Sewanee Town Plan

Commissioned in 2005 by the University of the South to enhance the aesthetic appearance of their long neglected downtown to more closely resemble the image of their pristine campus and to create an inviting entryway to the university. The proposal suggests public space modifications that would be more reminiscent of the historic village plan, which featured a developed main street terminated by a public park and Otey Chapel. The origin of the town, circa 1863, was a train depot. The master plan proposes reinterpreting this train depot as a visitor's center and museum of the town's history. The interpretive site would be a museum and public park, lavishly planted as a gateway to the town. Development at the intersection will then serve to slow traffic on the highway and create a more permanent sense of destination. The town holds alliance meetings to infuse energy into the rehabilitation of the downtown. The university has begun construction on a 14-unit housing development one block northwest of the town. Residential development surrounding the downtown, several vacant structures have been renovated as new retail destinations. - close