Public Invited to Workshop on Downtown Design Standards
Some imagined downtown buildings in the downtown design survey. Photo: amherstma.gov
Source: amherstma.gov
The Town of Amherst invites the community to participate in a workshop and survey to share input that will inform the streetscape design of downtown Amherst. The town is updating its Downtown Design Standards that will guide how our streetscapes and private properties in the downtown area look and feel in the future. The town wants to ensure these standards reflect the needs and aspirations of everyone who lives, works, and spends time downtown.
In September, workshops centered on defining a cohesive vision for the downtown area and gathering community input on building design preferences. The next focus is on crafting standards for a vibrant, welcoming, and comfortable streetscape. The town invites community members to participate in two ways:
Streetscape Workshop
Monday, December 9, 2024 at 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Town Room of Town Hall (4 Boltwood Ave.)
The Streetscape Workshop will be an interactive session where participants help shape the future streetscape design standards for downtown Amherst. Attendees will explore design alternatives for our public spaces, including sidewalk paving, benches, bike racks, lighting, signage, outdoor dining areas, parklets, and more. This event will be facilitated by the town’s design and planning consultant for the project, Dodson & Flinker Landscape Architecture & Planning. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend.
Streetscape Survey
The town encourages the community to share their vision for Amherst’s streetscape by completing the second and final Visual Preference Survey. The survey shows examples of streetscapes from other communities and asks participants to rate whether they would be appropriate in Downtown Amherst. It will take about 3-5 minutes to complete and is highly visual. The survey is open through Sunday, December 22, 2024. Complete the survey here: www.bit.ly/AmherstStreetscapeSurvey
Learn more about this Amherst Downtown Design Standards project at amherstma.gov/downtowndesign