUPPORT
This project enjoys strong community support as the idea itself grew out of a very visible public planning process known locally as the Rutland Creative Economy Initiative. In addition, during the design process the public was engaged, including a stakeholders’ group of the surrounding building owners and businesses that was involved in shaping the final designs of the space.
Public entities supportive of this project include: Rutland Redevelopment Authority, Downtown Rutland Partnership, Rutland Mayor’s Office, City of Rutland Parks and Recreation Department and Public Works Department, the Rutland Regional Planning Commission, and the Paramount Theater.
The design concepts for this space received a Vermont Public Space Award in February 2009.
