BOUNDARY STREET
[Redux: (ri-duks’), adj. brought back; resurgent]
The Redux documents were prepared by Planning Staff as an idea generator for Boundary Street. Although the document was not adopted by the City Council, many of the ideas presented have been adopted by the City Council such as the revisions to the Boundary Street Design Guidelines and the inclusion of mixed-use districts. Developers and designers are encouraged to review the Boundary Street Redux documents in order to see a possible future for Boundary Street.
Boundary Street from Ribaut Road to Carteret Street is considered by many to be the northern boundary of greater downtown Beaufort. At less than one mile, it is the main artery into the Historic District. The Historic District and greater downtown is the lifeblood of Beaufort County and the heart of the region. It is the only area in Beaufort County (except for portions of Port Royal) that is designed with the traditional grid that all great cities of the world use as their foundation.
Boundary Street is in close proximity to the existing
downtown and the ever-evolving University of South Carolina Beaufort
campus. With the University becoming a Four-Year institution and the
drive for greater presence of the school in the City, the Boundary
Street corridor has greater potential for becoming a great place than
ever before. There are neighborhoods such as Pigeon Point, The Commons
and the Northwest Quadrant on either side of the road to support
businesses along Boundary Street. These surrounding neighborhoods are
some of the most diverse in the county - racially, culturally and
financially, with traditional patterns of development. The possibility
of new civic buildings at the Ribaut Road intersection increase the
potential for positive change along Boundary Street. Other contributing
factors to Boundary Street are the National Cemetery, existing street
pattern and vistas of the river at Bellamy Curve.
Commercial development along Boundary Street currently consists of small
scale retail, office and several restaurants. Commercial development was
considered blighted in the Neighborhood Analysis conducted in 1970. Very
little has changed since that assessment. Single-story buildings with
large fields of parking fronting Boundary Street dominate the
streetscape. There is a huge disconnect between the street (the
pedestrian) and the buildings. With the exception of three historic
structures, the buildings along Boundary Street consists of architecture
not worthy of the the slightest commendation. Boundary Street is
ripe for change and the current condition provides excellent
opportunities for change.
