Transit-oriented design competition winners announced, competition featured in Urban Land Institute publication
“What should Smart Growth and transit-oriented development in Lee County look like?” That was the question raised through the “Creating Better Places” design competition, conducted by the Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council (SWFRPC) for Lee County in cooperation with the City of Fort Myers, Reconnecting Lee County, and Florida Gulf Coast University’s Center for Public and Social Policy. The competition is featured as an example of regional collaboration in “Connecting Florida: Transit + Florida’s Economy” an April 2010 report by the Urban Land Institute.
“We are challenging local citizens and design professionals to rethink sprawling development patterns and help visualize better prototypes for our future,” said Tammy Hall, Chair of the Lee County Board of County Commissioners, who presented the awards.
The following winners of the competition are as follows:
- Three awards went to Ensite Inc., Architecture Inc., and Element 3 Designworks (one team): First Place Overall Winner, Finance Professionals Panel Winner, and Design Professionals Panel Winner.
- Two awards went to Barraco & Associates, Inc.: Second Place Overall Winner and Citizens Panel Winner.
- One award, Third Place Overall Winner, went to Mitchell Austin, AICP.
Honorable Mention entries were submitted by Apple Seed Land Planning/Sean Smith; FGCU Students in the Center for Public and Social Policy program; Robert Andrys, architect; Seth Harry & Associates; and a team of Lee County Community Development staff.
Winners were recognized May 7, 2010 as part of the monthly Art Walk event in downtown Fort Myers River District, at an Awards Reception sponsored by Morris-Depew Associates, Henderson-Franklin, Wilbur Smith Associates, the Southwest Florida Branch-Florida Gulf Coast Chapter-U.S. Green Building Council, and the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center.
Lee County Commissioner Tammy Hall welcomed attendees and spoke about the importance of walkable, sustainable communities. SWFRPC Planning Director David Hutchinson thanked project and reception sponsors, contest entrants, judges and supporting organizations, and introduced the teams and individuals that submitted entries. Lee County Smart Growth Committee Co-chair Dr. Margaret Banyan made remarks regarding implementing transit oriented development. Retired Lee County Smart Growth director Wayne Daltry and Commissioner Hall presented the awards. Approximately 80 persons attended the awards reception, and hundreds of other Art Walk participants viewed the entries.
Eight teams and individuals submitted design-based entries for a specific site in the City of Fort Myers with access to potential light rail service, as well proximity to downtown and the Caloosahatchee River. Submittal requirements included a generalized site plan, illustrations showing the arrangement of buildings, and a narrative describing factors such as place-making, multi-modal transportation opportunities and encouragement of mixed-use development.
Submissions were reviewed and evaluated by 20 volunteer judges serving on three separate panels: a Citizen’s Panel, including representatives of several community organizations involved in the area of the site which served as the focus of the competition; Design Professionals Panel which included architects, planners, landscape architects and engineers representing local chapters of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), American Planning Association (APA), American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), and Florida Engineering Society (FES); and a Finance Professionals Panel including representatives of financial institutions and real estate professionals.
The competition compared transit-oriented designs for a specific site in the City of Fort Myers near Terry Park with access to potential light rail service. Transit-oriented developments are typically defined as higher density, mixed-use developments within walking distance – up to a half-mile – of existing or future transit stations. Transit-oriented design is about creating livable, sustainable communities with energy-efficient housing and transportation choices that reduce reliance on car trips and increase social interactions among residents.
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