Moser Kelly Design Group 2025 Year-in-Review: Part One, Site Planning
Site Planning
2025 was a year of growth, complexity, and meaningful work - designing with purpose & planning for impact. The first part of this series highlights our site planning work.
Richland and Marlboro Charrette | Aiken, SC
Project Overview: The goal of this block-scale infill project is to create a nexus of mixed-use and residential development on the outskirts of Aiken’s downtown core. By offering a variety of housing types that are currently scarce in Aiken County, particularly in an in-town setting, this project has the opportunity to provide housing for a range of demographics and income levels, while still being conscientious of the historic context of downtown Aiken from a building design, mass and scale standpoint.
This charrette explored the redevelopment potential of a 3.38-acre site located near downtown Aiken. Formerly a cotton field and currently undeveloped, the site presents a rare opportunity to extend the downtown fabric into an underutilized area with strong contextual ties to surrounding neighborhoods and businesses. Existing trees and the site’s prominent street frontage informed an approach that balances density with sensitivity to landscape and scale. An ongoing rezoning effort further positioned the site for a more active, mixed-use future.
The multi-day charrette process brought together designers and stakeholders to evaluate circulation, land use, and streetscape opportunities. Central to the discussion was the reimagining of Marlboro Street, where a fragmented right-of-way could be restored as a traditional Aiken boulevard with a planted central parkway, improved pedestrian infrastructure, and on-street parking. Proposed mixed-use buildings along Richland Avenue and Marlboro Street respond to nearby commercial anchors while reinforcing a walkable, connected street network that aligns with the city’s broader planning goals.
Collectively, the charrette outcomes establish a flexible master planning framework rather than a fixed solution—one that emphasizes urban connectivity, public realm investment, and long-term adaptability. The work reflects a broader commitment to context-driven planning, collaboration with municipal partners, and design strategies that support incremental growth.
Vass-Brewer Ave Infill | Aiken, SC
Project Overview: This is located in Vass, NC, right outside the small crossroads downtown between Brewer and James Street. There is a drainage area running through the property so this was designed to accommodate and celebrate that.
