A Philadelphia-based firm that specializes in planning, urban design, architecture and landscape architecture was in Danville this week to begin gathering information that will help it determine how to best transform the former Schoolfield industrial site into a new mixed-use campus.
The planning process will take place over a 13-month period.
"This week, the focus was on gathering as much information as possible about the site, as well as having conversations with the community," said Corrie Teague Bobe, interim director of the Danville Office of Economic Development.
The Danville Office of Economic Development and the Industrial Development Authority of Danville contracted with WRT LLC for the purpose of creating a master plan. The scope of the contract includes the following:
- public engagement and stakeholder interviews
- existing conditions report
- supply and demand report
- issues and opportunities report
- branding, communications, and marketing guidelines
- wayfinding and environmental graphics guidelines
- financial incentives memo
- order of magnitude for costs
- implementation strategy matrix
- final master plan (including height and density, proposed zoning, circulation and connectivity, environmental, open spaces, aesthetics and character, loading and service, parking, catalyst sites, major amenities, etc.)
This week, WRT team members explored the area, held stakeholder interviews, and held a community meet-and-greet. The purpose of this public meeting was to introduce the WRT team to the community and review steps within the planning process.
WRT is breaking up the process into different stages: evaluation, presentation of findings, and development of the master plan.
There won’t be any changes to the area anytime soon.
"Not in the immediate future. The plans will need to be developed. The infrastructure needs to be assessed. prior to development taking place," said Bobe.