San Marcos Downtown Area Plan

CHAPTER 4: RECOMMENDATIONS

· Defined entryways along the primary street and below ground by 1/2 story · Minimum transparency of windows to allow natural light in the building · Clear and well-defined addresses for units at residential entrances · Lighting community. Additionally, garden level apartments work well on terrain where steep hills occur, like the geography that leads to the Texas State University campus. Key Design Elements: OFFICE/ PROFESSIONAL: Office/professional uses can utilize many of the same techniques as inviting storefronts, despite having fewer customers/ visitors. Key Design Elements: GARDEN LEVEL RESIDENTIAL: Garden level apartments occur half a story below the street. These units could be a good way to provide additional affordable housing options to the Downtown · Improvements such as building articulation, transparency/ windows, and door aesthetics · Visually interesting screening to provide privacy as needed · Facade enhancements such as color, varied materials, lighting, awnings, historic restoration · Amenities outside the entrance such as signage, art, seating, lighting, and landscaping.

Example photos of garden-level residential buildings with key design elements

Example photos of office buildings with key design elements

SAN MARCOS DOWNTOWN AREA PLAN

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