Columbia Avenue Wins Heritage Award
August 18, 2011
The Heritage Foundation of Franklin and Williamson County, Tennessee, has distinguished the Columbia Avenue Streetscape Project and EG&G, Inc. with its Preservation Award for Architectural Heritage.
The City of Franklin is a picturesque and historic town located approximately 25 miles south of Nashville, Tennessee. Franklin has for years marketed itself as having uniquely attractive and welcoming neighborhoods and downtown district. However, the market appeal and image of Franklin had in fact been weakened by the worn-out physical condition of Columbia Avenue; a mixed-use, twentieth-century commercial corridor that serves as a gateway to the community. The deteriorating curbs and sidewalks; inadequate handicap accessibility; clutter of overhead wires; inadequate street lighting; lack of coordinated signage, furnishings and landscaping; and the overall blighted image of the public street right-of-way and adjoining property frontage communicated a negative image of the corridor and the community.
The City of Franklin leadership, business owners, and citizens responded to the situation by partnering on a plan to implement comprehensive streetscape improvements and enhancements along the Columbia Avenue corridor. A Steering Committee of public and private sector leaders and citizens was formed to oversee the project. The City of Franklin engaged EG&G, Inc. to work with stakeholders to plan, design and oversee construction of the Columbia Avenue streetscape project.
The project designed and constructed 3,000 linear feet of comprehensive scenic, environmental, and transportation related streetscape improvements and enhancements within the public right-of-way as well as within private property frontage along the corridor to create a "Great Street"; one that is pedestrian-oriented, attractive, welcoming, and ultimately supportive of enhanced quality of life and economic development for the community.