This Historic Johnson Street Downtown Vision Plan’s main objective is to revitalize Hawthorne’s downtown area from economic and social perspectives. By updating the urban landscape through infrastructure redevelopment and beautification initiatives and by encouraging pedestrian and bicycle traffic, this plan intends to facilitate economic development and market potential for future growth without compromising the City’s unique historic character. In addition, the plan will re-establish a sense of place and identity for the downtown area that will be a source of pride for the City’s residents.

CHW provided a number of services outlined by the State of Florida Department of Economic Opportunity grant to create the Historic Johnson Street Downtown Vision Plan. The first step required CHW to prepare an existing conditions inventory for the study area. This was achieved through mapping of the study area and a written narrative assessment of streetscapes, parks and open space, event areas, utilities, and transportation and pedestrian conditions.

In the second phase of the project, CHW facilitated a neighborhood visioning workshop. In preparation for this workshop, CHW created a photo inventory of the study area as well as similar communities that can be used as a model for the City of Hawthorne. CHW also prepared a visual preference survey to be taken by the workshop attendees. CHW staff summarized the opportunities and constraints identified at the workshop, as well as the results of the visual preference survey.

All elements and findings of the visioning process were then incorporated into the Historic Johnson Street Downtown Vision Plan. This plan was then approved by the City’s Community Redevelopment Agency and incorporated into the City’s CRA Plan.

In short, CHW provided land planning, urban design, and client advocacy services.

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