Downtown Havre de Grace Discovery Charrette Week

    The City of Havre de Grace has received funding to replace the aging underground water and sewer infrastructure in downtown. This presents a unique chance to rethink how downtown looks, feels, and functions. Many streets will be torn up for this utility work, and we can use this opportunity to improve the streets and other public spaces to create an even better Downtown Havre de Grace.

    The City is revitalizing downtown so it attracts people and investment, remains welcoming and safe, and celebrates its historic charm. We need community members to help determine a design that best accomplishes these goals.

    Get Involved!

    Help us understand your vision for downtown! What are important features in that should be celebrated? Where can safety be improved? Use the online map to provide feedback to the project team. https://wikimapping.com/Havre-de-Grace.html

    Community members are invited to collaborate on the design by joining the Design Charrette, a week of virtual public events to help identify the key issues and opportunities for downtown Havre de Grace and sketch concepts for new designs. Events will be held from February 15 to 17, 2022. Recognizing public health guidance on social distancing due to COVID-19, these events will be hosted virtually via Zoom. Participants are asked to register for the events using the links below to help us estimate the number of attendees and staff accordingly. You may still join the meeting if you have not registered in advance. Links to register and attend all events are available at www.havredegrace.eventbrite.com

    We hope you will join us!

    Design Charrette Week Event Calendar

    Virtual Open Studios

    This Virtual Open Studio is an opportunity to informally collaborate directly with designers from the consultant team and City staff to share your ideas for how downtown Havre de Grace’s streets and public spaces should be improved. Join us as we sketch and build out ideas on a virtual whiteboard! This two-hour session is a drop-in format, meaning you can join at any time, stay for as long as you’d like, and leave when you’re ready.

    Open Studio sessions will be hosted virtually via Zoom, with a call-in option available. There will be two identical sessions hosted to accommodate different schedules. You only need to attend one session.

    Virtual Open Studio, Session 1

    Tuesday, February 15 | 5 to 7 pm

    Register Here

    Virtual Open Studio, Session 2

    Wednesday, February 16 | 1 to 3 pm

    Register Here

    Design Charrette Virtual Public Meeting

    Thursday, February 17 | 6 to 8 pm

    Register Here

    This Virtual Public Meeting will be an opportunity to preview draft conceptual designs for downtown Havre de Grace and share your thoughts on those initial ideas. It will include content like potential street layout and intersection changes, additional public spaces, as well as ideas for design features to support the character and aesthetic of downtown. The meeting will begin with a presentation of ideas by the project team, with time for discussion to follow. The event will be hosted virtually via Zoom, with a call-in option available.

    FAQ

    What will be affected by this project?

    The Downtown Revitalization project will focus on public spaces. This includes sidewalks, streets, intersections, parking lots, and other things in the public realm.

    The project boundaries are Congress Ave to the South, Union Ave to the west, and the waterfront.

     

    What are the goals of this project?

    This project has many goals, including:

    • Revitalize the downtown district while maintaining its history and small-town feel.
    • Improve accessibility for people of all ages and abilities.
    • Improve connections between downtown, adjacent neighborhoods, the waterfront, parks, and key community facilities.
    • Support local businesses, cultural tourism, and outdoor events.
    • Steward our rich natural environment.
    • Encourage public and private investment and sustain/improve property values.

    What is a charrette?

    A charrette is a series of collaborative workshops that bring together the community and professionals form different fields to focus on solving a design problem over a short period. We are hosting a two-part charrette. The first part held in January, called the Discovery Charrette, aimed to identify issues, opportunities, and values of the community. This second part, called the Design Charrette,  will be to refine and validate design concepts for downtown.