The attraction of Traditional Neighborhood Developments (TND) is the sense of community spirit that is fostered through effective streetscape design. When the elements of hardscape, landscape and signage are combined, they create a synergy?EUR??,,????'??+a force within the society. This synergy is what makes a community a great place to live. As social creatures, most people enjoy meeting their neighbors and frequenting businesses with familiar faces. Ideally, residents of a Traditional Neighborhood Development are compelled by design to join the activities surrounding the town center. Residents meander from the dry cleaners to the video store and stop for coffee after picking up today?EUR??,,????'???s copy of the paper from the bookshop. Later, they head out for a round of golf and then cool off with a dip in the pool?EUR??,,????'??+all the while chatting with neighbors and sharing news of the community. Such an environment has been created at West Park Village, a TND with multi-family and commercial built by Gables Residential and the most popular neighborhood in Westchase, a residential community created by Terrabrook in Tampa, Florida. Combining the convenience of today with architectural details of yesteryear, the homes in this 185-acre community offer front porches, tapered columns, gables and rear garages. Initially attracted by the hometown atmosphere of the architectural design, homebuyers are compelled to purchase by the accents created through effective use of streetscape. The charisma of small-town America is enhanced by the details found in West Park Village. Creating for Success With the advent of TNDs throughout the United States, landscape design professionals are creating complimentary environments that encourage the hometown feel expected by developers, builders and buyers. Basham Design Group successfully managed this process at West Park Village through substantial planning. Planning focused on continuing the theme developed by the architectural designers and developing significant overlap of mixed uses to result in the energetic activity of a close-knit community. ?EUR??,,????'??The most critical element of a TND is the Village Green,?EUR??,,????'?? said Paul Basham, president of Basham Design Group. ?EUR??,,????'??Ensuring a vibrant people place is the key to success in any project of this type.?EUR??,,????'?? Situating retail activity at the entryway of the Village Green encourages interaction between the activity of the Town Center and the calm environment of the Green itself. With residential apartments located above the shops, this area hums with activity. People are encouraged to intermingle with one another as they head out to walk their dogs, visit the shops or even step out to their cars. The Town Center begins the energetic process, drawing pedestrians from the retail area into the park-like setting of the Village Green. It is the overlap of divergent uses through effective use of streetscape design that has ensured the success at West Park Village. The Defining Pattern For TNDs Hardscape functions to define areas?EUR??,,????'??+areas for walking, driving, sitting, musing. The challenge in a mixed-use environment is to use hardscape for not only definition, but also integration. Carol Dodd, project manager/landscape designer with Basham Design Group and Paul Basham, succeeded in meeting this challenge through careful listening in multiple conversations with Brian Sewell from Terrabrook, the master developer, and Greg Iglehart from Gables Residential, the neighborhood builder. ?EUR??,,????'??We developed numerous areas to serve as focal points for the Village Green. These included several fountains?EUR??,,????'??+including an interactive one, a bell tower, a bandshell and a concert lawn,?EUR??,,????'?? said Dodd. Each of these elements draws people towards it, generating energy and creating people-friendly places. The multi-tiered fountain greets residents and visitors as they enter the paved plaza from the retail side. This inviting area is used for art festivals, social events and various neighborhood gatherings. The bell tower sets the stage for the Village Green. The architecture mirrors that of the nearby residential units with the pitch of its roof and brick detail. Used for community gatherings, the bell tower plays music and was enjoyed to its fullest potential this past holiday season. Set off by colored pavers, the bell tower attracts residents, shoppers and passers-by. An interactive fountain in the center of the Village Green allows for a full view of the bandshell and beckons people with its zero entry, cooling, spray jets, especially on hot, humid Florida afternoons. The bandshell is used to generate community activity. Concerts and other performances have excellent site lines due to the expansive lawn of the amphitheater seating. Keeping in mind the developers?EUR??,,????'??? desire for a pedestrian-friendly environment, Dodd designed sidewalks that complemented the plaza with striking pavers. Committed to the people-friendly environment, developers Iglehart and Sewell embraced the concept of attractive walkways. The pedestrian approach is noticeable throughout the Town Center. Attention to detail can be seen in the decorative planters and urns that adorn the retail spaces and walkways. Concern for a safe and appealing environment led to the use of decorative light poles?EUR??,,????'??+an economical and attractive solution to security issues. Extra features such as the information kiosk and telephone booth blend nicely with the theme of the project in a functional manner. Arched entryways define the residential courtyards, where decorative pavers encircle splashing fountains. Benches are found throughout the courtyards and on the Village Green to facilitate neighborly chats. Blending The Natural Environment Into People Places At West Park Village, the challenge was to create a significant green area in the midst of pedestrian and vehicular traffic. The area designed serves a connectivity role among the retail businesses, pedestrians, residents and automobile owners. The Village Green provides an aesthetic connection to the overall project. Users experience the tranquility of this pastoral setting as a contrast to the energy and excitement of the retail/sidewalk areas. Reminiscent of Central Park found in New York City, the Village Green is a calming place in the midst of much hustle and bustle. Throughout the project, Basham Design Group was dedicated to maintaining the integrity of this space. The length of the green draws people from the retail shops at the north end to the multi-tiered fountain towards the bell tower in the center to the Frisbee lawn, bandshell and concert lawns at the south end. The stately pattern of the picturesque Live Oaks outlines the green area, separating it from the roadway and physically defining its boundaries. Balanced with the Live and Laurel Oaks that serve as street trees, these accents enhance the feelings of security and community through their size and beauty. In addition, these trees bring the scale of the three-story buildings down to a comfortable level for pedestrians. ?EUR??,,????'??We needed high impact landscaping along the main street,?EUR??,,????'?? said Iglehart. ?EUR??,,????'??The trees chosen are native to the area and will perform well for decades. They will also grow into a beautiful canopy over time.?EUR??,,????'?? Continuing the design elements in a pedestrian-pleasing theme, Dodd used Medjool Date Palms to add height, majesty and upscale elegance to the bell tower area. These trees serve to define this concourse while extending the eye upward balancing the heights of the buildings and the bell tower. In contrast to the Medjools, Tuscarora and Muskogee Crape Myrtles offer dotted, accents of color throughout the Village Green, at the entrances to the residential courtyards and in the retail areas. These Southern favorites have a long, summer blooming period. The dark, coral pink flowers of the Tuscarora and the light lavender blooms of the Muskogee contrast nicely with the various shades of green found in the oaks, palms and grass of the Village Green. Each of the plants used in the palette was chosen for the design impact it would have on the overall scheme of the project. ?EUR??,,????'??As master developers, we were very pleased with the way Basham Design Group helped us convert from the master plan concepts to in-ground plantings. They were able to maintain the concept from design through plantings,?EUR??,,????'?? said Sewell. The pyramidal form and red berries of the Palatka Holly trees create a rhythm and repetition that visually follows the pattern defined by the brick pavers. The design of the Crape Myrtles is also used for rhythm and repetition, setting the boundary of the amphitheater lawn in an arched shape, once again distinguished by the pavers. Bradford Pears, which are deciduous, flowering trees, offer spring color throughout the project. Washingtonia Palms are used as tall, vertical accents. In the retail area, shrubs keep the design scale at street level for the milling pedestrians. Red Ruffle Azaleas add color. Sago Palms add texture and are drought tolerant, an important consideration for this area. Ligustrum is a fast-growing plant used for foundation plantings. Fatsia, Dwarf Burfordi, Pygmy Date Palms and Indian Hawthorne round out the selection. Ground covers in the retail area include Junipers for their texture, Yellowsage and annuals for color and Giant Mondo Grass for a contrast in texture. The residential courtyards used many of these plants for integrity in consistency while adding additional shrubs and ground covers for a bit of individuality. Additional shrubs include two varieties of Viburnum, and Variegated Pittosporum. Heavenly Bamboo was chosen for its fine, lacy foliage. Accents of color come from Dwarf Oleander and Philodendrons. Day lilies and irises add an upscale touch to the interiors of the courtyards. The design team was able to make use of a limited, yet focused, plant pallet using plants readily available in the area. ?EUR??,,????'??The effective use of design, plant selection and groupings has resulted in a project with strong aesthetics, but cost-effective maintenance,?EUR??,,????'?? said Iglehart. Adding The Final Touch To complete the overall streetscape package, the team focused great detail on the accompanying signage throughout the project. Each of the signs reflects the simplicity of the Village Green and the details of the street and retail areas. In keeping with the theme, all of the signs had a classic, traditional look. The simplicity is reflected in the traditional black, wrought iron appearance and gold finials. The detail is readily apparent in the scrolled faux iron and logos. Each of the residential courtyards has the name of its park within a welcoming arch above traditional, brick pillars. The decorative, scrolled wrought iron feature continues the level of detail found in every aspect of West Park Village. Retail signs were designed to complement the residential identifications. The consistent use of wrought iron and gold accents maintains the community theme in signage while allowing for a modicum of diversity. The success of the overall project was due to the foresight of the developer in working with a Landscape Architect. With this unique partnership, the team was able to add value to the project by enhancing the charm of small town America created by the architecture thus enhancing the initial vision of the developers and the master planners. This award-winning community is a shining example of the success that is created when Landscape Architects are an integral part of the design process. About the Author: Landscape Architect Chris Commins, ASLA, ASGCA is principal of Sunshine Design, a golf course design firm located in Fruit Cove, Florida and is associated with Basham Design Group in Jacksonville, Florida.