Fow & Fowle to receive merit award

Real Estate Weekly, August 22, 2001

Fox & Fowle Architects will receive an Award of Merit from the New York chapter of the American Institute of Architects for its work on the Jamaica Station Area urban strategy. This comprehensive, area-wide master plan outlines a strategy to redefine downtown Jamaica as a commercial business center with an airport-related focus. The award will be presented on Friday, Sept. 14, at the chapter's annual meeting.

The Jamaica Station master plan, called "Vision for Jamaica Center," was completed in March of 2001 on behalf of the Greater Jamaica Development Corporation. The plan is comprised of four components: transportation plan, development plan, urban design plan, and the implementation strategy. The plan is significant because, unlike other airport-related business centers, this area is being restructured to serve this purpose and to compete with its suburban counterparts.

Mark Strauss, a principal with Fox & Fowler Architects, directed the development of the plan. It sets forth a new vision of Jamaica Center and would use public investment to create a setting for private investment. The report proposes new development on a scale not seen in Jamaica in decades and implementation that would take part in three stages over the next 20 years. Among other features of the reports, there are plans for a hotel, a retail complex, office space, and parking garages.

"Fox & Fowle led a large consultant team to develop a comprehensive urban design plan that brings together transportation, public open spaces, and real estate development," said Carlisle Towery, president of the Greater Jamaica Development Corporation.