miramar town center

the city of miramar master plan

the miramar town center group & torti gallas and partners • chk
The miramar town center
Master plan

Prepared for

The City of Miramar

Prepared by

The Miramar Town Center Group

and
torti gallas and partners • chk, inc.
Participants
The City of Miramar Miramar Town Center Group
Mayor Lori C. Moseley The Hogan Group
Vice Mayor Fitzroy D. Salesman The Related Group of Florida
Commissioner Steven T. Bogert
Commissioner Marjorie J. Conlan Torti Gallas and Partners • CHK
Commissioner Sallie L. Stephens Master Plan • Pattern Book • Regulating Plan

City Manager Robert A. Payton Cartaya Associates

Assistant City Managers City Hall & Cultural Arts Center Architecture
Administrative Services Robert C. Bell
Development Services Wazir A. Ishmael, Ph.D. Keith & Schnars
Operational Services Vernon E. Hargray Civil Engineering

City Clerk Yvette M. McLeary Michael Morrissey

City Attorney Weiss Serota Helfman Perspective Renderings • Architectural Stylist/Design Consultant
Pastoriza & Guedes, P.A.

Development & Capital Hector A. Vazquez

Management Coordinator
Financial and Economic Eulaine S. Johnson
Analysis Officer
Organizational & Public Debra A. Walker
Affairs Officer

Community Development Donald J. Waldron,AICP

Director
Planning Manager Harold C. Zombek, AICP
Building Official Richard A. Kittendorf
Senior Planner/Special David Goldman, AICP
Projects Manager
Senior Planner Fred W. Hagy, AICP, RLA
Senior Planner Richard G. Hughes
Senior Planner Elizabeth Matej, AICP
Senior Planner Gustavo Zambrano, AICP
Planner Michael Alpert

Deputy Director of Henry E. Talton, P.E.

Operational Services
City Engineer Luis A. Lopez, P.E.
City Architect Robert H. Rose

Finance Director John R. Merrell

Budget Manager Helen G. Ostlund

Community Services Lowell M. Borges

Administrator
Assistant Community Tim W. Kennett
Services Administrator
Community Services Geri S. Freedman
Supervisor

A special thanks to all City staff that contributed to the develop-

ment of this document.

©2002 Torti Gallas and Partners • CHK, Inc. | 1300 Spring Street, 4th floor, Silver Spring, MD 20910 301.588.4800

The City of Miramar

4
the miramar town center group & torti gallas and partners • chk
 contents
Introduction 6-7
Site Analysis 8-9
Design Diagrams 10-11
Land Use 12
Parking 13
Civic Center 14-15
City Hall Plaza & City Hall Promenade 16-17
Main Street & Market Plaza 18-19
Residential Neighborhood & 20-21
Canal Street
City Hall Plaza and Civic Park 22
Botanical Garden and Market Plaza 23
Canal and Circle 24
Entry Plaza and Residential Plaza 25

©2002 Michael Morrissey

©2002 Torti Gallas and Partners • CHK, Inc. | 1300 Spring Street, 4th floor, Silver Spring, MD 20910 301.588.4800

The City of Miramar

5
the miramar town center group & torti gallas and partners • chk
introduction
The City of Miramar has a rare opportunity to develop a new
Town Center - an opportunity to fulfill a dream, to create a
traditional neighborhood, a place where people truly live, work,
and play. In a word, a community.

This Master Plan is the result of the efforts of a great number

of people - City and Civic leaders, City staff, citizens, urban
planners and designers, architects, developers, and a number
of other professionals needed to implement the vision.

All too often what is today called a 'town center' is, at its very
best, a mixed-use assemblage of office, retail and residential
components that has evolved without much forethought, with-
out a cohesive and unified master plan. While that mix makes
for a business district, it does not create a true Town Center.

Miramar has a clean sheet of paper on which to design a vision

for the future. The impetus for the development is the need for
a new City Hall, Cultural Arts Center, and a Public Library.
Miramar has had the forethought to see beyond just the
immediate, short-term needs of the city and to use this need to
become the catalyst to create an environment that fosters
community, neighborhood, and commerce.

City Hall Plaza with its City Hall and Cultural Arts Center is
situated on the most important, the most visible, and the most
valuable property within the project site. Located at the
intersection of Red Road and Miramar Boulevard, it projects
both a stately urban face to the Town Center, and a broad
expansive garden face to the intersection of Red Road and
Miramar Boulevard. In addition, the Cultural Arts Center
building projects a prominent face onto the Entry Plaza, ad-
dressing the approach to the Town Center from the southeast
and the Turnpike extension.

Main Street is perpendicular to Red Road and runs north/south

from Red Road to Miramar Boulevard. It is bisected by Canal
Street running east/west from the Circle at Civic Center Place
to Hiatus Road. A residential neighborhood is centered about
Canal Street and fills the site to the north of the canal. To the
south of the canal, a civic-commercial-residential mixed-use
area centers around City Hall Promenade. Market Plaza and
City Hall Plaza, the two main squares of the Town Center, are a
mere 5-minute walk from any point in the neighborhood.

Market Plaza and City Hall Plaza lie at opposite ends of

City Hall Promenade and, along with the promenade, these
components form the core of the Miramar Town Center.
View
©2002 of City
Michael Hall
Morrissey from the Lake
©2002 Torti Gallas and Partners • CHK, Inc. | 1300 Spring Street, 4th floor, Silver Spring, MD 20910 301.588.4800

The City of Miramar

6
the miramar town center group & torti gallas and partners • chk
 introduction
Beyond this core, lakes form a continuous landscape park
along Miramar Boulevard, offering views of City Hall and
connecting the site to its surroundings. The Ansin Park ties in
to this parkway at the northeast corner and the City's open
MIRAMAR BOULEV
ARD space corridor ties into the Entry Plaza and the lake north of
City Hall.

Walking through Miramar's new Town Center, one encounters

Lake various urban spaces. The streets and boulevards are pedes-
trian friendly public settings framed by buildings, plazas,
PARK LAN
E squares, and gardens. Of particular note are City Hall Boule-
vard, Main Street, Civic Center Place and Canal Street. The
squares of note include the City Hall Plaza, Entry Plaza, and
Library & Market Plaza. The garden spaces are located strategically
Education Lake throughout the plan and include the Civic Center Lakeside
Piazzetta, the Botanical Gardens off the City Hall and Cultural
Arts Center buildings, and an informal picturesque landscape
garden wrapping the site.

Can
CA al This book contains the vision of the City of Miramar in the
NA
L STR
EET
form of its Master Plan. It is a framwork to be used in conjunc-
tion with the Pattern Book and the Regulating Plan to guide
Tra
n sit
development to the successful implementation of the vision.
Hu
Lake b

City Hall Garage

Wellness
Center
CE
P LA

City Hall
Plaza
ER
NT

Botanical
CE

Garden
Civic Center
IC

Park CIT
CIV

YH
A LL
PR
OM
EN

T
AD

EE
Cultural Arts Center E
STR

D
Market

OA
IN
Plaza

SR
MA

U
AT
HI
Garage
place perspective image here:
Entry Plaza

view of city hall from Lake

RE
DR
OA
D

Garage

Garage

Master Plan Increased Residential Option

©2002 Torti Gallas and Partners • CHK, Inc. | 1300 Spring Street, 4th floor, Silver Spring, MD 20910 301.588.4800

The City of Miramar

7
the miramar town center group & torti gallas and partners • chk
site analysis
Regional Analysis
Miramar is located in South Florida in close proximity to Fort
Lauderdale and Miami. It stretches from the Everglades to the
west to State Road 7 in the east. Miami-Dade County in the
southern border is the second fastest growing city in Florida
and has more fortune 500 companies than any other area in
South Florida. South Florida is a multi-cultural community
that is recognized for its tropical climate, beaches and other
tourist attractions, and its retirement population. The three
county region includes the Florida Keys and more dense settle-
ments such as Miami-Dade County and Broward County.
Miramar has an opportunity to take advantage of its geographic
location and the economic vitality of the times to create a Town
Center that will serve Miramar into the 21st Century.

Context Analysis
This diagram shows the location of the Town Center in the
context of Miramar at the intersection of Red Road and
Miramar Boulevard. This location, just east of Interstate
75, relates directly to the major roadways in the area: the
East-West streets of Pembroke Road, Miramar Boulevard,
Miramar Parkway, and the Turnpike Extension; and the Context Analysis
North-South streets of Flamingo Road, Red Road, and
Pahokee West Palm Beach
Palm Avenue.

Site Analysis
SOUTH FLORIDA
This diagram shows the aspect of the site in the local con-
text. The greatest impacts on the site are the intersection of
Naples
Miramar Boulevard and Red Road, the location of the power
lines along the eastern edge, the predominant ‘front’ of the Fort Lauderdale
site along Red Road, and the neighboring land uses.
MIRAMAR
Miramar’s civic buildings are situated on the most visible Miami
and most valuable ground, furthest from the power lines
and next to the residential area. City Hall is thus able to
project a broad romantic garden front. Key Largo

Key West

Regional Analysis Site Analysis

©2002 Torti Gallas and Partners • CHK, Inc. | 1300 Spring Street, 4th floor, Silver Spring, MD 20910 301.588.4800

The City of Miramar

8
the miramar town center group & torti gallas and partners • chk
 site Analysis
The Site
The site of the Miramar Town Center is a 54 acre parcel bounded
by Red Road, Miramar Boulevard, and Hiatus Road. As is com-
mon of the region, the site is very flat.

Scale Comparison and Precedents

Shown to the immediate left, and at the same scale, are both
Saint Augustine, FL and downtown Celebration, FL. These town
plans help one to understand the size of the site and the scale of
the plan elements.

Town Center Site St. Augustine, Florida

Miramar Town Center Celebration, Florida

©2002 Torti Gallas and Partners • CHK, Inc. | 1300 Spring Street, 4th floor, Silver Spring, MD 20910 301.588.4800

The City of Miramar

9
the miramar town center group & torti gallas and partners • chk
design diagrams
Block Framework
Blocks
The Miramar Town Center is composed of 8 city blocks. Block sizes and inter-
section spacing create a vibrant, walkable, mixed-use community organized
around four primary streets and two small residential lanes. The blocks are shown
in yellow above. The blocks are generally defined by building faces along all
edges of the block except where the buildings are situated in a park space.
Waterway
The diagram above also depicts the water bodies in the town center. The water
bodies are a part of the “Emerald Necklace” of green space that surrounds the
Miramar Town Center and connects to the Miramar open space network. The
largest water body occupies the largest block (the civic block) and then winds its
way through the plan from the civic center to the west through a canal that crosses
the site to the east and then winds its way to the north.
©2002 Torti Gallas and Partners • CHK, Inc. | 1300 Spring Street, 4th floor, Silver Spring, MD 20910 301.588.4800
The City of Miramar
the miramar town center group & torti gallas and partners • chk
Public Realm
Framework
The public realm is composed of parks, lakes, canals, boulevards, streets, and
plazas. The plan is crafted to be comprehensible and well-connected both inter-
nally and peripherally. The public streets and spaces are formed to support and
nurture the varied activities of the citizens of Miramar and act as a framework
for the social life of the Town Center.
“Emerald Necklace”
An “Emerald Necklace” of park space, paths, and lakes embraces the town center
at its periphery. This “Emerald Necklace” transforms into a romantic canal that
traverses the site and links the core of the town center with the park system.
Streets and Plazas
Streets, boulevards, canals, and lanes are designed as public space that is the front
door for the town center buildings. These streets not only accommodate a diver-
sity of activities, they also connect the larger public plazas. The plazas are de-
signed to accommodate larger public gatherings and serve as both ceremonial
spaces and for uses as diverse as outdoor performances and a lively market space
that can accommodate outdoor seating.
10
Approaches
This diagram illustrates the primary approaches to the site. The approaches to
the site are from the west, from the east, and from the north.
1- Western Approach
From the west, the civic complex is set over a lushly landscaped lake and pre-
sents a "picture post card" view from Red Road announcing ones arrival to the
Miramar Town Center.
2- Eastern Approach
From the east Miramar Town Center’s Main Street is announced by Gateway
Plaza with its water features, sculptures, and a tower element at the head of
Main Street.
3- Northern Approach
The approach from the north presents a park and lake to the visitor before
arriving at the residential portion of Main Street. The town center plan orients
the streets to the north to correspond to the locations of the residential
neighborhood’s open green spaces. These locations provide a link between the
town center and the surrounding neighborhoods.

Vistas
General
Vistas have been carefully arranged within the town center to reinforce the stat-
ure of the civic buildings and civic realm, and to create a visual terminus for the
many public spaces.
Principal Vistas
Principal vistas approaching the town center are shown in the above diagram.
The first principal vista within the site is along City Hall Promenade and is
focused on City Hall (and plaza) and the Market Plaza. This axis is reinforced
by a continuous arcade. The second principal vista is along the Canal and
Canal Street. This vista is terminated on the western end by the Library and on
the eastern end by a residential building that forms an arched gateway to the
town center.
Secondary Vistas
Other streets within the town center have strategically placed bends that define
vistas and focus attention on architectural features that provide both a visual
hierarchy to the town center and a beauty that is found in many of the great
towns of the world.
design diagrams
Civic Buildings Synthesis
Civic Center Town Center
The civic buildings of a town identify the symbolic heart of a city. City Hall, the A town combines the social and physical elements of a society into more than an
Cultural Arts Center, the Library and Education Center, and the Transit Hub agglomeration of disparate parts. A town is crafted to provide spaces for the
have been grouped together to create a civic center that reflects the symbolic daily social activites of its citizens. Not only is a town functional, but it reflects
importance of the civic buildings to the City of Miramar. the aspirations of its citizens, it is a lasting legacy to its people, it gives a sense of
pride to the community, and provides daily enjoyment to its citizens.
City Hall, Cultural Arts Center, and Library
An easily understandable framework of blocks and public realm form the basic
The buildings have been grouped to create a memorable civic center that is fo- structure of the town center. A civic heart forms the societal core and the views
cused on both the Civic Park and the commercial and residential fabric of the and placement of vistas and significant elements create an overall stage set for
town center. From the west the buildings are located in a park setting that over- the lives of the people of Miramar.
looks a lake and creates a romantic picture post card view. From the east the
buildings contribute to the street character and also form City Hall Plaza. The
Library also plays a significant role in terminating the vista of the canal with a
civic presence.
Transit Building
The Transit Hub is the point of disembarkation and embarkation for many visi-
tors to and from the town center. A symbolic entry into the town center is rein-
forced by locating the Transit Building on axis with one of the major entrances
that is focused on the Circle.
©2002 Torti Gallas and Partners • CHK, Inc. | 1300 Spring Street, 4th floor, Silver Spring, MD 20910 301.588.4800
The City of Miramar
11
the miramar town center group & torti gallas and partners • chk
land use
The location of land uses is critically important in ensuring
that a vibrant mix of uses, that support each other, is achieved.
The plan found on this page diagrams the location of uses
within the town center. The civic components have been
grouped together to form a Civic Center in Block 1. Blocks 2, MIRAMAR BOULEV
ARD
3, and 4 are mixed-use blocks. These blocks share parking.
These buildings will be primarily mixed-use buildings. The
buildings along City Hall Promenade must contain retail uses
on the ground floor. Main Street (from Red Road to City Hall Block 8
Promenade must also contain retail uses on the ground floor.
Blocks 5 and 6 are depicted in the Master Plan as residential. PARK LANE
There is no prohibition of other uses in these block as long as
sufficient parking is provided. While general locations are
described above and to the right, the exact location and size of Library &
Education
each building and adjustments to the locations of uses will be Block 6 Block 7
refined at the time of Site Plan development.

Block 5
Land Use Program
Total Civic 208,000 SF Can
al
City Hall - 87,000 SF sit
CA
NA
Tran L STR
Cultural Arts Center - 44,000 SF EET
Education and Library - 72,000 SF
Transit Hub - 5,000 SF Tra
n sit
Hu
Wellness Center 30,000 SF b Can
Retail 101,000 SF Block 1 al

Office 78,700 SF Block 3 Wellness

Residential 528 DU City Hall Center
Parking

CE
Garage
Apartments - 439 DU

P LA
City Hall
Plaza
TH or Carriage Houses - 89 DU

ER
NT
Increased Residential Option 819 DU

CE
Apartments - 765 DU CIT

IC
YH

CIV
A
TH or Carriage Houses - 54 DU LL
PR
Cultural Arts Center
OM
EN
AD
Block 4

T
E

EE

D
OA
STR
Land Use Legend

SR
Market

IN

U
Plaza

MA

AT
Block 2

HI
Civic Buildings
Retail Buildings
Retail/Office Buildings
RE
DR
Retail/Residential Buildings OA
D

Office/Residential Buildings
Apartment Buildings (High Density)
Town Houses or Carriage Houses
Wellness Center
Transit/Residential Building
©2002 Torti Gallas and Partners • CHK, Inc. | 1300 Spring Street, 4th floor, Silver Spring, MD 20910 301.588.4800

The City of Miramar

12
the miramar town center group & torti gallas and partners • chk
 parking
Parking Location
Consistent with traditional town centers all parking is located
to the interior of the block behind the buildings with the
ARD
exception of on-street parking . The Civic Center and the mixed
MIRAMAR BOULEV
-use blocks share the 1,250 space Parking Garage in Block 3.
Block #1
Parking Required
Parking Provided:
878 sp.
Parking Provided Parking Required
in block #1 199 sp. Block 8 by Block by Use
in block #3 679 sp.
Block 1 199 sp. Total Civic 878 sp.
PARK LANE
Block 2 172 sp. Wellness Ctr. 105 sp.
Block 3 1,310 sp. Retail 354 sp.
Library &
Block 4 363 sp. Office 315 sp.
Education Block 6 Block 7 Block 5 231 sp. Residential 803 sp.
Block 6 223 sp. TOTAL REQ. 2,455 sp.
TOTAL 2,498 sp. TOTAL PROV. 2,498 sp.
Block 5
Approved Parking Ratios & Shared Parking
Can
CA
NA
al Base Parking Ratios Shared Parking Ratios
s it L STR
Tran EET for mixed-use blocks*
Tra Office 4.0/1,000 S.F. 4.0/1,000 S.F.
n sit
Hu
b Block #3 Retail 5.0/1,000 S.F. 3.5/1,000S.F.
Block 1 Parking Required 256 sp. Apartment 1.6/1,000 S.F. 1.3/1,000 S.F.
Block 3 Parking Provided:
Town House 2.1/unit 2.1/unit
Parking Garage Wellness in block #3 256 sp.
City Hall
Civic (total required for program) 878 sp.
CE

1,250 Spaces Center

P LA

City Hall
Plaza
ER
NT

*Shared Parking Percentages for (mixed-use blocks)

CE
IC

CIT
YH
CIV

A LL Use Weekday Weekend

PR
OM
EN
AD
Block 4 12AM-6AM 9AM-4PM 6PM-12PM 9AM-4PM 6PM-12PM

T
E

D
Cultural Arts Center
EE
Office 5 100 23 10 20

OA
STR

SR
Market Retail 5 70 90 100 70

U
IN

Plaza

AT
Apt. 100 77 100 100 100
MA

HI
Block 2 T.H. 100 100 100 100 100

Block #4
Parking Required 652 sp.
Parking Legend
Parking Program Parking Provided:
in block #4 363 sp.
Units / sf Parking Required
RE
DR
in block #3 289 sp. Block 1
Total Apartments or Carriage
439 616 OA
Houses @1.3-1.6/DU 528 D
Total Townhouses @2.1/DU

Total Retail @3.5/1000

89

101,000
187

354
Block #2
Parking Required 242 sp.
Block 2
Total Office @4/1000 78,700 315
Parking Provided:
Wellness Center @3.5/1000
Total Civic
30,000
208,000
105
878 in block #2 172 sp. Block 3
Parking Required 2,455
in block #3 70 sp.

Parking Provided

Parking Surplus (On-Street Pkng.)

2,498

43
Block 4
Apts. Over Retail or Office (28%)

Apts. as Stand Alone Bldgs.

123

314
Block 5
Note: The above numbers represent shared parking for the mixed-use
blocks during the Weekday Day time period (9AM-4PM)
Block 6

©2002 Torti Gallas and Partners • CHK, Inc. | 1300 Spring Street, 4th floor, Silver Spring, MD 20910 301.588.4800

The City of Miramar

13
the miramar town center group & torti gallas and partners • chk
Civic center

©2002 Torti Gallas and Partners • CHK, Inc. | 1300 Spring Street, 4th floor, Silver Spring, MD 20910 301.588.4800

The City of Miramar

14
the miramar town center group & torti gallas and partners • chk
 civic center
The civic buildings of a town identify the symbolic and cer-
emonial heart of a city. City Hall, the Cultural Arts Center,
the Library and Education Center, and the Transit Hub have
been grouped together to create a civic center that reflects
the symbolic importance of the civic buildings to the City
of Miramar.

The buildings have been grouped to create a memorable

civic center that is focused on both the Civic Park and the
Library &
commercial and residential fabric of the town center. From
Education the west the buildings are located in a park setting that over-

D
looks the lake and creates a romantic picture post card view.

AR
EV
UL
From the east the buildings contribute to the street charac-

BO
ter and also form City Hall Plaza. The Library also plays a

AR
AM
significant role in terminating the vista of the canal with a
IR
M civic presence.
Pedestrian Bridge
The Transit Hub is the point of disembarkation and embar-
kation for many visitors to and from the town center. A
symbolic entry into the town center is reinforced by locat-
ing the Transit Building on axis with one of the major en-
trances that is focused on the Circle.

An open paved plaza takes its cue from the traditional Spanish
Colonial towns that are a part of the history of this region. It
has a prominent axial location at the western end of City Hall
Lake Promenade that communicates the importance and the cen-
City Hall tral role of the seat of government. The Plaza serves as a com-
munity gathering place for both festive and more ceremonial

CE
PLA
City Hall Plaza events, as well as for daily activities. City Hall Plaza is formed

ER
by the arcaded City Hall on two sides and by the arcaded Cul-

NT
tural Arts Center on a third. These arcades surround the Plaza

CE
IC
and provide a gracious shaded walk and seating area.

CIV
CIT
YH
AL
LP The Plaza arcades open up to both the botanical garden and
RO
M EN
AD
the lake side of the building where a grand terrace overlook-
E
Cultural Arts Center ing the large lake is found much the same way that Piazza San
Marco in Venice flows into its Piazzetta facing the Grand Ca-
nal. Like San Marco, the “Piazzetta” opens onto a body of
water and celebrates the city's interaction with its many lakes.
RED
RO
AD

©2002 Torti Gallas and Partners • CHK, Inc. | 1300 Spring Street, 4th floor, Silver Spring, MD 20910 301.588.4800

The City of Miramar

15
the miramar town center group & torti gallas and partners • chk
City Hall plaza & city hall promenade

©2002 Torti Gallas and Partners • CHK, Inc. | 1300 Spring Street, 4th floor, Silver Spring, MD 20910 301.588.4800

The City of Miramar

16
the miramar town center group & torti gallas and partners • chk
 City hall plaza & city hall promenade
The City Hall Plaza is the ceremonial civic space of the town
center and is the forecourt to City Hall and the Cultural Arts
Center. It anchors the western end of the arcaded tree-lined
City Hall Promenade and links the City Hall Plaza with the
Market Plaza. It is both a formal entry and a gathering space
for various city functions. The design of the plaza is flexible
enough to accommodate diverse programs. This is accom-
plished by providing an open paved plaza reminiscent of those
found in Spanish Colonial towns that were organized around a
central plaza. The plaza is surrounded by a continuous arcade
that frames the space. A slightly raised terrace at the entry to
the Cultural Arts Center provides both informal seating and
serves as a performance area for periodic gatherings. At other
times the plaza can be programmed with stalls/booths for other
uses such as craft fairs, Miramar Days, or any number of other
events. A tower could be located within the plaza and serve as
Tower a focal element that could be seen from outside the town cen-
City Hall
ter and could serve to announce the civic heart of Miramar.

The promenade is designed to accommodate and promote

CE
PLA
City Hall Plaza ER strolling between the two primary public spaces. The street
makes a single ensemble of the City Hall Plaza, the Promenade
NT
CE

and Market Plaza. A continuous arcade offers a respite from

IC

the sun as window shoppers stroll and view the wares on display
CIV

in the shop windows. Residential units located above the ground

CIT
YH level retail contribute to the 24 hour life of the street. The
AL
LP
RO
M
buildings of the promenade are designed in a Mediterranean
EN
AD
E Revival style that creates a harmonius ensemble with the civic
buildings.

ET
RE
ST
Market Plaza

IN
MA

RE
DR
OA
D

12’ 7’ 7’ 11’ 9’ 11’ 7’ 7’ 12’

Arcade 45’ ROW Arcade
84’

©2002 Torti Gallas and Partners • CHK, Inc. | 1300 Spring Street, 4th floor, Silver Spring, MD 20910 301.588.4800

The City of Miramar

17
the miramar town center group & torti gallas and partners • chk
main street & market plaza

©2002 Torti Gallas and Partners • CHK, Inc. | 1300 Spring Street, 4th floor, Silver Spring, MD 20910 301.588.4800

The City of Miramar

18
the miramar town center group & torti gallas and partners • chk
 main street & market plaza
Miramar’s Main Street traverses the north-south length of the
site passing through areas of varying character and changing
accordingly. At Red Road the street begins as a lively, 24 hour,
festival, mixed-use street that greets people with pedestrian
walks containing retail storefronts that welcome strolling and
window shopping. Arcades project from the buildings in places
to offer shade, but are discontinuous in other places to offer
sunshine. Residential dwellings are located above the retail and
provide for a gracious lifestyle where a cup of coffee at a side-
walk table is only a few feet away.

Proceeding along Main Street one arrives at the Market Plaza.

Located at the southeastern end of City Hall Promenade, Mar-
ket Plaza is an eclectic, people-oriented space that is used for
dining and entertainment. Street theater, bands, and perform-
ers of all kinds enliven the plaza. Market Plaza will be home to
all types of activities be they formal or informal, arranged or
spontaneous.

Further north the character of Main Street changes as one

crosses the bridge over the canal and becomes a more quiet
residential street with possible stoops that create informal seat-
ing and gathering places. Main Street is an outdoor room that

ET
is the daily center of activity and relaxation and one that af-

RE
ST
Market Plaza fords congenial social interaction.

IN
MA

12’ 5’ 7’ 11’ 11’ 7’ 5’ 12’

Optional Optional
36’ ROW
Colonnade Colonnade
71’

©2002 Torti Gallas and Partners • CHK, Inc. | 1300 Spring Street, 4th floor, Silver Spring, MD 20910 301.588.4800

The City of Miramar

19
the miramar town center group & torti gallas and partners • chk
residential neighborhood & canal street

©2002 Torti Gallas and Partners • CHK, Inc. | 1300 Spring Street, 4th floor, Silver Spring, MD 20910 301.588.4800

The City of Miramar

20
the miramar town center group & torti gallas and partners • chk
 residential neighborhood & canal street
The Canal is part of the basic framework of the plan. It links
MIRAMAR BOULEVARD
the western civic end of the site, and its lake, through a resi-
dential neighborhood and to the western threshold that forms
the eastern entry into the site.

Canals create some of the most romantic streets found in the

world today. The opportunity to be close to water and to enjoy
Bridge
its pleasant sounds and cooling effects make them highly sought
Lake after and highly memorable locations. Canal Street is such a
place.

One can begin a stroll at the Botanical Garden, then wind

N E / PED EST RIA N P R O M E N A D E
PA R K LA around the large lake with its informal tropical plantings and
cross over to the canal. As one walks along the shady paths
bridges provide long views down the canal. The canal is home

STREET
to many residents who enjoy views of the water from their bal-
conies.

MAIN
Residential Lake
Plaza
ge
d
Bri

Canal
an
st r i
e
Ped

CA
NA
L STR
EET

D
OA
Bridge

USR
AT
7’ 1’ 4’ 10’ 10’ 4’ 1’ 7’

HI
Canal Optional Sidewalk 20’ ROW Sidewalk Optional
Stoop 45’ Stoop

Bridge

15’ 7’ 10’ 10’ 2’ 5’-6” 5’ 4’ 6’-6” 34’ 6’-6” 4’ 5’ 5’ 7’

Sidewalk 29’ ROW Sidewalk Sidewalk Optional
128’ Stoop

©2002 Torti Gallas and Partners • CHK, Inc. | 1300 Spring Street, 4th floor, Silver Spring, MD 20910 301.588.4800

The City of Miramar

21
the miramar town center group & torti gallas and partners • chk
CITY HALL PLAZA & CIVIC PARK
City Hall Plaza Civic Center Park & Other
Arcade General Park Spaces
City Hall Plaza is formed by City Hall
Connection
and the Cultural Arts Center and is the When one approaches the Miramar to Canal
western terminus of City Hall Prom- Tower Moveable tables Town Center one is greeted by a bucolic
enade. It is a primarily open paved space and chairs park with lakes that is the setting for the
that can accomodate a variety of uses. Civic buildings and forms an “Emerald Terrace
Necklace” of park space and lakes for the
Pavers town center. The park space also makes Path
its way through the center of the plan via System Lake
City Hall
a canal that connects to the eastern and
northern lakes.

CIVIC CENTER PLACE

Stage
Arcade Lawn
Cultural Arts
Center

Piazza di Popoli - Ravenna, Italy is a This image shows the general character
space very similar to City Hall Plaza in of the park spaces with open lawn and
its size and in the scale of the buildings. spaces defined by large trees and planting
beds.

©2002 Torti Gallas and Partners • CHK, Inc. | 1300 Spring Street, 4th floor, Silver Spring, MD 20910 301.588.4800

The City of Miramar

22
the miramar town center group & torti gallas and partners • chk
 BOTANICAL GARDEN & MARKET PLAZA
Botanical Garden Market Plaza
City Hall City Hall Plaza The Botanical Garden is located adjacent The Market Plaza forms the eastern
to City Hall Plaza and the Cultural Arts terminus of City Hall Promenade and is
Terrace Center. It is surrounded by an open air a lively arcaded space used for
Continuous Arcade arcade and displays specimen plants from performances, dining, and markets.
the South Florida region. It also serves
as a “trail head” for the civic center park
Lake
space.

Fountain Continuous Arcade

Fountain
Planting Beds with
specimen plants Moveable Tables
and Chairs
Palm Trees

Cultural Arts Center

The Courtyard of the Cistertian The Piazza of the Pantheon Pistoia, Italy
Monastery at the Baths of Diocletian depicts the scale and type of activity that
Rome, Italy depicts the character of the is to occur in this space.
arcaded Botanical Garden.

©2002 Torti Gallas and Partners • CHK, Inc. | 1300 Spring Street, 4th floor, Silver Spring, MD 20910 301.588.4800

The City of Miramar

23
the miramar town center group & torti gallas and partners • chk
canal & circle
Canal EntryCircle
The Plaza
Lake
The Canal is a waterway and greenspace Add Circle
The text here...
occurs at the intersection of
connecting the western civic end of the the Canal and Civic Center Place and is
site, and its lake, through a residential faced by the Transit Building, the Library,
neighborhood and to the western and a residential building. Its prominent
threshold that forms the eastern entry. Tot Lot Pool location creates an opportunity for civic
art.

Pedestrian Bridge
Plaza Water Feature/ Canal

Bridge
Civic Art

Bridge
Wall
Canal Lake

CANAL STREET Threshold

CANAL STREET

Transit
Building

This image of the Canal at Celebration,

Florida depicts the character of the canal The De Soto Fountain in Coral Gables,
with its “soft” edge. While the width of Florida is an example of civic art located
the water is similar to this image, the in a circle.
buildings are located closer to the canal
to create a more intimate space.

©2002 Torti Gallas and Partners • CHK, Inc. | 1300 Spring Street, 4th floor, Silver Spring, MD 20910 301.588.4800

The City of Miramar

24
the miramar town center group & torti gallas and partners • chk
 entry plaza & residential plaza
Residential
Entry Plaza Plaza Traffic Circle
Residential Plaza
Add Entry
The text here ... announces the Miramar
Plaza Add paved
The text here ...
Residential Plaza overlooks
Town Center and is the primary face the northern lakes and creates a small
along Red Road. civic moment in the residential
Sidewalk
neighborhood.

Path Lake

Pavers

Fountain Pavers Palm Trees Fountain Small

Statue

RED ROAD

This example shows the character of the This example shows the character of the
plaza with its linear trees. plaza with its paved surface and small
statuary.

©2002 Torti Gallas and Partners • CHK, Inc. | 1300 Spring Street, 4th floor, Silver Spring, MD 20910 301.588.4800

The City of Miramar

25
the miramar town center group & torti gallas and partners • chk