Landscape Architect Articles

Landcaster City, Pa. Seeks Continuity12-27-07 | News

Landcaster City, Pa. Seeks Continuity

Some Lancaster, Pa. city officials would like to see more brick banding for their city, like this strip along North Prince Street in front of Clipper Magazine Stadium. Photo: Marty Heisey/New Era

The brick band on the walkway at Clipper Magazine Stadium in Lancaster City, Pa. may soon be the city standard. The herringbone brick pattern is recommended in the city’s streetscape design guidelines and could be adopted by the city as law in February or March 2008.

The three-year old guidelines “seek to reinforce a sense of place and economic vitality, and to promote visual continuity” in the downtown area and along the major arteries into the city center. The standards would impose a uniform appearance for the city’s sidewalks, crosswalks and public spaces between building facades and curbs. It would also require public benches, street trees, fences and planters.

The city?EUR??,,????'???s hardscape is now a hodgepodge of brick and stamped concrete. If the standard passes, it would require property owners near the city’s center to install red brick pavers in a 30 to 48-inch wide strip of a designated color when they make exterior property improvements. The estimated cost to install the brick is about $12 per sq. ft.