Dawsonville Town Center Master Plan

Details:

  • City of Dawsonville

  • Dawsonville, Georgia

Highlights:

  • Community engagement activities to better understand challenges and define a vision for the downtown area
  • Focus on the Historic Downtown, development site, and Civic Center area
  • Design Guidelines that ensure cohesive development and urban design elements

Description:

TSW was retained by the City of Dawsonville to develop a comprehensive Town Center Master Plan that outlines a clear and actionable vision for the future of downtown Dawsonville. The planning process was deeply rooted in community engagement, ensuring that the voices of residents, stakeholders, and city leaders were heard and incorporated. This inclusive approach involved stakeholder interviews, active participation from a steering committee, a public survey, and three well-attended public meetings. These efforts helped shape a plan that reflects the community’s aspirations and priorities.

The master plan is built around three core strategies that aim to enhance the character, connectivity, and functionality of the town center:

  • Historic Downtown – This strategy emphasizes the preservation and restoration of Dawsonville’s historic buildings. It also identifies opportunities for infill development and future growth, while enhancing the area’s sense of place through short-term improvements such as landscaping, public art installations, and the creation of inviting public spaces.

  • 17-acre Site – The plan envisions this site as a vibrant destination offering a mix of dining, shopping, recreation, and residential options. A key component is the integration of this area with the historic downtown and civic center through a multi-modal network of new streets and trails, promoting walkability and accessibility.

  • Civic Center – Enhancements include trail connections linking civic buildings and Main Street Park to a broader trail system and future development areas. A safe pedestrian crossing over Highway 53—potentially via a bridge or tunnel—is also proposed to improve connectivity and safety.

Additionally, the Town Center Master Plan includes detailed Design Guidelines that address architectural styles, commercial design principles, landscape patterns, and green infrastructure, ensuring cohesive and sustainable development throughout the downtown area.