Roswell Council Sees Final Proposed Plans for City's Historic Gateway

got a first look at its consultant's final plans for the historic gateway during a work session Monday, July 23.

Commissioned by the city to study the historic gateway area of Roswell, Duany Plater-Zyberk & Company (DPZ) Senior Project Manager Scott Ball shared the company's master plan, which has come out of months of analysis and public input workshops. The plan includes direction for better connection and correlation between what are now seemingly separate sections of Roswell's historic district along Highway 9. DPZ believes a fully integrated historic district - encouraging sustainability and growth of the revitalization that's happened along Canton Street - will be achieved through a focus on three distinct areas: a new civic square, the repositioning of the town center square and a new Allenbrook Center.

The consultant company suggested that the city look into possibly creating a new civic square, which would serve as an intermediary space between Roswell City Hall and Canton Street. Several new buildings are part of the design, as is the expansion of the parking lot on the Webb Street Extension. The design would also set up a new multi-option flow of traffic into the historic gateway (See attached illustrations).

Further down the road, DPZ suggests "repositioning" the town center square. Though the square would actually stay where it is currently, new development could be added throughout the surrounding area that stays in line with the historic feel of the area and gives it better accessibility, and therefore, usability. They also propose doing the same near the Allenbrook house, close to where the Roswell's historic gateway begins at the intersection of Riverside Road and Azalea Drive. (See attached illustrations).

Consultants are working with city staff and the Historic Preservation Commission on how Roswell could go about implementing the study's proposed plans. A final will be held Wednesday, July 25 at Roswell City Hall in room 220 from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. For more information about the city’s Historic Gateway Study and Transportation project, visit the city's website.