Cannon Avent
Site Context & Vision
The Cannon Avent redevelopment project reclaims an underutilized industrial fringe and transforms it into a vibrant, high-density mixed-use district. The vision is not merely to stack housing units, but to weave a legible urban fabric where work, residence, and recreation intersect seamlessly. By leveraging existing infrastructure while introducing a permeable street network, the plan creates a district that feels human-scaled despite its significant density. The primary goal is a walkable, transit-integrated neighborhood where the public realm serves as the connective tissue between private domains.
Master Plan Principles
The planning framework rests on four core pillars:
- Transit-Oriented Density: Concentrations are highest near the multimodal transit hub, with tapering densities toward the district’s soft edges.
- Permeable Streetscapes: A fine-grained block structure replaces the old industrial superblock, ensuring multiple routes and a high surface-area-to-building ratio.
- Human-Scaled Enclosure: Building heights and massing are modulated by street width to maintain an intimate street-wall experience.
- Ecological Connectivity: A continuous green corridor links the riverfront to the inland parks, doubling as a stormwater management system.
Mixed-Use Zoning & Programming
Rather than segregating uses into isolated zones, the plan adopts a vertical and horizontal mixed-use model. Ground floors are almost universally reserved for commercial and civic activity—retail, cafes, workshops, and community centers—to activate the pedestrian experience. Above, the zoning shifts toward a mix of market-rate and affordable housing, with flexible interior layouts that can adapt to changing residential needs over decades.
The transit hub acts as the district's anchor, programmed with a civic plaza, a public library, and a micro-mobility exchange. This ensures a constant flow of diverse users throughout the day, preventing the "bedroom community" trap and fostering a 24/7 urban pulse.
Circulation & Connectivity
Movement is organized around the pedestrian first. The primary internal network prioritizes the walker, with shared-street treatments on secondary roads and a consolidated traffic spine that keeps cars on the periphery. This reduces conflict between different modes and frees up more public space for social use.
The district is designed on a five-minute walking radius: the central plaza, the transit hub, and the green corridor are all accessible within a short stroll from any housing unit. At the district level, the plan integrates with the wider city via a bicycle superhighway and a dedicated bus lane, positioning Cannon Avent as a node in the regional mobility network rather than an isolated destination.
Ecological Design & Public Realm
The public realm is the district's most important infrastructure. The central plaza is a hardscaped civic space designed for large gatherings and markets, while the green corridor provides a soft contrast — a biodiverse riparian strip that manages runoff through rain gardens and bioswales.
Water is used as a defining element: a linear water feature in the plaza cools the microclimate and creates a visual landmark, while the riverside promenade offers a high-quality public edge with seating, lighting, and play areas. The planting palette is native to the region, selected for drought tolerance and seasonal interest, ensuring a resilient and beautiful landscape that matures alongside the buildings.
Implementation & Future Use
Phasing begins with the transit hub and the primary boulevard, establishing the district's spine. Subsequent residential blocks open in three phases, each tied to the completion of the public realm in that sector. The flexible zoning and high-quality public spaces ensure that the district can evolve — whether that means a future makerspace on a ground floor or a new civic office — without requiring a master plan overhaul.
The planning rationale for Cannon Avent is a commitment to a dense, walkable, and ecologically aware urbanism — a district built for the many, not the few.