Designing LaFayette: Students design Lafayette’s future
Published on Saturday, May 4, 2024 at 10:25am
Lafayette Main Street held an urban development planning conference Tuesday night at Lafayette First Baptist in partnership with Auburn University’s Urban Design Studio.
The LMS committee met with 10 Auburn University course students and watched a presentation about the future of the city of Lafayette.
“Through their urban design class, they chose Main Street as their spring project. They are in Auburn. We are very honored and excited about what they have to offer us today.” ,” said Lafayette Main Street Director Deanna Hand. “…The hard work and dedication that went into this means a lot to us.”
The students and their instructor, Dr. Vinita Mahato, visited downtown Lafayette in January to tour the city.
Mahato explained that during this time, the five student groups were in the first stage of the design process, “sensing.”
During this stage, students focused on understanding the community, its strengths and weaknesses, and its needs.
“It wasn’t just our experience walking around the community, but also talking to everyone and collecting a little bit of data,” Mahato said.
The students then moved on to the second stage, “General”. The third stage, “theorizing,” then took place, where students determined their purpose, goals, and values.
During the meeting, the groups presented plans to help redevelop Lafayette’s downtown area, from adding green space to improving crosswalk safety. They then gave examples of stakeholders who could potentially fund these projects.
Several students suggested turning the vacant facade next to Gimme Some Sugar into a green space where people could relax. Another group proposed creating a prominent trail from Rails to Trail through downtown Lafayette, along the Johnny Ray Trail.
Many students also suggested adding an environmentally friendly “third space.” This is a space outside the workplace or home that people can go to without spending money.
Each group mentioned the importance of preserving and highlighting the city’s cultural heritage.
One group suggested incorporating local art and murals into the city that could reference famous boxer Joe Louis and connections to the auto industry. The mural can also be photographed as a tourist attraction.
Many of the stakeholders in the municipal project were Alabama Power Co. Good Roots Program, Alabama Department of Transportation Highway Safety Improvement Grant, and Free Business Training Initiative.
For tourism and history education projects, possible stakeholders include the Alabama Historical Commission’s Education History Grant and the Alabama Department of Tourism and Community Development Block Grant Program with the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA).