Reimagine Cumberland MarylandReimagine Cumberland MarylandReimagine Cumberland MarylandReimagine Cumberland Maryland
  • Home
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Timeline
  • News & Events
  • Business List
  • Contact

Design Team Showcases Options for Renovated Downtown Mall

    Home Uncategorized Design Team Showcases Options for Renovated Downtown Mall
    NextPrevious

    Design Team Showcases Options for Renovated Downtown Mall

    By developer | Uncategorized | 0 comment | 11 November, 2018 | 0

    CUMBERLAND — Citizens were able to offer ideas for a new look and feel for the downtown pedestrian mall at Saturday’s “Reimagine Cumberland” workshop.

    The event was held at the Allegany Arts Council building at 9 N. Centre St., and was sponsored by the Downtown Development Commission and the Cumberland Economic Development Corp.

    The city has contracted Cochran Studios of Frederick to oversee a new design for the Historic City Center. William and Teresa Cochran, husband and wife owners of the business, gave a presentation on the latest designs popular in the U.S. and worldwide for public spaces.

    William Cochran said a new design for Cumberland’s downtown will still retain the feel and functionality of a pedestrian mall. He said curbs will not be used to maintain a welcoming appeal for pedestrians.

    The mall will receive a makeover due to the extensive excavation needed to replace aging below-ground utility lines and install new broadband fiber optics. The project, with replaced utilities and a new design, is expected to cost between $5 million and $7.4 million. The effort will be funded largely by state and federal grants.

    The project will also include reinstalling Baltimore Street running one way from Mechanic to George Street. Bicycle travel will be permitted on the rebuilt street.

    “You have a once in a lifetime opportunity here,” said William Cochran. “The space you have here is incredible. You probably need to change it anyway, even if the utilities didn’t need replacing. The city center is the most important public space for the community.”

    William Cochran said all communities have common threads. 

    “What makes a city are three things: live, work and play. If you take any one of three things away it is not a city,” he said.

    Roughly 80 people attended the event. After a presentation by the couple, those in attendance worked on design ideas by table. The groups at each table discussed what they think works best, and by two-thirds voting margin, they organized their design priorities.

    William Cochran said good ideas for malls today include trees that branch out above the second floor to create a canopy and a neutral color for the ground brick work. He said the historic buildings downtown need to be the visual focus.

    “The architecture has to be showcased and that is really the thing that can be the economic engine to drive everything,” he said. “I don’t think it is that way today. There are too many things in front of it and it is hard to see.”

    Cochran said the current red brick used for the mall base detracts from the architecture. He said a neutral color brick in the right pattern, such as herringbone, creates the best base to complement and highlight the surrounding buildings.

    Other design features include walking zones, space for dining, parking pockets, sculptures and murals.

    William Cochran said the McCoury Family Stage, at the corner of Liberty and Baltimore streets, will likely be removed in favor of a temporary staging area at another location. He said the current pavilion stage was not the best use of that space.

    Doug Schwab, former DelFest Foundation board member, said the McCourys are supportive of whatever works best for the reconfiguration of the space.

    Mayor-elect Ray Morriss and his wife Brenda attended the event.

    “What I heard was a wonderful presentation of what Baltimore Street can be going forward,” said Ray Morriss. “I think it is critical we get as much input as possible from the public, because that is what it is really for. It’s for the use of the overall community. We need their ideas to get the best design we can.”

    No tags.

    developer

    More posts by developer

    Related Post

    • Mall Bids Exceed Projections

      By melinda.kelleher@cumberlandmd.gov | 0 comment

      CUMBERLAND, Md. — City officials remain confident they can fill a funding gap of roughly $2 million after reviewing contractor bids Wednesday for the Baltimore Street Access Project. Two bids were submitted for the project,Read more

    • Mall renovation on target for next year

      By melinda.kelleher@cumberlandmd.gov | 0 comment

      CUMBERLAND, Md. — The Cumberland Economic Development Corp. offered updates Tuesday on several key projects including the downtown renovation, Cumberland Gateway and the future of 19 Frederick St. Matt Miller, executive director of the CEDC, conductedRead more

    • CEDC Head says Additional Funds Likely for Downtown Mall Project

      By developer | 0 comment

      CUMBERLAND — Officials say additional funding sources for proposed renovations of the downtown pedestrian mall should materialize over the next 18 months.  Paul Kelly, executive director of the Cumberland Economic Development Corp., gave an update onRead more

    • City to Unveil Design Drawings for Renovated Downtown Mall

      By developer | 0 comment

      City officials will unveil the finished design drawings Tuesday for a newly imagined downtown mall streetscape. CUMBERLAND — City officials will unveil the finished design drawings Tuesday for a newly imagined downtown mall streetscape. TheRead more

    • New Downtown Website In Development

      By developer | 0 comment

      CUMBERLAND — A new website for the city’s downtown district is expected to launch in the spring, Downtown Development Commission Executive Director Melinda Kelleher said Thursday during the group’s virtual meeting. The DDC purchased theRead more

    Leave a Comment

    Cancel reply

    You must be logged in to post a comment.

    NextPrevious

    Recent Posts

    • 11 October, 2022
      0

      Mall Bids Exceed Projections

    • 15 November, 2021
      0

      Mall renovation on target for next year

    • 7 June, 2021
      0

      History of Baltimore Street

    • 21 April, 2021
      0

      CEDC Head says Additional Funds Likely for Downtown Mall Project

    NewsLetter


      Archives

      • October 2022
      • November 2021
      • June 2021
      • April 2021
      • March 2021
      • February 2021
      • January 2021
      • December 2020
      • November 2020
      • September 2020
      • August 2020
      • May 2020
      • January 2020
      • December 2019
      • November 2019
      • August 2019
      • June 2019
      • April 2019
      • March 2019
      • February 2019
      • January 2019
      • November 2018
      • August 2018
      • July 2018
      • May 2018
      • February 2018
      • September 2017
      • January 2017
      • January 2016
      • March 2012

      • Home
      • About
      • FAQ
      • Timeline
      • News & Events
      • BUSINESS LIST
      • Contact

      Subscribe To Newsletter

        © 2021 Reimagine Cumberland | Site by Pikewood Media Group | All Rights Reserved
        • Home
        • About
        • FAQ
        • Timeline
        • News & Events
        • Business List
        • Contact
        Reimagine Cumberland Maryland