Southwest Area Plan

Community Vision Meeting

September 30, 2008 

Likes: 

Central location

Opportunity for interaction

Sense of community

Safety

Diversity of age and race

Unpretentious

Quiet

Neighborhood associations

Economic diversity

Friendly neighbors, know each other

Recycling pickup

Flower gardens

Variety of cultures

Neighborhood gatherings

Natural and organic items

Few through streets

No bus service on Lockland Ave.

Good streets for walking

Walkable, bikeable

Sidewalks, traffic calming

High commercial visibility

Shopping, land locked

Hospital, churches and temple

Close facilities, medical and shopping

Work, play, shop in one neighborhood

Easy, convenient access to healthcare

Locally owned businesses

Old character has been maintained

Historic character and value

History

Diversity of architecture

Residential character

Scale and density

Unique houses

Overwhelmingly single-family

Variety of houses, designs, and income levels

Stable property values, affordability

Manageable sized yards

Smaller lots

Infill possibilities

Parks and open space

Trees, playgrounds, greenery

Miller Park, YMCA 

Dislikes: 

Antiquated infrastructure not suitable for growth

Increasing property crime

Crime/ safety, child safety and vandalism

Noise (dogs barking in early hours of the morning, medical sirens, etc)

Inadequate lighting in general

More streetlights needed on Irvin and Fenimore Streets, Lockland Ave. near Queen and Elizabeth Streets

Lights at night

Neighbor spotlights

Too much light pollution – streetlights

Not enough natural darkness in yards

Inappropriate satellite dish placement

Stormwater issues

No snow removal on Westfield Ave.

Adult establishments on Peters Creek Parkway

Wish all the likes were in all areas, for example, along Peters Creek Parkway

Loss of post office on Miller Street

More wireless access

Traffic on major streets, cut through traffic

Traffic congestion and speed in residential areas

High volume of through traffic, large vehicle traffic

Traffic increasing on Stratford Road

Traffic on Lockland Ave. and Miller Street

Traffic speeding on Hawthorne Road & Knollwood Manor

Dangerous angled intersections from Westfield Ave. onto Miller St., Elizabeth and Queen Streets onto Hawthorne Rd.

Maybe more traffic calming

Parking on lawns

On-street parking for churches, institutions

On street parking too close to intersections

Lack of public transit

Need for bus services along Hawthorne Rd. and Miller Street

More convenient routes

Limited pedestrian access to outside neighborhoods

No sidewalks in general, better maintenance of existing ones

No sidewalks on Knollwood Manor,

on both sides of Miller Street and Cloverdale Avenue

Lack of sidewalk maintenance

Lack of dedicated or protected bike lanes

Rundown houses, land-lord up-keep

Rental properties, absentee landlords

Decreasing homeownership

Income housing value

Rental properties

Housing options are mostly single-family

Need more options for young people – apartments, condominiums

Conversion of rentals to multi-family

Rental or Section 8 housing maintenance

Existing apartments run-down, drugs, etc.

Demolition of residential for parking lots

Doesn’t meet zoning or building code

Zoning erosion

Need more mixed-use

Expansion of churches and hospitals

Encroachment on residential areas by institutional and commercial uses

Peters Creek, Silas Creek appearance

Land uses on commercial roads

Conflicts between hospital and church with residential areas

Parks need better maintenance 

Ideas for Community Vision 

Housing and Neighborhoods  

Area to stay as good as now

Food grown in yards

Quiet helicopters

More diversity in Ardmore

Sustainable development

Sustainable water use

Increased conservation

Effectively-enforced zoning regulations

Enforced City Codes and standards

Taxes upgraded

Accessible to older adults

Jobs for older family members

Intergenerational

More culturally diverse

Active neighborhood associations

Strong neighborhood social connections

Cooperation between law enforcement and neighborhood groups

Less noise

Child-friendly, safe

Safer streets

Improvements to problem intersections

More traffic calming, bump outs

Limited access to neighborhoods – cul-de-sacs

More bike trails, traffic controls, and rail and mass transportation

Less dependency on cars

More pedestrian traffic, eyes on street

Pedestrian connections to Ball Park

Provide pedestrian access throughout

More sidewalks, safer crossing, walkable neighborhoods, well-kept yards

More services in neighborhoods

Defined commercial development areas

Grocery stores within walking distance

Hotel site on corner of Peters Creek and Academy redeveloped (condos)

Maintain historic character

Provide architectural variety

Rehabilitate older homes not demolish them

Revitalize neighborhoods by working together

Maintain single-family neighborhoods

No fences in front yards for child safety

New infill development sensitive to neighborhood character

No McMansion infill

Safe homes, handicapped accessible

No change in homes in Knollwood Manor

High quality rental along main roads

Enforcement of rental and Section 8 housing problems

No slumlords

Variety of housing types

Replace old apartments with condominiums (purchase not rental)

Integrated housing mix

Solar homes/solar panels used

Façade restoration

Develop land along Stratford Road (right-of-way and railroad tracks) add sidewalks

Community pools

Community gardens

Appearance of border areas

Good landscaping, big trees, greenery

Gateways at main entrances

No more mutilation of trees

No overhead utility lines 
 

Staff summary of common ideas/themes 

Diverse, clean and safe neighborhoods

Well maintained neighborhoods offering a variety of housing types

Compatible new infill

Increase homeownership

Convenience to services and shopping 
Transportation 

Incentives for improving transportation

Need a complete mass transportation system

Use clean air technology

Above-ground rail system, magnetized, green

Subway system with stops at major entrances

More frequent and efficient bus service

Free shuttles, trolleys, and streetcars

Clean, comfortable public transportation system

Widely used public transportation system with frequent routes day and night

More convenient transit aid service

Stratford rail corridor used for light rail and greenway trail

Short travel times to any place in Winston-Salem – 15-20 minutes

Transportation choices include walking, biking, and train service

Extensive bypass

More efficient traffic patterns

Traffic control

Majority of traffic is local

Use of roundabouts over traffic signals

Clear traffic pattern around baseball stadium

Single-occupancy vehicles discouraged

Fewer cars will reduce size and number of parking decks and space needed for parking

Central park and ride lots

Parking lots better used, less number of lots

Abandoned vehicles removed

More bikeways, off road bike trails

Protected bike lanes on all busy roads

Bike pickup stations

Use of bio-diesel fuels

Comfortable walking in neighborhood

Safe for children to walk to school

Prioritize sidewalks to main streets 
 

Add sidewalks where needed

Safe to walk, bike, and drive

Pedestrian safety

Crosswalks on Miller Street & Stratford Road

Better crosswalks across Peters Creek Parkway with over or underpasses

Greenway system connects to Marketplace Mall

Greenway access to airport from Ardmore

Peters Creek Parkway cleaner, with trees and less traffic

Underground signal lines 
 

Staff summary of common ideas/themes 

Expanded transportation system that provides choices

Quality transportation system

Street design that accommodates pedestrian and bicyclists

Safe local streets

Retail office and mixed-use development 

Fewer big boxes

More local businesses

Farmers market

Hardware store

Neighborhood grocery stores

Smaller business, mom and pop

Vertically mixed-use near hospitals

Office condominiums

Clustered neighborhood services

Planned walkable developments compatible with neighborhood

Small stores within walking distance from most residences

Commercial walkup, business at intersections

Redevelop strip malls

Peters Creek Parkway cleaner, in better shape, but still affordable

Existing structures used by local businesses

Remove dilapidated structures – redevelop properties

More home occupations

Natural disaster plan

Length of curb cuts reduced

Better designed commercial buildings to fit in with adjacent neighborhoods

Balance between hospital needs and adjacent neighborhoods

Commercial/offices designed sensitively adjacent to existing houses with good landscaping and compatible architecture

More benches, meeting places – outdoor eating

More home-occupied business 

Staff summary of common ideas/themes 

Variety of convenient good and services

Attractive and vibrant commercial/office areas that fit in with established neighborhoods

Improved appearance and more variety in established commercial areas  

Community facilities 

Safe schools in area

Land we own preserved

Green spaces

Movie theaters/houses

Greater police presence

More neighborhood orientation

Neighborhood meeting places

Limits on business types, cap limits

Co-op elderly living facilities

Community parks

Safe parks

Clean parks and educational resources

Pocket parks/small parks

Better maintenance of parks

Natural green spaces in addition to recreation

Partnership with hospitals and churches

Additional neighborhood elementary school

Half of the community home schooled

Flooding problem addressed at Brunson School

Expansion of Brunson School

More senior services

More greenways

More recreation, pool facilities

More recreational events

Cooperation between churches and neighborhood, for example, satellite parking

More school space to reduce crowding

Natural walks 

Staff summary of common ideas/themes 

Additional community facilities to promote community unity

Facilities with diverse activities for all ages

Safe and well maintained

Quality parks and schools

Community Character 

Compatible expansion of institutions Keep old growth trees

Underground utilities

Updated infrastructure

Granite curbs

Value historic resources

Need small business co-op

Mature tree replenishment

Community center gardens

Art gallery

Pools, arboretum

More green

Environmentally conscious

More recycling

Historic preservation

Neighborhood gathering spaces

Stronger neighborhood associations Crime watch 

Staff summary of common ideas/themes 

Maintain rich heritage and culture

Developments that include good design and landscaping

Good community appearance

Residents working together