Burlington Town Center

Public Space Improvements

Burlington Town Center

Public Space Improvements:
Restoring the Grid, Activating City Life

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Burlington Town Center

Public Space Improvements
A checkerboard grid has
organized the heart of
Burlington throughout
its history.

Downtown
Burlingtons
historic regular
checkerboard
street grid
defines regular
square blocks of
approximately
400 x 400

1873 map of downtown Burlington: regular street grid and square blocks

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Detail of historic block plan

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Burlington Town Center

Public Space Improvements
Some elements of the grid have been
positively transformed, such as the conversion
of Church Street to a pedestrian-only street.

Detail of historic block plan (Church Street Marketplace in red)

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Burlington Town Center

Public Space Improvements
Other transformations have proved less
successful, such as the 1970s combination
of six blocks into a single superblock.

1873 map of downtown Burlington: regular street grid and square blocks (1970s superblock in blue)

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Detail of historic block plan (1970s superblock in blue)

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Burlington Town Center

Public Space Improvements
Plan BTV calls for restoring
two of the six blocks to
their place in the grid.

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Aerial photo showing existing 1970s superblock

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Plan BTV rendering with proposed restoration of two historic blocks and streets

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Burlington Town Center

Public Space Improvements
Three historic churches lined St. Paul Street
until the early 1970s. The project would restore
historic visual and physical connections along
Pine Street and St. Paul Street.

First Baptist

First Baptist

(of the
Immaculate
Conception,
formerly St.
Marys)

CHERRY

St. Pauls
(burned 1971,
current site of
Town Center)

BANK

ST. PAUL STREET

Cathedral

St. Pauls
Cathedral

Cathedral

First Baptist

COLLEGE

Town Center now

blocks St. Paul Street

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Burlington Town Center

Public Space Improvements
The 1970s superblock
and associated Town
Center project created
a great wall across
downtown.

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Existing
Superblock

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St.
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City Hall
Park

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Burlington Town Center

Public Space Improvements
In the Town Center project,
the existing mall will be
demolished (in two phases).
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Phase 2
demolition

ace

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Phase 1
demolition
k

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Existing
Superblock

Pin
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St.
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City Hall
Park

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Burlington Town Center

Public Space Improvements
The demolition allows the
restoration of two blocks
from the historic street grid.
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Restored
Block

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Wi
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Restored
Block

n
Ba

St.
Pa

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Reduced
Superblock

Pin
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Co

City Hall
Park

in
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Burlington Town Center

Public Space Improvements
The creation of the two blocks
reconstructs the two lost street
segments (on Pine and St. Paul).
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City Hall
Park

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Burlington Town Center

Public Space Improvements
This will restore north-south
pedestrian connections to
the Old North End
that have been
GE
OR
GE
lost for many years.

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AM

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Lim
du ited
e t veh
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ran ula
sit r ac
cen ce
ter ss

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City Hall
Park

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Burlington Town Center

Public Space Improvements
This sets the stage for improved
east-west pedestrian links from
upper Church Street to the
waterfront.

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Potential
Cherry Street
overlook and
staircase to
Lakefront Park

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Potential
enhancements
to pedestrian
paths through
superblock

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City Hall
Park

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tP
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Burlington Town Center

Public Space Improvements
For pedestrians and
cyclists (as well as
transit users and
motorists), key
destinations on the
north and south
will once again be
easily reached.

Lim
du ited
e t veh
o t ic
ran ula
sit r ac
Pearl St.
cen ce
ter ss

Old
North
End

Church
St.
Church
St.

Transit
Center

Church
St.

Cathedral

Pearl St.

Court
Macys

Baptist
Church

City
Hall
Park

Hotel
Vermont

City
Hall

Farmers
Market

Marriott

The
Flynn

Battery
Park
Hilton

Main
St.

Hilton
Garden
Inn
King
Street
Center

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Burlington Town Center

Public Space Improvements
The new Town Center
divides the throughblock arcade into two
sections, while
activating the block
perimeter with
shopfronts.

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City Hall
Park

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Burlington Town Center

Public Space Improvements
A number of the
existing adjacent
buildings will remain.
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L.L.
Bean

Macys

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100
Bank
City Hall
Park

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Burlington Town Center

Public Space Improvements
The new Town Center
is comprised of two
distinct parts on the
two new blocks.

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City Hall
Park

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Burlington Town Center

Public Space Improvements
Street improvements
along eight (8) block
segments will better
integrate the new
Town Center into the
public life of the city.

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Burlington Town Center

Public Space Improvements
The project integrates
with downtowns
green spaces, key
destinations, and
landmarks.

Old
North End

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Town Center
Phase 2

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Town Center
Phase 1

2
1

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City Hall
Park

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Burlington Town Center

Public Space Improvements
The design of the roadways
and streetscapes will be
based on the new design
standards being developed
for downtown by the
Great Streets BTV
project.

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Town Center
Phase 2

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Town Center
Phase 1

2
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City Hall
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Burlington Town Center

Public Space Improvements
The Downtown and
Waterfront TIF Districts
have created a funding
mechanism that, together
with the Great Streets
initiative, will enable
rebuilding the public
heart of Burlington.

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Town Center
Phase 2

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Town Center
Phase 1

2
1

7
City Hall
Park

DOWNTOWN TIF District

WATERFRONT TIF District
TIF District boundaries have been
simplified for graphic purposes

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Burlington Town Center

Public Space Improvements
Diagram of streetscape
enhancements on the
eight segments

Old
North End

Ch

(Street tree location and spacing are

schematic: actual spacing and location
will vary block to block based on
specific conditions)

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Town Center
Phase 2

rke

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Town Center
Phase 1

2
1

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City Hall
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Burlington Town Center

Public Space Improvements

Typical Streetscape Features

Active Street
Frontage

Granite
Curbs

Advanced Street
Tree Installation

Expanded
Tree Canopy

Highlighting of
Landmarks

Placemaking /
Public Art

Enhanced
Crosswalks

Snow
Management

presence of
windows, doors,
storefronts,
awnings along
sidewalks

locally
sources,
durable,
handsome

use of silva cells

or structural
soils for new
trees in paved
areas

major increase
in trees, foliage,
and shade from
an approved list
of species

landmarks
recognized and
features with
view corridors,
special lighting

unique
installations at
key locations

special emphasis on
safe and easy street
crossing with wide,
distinctive crosswalk
treatments

careful sidewalk
design to
accommodate snow
plowing and
storage

Enhanced
Lighting

Rain
Gardens

Bike
Lanes

Efficient
Parking

Transit
Facilities

Wider
Sidewalks

Shared Space

Bike Parking

efficient and
updated lighting
for sidewalks and
roadways

innovative
handling of
stormwater to
slow and penetrate

investments in
protected bike
lanes along key
routes

more efficient onstreet parking spaces,

and better use of
existing off-street
parking facilities

working with CCTA,

integration of
shelters and
signage into the
sidewalk landscape

widening and
improving of
sidewalks
throughout
downtown

special paving and

bollards for places
where vehicles and
pedestrians share
the space

investments
protected bike
parking, and
bike hubs

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Burlington Town Center

Public Space Improvements

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View 1:
Looking south from Transit Center
at Cherry and St. Paul Streets
EXISTING
From Cherry Street, the existing mall blocks access to
St. Paul Street (Baptist Church spire visible beyond.

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Burlington Town Center

Public Space Improvements

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View 1:
Looking south from Transit Center
at Cherry and St. Paul Streets
PROPOSED
The Town Center project will reopen St. Paul street,
allowing unobstructed views of the church and
direct access to City Hall Park. The project includes
streetscape enhacements along St. Paul.

Streetscape shown is schematic only; actual

design will be guided by the new downtown
streetscape standards. The intent is to create
complete streets that accommodate the needs
of all users of all abilities streets for vehicles,
bicycles, pedestrians, and ADA accessibility.
note: street rises to connect east and west arcades at grade
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Burlington Town Center

Public Space Improvements
View 2:
Looking south and west to the
lake, at the corner of Cherry
and Pine Streets

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EXISTING
The existing mall entrance to the mall occupies
Pine Street and prevents access to the south

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Burlington Town Center

Public Space Improvements

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View 2:
Looking south and west to the
lake, at the corner of Cherry
and Pine Streets

PI

NE

PROPOSED
The Town Center project will reconstruct the missing block of Pine Street, providing access to
shops and to Macys; the street will pass underneath the existing 100 Bank building to reach Bank
Street. The project includes enhancements to Cherry Street (right) all the way to Battery Street .

Streetscape shown is schematic only; actual

design will be guided by the new downtown
streetscape standards. The intent is to create
complete streets that accommodate the needs
of all users of all abilities streets for vehicles,
bicycles, pedestrians, and ADA accessibility.

note: this pathway would require at least partial closure of existing garage ramp
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Burlington Town Center

Public Space Improvements
View 3:
Looking north along Pine Street
at the corner of Bank Street

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EXISTING
Pine Street currently is blocked at Bank Street.

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Burlington Town Center

Public Space Improvements
View 3:
Looking north along Pine Street
at the corner of Bank Street

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PROPOSED
The Town Center project will reconstruct the missing block of Pine Street, providing
access to shops and to Macys; the street will pass underneath the existing 100 Bank
building to reach Cherry Street. The project includes enhancements to Pine Street.

Streetscape shown is schematic only; actual

design will be guided by the new downtown
streetscape standards. The intent is to create
complete streets that accommodate the needs
of all users of all abilities streets for vehicles,
bicycles, pedestrians, and ADA accessibility.

note: this pathway would require at least partial closure of existing garage ramp

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ST

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Burlington Town Center

Public Space Improvements

BA

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View 4:
Looking north along St. Paul Street
at Bank Street
EXISTING
St. Paul Street currently terminates at Bank Street at a loading deck for Town Center,
obstructing connections to the Cathedral, Transit Center and Old North End

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Burlington Town Center

Public Space Improvements

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View 4:
Looking north along St. Paul Street
at Bank Street
Streetscape shown is schematic only; actual
design will be guided by the new downtown
streetscape standards. The intent is to create
complete streets that accommodate the needs
of all users of all abilities streets for vehicles,
bicycles, pedestrians, and ADA accessibility.

PROPOSED
The Town Center project will reconstruct and reopen St. Paul Street for the first
time in nearly half a century, and provide associated streetscape enhancements.

note: street rises to connect east and west arcades at grade

9.1.2016