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E L R O S E
ARCHITECTURAL AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT STUDY
AE=629 FALL 1975
TERMINAL PROJECT
DONNIE GASTON SEALE
AE; 629 Terminal Project
This project was produced as a terminal project for the Preservation option-Graduate Program in Architecture, at the University of Florida.
Graduate Committee:
F. Blair Reeves; Carl Feiss John McRay
Chai rman
CONTENTS
STATEMENT OF PROBLEM Location Map HISTORICAL SEQUENCE Historical Photo Essay SITE INVESTIGATION Geological Survey Map Melrose Street Map Density Study Zoning Map PRESENT CONDITION DEVELOPMENT CRITERIA Building Heights & Roof Design Side walks
Exterior Building Materials
Density
Setbacks
Roads
Landscape
Par king
Street Furniture Fences
Additions to Existing Buildings
DEVELOPMENT AREA
Proposed Guideline Area
Proposed Towncenter
Development Area
Possible Moveable Buildings
Site Study
Phase I Study
Phase II Study
Phase I & II Study
Development Area Site Plan
Commerical Center
BIBLIOGRAPHY
This Architectural and Community Development Study of Melrose is concerned with the physical character and order of the neighborhood, and the relationship between people and their environment.
Melrose's unique relationship of natural setting and man's past creations are extremely fragile.
This study will be a planned effort to recognize the positive attributes of the neighborhood, and make recommendations as to how these attributes can be enhanced to improve the living environment of Melrose.
These goals will be accomplished by analysis of the present conditions and designing a prototype commercial and housing units in a selected area of Melrose.
STATEMENT OF PROBLEM
LOCATION MAP
HISTORICAL SEQUENCE
First settlers began moving into area in the 1850's.
There was little concentrated development until after the Civil War.
Development took place due to northerners being attracted to the warm climate and possible fortunes gained through growing citrus.
In 1881, steamer service began between Waldo and Melrose via Lake Alto through a series of canals to Lake Santa Fe. This steamer service connected Melrose with the Cedar Key and Fernandina Railroad which linked the east and west coast of Florida.
The steamer service connection to the railroad became very important by bringing northern tourists into area which built winter residences and by transporting valuable citrus crops grown on Melrose farms.
In 1861 a railroad line came to Melrose bringing greater numbers of norther tourists and settlers.
By the early 1890's Melrose had developed into a thriving small community with several hotels and churches.
In the winter of 1895 hard freezes killed the citrus crops which ended this growing prosperity leaving Melrose and the rest of North Central Florida with no immediate source of income.
Effects of the freeze were felt immediately when northern winter residents and tourists left earring bad news north, selling land at rock-bottom prices behind them.
Train and steamer service continued for awhile but were eliminated as Melrose sunk into a depression.
Melrose was to never become the same type of thriving community as the latter part of the 19th century saw, but was destined to exist only as a small country town.
The following photographs are of structures that no longer exist in Melrose but help to give some indication to the past character of Melrose.
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DREDGING OF CANAL FROM LAKE SANTA FE TO LAKE ALTO (1880) A MAJOR ELEMENT OF MELROSES DEVELOPMENT
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LUKE'S EVANGELICAL CHURCH MELROSE, FLA.
NO LONGER STANDING TYPICAL OF PERIOD
ELIAM BAPTIST CHURCH, MELROSE, FLORIDA NO LONGER STANDING
PUBLIC SCHOOL, MELROSE, FLORIDA NO LONGER STANDING
PHI SIGMA COLLEGE, GEORGE C. LOONEY, PRESIDENT, MELROSE, FLORIDA
NO LONGER STANDING
HUFFMAN HOUSE, MELROSE, FLORIDA NO LONGER STANDING
SITE INVESTIGATION
Melrose is located north central Florida on the border between Alachua County and Putnam County. Melrose is approximately 55 miles southwest of Jacksonville, Florida, and 20 miles east of Gainesville, Florida.
MAPS
Geological Survey Map Street Map
Inventoried Buildings Density Study Zoning Map
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^Density Study in area of major concentration of inventoried structures
Existing Residential Buildings
* Existing Non-Residential Buildings
DENSITY STUDY
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R-la Single Family-
Low Density
Single family dwellings and related accessory buildings on basis of one dwelling per 10,000 sq. ft.
ER
Retail Sales Services
and
Professional services, personal services, business services, retail sales and services, group "A" restaurants, cocktail lounges, bars, taverns, hotels and motels, and night club only as accessory to hotels and motels and within the principal building, and excluding auto motive sales and services and service stations.
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ZONING MAP
* Shaded area in detail on following page.
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PRESENT CONDITION
The present population of Melrose numbers a little over 600 persons. Over 50 percent of the present day residents in Melrose are retired.
The working people either own a business in Melrose or commute to Gainesville to work.
Melrose also attracts a temporary group of people who have week-end lake cottages and summer retreats.
Melrose has a prominent natural landscaping which strengthens its neighborhood pattern and provides some means of cohesion by acting as the linking element between areas.
Streets are used as pedestrian as well as vehicular link between important points in the neighborhood.
Melrose's more recent architecture of concrete block and flat roofs detracts from the fine quality of the earlier structures which are of wood construction and pitched roofs.
Unfortunately some of the important buildings in Melrose stand abandoned and will go to waste if not used.
Highway 26 brings in undesirable element of speed and noise through the center of this sleepy community.
Presently there exists no sense of a community commercially or recreationally; unless one considers the development along Route 26 as being the community node.
For the most part, there is one period form of Architecture with buildings conforming in heights and style.
Building Height and Roof Design Sidewalks
Exterior Building Materials
Density
Setbacks
Roads
Landscaping Parking
Street Furniture
Fences
Additions
DEVELOPMENT CRITERIA
BUILDING HEIGHT & ROOF DESIGN
Existing Potential:
Of the approximately 100 structures in the study area of Melrose, 60 of these structures are on the Alachua County survey, of historic buildings. Approximately 40 of the buildings on the Alachua County Survey are two stories in height and the other twenty being one story. Ninety percent of the buildings not on the survey are one story structures with the other ten percent being two stories.
All of the inventoried buildings have a gable of some form of a pitched roof approximately 60 of these buildings have tin or press metal roofs, the remaining structures have aspastas shingle roofs.
As a random sampling of the inventoried buildings, roof have between a 35 degree to 45 degree slope. Fewer than ten percent have a roof slope of a greater or lesser inclination.
Approximately fifty percent of the uninven-toried buildings have flat roofs.
Criteria for Development:
Existing buildings heights, roof shapes and coverings should influence new construction to prevent excessive contrast between old and new construction. Exceptions to this general rule would be towers, steeples, chimneys, etc-
-BtTTt^ ILLATION ro rOEC_E^ of e_y.iST!h] BUILP/Nc^S
&viu&\u) HEIGHTS shoulf? BE. UHlfDZM
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Left Side
Estimated Roof Slopes
Which give an indication to the degree
of slopes of various buildings in Melrose.
Below
Bue Resident Example of Two Story Structure Mote use as example for estimated roof slopes.
Mrs. Harold Preston Resident Example of a one story structure. Board and batter construction.
39
Bowman and Smith Resident Example of a two story structure. (1890) With small jerkin head roof, the only one in Melrose.
SIDEWALKS
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Existing Potential:
Presently there is only one sidewalk in Melrose. This is a concrete sidewalk five feet wide running adjacent to State Road 26 and on either side. It lies on a barren piece of land without trees for shade or significant corridor defnitions. This type of situation provides no sound control, protection, and aesthetics qualities for the pedestrian. It exists only as an extension of the road and is not pedestrian orientated.
All other pedestrian traffic in the area takes place in the natural sand streets or on grass areas next to the streets. In these areas there are trees that provide protection from the sun and give pedestrian scale; make it a much more usable circulation corridor space.
The existing sand streets and paths are more than adequate for circulation and as long as densities do not warrant any structured pedestrian ways.
Criteria:
No reason exists for construction of any sidewalks or paths. If further densities warrant formal circulation patterns, they should be of a human scale keeping within climatic conditions that exist in North Central Florida.
Ideal materials for use as paths are wood-chips, brick, sand, and leaves, all of which would provide proper drainage, compaction, definition,scale, and aesthetics.
EXTERIOR BUILDING MATERIALS
Existing Potential:
Wood is used for exterior walls on the inventoried buildings. Most of these buildings have shiplap, weather boards, or board and batten siding. One building, the Van Busson resident, having wooden shingles. Most exterior wood is painted white or gray color.
Brick is used for foundation piers and chimneys. Recent block buildings are built on grade.
Roofs are of metal, asphalt shingles, tile, or built-up of tar and gravel.
Criteria for Development:
New Materials sho.uld blend into the natural setting, created by the vegitation and the existing buildings materials.
The improper use of metal siding and con crete block building facades should be avoided due to these unnatural feelings and unhuman scale.
Existing Potential:
Presently there is a maximum of one family unit per lot that vary between 50 by 75 feet to 300 by 300 feet.
There also exists undeveloped lots. Some of these lots are used for garden areas for adjacent buildings. Others just set idle with no apparent controlled landscaping. But does provide for open space in the community.
Criteria for Development:
All lots cannot be built upon if Melrose as to keep the existing sense of spacious relationships between buildings. This open space concept of land is an extremely important identity factor. This factor ates a feeling of a rural environment.
There is presently no one area that has
a significantly enough density to define
a community node. One method of establishing
this condition is to create a congregation
of buildings. Design would stimulate a
focal point and an identity element for the
community.
AEEA OF ODNCEHTAT'aH
SETBACKS
Existing Potential:
There are varing degrees of setbacks in the area, there exist no distinguishing setback. Some buildings setback as much as 100 feet. An example of this is Bayview. Other buildings like the Preston house sets within 20 feet of the property line.
There are not many buildings with short setbacks. This is within keeping with the spacious nature of the area.
The buildings setting close to the streets do not seem to have their individual space infringed upon due to the small amount of traffic in the area. The change of material between the grass yard and the sand roads creates an uninterrupted spatial feeling.
Criteria for Development:
Buildings with little setbacks should be carefully controlled to prevent over enclosure of streetscape. This would have a detrimental effect upon the spacious nature of the area.
Over Enclosure of street and Degree of Closure
ROADS
Existing Potential:
There are only two roads in the study area that are paved, State Road 26 and Grove Street. All other roads are of sand; with the exception of two small areas on Trout and Pine Streets which are clay.
Roads are not restricted to a formal pattern but adapt to trees within right-of-ways which could give a tunnel effect to the streets.
The sand roads provide an informal pattern in Melrose; this is very important to the turn-of-the-century atmosphere. Also they provide quick drainage of water and so not create major dust problems.
Criteria for Development:
To preserve the present atmosphere roads should stay in their present condition. If new paving should occur it would destroy the rural character of the road.
Possible substitution for areas of the streets that, need reinforcement are wood-chips, leaves, or straw.
Presently there exist a problem with State Road 26 in the disruptive heavy flow of traffic that use the road. Landscaping could be provided on along State Road 26 to enhance the traffic to slow down. This would be safer for the area and reduce the noise problem created by the traffic.
Tunnel effect of trees defines circulation and separates spaces
Building at west end of Park Street contains the vista
Views along Park Street
LANDSCAPE
Existing Potential:
Criteria for Development:
Trees of greater than six inches in diameter should not be removed because of their architectural effect of space definition, noise, light, climate and control.
Presently power lines do not cause much pruning of trees. This trend should be kept. If power lines should begin to overpower trees a new solution for power lines should be found.
Back yard of the Stevens house
terracing by natural elements and thick vegetation.
Trees range from oak trees approximately 100 foot spread to small shrubs.
Many different varieties of trees grow in the area such as oak, pine, and orange.
Maintenance of some yards, like the Tolles house, are very meticulous. Others are left very natural like the Lee house. Both seem appropriate for Melrose.
Existing trees in Melrose are of great benefit to the community in providing shade for cooling in this hot climate. Also the provide covering for many circulation corridors in area. They also provide a slow sleepy character to Melrose which is hard to find in this world today.
PARKING
Existing Potentials:
Presently parking is mostly on grass areas next to the streets although parking lanes are provided on either side of State Road 26.
Very few areas are used for planned parking. In front of the Post Office there exists a structured parking area. This is one of the largest parking areas with the exception of the large sand areas used for parking by the Churches.
Sand areas have been created where parking is near homes.
Criteria for Development:
Suggested materials for a structured parking area are woodchips, straw, leaves, brick and wood blocks, etc; although the present material of sand should not be overlooked.
Asphalt and concrete should be prohibited from use because it would not fit within the present day character of Melrose.
Existing Potential: Jg^p^f-
^Present street signs, which are typical of 'I?anytown U.S.A., are green with white let-:$. tering on a pole about six feet above grade 'and are made of metal. ,-i^v
No large advertisement signs exist on present store fronts, in the historical area, %;vvwith the exception of a service station. //
Nearly all of the streets have telephone or electrical poles. Trees along the street help to mask the poles and overhead wires. Only in a few areas are utilities lines exposed.
Criteria for Development:
Streets signs should be made of a more natural material like wood and set closer to the ground plan in order to lower the scale from present signs.
Large advertisement signs should be banned from use because they would interrupt the visual attractiveness of the buildings and landscape.
Utility lines should be placed underground to prevent the removal of trees for lines or removal of parts of trees for lines running through them.
ADDITIONS TO EXISTING BUILDINGS
Existing Potential:
Criteria for Development:
Additions, as long as they are constructed in character with the building and do not detrace from the overall style, should be accepted..
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Most structures are of the original state or with one early addition. The early additions don't detract from its overall style.
Additions come in the form of enclosing porches of adding new wings like the Preston resident.
DEVELOPMENT PROP
A pilot study for neighborhood development should be formed in order to establish Architectural guidelines for development. Guidelines should be formed so that a sense of cohesiveness may be created between the new and old architecture, based upon aesthetic qualities of materials, textures, building heights, etc.
Melrose overall structure can be strengthened and enhanced by the creation of a node for community identity. One method of accomplishing this goal is with important buildings being used to create focal points for interest or orientation.
Due to the spacious character of Melrose there exist no sense of closure; therefore, to create a node there should be new buildings built or buildings moved into an area to create this sense of closure or major focal point.
There exist some buildings that could be relocated to be used more effectively for the community.
Since the more significant buildings in Melrose set on brick piers and are of wood frame construction the possibility of moving buildings around the area can be accomplished very effectively.
Indications by density, building types and available space are that the town center or community node should be located along Park Street between Hampton and Grove Street. The node should contain the entire area of blocks north and south of Park Street.
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PROPOSED GUIDELINE AREA
STATE R 0
NAME: Homemakers Club ORIGINAL USE: Drug Store PRESENT USE: Club House BUILT EARLY 1880's
DESCRIPTION
Single story frame on pier foundation tin gable roof one chimney -shed on back with shed roof store facade on front condition good grounds good.
Source: Alachua County Architectural Survey
NAME: Lee House ORIGINAL USE: Residence PRESENT USE: Residence BUILT IN EARLY 1900's
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DESCRIPTION
Large two story frame house on piers tin gable roof this has three two story sections many porches and balconies with decorative bannisters on upper porch. Also enclosed screened porches. North-south axis wing on west side, two chimneys board horizontal frame. Condition poor.
Source: Alachua County Architectural Survey
NAME: Trinity Episcopal Church ORIGINAL USE: Church PRESENT USE: Church BUILDING COMPLETED 1883
DESCRIPTION
Single story church axis north-south, tin gable roof with T shape -stained glass windows with stained round window in gable board and batten construction on pier foundation one chimney church in excellent condition.
Source: Alachua County Architectural Survey
NAME: Lynn Hoose ORIGINAL USE: Residential PRESENT USE: Residential
DESCRIPTION
One story T-shaped frame building on piers gable tin roof on three wings one running north and south facing east second attached to southside of north-south wing third on west end of house one chimney -double hung windows vents in end of gables screened porch across east side of building enclosed shed of same construction as house on northwest corner of west wing. Fair condition.
Source: Alachua County Architectural Survey
NAME: Robinson Store ORIGINAL USE: Commercial PRESENT USE: Commercial
DESCRIPTION
One story building on piers frame bearing walls. Gable tin roof, double hung windows in each end of north and south gabled ends. One chimney double hung windows. Wing with tin shed roof added across the east side of building. Open stoop on east and north sides with entrance. Needs repair, sparse planting in yard.
Source: Alachua County Architectural Survey
POSSIBLE MOVEABLE BUILDINGS \)
NAME: Melrose ORIGINAL USE: PRESENT USE: BUILT IN 1893
Womans Club Woman's Club Woman's Club
DESCRIPTION
One story frame building on piers enclosed, gable roof on main building front entrance porch and addition on back-axis north and south. Small shed on south wall of building. Asbestos shingles on roof. The gabled front entrance decorative trim with broken arches on three sides, columns and banisters plain. Double sash windows each sash contains four sections, shutters on windows. One chimney building in excellent condition. Grounds need care.
Source: Alachua County Architectural Survey
46
NAME: Ray Ford Apartment ORIGINAL USE: Post Office PRESENT USE: Apartment BUILT IN EARLY 1880's
DESCRIPTION
One story building on piers enclosed, frame bearing walls, gable tin roof on original building, vents in ends of gable north-south axis, facing north. No chimney, double hung windows. Shed additions on east and west sides. Open porch across north side of original portion, plain wooden post walled at top and bottom of porch. In need of repair grounds unkept neighborhood fair.
Source: Alachua County Architectural Survey
NAME: Baldwi ORIGINAL USE: PRESENT USE: BUILT IN 1900
i's Old Store
Commercial Vacant
DESCRIPTION
Two story frame on enclosed piers, gable roof of tin with shed roof over porch on front of store-double hung windows enclosed with shutters balcony on front of store with decorative bannisters store typical of early 1900's.
So lachua County Architectural
Survey
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PHASE I STUDY
PHASE E STUDY
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PHASE I&E STUDY
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BIBLIOGRAPHY
Alachua County Architectural Survey; Architectural Inventory for Alachua County, Florida; College of Architecture, Univ. Of Florida
Nixon Smiley; Yesterday's Florida, E.A. Seemann Publishing Inc., Miami, Florida 1974
Photo Collection of Alachua County Florida; P.K. Young Library of Florida History, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
Gordon Cullen; The Concise Townscape, Van Nostrand Reinhold Company, New York 1961
Kenniel L. Howard; Yesterday in Florida, Carlton Press, New York 1970
Bill Reeves, A Guide to Melrose, Student Project at University of Florida.
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