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Town of Stuart Downtown

Overview

The Town serves as the county seat for Patrick County and has the most extensively developed commercial district in the County. Downtown is divided into two distinct areas, referred to as Downtown and Uptown Stuart, separated by steep topography. Downtown has experienced flooding along the Mayor River, building deterioration, and a decline in its economic vitality. Pride 20/20, a countywide CD organization, has provided the only leadership to revitalize the downtown area. The area also represents the southern gateway to the County along Route 8 connecting to the new U.S. 58 Bypass.

Approach

K. W. Poore & Associates prepared a Downtown Revitalization Plan with assistance from Hill Studio and Pride 20/20. From 1999-2001, the firm secured funding under the CDBG program, VDOT Secondary Road Program, Patrick County and local organizations in order to implement the Master Plan.

The project involved a new town center/market area, streetscape and creekside improvements, flood proofing efforts, commercial building renovations, storefronts, infrastructure improvements including utilities, streets, drainage, and parking, and the acquisition/clearance of blighted (hazardous waste site) property. Total project cost was $2,700,000.