Downtown Vero Beach, c. 1930:
During the first decades of development, Downtown grew rapidly and in ways that are similar to the ideas expressed by charrette participants. Future development should preserve the character and buildings of the early days, and complement the original intent of the pioneer builders.
SR 60, 1930’s:
The “Twin Pairs” were typical downtown streets, with two-way traffic, angle parking and small scale buildings. The needs of the pedestrian and the automobile were balanced. There was a well-designed place for both store fronts and gas stations.
14th Avenue:
Streets from the original 1913 grid have retained their original scale through the years. As buildings have been remodeled and streetscapes enhanced, the general character of the block has been retained.
SR 60, now and then:
The “Twin Pairs” is a classic example of an attempt to solve one problem without consideration of the context. Today, traffic engineers have developed effective tools for such context sensitive design. An example of this design challenge can be observed in the relationship of the same Mission style house on the left of the photographs towards two very different street designs. In the picture above, the road is too wide and too fast for the type of development along the corridor. Such considerations are critical to all successful redevelopment projects.
Preservation along SR 60:
Careful restoration of existing buildings and the preservation of mature trees may enhance the viability of downtown development.