A wide variety of low impact development tools were employed together to create a unique urban scale green solution. Techniques include street front mixed use redevelopment, pedestrian connectivity, permeable paving, street narrowing and traffic calming, curb line landscape infiltration basins, bio-swales, elevated roof drain planter boxes, rain gardens and a green gutter. Simple solutions took precedence over the complicated or experimental. “We employed a deliberate “low tech” approach that resulted in the minimization of hard infrastructure and the maximization of green infrastructure.” emphasized Tom Levin of Ekistics.
The 5th Street project is intended as a redevelopment model for both public streets and private lands within this highly urbanized watershed. The CRA is currently implementing an incentive based program for downtown businesses to employ improvements that enhance economic development and environmental quality in the Redevelopment Area. Local stakeholders have been involved and support this project including the Mayor Shirley Bryant, City Commissioners, CRA, Planning and Zoning and Public Works. This project was conceived and funded through a cooperative effort between the City of Palmetto Community Redevelopment Agency and the Southwest Florida Water Management District. There is great potential to influence other urban areas that have difficulty improving storm water in the process of promoting redevelopment.
© 2012 Ekistics Design Studio, Inc.. All rights reserved.
Press Release for Palmetto CRA Streetscape Pilot Project The City of Palmetto is implementing a comprehensive urban scale “green street” pilot program – a first for a downtown redevelopment area in Florida. The area is rapidly transforming from asphalt to … Continue reading
© 2012 Ekistics Design Studio, Inc.. All rights reserved.
Gymnastics Center and Skate Park The New Tampa Recreation Center was developed as part of the New Tampa Community Park in the City of Tampa. Working with Fleischman Garcia Architects, Ekistics Design Studio was responsible for the environmentally sensitive site … Continue reading
© 2012 Ekistics Design Studio, Inc.. All rights reserved.
Ekistics Design Studio developed a master plan for the proposed Pasco County campus that incorporates green technologies and low impact development approaches to guide site development of the project. Continue reading
© 2012 Ekistics Design Studio, Inc.. All rights reserved.
Ekistics Design Studio was retained to design a swimming pool environment themed on a tropical jungle river and cascading waterfalls. The pool includes a swim up bar, lazy river, tube slide, rope bridge, walk-thru and swim-thru caves, a cascading hot spring spa and beach/sunshelf entry Continue reading
© 2012 Ekistics Design Studio, Inc.. All rights reserved.
Ekistics was responsible for trailhead and trailstop site design as well as signage and amenity features. The design for Channel Park Trailhead involved an ecological reconstruction of the canal bank and development of recreation park facilities. Ekistics was also retained to retrofit Phase I and Phase III to be compatible with Phase II design criteria and was involved in the Neighborhood Connections and Bridges project. Continue reading
© 2012 Ekistics Design Studio, Inc.. All rights reserved.
Ekistics Design Studio teamed with local architects Ugarte and Associates to develop a plan focused on unique local community issues and to apply a “green streets” approach to an urban Community Redevelopment Area. Continue reading
© 2012 Ekistics Design Studio, Inc.. All rights reserved.
Ekistics Design Studio, Inc. was the project landscape architect participating with several design teams for miscellaneous new construction or renovation projects in recent years. This work included exterior site improvements at Airside F, Long term Parking Garage, Rent-a-Car Plaza, and the new K-9 Facility Continue reading
Stormwater is an integral part of urban hydrology and hence part of the urban ecology. New approaches to solving stormwater issues do not necessarily need to sacrifice additional land or result in unacceptable costs. Landscape areas provide numerous opportunities for … Continue reading
Open space plans are never stand-alone projects. Whether part of an overall development plan or as part of public space, these projects require a thoughtful response to existing conditions and program goals. Projects include: Pine Woods Interim Forestry Plan, Jacksonville … Continue reading
As agriculture becomes increasingly dominated by industrialized farming, traditional farms and ranches are being marginalized. Rural lands need to be repurposed to have relevance as agricultural uses and that may include rural estates and hobby farms. The rise of community … Continue reading
Churches differ from commercial development in that they are usually both and owner/developer and a community of faith. Churches require a reverent approach that respects and includes elements of faith into the design of facilities. Phased development, consensus building and … Continue reading
Traditional concepts of human burial and cemeteries have been challenged by changing perceptions. Large impersonal cemeteries have lost their appeal and the concept of cremation is maturing with an increasing use of columbaria for cremated remains. Cemeteries and columbaria have … Continue reading