In response to concerns expressed by the New Paltz Village Planning Board and members of the public, the Zero Place team took the past three months to redesign aspects of the building and site and add key features of interest to the community. As always, the Zero Place team remains committed to a project that requests no variances and will attain the highest levels of energy efficiency and sustainability.
Here’s a short list of changes:
Public Amenities
1. Developed a “Mulberry Plaza” along Mulberry Street, newly freed up from an 18-foot pull-back of the building. The plaza includes a public sculpture area with surrounding sitting wall, a permeable paved area with benches and sitting wall and new trees and landscaping. The sculpture pedestal will feature the works of local artists.
2. Created three interior public restrooms accessible to the public and Wallkill Valley Rail Trail users. Supportive of transgender concerns and expressing solidarity with New Paltz High School and our diverse community, the Zero Place team added a third gender-neutral restroom.
3. Greatly expanded landscaping around virtually the entire perimeter of Zero Place, further shielding the parking lot and enhancing the streetscapes.
Road Safety and Bicycle/Pedestrian
4. Embracing a ‘complete streets’ ethic, added broad six-foot bike lanes along Mulberry Street and 32 North to complement the expanded sidewalks that feature sitting walls, street trees, bike racks and historically inspired street lamps.
5. Previously moved the loading dock from Mulberry Street to within the northern parking lot.
6. Previously added curb ‘bump outs’ along the parallel parking area on 32 North, ensuring a clearly demarcated area safer to bike and car traffic.
7. Extended sidewalks along Mulberry Street and 32 North to form a continuous pedestrian access from the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail, around Zero Place and north to the Mill Brook overpass on 32 North.
Accessibility
8. Added four ground-floor apartments, providing ease of access to disabled and elderly residents.
9. Replaced five head-in parking spaces on Mulberry Street with two parallel parking spaces for people with disabilities, providing greater accessibility to the retail stores on the south end of the building.
The Building
10. Reduced the length of the building 11% and the footprint by 10%, effectively removing the equivalent of eight one-bedroom apartments.
11. Reduced the total number of residential units from 48 to 46.
12. Reduced the retail space by 43%.
13. Previously reduced the visual height of the building by five feet.
14. Previously moved the roof terrace away from the west side of the building and to the east along Route 32 North.
15. With input from the Village Historical Preservation Commission, enhanced design, layout and material choices for the windows, removed the balconies, added roof brackets and more.
— David Shepler and the Zero Place Team
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