Designforum Selected to Update and Modernize Master Plan for 2,800 Acre Brandermill Community
This is the first update to one of the country's first major mixed used planned communites since 1974. In 1977 Brandermill was named The Best Planned Community in the U.S. by National Association of Home Builders and Better Homes & Garden Magazine.
Richmond, VA, October 19, 2008 --(PR.com)-- Designforum, a landscape architecture firm specializing Urban Design and Town Planning has been selected to redefine the master plan for Brandermill, a 2,800 acre planned community in Chesterfield County, Virginia. Approved in 1974, Brandermill was the first large scale mixed-use community in the Metropolitan area and in 1977 was named The Best Planned Community in the U.S. by the National Association of Home Builders and Better Homes & Gardens Magazine. It will be the first time since the project's approval that the master plan, which sets guidelines for the future of the community, has been updated. The goal of the new master plan is to make the Brandermill community more livable, vibrant and exciting for its current residents while competing with new neighborhoods in Chesterfield County and the Richmond area.
According to designforum Principal Doug Cole, the Brandermill project is ideally aligned with the firm’s capabilities. “In creating the master plan, we will start with exploring what Brandermill residents want and what the community needs,” states Cole. “ Even though it may be difficult for newly developed communities to compete with Brandermill’s resort lifestyle and incredible amenities like the Swift Creek Reservoir [a 1,700 acre lake], over 20 miles of beautiful trails and the natural park-like roads with mature and native vegetation, the Brandermill Community Association (BCA) recognized the fact that people’s needs and expectations have changed from the time when Brandermill was first conceived. Just as a house needs updating from time to time, so does a community.”
The City of Richmond is going through a similar process with its downtown master plan.
In redefining the master plan, designforum will analyze the existing conditions to determine what gives Brandermill its sense of identity and how it’s able to distinguish itself and make it better than other communities. In addition to examining the community, the designforum team will look beyond Brandermill to identify opportunities beyond the development’s boundaries. Over the next few months, designforum will hold work sessions with the BCA Board of Directors and hold public meetings to gather input from residents, business owners, government officials and other key stakeholders.
“In redefining Brandermill’s master plan, we will also look at community, county and federal policies regarding land use,” states designforum’s Principal Andrew Bleckley. “In addition, we will assess existing open space, land uses, and transportation while evaluating current and future trends in the Brandermill demographics.”
Designforum will consolidate what is learned in the workshops and will develop a draft master plan that identifies key issues, opportunity projects, a long-term land use strategy and priority projects. Once the draft master plan is developed, another public meeting will be held to present the plan to the community and to solicit feedback.
“The next step will be for our firm to create a concrete master plan that outlines elements to invigorate Brandermill, making it an award winning community again,” states Cole.
The master plan is slated to be completed in the spring of 2009.
About Brandermill
Approved in 1974, Brandermill was the first large scale mixed use community in the Metropolitan Richmond Virginia , located approximately 10 miles from the City of Richmond. Situated on 2,800 acres, Brandermill borders a 1,700-acre lake, and has 13,000 residents, 4,000 homes, a Championship golf course, and 15 miles of scenic bike paths. In 1977, Brandermill was selected as The Best Planned Community in the U.S. by the National Association of Homes Builders and Better Homes & Gardens Magazine. For more information log on to www.brandermill.com.
About designforum
designforum is a is an award winning Richmond, Virginia, based landscape architecture studio of motivated professionals who focus on thoughtful development and precise execution of each creative design project. Members of the designforum team bring together experience and skills cultivated at some of the country's best design firms, including Sasaki Associates in Boston, Land Design in Charlotte, North Carolina, and DesignWorks in Charleston, South Carolina. The firm specialized in town planning, urban design and landscape architecture, working in commercial and mixed-use development, adaptive re-use, retail, healthcare, and high end residential. Notable projects include Daniel Island, Wilton on the James, the Charleston Holocaust Memorial, Winding Brook Park, Independence Village, Farmville Greenways, Golden Eagle Golf Resort and Providence Creek.
For more information, call 804.340.2848 or log on to www.designforuminc.com.
###
According to designforum Principal Doug Cole, the Brandermill project is ideally aligned with the firm’s capabilities. “In creating the master plan, we will start with exploring what Brandermill residents want and what the community needs,” states Cole. “ Even though it may be difficult for newly developed communities to compete with Brandermill’s resort lifestyle and incredible amenities like the Swift Creek Reservoir [a 1,700 acre lake], over 20 miles of beautiful trails and the natural park-like roads with mature and native vegetation, the Brandermill Community Association (BCA) recognized the fact that people’s needs and expectations have changed from the time when Brandermill was first conceived. Just as a house needs updating from time to time, so does a community.”
The City of Richmond is going through a similar process with its downtown master plan.
In redefining the master plan, designforum will analyze the existing conditions to determine what gives Brandermill its sense of identity and how it’s able to distinguish itself and make it better than other communities. In addition to examining the community, the designforum team will look beyond Brandermill to identify opportunities beyond the development’s boundaries. Over the next few months, designforum will hold work sessions with the BCA Board of Directors and hold public meetings to gather input from residents, business owners, government officials and other key stakeholders.
“In redefining Brandermill’s master plan, we will also look at community, county and federal policies regarding land use,” states designforum’s Principal Andrew Bleckley. “In addition, we will assess existing open space, land uses, and transportation while evaluating current and future trends in the Brandermill demographics.”
Designforum will consolidate what is learned in the workshops and will develop a draft master plan that identifies key issues, opportunity projects, a long-term land use strategy and priority projects. Once the draft master plan is developed, another public meeting will be held to present the plan to the community and to solicit feedback.
“The next step will be for our firm to create a concrete master plan that outlines elements to invigorate Brandermill, making it an award winning community again,” states Cole.
The master plan is slated to be completed in the spring of 2009.
About Brandermill
Approved in 1974, Brandermill was the first large scale mixed use community in the Metropolitan Richmond Virginia , located approximately 10 miles from the City of Richmond. Situated on 2,800 acres, Brandermill borders a 1,700-acre lake, and has 13,000 residents, 4,000 homes, a Championship golf course, and 15 miles of scenic bike paths. In 1977, Brandermill was selected as The Best Planned Community in the U.S. by the National Association of Homes Builders and Better Homes & Gardens Magazine. For more information log on to www.brandermill.com.
About designforum
designforum is a is an award winning Richmond, Virginia, based landscape architecture studio of motivated professionals who focus on thoughtful development and precise execution of each creative design project. Members of the designforum team bring together experience and skills cultivated at some of the country's best design firms, including Sasaki Associates in Boston, Land Design in Charlotte, North Carolina, and DesignWorks in Charleston, South Carolina. The firm specialized in town planning, urban design and landscape architecture, working in commercial and mixed-use development, adaptive re-use, retail, healthcare, and high end residential. Notable projects include Daniel Island, Wilton on the James, the Charleston Holocaust Memorial, Winding Brook Park, Independence Village, Farmville Greenways, Golden Eagle Golf Resort and Providence Creek.
For more information, call 804.340.2848 or log on to www.designforuminc.com.
###
Contact
designforum
Doug Cole
804.340.2848
www.designforuminc.com
Pamela McElrath, Excite Marketing and Public Relations, 804.935.8725; pmcelrath@exciteteam.com
Doug Cole
804.340.2848
www.designforuminc.com
Pamela McElrath, Excite Marketing and Public Relations, 804.935.8725; pmcelrath@exciteteam.com
Contact
Categories