Agenda - Council - 12/14/2004 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Overview Buildings in the Mixed Use Core will play a major role in defining the overall character of the Town Center. The proposed mix of uses for this signature destination suggests the potential for a variety of building types, demanding creativity and innovation to highlight unique architecture, while knitting the entire sub-district together as a coherent whole. Overall · building design is an important consideration, but emphasis on first floor facade treatments is essential to encourage street-level activity and enhance the pedestrian experience. Architecture to be '4-sided' at all locations visible to public areas. Emphasis to be on great design along public street frontage. Architecture guidelines include the following: TCl Building Design, Character and Expression · Provide a variety of building types and styles, expressed both in large scale (overall building) and small scale (design details) · Emphasize transparency at street level to encourage two way viewing - both window shopping and 'eyes on the street' · Promote interesting, animated architectural features without being thematic or artificial - faux decorative elements are discouraged · Avoid large, unarticulated fa(~ades · Emphasize important intersections, and other nodes by placing' distinctive architectural elements or interesting la,jades at these prominent locations · Provide a variety of front elevations for rows of buildings along any given block TCl Scale, Proportion and Building Height · Provide a variety of building heights along any given.block, perhaps related to changes in use or at demising walls · Articulate front facades with projections and recesses · Encourage increased building h8ight, higher density and larger scale buildings adjacent to the Civic Square and Downtown Commons · Promote multiple stories as the norm in this sub-district, but occasional single story build, ings are acceptable; single story buildings should not dominate any street frontage and should be a minimum of 20 feet to the roofline TCl Street Presence · Emphasize pedestrian experience with architectural features at street level - canopies, decorative light fixtures andmaterial detail · Encourage variety of color, texture and materials to Complement Other streetscape elements · Conceal service entries, loading facilities and mechanical services fromview along public streets · Create a continuous building edge along street frontage, visually connecting adjacent buildings with complementaF fa(;ade treatments 16 Ramsey Town Center Development Guidelines