HomeMy WebLinkAboutIV.A - Vermillion Street Corridor PlanThe Downtown District has many strong assets that should be preserved and improved. This plan works
to extend and connect the district to the historic downtown centered on 2nd Street; preserve the historic
character and homes along Vermillion Street; maximize commercial frontage between 2nd Street and 6th
Street; and make the district more pedestrian friendly with buildings that help define the street as well as
streetscape enhancements.
Development Characteristics
Uses
The Downtown District should have a mix of
uses throughout including retail, dining, office,
entertainment, and multi-family residential.
Mixed-use buildings should have commercial
on the ground floor with office or residential
above. Supporting land uses include parks,
plazas, and historic single-family homes. Histor-
ically significant buildings should be preserved.
Historic homes located along Vermillion Street
may be converted to other uses.
Built Form
Buildings should be located at or near the side-
walk and front property line with a continuous
streetwall. Building scale and character should
be compatible with existing buildings.
Building Height
To maintain the scale of Downtown, encourage
street life, and acknowledge financial feasibility,
buildings should be at least two and up to
four stories. Single-story buildings should be
discouraged.
Parking Lots & Access
In the Downtown District, it is important to
dedicate the frontage along Vermillion Street to
buildings to maintain the traditional down-
town streetwall. Parking should be located in
the rear of the building and accessed from the
side streets or alleyways.
Landscape
Landscaping should be used to improve the
overall aesthetics of properties as well as to
buffer parking lots from the right-of-way.
“Landscaping” broadly includes trees, other
plant material, lighting fixtures and other
street furniture, and paving.
Public Improvements
Pedestrian Network
This district has a strong pedestrian orien-
tation. As a northern gateway to the City,
the road is well-traveled, and wide side-
walks along Vermillion Street should buffer
pedestrians from traffic and foster a more
comfortable environment. Along Vermillion
Street, between 2nd Street and 6th Street,
a 15-foot wide sidewalk, with regularly and
closely-spaced tree pits, is desirable. In other
areas throughout the Downtown District,
there should be a complete pedestrian
network with nine-foot wide parkways and
six-foot wide sidewalks.
Gateway
As a primary entry into the City and an
extension of Hastings’ traditional downtown,
this area should be improved with a gateway
feature, including monument signs and
landscape enhancements.
Opportunity Sites
Site A
Currently, Opportunity Site A consists of
standalone retail, service, dining, and office
uses. The area also has private surface park-
ing lots isolated from each other at the rear
of the buildings, which are accessed from
the side streets. These blocks are in a prime
location given their proximity to Hastings’
City Hall, traditional downtown, Wilson Park,
and the Mississippi River. Opportunity Site A
also has the advantage of its location at the
City’s northern entry which lends itself to
high traffic counts and visibility.
Opportunity Site A is not intended to create
a consolidated super block redevelopment.
These three blocks have been grouped
together because they are of similar size,
location, and, should they redevelop in the
future, have similar development characteris-
tics, compatible with existing buildings.
Site B
Currently, Opportunity Site B consists of va-
cant lots, vacant store fronts, and standalone
commercial buildings. Opportunity Site B is
flanked by commercial uses to the north and
west and residential to the south and east.
Should this site redevelop in the future, there
would be an opportunity for a development
that creates a smooth transition between
traditional downtown commercial and tradi-
tional single-family residential. Two to four-
floor residential or mixed-use development
would be appropriate at this location.
Downtown District
VERMILLION STREET CORRIDOR STUDY12
Mississippi River
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Historic homes should be preserved.
Homes fronting Vermillion Street may be
converted into oce or commercial uses
Model Site
(see page 14)
Crosswalks and signage
should be present at major
intersections to enhance
pedestrian safety
The Great Rivers Landing, a new
mixed-use development including
hotel and conference center, is
planned for this site
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6th St
5th St
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WilsonPark
FireDept.
CityHall
Opportunity Site
Model Site
Proposed Gateway
Pedestrian Gaps
Improved Intersection
Historic Buildings
Proposed Downtown District Cross Section (see page 29)
New Development
Hastings’ Traditional Downtown
Framework Key
Framework Plan
N01/8 1/41/16 Miles
Downtown District
VERMILLION STREET CORRIDOR STUDY 13
The model site for the Downtown District is
the block bounded by Vermillion Street, 4th
Street, Eddy Street, and 5th Street. Currently,
the site is home to an underused building,
a vacant lot, standalone dining, commer-
cial service, and a single-family residence.
There is a parking lot on either side of the
single-family residence that can be accessed
from 5th Street or the alley that cuts through
the center of the block.
The redevelopment concept for this site con-
sists of mixed-use buildings with commercial
on the ground floor with office and resi-
dential above. The buildings have a shared
parking lot in the rear which is accesses
from 5th Street and Eddy Street. The parking
lot has landscaped islands and is screened
from the right-of-way. The buildings are set
back from the street to accommodate a
carriage walk wide enough for pedestrians
to walk comfortably in both directions. The
space between the buildings is used as a
pedestrian walk and plaza space. This space
could also be used as outdoor dining or
event space for the commercial uses on the
ground floor.
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Downtown DistrictModel Site Development
(1) Wide carriage walk with landscaping (2) Striped crosswalk with signage (3) Pedestrian alley (4) Hastings’ traditional downtown
VERMILLION STREET CORRIDOR STUDY14
Landscape around
perimeter of parking lot
Parking in the rear of
the building
Public plaza for events
and social gathering
Four-story, mixed-use building
with commercial ground floor
and residential above
Access from side streets
Outdoor patio
Three-story, mixed-use
building with ground
floor commercial and
oces above
VERMILLION STREET CORRIDOR STUDY 15