Plan of Watkinsville

My name is Robert Smith, and I am of the fourth generation of my family born and raised in Watkinsville. I graduated from Oconee County High School in 2002. I received a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 2006 followed by a Master of Architecture from the University of Notre Dame with a specialty in traditional architecture and urban design. This proposal springs from my semester-long terminal design project and thesis for that program.

 

Although I live in Atlanta, and have spent periods of my life in South Bend, and Rome, Italy, I will always call Watkinsville home. This place fills me with fond memories of Little League at Rocket Field and Harris Shoals Park, Fall Festivals, Family Night Suppers at Ashford Methodist, drama productions at the Civic Center, and countless swim meets. I recall spending many afternoons on the porch swing at my grandparents' house at Main and McRee playing "Mother May I" and counting cars with my Grandma, siblings, and cousins. There are few places in the world that I hold quite as close to my heart.

 

Throughout my adult life, I have watched from afar as the place that I love has become more and more like the congested counties of metro Atlanta, with their sprawling subdivisions, strip malls, and office parks. Though this growth has allowed many new opportunities for shopping, dining, and other conveniences, at some point, I worry that we'll wake up and realize we've lost our small town. 

 

It is with this in mind that I offer this proposal, presented as my own vision for Watkinsville. Growth is often inevitable, but it is my hope that if growth occurs, it is growth that makes efficient use of resources and that will leave a lasting and positive impact on the city that will be loved by generations to come.