Client: Town of Essex

Year: 2022-2023

Project Team

• Town of Essex

• Strategic Planning Committee

• Economic Development Committee

• Essex Merchant’s Group

• Greater Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce

Civic Space Collaborative (CSC) provided consulting services to the Town of Essex for the “Downtown Essex Placemaking Plan.” The plan marks the culmination of a six-month planning process that aimed to strengthen the downtown identity, design spaces for events and community, and encourage residents and visitors to visit downtown and support local businesses.

The four-phase approach used to assess the town’s needs and to develop project concepts included the following.

• Phase 1: Existing conditions assessment and document review.

• Phase 2: Community engagement at an in-person open house and an online survey. 

• Phase 3: Developing project recommendations; see below.

• Phase 4: Finalizing recommendations and next steps for the Placemaking Plan.

There were four placemaking project recommendations developed in the final plan.

• Streetscape Furniture: specifications for benches, tables, trash cans, and bike racks.

• Wayfinding: create signature crosswalks, kiosks, and artwork as landmarks.

• Park at 24 Martin Street: concept plan for a new park with seating landscaping and open space for programming, activities, and artwork.

• Landscaping:  locations for improved plant beds and planters and a plant palette of colors and species.

Funded by the Community One Stop for Growth Massachusetts Downtown Initiative Grant.