To provide recommendations
for better infrastructure to service the town,
the designers sought assistance from residents
and local officials to inventory the existing
conditions of the town. They summarized the
land usage for each parcel of land within
the 7 by 7 block area of downtown. In addition
to land usage, the historically significant
buildings or ruins as well as historic hand
dug wells and other culturally significant
sites were located, as shown in the existing
town center. This provides an historically
and culturally significant base map as well
as an understanding of how the town resources
are currently being utilized, thus providing
a greater understanding of the relationships
between the natural and man-made elements
of the town.
This
working drawing highlights the areas
of town that are principally and clearly
focused on providing either Main Street
shopping with mixed-use services and 2nd
floor housing, principal neighborhood with
support services, health services, and government
services. There are six full blocks that
serve as the core downtown shopping area
with 20 blocks of neighborhood. Decisions
for future town improvements should ensure
that the neighborhood character is reinforced
and protected, and that all individual improvement
projects are appropriate to either the neighborhood
or main street zones.
This
map indicates areas of town where the
urban character needs enhancement beyond
simple public street and open space improvements.
These locations are in need of new investment
focused on infill construction and renovations.
Each area shows the specific location and
type of urban revitalization opportunities
that exist. All of the noted improvements
would be complementary to the other elements
of the plan that were developed during the
charrette.
- Enhance Market Square
area
- Create Vendor/Café
areas
- Utilize vegetation
to screen non-historical
buildings and create town edge
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- Remove structures
blocking arcade
- Improve and utilize
courtyards
- Add vegetation to
courtyards
- Fill vacant lots
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- Relocate parking
behind clinic
- Continue streetscape
of Strand Street
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- Renovate historical
areas
- Improve maintenance
of cemetery
- Improve and/or fill
vacant lots
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The existing
main entrance on the south side of town does
not currently provide any indication that
the visitor is entering an historic area.
To address this area, improvements such as
the following could be performed
:
- Move parking behind
buildings
- Tree-lined avenue
into town
- Add landscaping to
entrance area
- Historical signage
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The Fisherman’s Pier
at the southern edge of Frederiksted is
an exciting opportunity to create a unique
experience that both locals and visitors
could utilize. This area can be connected
to the town by improved sidewalks down Strand
Street and a boardwalk that connects Veterans
Park to the pier. The boardwalk will be
seaward of the private properties between
the two areas. Opportunities for improvement
include:
- Enhance market and
pier
- Repave street with
historic cobbles/bricks
- Seafood restaurant
- Trees along street
- Provide restrooms
- Make area pedestrian
friendly
- Historic style housing
along south side of street
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Based upon the above analysis,
an optimum walking tour route was developed
that would expose visitors to the full range
and depth of the cultural and historical
resources of the town. This path would be
anchored at the cruise ship dock and Customs
House, includes Veterans Park, the memorial
site, and the greatest exposure to historic
and authentic Frederiksted architecture
and church grounds. This walking tour route
should be marketed through tourist development
media, in addition, the physical conditions
and design elements along its route should
be improved to a level that is secure and
aesthetically acceptable to the tourist
population. All future town improvement
projects should be designed to ensure that
the "Path of Charm" is well defined
and completed before other areas of the
town are improved.
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