At the Northern piece of the site there is a current brick apartment building that I am keeping. I have created a park directly south of this building in a vacant lot. This park design is inspired from campus settings where all the paths converge on one main point, in my case it all converges on a water feature. Also on the park site is a year round restaurant and bar that is in the design phase. As of now it is showing glass overhead doors on the park side which can be opened in the summer and fall months for additional seating on the patio, overlooking the park. The trees and retaining wall near the apartments are used to separate the areas so they can each act as their own functions. The park will be a very nice addition to the overall site and can be utilized by the neighboring college students as a relaxing place for socializaton or studying. As far as winter months since the area experiences cold winters and snow the park will not be utilized to its full potential, however the restaurant space can serve patrons year round.
The condos near 7th ave house 8 units and 8 retail spaces. Parking for the retail spaces will be included behind the building as to not become an eyesore from the street. In between the two buildings are pocket parks that can be utilized by residents as well as passerbys that may be shopping in the connecting buildings.
Across from the condos also on 7th and High street is a redesigned grocery store. Currently this grocery store is an eyesore and is not seen as a nice place. The new design will bring the store closer to the street and maintain the parking on the 7th ave side. I plan to also add additional retail spaces on this plot towards the 5th ave side to help tie this area in with the short north district to the south.
There is clarity to your description of why you are adding the elements you have to your site. I appreciate the references to campus planning, though I think there is more to understand and apply than simply the geometry. Quads work because they connect natural pathways from destination to destination: you have now created destinations to one side of the park but could take a second pass look at where pedestrian traffic is coming from, or why this geometry of paths addresses a need.
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