Downtown Master Plan: (3) Seventh and State Opportunity Site

• Editor's Note: On June 27, the city of Geneva held a meeting to unveil the first draft of its . The plan identifies seven site opportunities for development. This series spotlights each opportunity site and says what present structures would be replaced.

Development Concept Overview

The development concept for this opportunity site includes several key components, including a new library, extending Seventh Street to the north, new commercial/mixed-use redevelopment on the northeast and southwest corners of State and Seventh, and new row houses along James Street. The concept seeks to provide opportunities for appropriate new infill development and improved vehicular and bicycle circulation in a manner that reinforces the more traditional Downtown development pattern that exists along State Street to the east.

What's There Now

An older shopping area with various retail stores including a new Ace Hardware at Sixth and State streets. On the south side of the street is another older shopping area with a Licht store and the butcher shop. There's a bank at Anderson and State. The old Cetron building is located on Richards Street where the new library building is planned.  

Library

This concept incorporates the potential develop- ment of a new library at the northwest corner of State Street and 7th Street extended. The new library building would likely need to be placed at the northern portion of the property, which is significantly wider than the southern portion of the property fronting State Street. With parking located at the south of the new building, it is important that design of the site include some physical design element near the State Street frontage to visually maintain the “streetwall” and engage and activate the pedestrian environment. A public plaza, outdoor reading area with benches, or a low masonry wall with landscaping are all potential design elements that should be consid- ered.

Alternative Library Concept

This concepts shows the placement of the new public library along the State Street frontage. This concept requires the vacation of a portion of Richards Street and the assemblage of additional property west of Richards. This concept allows for the potential development of additional office/light industrial uses north of Hamilton Street extended.

Desired Uses and Development Pattern

The desired uses for this opportunity site include the new library and commercial/mixed-use development. Properties within this opportunity site front on State Street and therefore take on increased visibility and significance in terms of character and placement. To the extent possible, any redevelopment should seek to re-establish a traditional “streetwall” along this section of State Street, with building at or near the sidewalk. However, given the geometry and limited State Street frontage of the library property, this may not be possible without further property assembly, including properties to the west of the site.

Parking, Access, and Circulation

The extension of 7th Street to the north would significantly improve circulation and access within the area. Consistent with other areas along State Street in the Downtown, no driveways or curb cuts are recommended along this portion of State Street. Site access to on-site parking for the library and the commercial redevelopment sites is provided from 7th Street extended and 6th Street. On-street parking should be maximized to the extent possible and provided along the State Street frontage and 7th Street extended. On-street parking should also be converted from parallel to diagonal where possible to reflect the existing parking pattern along State Street between 1st Street and 4th Street. It is also important to note that 7th Street extended should be designed to accommodate a dedicated bicycle path or lane to better connect the Downtown to the library and areas to the north.

SOURCE: City of Geneva Downtown/Station Area Master Plan prepared by Houseal Lavigne Associates