West Jefferson Streetscape Revitalization Conceptual Designs

West Jefferson is a community of approximately 1,299 people located in Ashe County in northwest North Carolina. The town is situated in the Appalachian mountainous region, known as “North Carolina highland country”. Once known as a major stop on the railway lines, West Jefferson has a rich history whose economy is increasingly devoted to tourism. West Jefferson is proud of their community and hopes to utilize its downtown street improvements to promote more tourism and stimulate economic growth.

In 2003, students from North Carolina State’s Landscape Architecture program participated in a design charrette to improve Jefferson Avenue, the town’s primary downtown street. This led to the West Jefferson Pedestrian Plan in 2010, which outlined the community’s commitment for a more pedestrian friendly revitalized downtown environment.

In 2015, the Community Design Assistance Center (CDAC) was tasked with developing conceptual designs for revitalizing the existing streetscapes of West Jefferson focusing on Main Street, Backstreet, and the Second Street traffic gateway. In this process, the team also explored other areas of opportunity that could link together the multiple focus areas, including alleyways, open green spaces, and empty lots. CDAC worked closely with the stakeholders and community to develop these concepts which are discussed in further detail in this report.