Avon Lake Renewable
Master Plan

• Site moves from burning 5,000–7,000 tons of coal annually to zero
• Decommissioning prevents 3 million tons of CO2, mercury, and nitrous oxides from being pumped into the atmosphere annually
• Decommissioning saves 365 million gallons of fresh water previously used to cool the facility
• Master plan salvages and sustainably recycles 140 million tons of steel and 4 million tons of copper and brass
• Design solutions reduce carbon and energy use by more than 75% versus new steel construction
• Project increases projected employment rates by rebuilding tax base lost through power plant’s closure

PEDESTRIAN CIRCULATION

The proposed street layout is designed to create a walkable, mixed-use environment that accommodates appropriate vehicle throughput without sacrificing pedestrian comfort and safety. In order to lessen the development’s reliance on cars, the master plan design prioritizes pedestrian circulation. The streets are tree-lined to bring comfort, shade, and visual interest for pedestrians, creating a verdant public realm that augments each neighborhood’s character. The plan allocates lanes specifically for bikes and pedestrians, making for effective, environmentally sensitive links between its commercial, residential, and natural components.

GREEN NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS

The Avon Lake renewable master plan envisions 550 units of residential development at the eastern edge of the site, with a series of mid-rise, multifamily buildings around private courtyards. These residential parcels will benefit from lakefront views and mesh with the restored native landscape. The western edge of the master plan provides for 780 units of residential development across four parcels of multifamily buildings clustered around a park as a neighborhood amenity. With this strategy, the plan aims to embed an appreciation for, and stewardship of, the remediated land throughout the development.

WATERFRONT ENGAGEMENT

Avon Lake is a highly privatized lakefront, with few opportunities for public access. The master plan explores how the city and county might ameliorate that situation and convert the full waterfront edge of the site into a public promenade. To anchor the north side of the site, we propose creating a Great Lawn that will serve as a town square. As a space for concerts, farmers markets, and seasonal activities, this new civic space will offer stunning views back out to Lake Erie. The entire Great Lawn sits above two levels of underground parking intended to provide a convenient means of accessing the newly imagined lakefront. Placing the parking underground maximizes the site’s ability to support its natural features and use every acre as sustainably as possible.

LAND REMEDIATION

In total, the project remediates 125 acres of impacted land by reintroducing native plantings, cleaning the area of toxins, and restoring watersheds and habitats. A key example is the daylighting of Powdermaker Creek, an ecologically significant feature formerly rerouted under the site in a 50-foot concrete box culvert. The creek can now serve its proper ecological function, supporting stormwater management and local flora and fauna. It also provides a focal point around which the master plan carves out pedestrian routes, integrating the public experience with open air and the land itself.