designing for interconnectivity between people and place south lyon, michigan
up 518 fall 2010 angela fortino gretchen miller scott parker dinghao zhou
[introduction] p1 [vision] p2 [observations] p3 [pattern language] p15 [projects] p20 traffic calming + crossings alternative one p28 alternative two p32 alley ways + connections p36 housing + building infill p45 [going forward] p52
an enhanced south lyon [table of contents]
[project summary] In Fall of 2010, UP 518 completed a series of design projects for the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) of South Lyon, Michigan. The design board of the DDA had several ideas for development in downtown including: improving streetscapes, creating a centerpiece or gathering area, increasing mixed-use, developing a greater mix of retail and services, and addressing conflicts between traffic and pedestrians. Following the meeting the class completed a series of observations. We analyzed the built environment and human interaction through wind shield and walking surveys; GIS data analysis; cognitive mapping (which was compiled into image maps); feeling maps; a downtown health map; and stationary and roaming observations. One session was held with the public to gain a better understanding of South Lyon. Residents were asked to first create cognitive maps. They were then asked to create feeling maps. The residents selected a route to walk through the downtown area and rate areas that made them feel excellent, good, bad, and awful. These maps further helped formulate the vision for South Lyon. The vision for South Lyon is to create an environment that is bikable, walkable, vibrant, safe, sociable and festive. Once the vision was created, we developed a pattern language for South Lyon consisting of nine patterns: walkable + bikable downtown; connected + clear pathways; traffic calming + crossings; main gateways; shopping mix + fronts; housing + building infill; reasonable + shielded parking; public spaces; and outdoor eating areas.
observations downtown vision pattern language
The patterns helped formulate a series of project categories that were then addressed within individual projects. Two projects fell under the category for Traffic Calming + Crossings. The first project, shared space, is a more alternative concept that creates “risks� and uses design to integrate people and traffic with the intention of slowing cars and improving the walkability of the downtown. A second project, complete streets, is a more traditional alternative the utilizes raised crosswalks, bike lanes, and other amenities to ensure that all modes of transportation are represented in the space. Under the project category Clear + Connected Paths, fell the project Alleyways + Connections. The four major alleys within downtown South Lyon were improved through a series of enhancements including: pervious pavers, tree plantings, street furniture, and improved landscaping. Acknowledgement that pedestrians use the alleyway to enter businesses is important for the overall health of the downtown.
project categories individual urban design projects
The final project, Whipple Street, consisted of development for housing + building infill. In the design, parking was minimized and pedestrian was maximized. A series of townhouses and connected commercial buildings were proposed to continue the traditional shopfront characteristics found on Lafayette. A public space was also developed to furhter increase pedestrian use of the now lifeless area. These projects are the first step for creating a walkable, bikeable and vibrant downtown. A housing and retail assessment is integral before development should proceed. It is also suggested a series of workshops and visioning sessions are completed to gain a better understanding of what the wants and needs are of the entire South Lyon community.
1
an enhanced south lyon [introduction]
through urban design south lyon will be...
bikeable
walkable
vibrant
safe
sociable
festive
an enhanced south lyon [vision] 2
[section introduction] The following is a series of maps visualizing our observations of South Lyon. These were key in developing the vision, patterns, and ultimately the projects for the downtown.
observations + analysis [section 1] 3
context
South Lyon is a quaint bedroom community in southwest Oakland County with good connections to parks, other recreational areas, and the Huron Valley Rail Trail, which stretches for 10 miles northeast through existing greenway corridors. It is also well connected to regional highways, and Pontiac Trail, a major north-south thoroughfare running through Washtenaw and Oakland Counties, is the main street running through town. There is also a rail line running just north of the downtown, which still carries freight to and from Lansing and Detroit. A relatively stable economic base exists with minimal industrial uses and an active Downtown Development Authority. South Lyon is also well known for its great school system. According to the 2005 American Community Survey, South Lyon has about 10,000 residents. With over a quarter of these residents aged 19 or under and almost 64% of households with families, it is clearly a popular place for families to raise children. Around 75% of housing is occupied by its owner, which demonstrates that much of the community is invested in the town and cares about its well-being. The total land area is about 3.4 square miles.
Characteristics Number Percent TOTAL POPULATION 10,036 100.0 SEX AND AGE Male 4,786 47.7 Female 5,250 52.3 Under 5 years 883 8.8 5 to 19 years 1,789 17.8 20 to 34 years 2,301 22.9 35 to 64 years 3,556 35.4 65 to 84 years 1,332 13.2 85 years and over 175 1.7 Median age (years) 35.2 Total Households 4,335 100.0 Family Households (families) 2,765 63.8 Households w/ one or more people under 18 years 1,765 40.7 Households w/one or more people 65 years & over 1,153 26.6 HOUSING Total housing units 4,461 100.0 Occupied housing units 4,246 95.2 Vacant housing units 215 4.8 For seasonal, recreational, or occasional use 37 0.8 Homeowner vacancy rate (percent) 1.3 Rental vacancy rate (percent) 5.7 Occupied housing units 4,246 100.0 Owner-occupied housing units 3,178 74.8 Renter-occupied housing units 1,068 2 5.2 Source: 2005-2009 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
analyzing + observing south lyon [context map] 4
study area Our group primarily focused on the one-mile stretch of Lafayette that goes through the core of downtown, beginning at the rail tracks north of town and Reynoldsweet Parkway south of town. This stretch encompasses the area managed by the Downtown Development Authority (DDA). When we met with representatives from the DDA, we found that they were looking to create a public space for town gatherings, create a destination, spur economic development, and grow their customer base. They felt that people do not stay or visit downtown for long, often going elsewhere for shopping and eating opportunities. Surrounding communities, such as Brighton, Novi, Northville, Plymouth, and Milford, are considered major competitors for shopping and retail opportunities but are also looked to as examples for what South Lyon would like to offer its residents. Therefore, they would like to increase the mix of retail and service opportunities, while still maintaining its charm and character to create a place that is distinct and recognizable. One of the most beloved areas of South Lyon is McHattie Park and The Witch’s Hat Depot Museum and Historic Village. These are located on the southwest edge of town. They host outdoor events that are very popular and are frequently used for leisure activities. In addition, there is a summer farmer’s market that is gaining in popularity and the Pumpkinfest, which is the largest annual festival in South Lyon. This event is very popular throughout the community and fosters the connectedness of its residents.
analyzing + observing south lyon [study area] 5
6
square mile
quarter mile
The square mile map shows how South Lyon’s street grid is more connected with smaller street blocks near the center of town at the intersection of Lake and Lafayette Streets. Wider blocks with fewer connections are more prevalent away from the center. The smaller, more-connected blocks near the center are more conducive to walking.
The quarter mile map is centered on the main intersection of Lake and Lafayette, and covers a quarter-mile by quarter-mile area. Streets and alleys are represented as white, buildings as gray, and the spaces in between as black. The north and east sides of the main intersection have a higher degree of building coverage than the west and south sides. The buildings north and east of the intersection feature frequent shop fronts that contribute to higher walkability than the less covered areas.
analyzing + observing south lyon [mile/quarter mile maps]
Downtown South Lyon Land Use
Pettibone St
N Reese St
Detroit St
N Wells St
N Warren St
N Lafayette St
Abel St
Whipple St
S Wells St S Lafayette St
W McHattie St
E Liberty St
Elm Pl
Scott
Washington St
W Liberty St S Warren St
S Reese St
E Lake St
W Lake St
E McHattie St
R
7
et
we
lds
o eyn
land use
land coverage
The land use map shows the various land uses contributing to activities downtown. Commercial and residential are the two most common land uses in the area. Commercial activities are primarily found within one block of Lafayette. The primary housing option around downtown is single-family detached, while some multifamily housing is available, mostly to the south of Liberty Street.
Buildings cover approximately one-quarter of the land parcels within two blocks of Lafayette between the rail tracks to the north and Reynoldsweet to the south. Building coverage decreases substantially one block out from the main intersection of Lake and Lafayette. total buildings footprint area: 743,761 s.f. total site area: 2,916,559 s.f. land coverage: 26%
analyzing + observing south lyon [development maps]
car oriented space building mass private yards pedestrian oriented space
downtown health Majority of the built area around downtown is disproportionately oriented toward cars, shown in red. Much less space, consisting primarily of sidewalks, is pedestrian-oriented. Most green open space near downtown is in the form of private yards, providing little public benefit. Increasing pedestrian space while decreasing car space will improve the downtown’s health.
analyzing + observing south lyon [downtown health map] 8
3
4
eyesores
2
housing
1
200 ft
routes
The stationary observations, roaming observations, and pedestrian and bicycle counts were each taken on a weekday and weekend. The weekday observations were in the evening around peak hour traffic time. The weather was sunny with no precipitation and a temperature in the high 50s (degrees Fahrenheit). The weekend observations were around mid-day. It was overcast, cold (in the 40s), and windy, but there was no precipitation.
businesses
Above are the routes used for observations throughout our analysis process. To the left are photos that exhibit our major findings while walking the city. Again, South Lyon is found to be dominated by parking; however, a mix of housing types and interesting shop fronts prove strong assets from which the down town can build upon.
analyzing + observing south lyon [base observations + route patterns]
9
Lafayet
Lafayet
weekday
weekend
Whipple St.
Whipple St.
Lake St.
Lake St.
Liberty St.
Warren St.
Elm Pl.
Elm Pl.
Scott
Scott
Washington St.
Washington St.
Warren St.
Liberty St.
McHattie St.
sweet
McHattie St.
sweet
Reynold
Reynold
Walkers Leisure Active Bicyclists Car
stationary Each group member spent 15 minutes observing one location in South Lyon, which are shown on the maps by the black dotted lines. We then broke our observations into five categories: walkers, leisure, active, bicyclists, and car. Walkers were those who were walking with a clear destination in mind, while leisure were those who were strolling or casually riding bikes around downtown, which we saw numerous children doing. Those categorized as active were those who were walking or running with their dog, biking for exercise, or doing some other exercise. Bicyclists were those who were clearly commuting and, finally, those categorized as car where those who were observed getting into or out of their car.
The results show that downtown has a lot of walkers and car users. The park south of the rail trail is also heavily used. South Lyon already has a lot of walkers and foot traffic so there is great opportunity to increase this activity and bring more people downtown. Even though the number of bicyclists is spread over many categories, we observed many people riding and think that South Lyon can also capitalize on this to create a walkable-bikeable downtown that brings all types of users to the core.
analyzing + observing south lyon [stationary observations]
10
weekday
weekend
Walkers Leisure Active Bicyclists Car
roaming We divided the town into four quadrants and each took a section to do roaming observations. Each group member followed a pre-determined route while observing any activity that happened along this route. There was no time limit, but we tried to not stop too much. The same categories we used for the stationary observations were used to analyze the roaming observations. Again, it is clear that walkers dominate downtown, with
active people being the next largest group. This supports our focus on creating a more vibrant downtown partially through adding pedestrian amenities and making the buildings more oriented toward the street.
analyzing + observing south lyon [roaming observations] 11
Weekday
Weekend
Weekday
Weekend
ped + bike counts The pedestrian and biker counts data were collected separately at both weekday and weekend times in order to take both situations into consideration. The weekend counts were conducted on Saturday, October 30th, and the weekday count on Monday, November 1st.
Pedestrians and bikers were counted at each location for 10 minutes. Multiplying the counts by 6 produced an hourly flow of pedestrians and bikers. Both the pedestrian and biker counts indicate that the main intersection and Mc Hattie Park are the two most active spots. Streets between them show relatively little activity.
We picked 8 sections of streets we considered typical for pedestrian and biker flow. Four of the sections are on Lafayette: one between Whipple and Detroit, one between Whipple and Lake, one between Liberty and Elm, and one between Mc Hattie and Reynoldsweet. The other 4 are on 4 different streets where they intersect with Lafayette, Whipple, East Lake, West Liberty, and Huron Valley Trail System.
analyzing + observing south lyon [ ped/bike counts] 12
Class Map
Community Map
positives: 1.Historic & charming nature of buildings 2.Local, committed businesses (Independent businesses/no big box retail) 3.Parks, trails, greenspace 4.Moderately bikeable & walkable 5. Sense of community negatives: 1. Norm’s parking lot 2. Unsightly and vacant buildings 3. Unkempt and ugly parking lots 4. More pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure needed 5. Traffic
routes On a Saturday in November, our group conducted an exercise with the community to gain an idea of how certain places in South Lyon affect residences’ emotions. This helps to understand the places that people do and do not like and where improvement is needed. We gave each person a map and asked them to walk around, paying attention to their feelings. They each had to rate how they felt at as many places as they wanted on a scale from one to four with one being excellent and four being awful. Some people decided to take a long walk around many of the roads while others decide to stay in the core downtown. Overall, about 10 residents completed the exercise including one child. From the community feeling map, it is clear that the northwest, northeast, and southeast corner of Lake and Lafayette are well liked. This includes the South Lyon Herald newspaper, the Tuscan Café, and Diane’s Doll House. Many of the shops along this intersection are locally owned by committed business leaders, which helps to foster the sense of community felt by many residents. These buildings are also the oldest in town and have a charm to them that is loved within the community. Heading north on Lafayette, residents also felt good until they reached the Lafayette Party Store on the corner of Detroit and Lafayette. Many cited the run-down façade and parking lot as the problem. There are some negative feelings on the 13
west side of Lafayette near Lake due to some vacant buildings but otherwise this area is a positive place within downtown. One of the locations discussed the most was the southwest corner of Lake and Lafayette. On this corner there is a parking lot with cars from Norm’s Total Automotive Services. Just south of this parking lot is a vacant restaurant and two large city parking lots. People love Norm himself and his business but do not like how his parking lot looks. Other places with positive feelings are the upscale residential areas and the Huron Valley Rail Trail and McHattie Park. Residents expressed that they love to travel along the rail trail and use the park for leisure or exercising activities. The stretch along Lafayette leading to the park and trail from downtown are not liked, however. This was mainly due to the vacant or blighted buildings and the abundance of parking lots often in poor condition. Finally, the bicycle and pedestrian amenities were mentioned as both a negative and positive aspect of town. Many mentioned that they like how walkable and bikeable the area is in general but that more infrastructure is needed so that residents of all ages and abilities feel safe and welcome downtown when walking or biking.
analyzing + observing south lyon [feeling map]
Class Map
Community Map
Vacant
Hotel Residential
Business
Church
Residential
Commercial Park
Edges
Nodes
Major Paths
Districts
Minor Path
Landmark
North
200 ft
image maps We conducted a workshop with residents of South Lyon where each participant drew a cognitive map of the city to produce an overall collective image of South Lyon. The most frequently recurring elements of the cognitive maps were combined to produce an image map showing the districts, edges, paths, nodes, and landmarks that people use to identify and navigate through South Lyon.
The image on the left is a composite of the cognitive maps of the class members who authored this report, and the image on the right is the composite of the cognitive maps of the residents who participated in the workshop. The community map shows the area most identified with downtown as the blocks immediately to the north and east of the main intersection of Lake and Lafayette Streets. This area projects a strong image, while the areas west and south of the intersection are less identifiable with downtown.
analyzing + observing south lyon [image maps] 14
[section introduction] Pattern Language is a method of describing the urban design process. It looks for existing or missing patterns within an urban context and describes key characteristics that bring the vision for a city to fruition. Through our observations, as a group we formulated patterns of South Lyon. In order for South Lyon to become a more walkable, bikable, vibrant, safe, sociable, and festive community the following patterns were defined: - walkable + bikable downtown - connected + clear pathways - traffic calming + crossings - main gateways - shopping mix + fronts - housing + building infill - reasonable + shielded parking - public spaces - outdoor eating areas Section 2 provides conceptual ideas of the patterns defined for South Lyon as well as key characteristics that are necessary for the patterns to translate into the built environment. Maps showing how patterns exist or could exist are also included.
pattern language [section 2] 15
[walkable + bikable downtown] Density, accessibility, human scale, pedestrian and bicyclist focused amenities, and compact and diverse uses are key to a walkable-bikable downtown. Through our observations, we witnessed several people biking and walking throughout Downtown South Lyon; however several improvements can be made.
[connected + clear pathways] Alleys, sidewalks and trails should have a cohesive design with various elements carrying over from path to path. A series of wayfinding signs are also integral to encourage pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists to frequent downtown.
[traffic calming + crossings] While car traffic is vital to downtown, it must not dominate the built environment. Designs for roadways must keep all users in mind, from pedestrians and bicyclists to motorists and public transit riders. This is done by slowing traffic and creating crosswalks which will create awareness, decrease intimidation and increase safety.
To increase biking and walking in Downtown South Lyon, we suggest the following: - designated bike lanes or sharrows - widen sidewalks - street trees + landscaping - building infill - open facades + multiple entrances - diverse mix of uses - integrated alleys - gathering spaces
To further encourage connected and clear pathways throughout downtown, we suggest the following: - pedestrian scale lighting - points of entry - wayfinding signage - maintained walking surfaces - visible connections to streets - cohesive landscaping - high quality street furniture
To calm traffic and encourage pedestrianism the following is needed: - visible, lighted signs - fewer, narrow lanes - street trees - visible street paint - raised crosswalks - paving and bricks - pedestrian islands
discovering south lyon [pattern language] 16
[main gateways] Defined gateways provide identity for downtowns and provide entrance and exit indicators from districts. Gateways can range from physical structures and signage to changes in building character and levels of density.
[shopping mix + fronts] Businesses should be local yet provide a wide range of services from daily needs to unique specialty items. Facades of shop fronts should complement existing historic buildings, be close to the street, have open fronts and inviting entry ways to encourage interaction.
[housing + building infill] Infill of commercial areas should complement existing historic buildings but not support strip style development. While not as important for housing, existing styles should be taken into account. Mixed-use is encouraged; however, as uses are integrated, it is important to ensure methods are inclusive of all people no matter socio-economic standing.
Two distinguish the downtown the following is needed for main gateways: - street trees - wayfinding signage - welcome signage - buildings of graduated density - cohesive streetscaping - decorative paving
The following is necessary for shops in Downtown South Lyon: - frequent, uncluttered windows - frequent doors - zero setbacks - increased FARs - mixed-use zoning
To encourage infill in and around Downtown South Lyon, the following is needed: - varied housing types - range of housing prices - downtown loft-style housing - mixed-use zoning - increased FARs - varied shop types
discovering south lyon [pattern language] 17
reasonable + shielded parking Parking within downtown should not be over supplied and should not dominate the built environment. Transitioning parking to the back of buildings will improve pedestrian access to businesses. Parking lots must include walls and plantings to continue streetscaping and pathway designs that exist throughout the city.
public spaces A range of public spaces will encourage socialization and create vibrancy within the city. spaces may range from informal areas to formal spaces with a high level of programming. Pocket parks, small public squares and farmer’s markets are all examples of public spaces. Cohesive and complementary design and signage is integral.
outdoor eating areas Restaurants and cafes should have outdoor eating areas along sidewalks to further enhance the vibrancy of downtown. Landscaping creates boundaries and protection for users so they may comfortably use the space.
To create shielded parking the following is needed: - back parking lots - walls - trees - landscaped parking islands - wayfinding signage - ped/bike crossing signs - bollards
Public spaces within south lyon should include: - varied seating - human scale lighting - landscaping - interesting surroundings - varied amenities - wayfinding signage
The following is needed for enahnced outdoor eating spaces: - moveable tables + chairs - table umbrellas - warmers - trees - landscaping - music
discovering south lyon [pattern language] 18
[patterns applied to south lyon]
walkable bikable dt connected + clear paths traffic calming + crosswalks main gateways
housing + building infill shopping mix + fronts public spaces outdoor eating areas reasonable + shielded parking
South Lyon’s existing traffic, street design, and numerous parking lots create an atmosphere not conducive of walking. The first pattern of walkable + bikable downtown should exist along the major commercial areas of Lafayette Street (heading north-south) and Lake Street (heading east-west). By defining this area as a walkable district it will create an atmosphere that will spread throughout the entire downtown as businesses and streets are enlivened. Paired with connected + clear paths, traffic calming + crosswalks, the walkability and bikability of South Lyon will further increase. Gateways should exist throughout the downtown core as key indicators that you have entered the space. These are created through densification and change in street design and patterns.
The last five patterns are more specific as they apply to particular lots and features within the walkable + bikeable downtown. Through densification and integration gaps in the urban fabric will no longer exist. Paired with public spaces and areas that encourage interaction (such as out door eating areas), the vibrance of the downtown will further increase. From these patterns, existing and missing areas were defined which lead to the creation of project categories (section 3).
discovering south lyon [pattern language] 19
[section introduction] Once the pattern language of South Lyon was defined we developed a series of project categories discussed on the following pages. From there, our group broke into individual projects. While the designs are independently created, we incorporated the ideas discussed as a group into each of our designs. Section 3 includes a description of the nine project categories, an explanation of how they interact as well as the specific designs created regarding traffic calming, connected pathways and infill.
projects [section 3] 20
gateways +
housing +
lake
downtown
post office +
nw lafayette +
green spaces
+
connections
public square
alley ways
+
Drawing from the patterns defined for South Lyon, a series of projects were outlined. Projects fell loosely into nine categories as shown to the left. Specific suggestions related primarily to traffic calming + crossings, alley ways + connections, and housing + building infill are included in this chapter. Projects for other categories were not completed due to limited time and resources. As with patterns and the physically built environment, it is difficult to completely separate specific project elements. While traffic calming focuses on street design, other categories such as public squares + green spaces and bike paths + racks come into play due to integration of uses and design. Other examples of project integration include alleyways + connections and public square + green spaces. Connections between buildings and alleys can also serve as green spaces. When creating designs for specific projects it is important that elements cross boundaries to create an enhanced cohesive environment. Careful selection of signage, lighting, refuse receptacles, landscaping, benches, and tables is integral in creating a cohesive urban aesthetic that extends from pathways and public spaces, to alleyways and gateways.
buidling infill
racks bike paths +
integration
traffic calming +
transformations
crossings
[introduction of projects]
housing +
creating an enhanced environment [project categories] 21
traffic calming + crossings bike paths + racks
public square + green spaces
alley ways + connections
gateways + downtown
housing + business infill creating an enhanced environment [project interactions] 22
traffic calming + crossings bike paths + racks
public square + green spaces
traffic calming + crossings [3.1] 23
E Lake W Lake Reese
Wells E Liberty W Liberty
S Lafayette
Washington
Elm
W McHattie
E McHattie
traffic calming + crossings [alternatives area] 24
[existing conditions] South Lyon is a small close-knit community that has many families and young children. One of the most attractive aspects of the town is the fact that the core downtown has been able to keep its historical, quaint feel. From our observations, residents love to come downtown to stroll, window-shop, grab a bite to eat, and experience some of the fun activities. Many of the businesses visited by residents are also locally owned, ensuring that investment by the community is returned and a sustained interest in the health of downtown. Despite the attractiveness of downtown, there were several areas identified by residents that need improvement. Looking at the negatives identified in the Feeling Map on page 13 many of these are related to transportation. First, there is an overabundance of underutilized parking lots in areas that are prime for development. At the main intersection of town, Lake and Lafayette, three of the corners have appealing and traffic-inducing uses. The southwest corner on the other hand has a small parking lot, a vacant building, and two large parking lots that rarely have more than a few cars parked in them. This creates a visual break in the continuity of the core and severely hurts the draw of downtown. Also, as one ventures away from the main intersection in each direction, the development becomes decidedly more auto-oriented and less dense with large visible parking lots, large setbacks, and small strip centers. Many of these lots and buildings are in poor condition and were identified by residents as needing attention. Second, with relatively wide sidewalks (~ 10 feet), a dense core, the bike shop, the Huron Valley Rail Trail, nice streetscaping, and numerous parks, South Lyon has some of the necessary elements to make a walkable and bikeable downtown. However, there is no bicycle infrastructure on the main streets of the town creating an unsafe environment for bicyclists. Many bicyclists were riding along the sidewalk, which is unsafe and not the correct place for them. Our group also noticed numerous places were it was difficult and unsafe to cross Lafayette due to a lack of pedestrian amenities, especially at Liberty and Lafayette. Even where there are dedicated crosswalk signals, many pedestrians had to walk quickly to cross within the given time. Finally, Lafayette gives preference to automobiles and mobility in its design. Lafayette has two 12-foot lanes for traffic in each direction and a 10-foot turn lane. There is also eight feet of parking on either side. The speed limit is 25 miles per hour, but the design speed and actual speed are around 30-35 miles per hour. There are also very few stop lights/signs. While this is typical for a main thoroughfare in the State of Michigan, this facilitates driving quickly and does not induce walking or stopping. Much of the traffic, which is good in and of itself, does not stop to patronize the businesses along Lafayette or Lake.
site map - existing condition 25
traffic calming + crossings [alternatives area]
wide streets
blank facades
parking dominated
existing conditions unconducive for walkability 26
traffic calming + crossings [alternatives area]
[lafayette transformation] Transforming Lafayette into a walkable corridor can be achieved by extending the built form near the main intersection north and south along the street and calming traffic to create a safer and more pleasant walking environment.
Lotte
Mill
Abel
Detroit
Wells
Warren
Main Gateways Defining the Downtown: Use a combination of buildings, trees, lighting, signage, and paving to define the entrances to downtown New Buildings Fronting the Street: Encourage development of new buildings with shopfronts facing the street, zero setbacks, and parking in the back
Reese
Whipple
Traffic Calming: Use “Complete Streets” approach by widening the sidewalk, adding street trees and bike lanes or with “Shared Space” approach
Lake
Lake
Improved Crosswalks: Use paving and raised crosswalks to create a safer walking environment for pedestrians and to better connect both sides of the Bike Paths: Use striping, paving, or sharrows to designate space for bike travel
Liberty Liberty
Elm
McMunn
Warren
Scott
Lafayette
Washington
Lenox
t
ee
McHattie McHattie
Plans based on two approaches to achieve this transformation – the less common, more ambitious shared space and the more common complete streets option – are provided in the following section. The plans for each option focus on the two blocks south of Lake Street.
Pettibone
Lafayette
Second
Donovan
Reese
Abel
R
l
no
ey
w ds
Small Public Squares: Convert portions of the parking lots at Lafayette and Lake to public squares to host community events and to provide spaces for day-to-day Post Office Entrance on Lafayette: Move the main entrance of the post office to Lafayette Street at the corner of Liberty
traffic calming + crossings [alternatives area] 27
alternative one
traffic calming + crossings [shared space] 28
[inspiration]
buildings fronting streets busy street cafes
beauty through simplicity
pedestrian priority
When designing a shared space, the traditional segregation of cars, walkers, and bicyclists is removed. Curbs, street paint, and signs and signals are removed to create a public space where all transportation modes are integrated. This creates a place that is human-centric and has been shown to increase safety despite the removal of the standard safety measures built into the streets.
large public spaces
“Shared Space� is a fundamental rethinking of the design of streets taking them back to their original use while still allowing all types of users. This concept was the original basis for the design of urban streets before cars became the priority. It calls for the selfenforcing use of public spaces by all users, whether they are riding a bike, walking, taking transit, or driving a private vehicle. For smooth operation, shared space requires human interaction. Therefore, this type of philosophy calls for opening up the street, removing over-regulation, and allowing social rules to govern.
inspiration from abroad
seamless interactions
Before the beginning of the automobile-age in the early 20th century, streets were primarily for people. While these people were often going somewhere, streets were another place for people to interact with neighbors, street vendors, shops, and others. In the 1800s, with the advent of the bicycle and streetcar, streets became a place to ride your bike or jump on the streetcar, thus becoming more oriented towards transport yet still remained a place for people. However, after cars were invented and became popular, streets experience a radical redesign. Cars required special infrastructure to maintain control and safety, or so the engineers and planners ascertained.
traffic calming + crossings [shared space] 29
[site enhancements] South Lyon expressed a great need for a public space where residents could gather for community activities. We decided that a shared space concept could work to create this kind of public gathering place while also making the street more pedestrian and bicycle friendly. We removed the curbs, street paint, and signs and signals and replaced them with bricks laid out in a pattern that signifies both the street and the public square. To maintain a minimum amount of control of traffic flow on Lake and Lafayette, we added circular patterned brick and an obstacle, such as a piece of artwork, small fountain, large planter, etc., in the center to direct flow somewhat like a roundabout. The paving then turns into a radial pattern headed north/south on Lafayette and east/west on Lake meant to guide cars through the intersection and around turns, but it does not constrain them to that space. Pedestrian and bicyclists are allowed in the space as well. We added another circular design feature to signify the center of the public square. Here, there would most likely be another obstacle for traffic flow purposes. In the parking lot on the northwest corner of Lafayette and Liberty, we have added a multi-purpose building. We thought it could be used as a community hall and also remain somewhat open so that the summer farmer’s market has a dedicated structure. The food stands can be both inside and outside. Across Liberty St. on the other parking lot, we added a building that is on an angle to create a greater sense of a gateway into the public space. This building can be used for additional shops or retail. Ideally, the post office has also been redesigned to face the street. All of these changes not only create a gateway and a gathering place, but also work to extend the downtown further south. We placed bollards outside of the new buildings, which serve to direct traffic and signify a more pedestrianoriented space. Cars are allowed to park inside these areas, but they should not be used like a street. Likewise, street trees and lampposts add aesthetic to the street, guide one’s eyes along the street and into the public square, and provide shade. All these elements together create a design that guides users, whether they be in their car or on foot, into the public square and onto the streets outside of the shops. Finally, the public square area can be closed down for larger outdoor events and activities. The shared space concept allows for versatility and a human-centric, vibrant downtown bringing in all types of users.
site map - overview 30
traffic calming + crossings [shared space]
before
before
after
after
street section north of liberty on lafayette
street section south of liberty on lafayette
traffic calming + crossings [shared space] 31
alternative two
traffic calming + crossings [complete streets] 32
[inspiration]
33
busy street cafes
designated bikelanes + boxes buildings fronting streets
large public spaces
wide sidewalks
Complete streets is one approach that emphasizes design for all users, not just motorists, to create a safe, comfortable, and accessible public realm. Complete streets include amenities such as wide, tree-lined sidewalks, bike lanes, frequent and visible crossings, median islands, accessible pedestrian signals, and curb extensions.
Elements that work in conjunction with complete streets to create a walkable, inviting atmosphere include, public squares for hosting day-to-day activities as well as large public gatherings, street cafes that bring dining and conversing from inside out into the streets, and a rich and diverse mix of shops fronting the streets at the sidewalk. These elements and the complete streets approach provide the inspiration for achieving a walkable, bikeable downtown South Lyon.
raised crosswalks
Liveable city streets are an important part of the health of our communities. Ideally, streets should accommodate everyone – walkers, bikers, motorists, and wheelchair riders, young and old. More and more; however, streets are designed to move auto traffic as fast as possible.
inspiration from u.s. + abroad
traffic calming + crossings [complete streets]
[site enhancements] The complete streets Lafayette transformation starts with widening the sidewalks, up to 15 feet, along the blocks directly north and south of Lake. To accommodate the extra pedestrian space, underutilized on-street parking is removed on these two blocks. Part of the removed parking space is allocated to the sidewalks and part for designated bike paths. Where bike lanes meet street intersections, bike boxes provide bikers with a place to stop at traffic signals to make them more visible to motorists. Slightly-raised crosswalks with distinct paving occur at street intersections to slow down drivers and signal that the street is used by pedestrians as well as motorists. To help define the street and provide comfort for pedestrians, frequent trees are planted along Lafayette with ample room for significant growth. New buildings are built at the ROW line at the intersections with Lake and Liberty to house small shops that front and define the street. Residential space can be included on the upper floors of these, as well as existing buildings, to generate a broader mix of activities. The parking along Lafayette is moved off of the street frontage to the rear of buildings. The public parking lot north of Liberty is transformed into a gathering space for daily activities, community gatherings and festivals. A basilica-inspired hall can host indoor gatherings as well as a farmer’s market that spills onto the public square in front of the building. The south-facing space directly north of the square, next to the vacant restaurant, is ideal for an outdoor seating area. Moving the entrance to the post office from the rear to the front of the building will bring more pedestrian activity to the space, and create a more welcoming and defined public realm.
site map - overview 34
traffic calming + crossings [complete streets]
before
before
after
after
street section north of liberty on lafayette
street section south of liberty on lafayette
traffic calming + crossings [shared space] 35
bike paths + racks
public square + green spaces
alley ways + connections
gateways + downtown
alley ways + connections [3.2] 36
[existing conditions]
crumbled asphalt
undistinct character
undefined space
expansive hardsurfaces
wide lots
minimal enhancements
informal parking
numerous back entrances lacking code enfforcement poor storm water drainage
Improvements for the three secondary down town alleys are shown on the following page. Detailed site improvements for the primary alley can be found on page 41. These enhancements provide a framework to be applied to the secondary alleys and other public areas as appropriate.
univiting building backs
unmaintained properites blocked right of ways main entrances in back
historic stone wall littered + weedy surfaces univiting spaces
While the design of South Lyon’s alleys appear to be nonexistent or an afterthought, there are promising attributes that deserve recognition. Located along a long narrow alley connecting Whipple Street to W Lake Street is an old stone wall that serves as a reminder of past elements that may have been throughout the city. More recent developments such as the small pocket public space on
southern end of the Detroit Street to E Lake Street alley (Jaratt’s Alley) provide examples of amenities that can enhance the urban environment.
parking dominated
Overall, conditions of the downtown alleys show signs of neglect. Compared to the front of buildings and main sidewalks, the back alleys are in very poor condition. The majority of alleys show signs of poor storm water drainage; buckled and crumbled asphalt; lack of code enforcement; car dominance; and no sense of place.
alley ways + connections [overall conditions] 37
Shared Alley Space Café Patio Space
at&t building norm’s shop
Whipple
W Lake
W Liberty
W Lake
W Liberty farmer’s market
Lafayette
Lafayette restaurant + shop
N
30’
E Lake
E Liberty
Lafayette
Shared Alley Space Ped/Bike Alley Space Lafayette
Short Term Parking Café Patio Space
Improved Private Property Shared Alley Space Short Term Parking
post office Lake
Whipple
W Lake shops
shops + restaurants
shops
Lafayette 30’
20’
N
N
alley ways + connections [secondary alleys] 38
Jaratt’s Prairie
Ped/Bike Alley Space
Shared Alley Space
Main City Parking Lot
Lafayette
Shops Shops
Medical Center
Detroit
Lake
Private Property
Shops
Wells N
18.75’
site map - overview 39
alley ways + connections [primary alley]
private courtyard pedestrian walkways wayfinding signage
expansive hardsurfaces
popular sitting area woonerf
dominate parking lot
univiting building backs
native wildflowers
While the majority of the alley is underutilized and lacks design aesthetics, the southern end, which abuts Lake Street, features a popular, well planned, pocket public space. This portion of the alley includes brick paving, pedestrian level lighting, landscaping, shaded seating and a picnic table. The space’s design extends into a private courtyard creating a cohesive connection between Lake Street, the southern end of the alley and the back
human scaled space
The space is overwhelming hard scaped and is covered by asphalt in fair condition. Puddles of water, built up sediment and water lines provides evidence of poor storm water drainage.
green alleys
Jaratt’s Alley connects Lake to Detroit Street and is parallel to the main city parking lot. The alley is currently an underutilized space that if improved would act as a unique pathway. While the parking lot has the highest use of all city lots, the physical environment lacks basic amenities such as shielding from the parking area, pedestrian level lighting, wayfinding signs, and trash receptacles. The majority of building backs along Lafayette have boarded and/or painted windows creating an environment that lacks physical interaction between those outside walking through the alley and those inside the businesses.
historic stone wall
[existing landscape]
[inspiration] Inspired by green alleys, woonerfs, pedestrian walkways, and existing elements within the city and country-side, the redesign of Jarrat’s Alley provides a framework for the transformation of other alleys through out the city. The goal of transforming South Lyon’s alleys is not to take away from pedestrian activity along the fronts of buildings but to enhance spaces that already exist and are used. Greening of the alleys includes use of pervious pavers and plantings. By breaking up hard-surfaces, storm water is allowed to drain throughout the alley rather than build and flood drains. Woonerfs are designated shared spaces that commonly allow for bicyclists, automobile drivers, and pedestrians. Pedestrians are given priority and various traffic calming methods are commonly implemented to increase safety within the spaces. Extending stone walls and native wildflower plantings provide elements that tie the alleys together and play off existing features of the area. A combination of these elements paired with wayfinding signage will encourage those parking in the main city lot to walk beyond their immediate destination to other businesses in the downtown.
alley ways + connections 3.2 [jaratt’s alley] 40
Planters
Refuse Receptacle Bike Racks
Lighting
planters
bike racks
The portion of the alley not shown below includes planters to continue the inclusion of native plants; stone walls to shield the alley from parked cars and pedestrian scale lighting to also continue the welcoming atmosphere. While this portion is open to cars, in the spirit of the European woonerf, pedestrians and bicyclists have priority.
wayfinding sign
The wayfinding signage is integral to orienting those exiting backs of buildings or the parking lot. Wayfinding information includes: locations of businesses in the downtown; alley linkages; public spaces; and bike paths and racks.
Picnic Table
lighting
tables
Within this particular area of Jaratt’s Alley use is prohibited from cars. The alley is transformed into a public space that serves as a transition from Jaratt’s Prairie to the car accessible portion of the alley and the parking lot. Tables, bike rakes, trash receptacles, and wayfinding provide usable amenities for pedestrians while planters and pedestrian scale lighting helps create a welcoming atmosphere.
refuse containers
[site enhancements]
Wayfinding Signage
Bollards
Stone Wall
Lake Shops
site map - ped/bike space 41
10’
N
alley ways + connections [jaratt’s alley]
unnecessary asphalt bench view three huron river d.i.a. inside-out
minimal seating bench view two field stones scandinavia
bench view one
Further issues arise when seated at the lone bench on the western edge of the lot (which faces Lafayette). Views from the bench are less than optimal as seen in the three view photos to the right. Placement of the bench appears haphazard and is underutlized by those frequenting downtown.
michigan prairies
The eastern edge of the lot (which meets the alley) features several signs prohibiting a variety of uses including: biking, skateboarding, roller blading, and in parts parking. The prohibiting signs create an unwelcoming atmosphere, making the green space appear more as a void in the urban fabric than an actual place.
historic stone wall
Currently, the green space between Layfayette and Jaratt’s Alley features a single bench at the western edge of the parcel and a well maintained grassy area, free of debris and properly clipped. While it is possible to walk from the alley and the city parking lot to Layfayette through the green space, many people do not pass through it as the area lacks a walkway or inviting amenities.
prohibiting signs
[existing landscape]
[inspiration] Inspired by the natural landscapes of Michigan, field stones, Scandinavian vistas, and the D.I.A inside-out art exhibitions, the existing green space was converted to a public garden. Many times, native perennials are not considered as landscaping options; however, with over 1,800 Michigan native plants, the palate of colors to chose from are endless. Selecting native plants help reduce the need for general maintenance, chemicals and water as the area is allowed to grow to mimic a natural prairie setting. Field stones, rivers and lakes serve as inspiration for the sites water feature. A passive trickling pool with ledges for sitting, the water feature reminds one of sitting on the banks of the Huron river immersed in wild flowers. As some linger on the pool’s ledge, others may chose a bench to sit and enjoy the garden space. An existing historic stone wall, located within the downtown, serves as a model for creating stone walls as entrance ways to the space. Building off the popularity of the D.I.A inside-out project, the space will include art installations along building walls to break up the monotonous brick walls that are located along the lateral walls of the space.
alley ways + connections [jaratt’s prairie] 42
refuse container water features
tables
Other site elements includes low lighting to gently illuminate the space at night; wood detailed refuse containers; and bike hoops at the Lafayette entrance.
lighting
A small water feature is also included representing numerous creeks and rivers that run throughout Michigan. Art installations featuring well known pieces, local artists, and/or locally historic photos are mounted on the sides of buildings facing the space. Passersby may linger a while to enjoy the smell of blooming flowers, art, and the water as it slowly trickles throughout the reflecting pool or continue through the space to connect with Jaratt’s Alley, back entrances of several businesses or the city parking lot.
benches
To increase connection between Layfayette, Jarratt’s Alley and the city parking lot the existing green space has been converted to a public garden called Jaratt’s Prairie. Inspired by the natural landscapes surrounding South Lyon and throughout Michigan, the garden features natural wildflowers that bloom from spring to fall. Native plants of southeast Michigan were selected and are represented in the garden grid, Seasonal Colors, on the following page.
bike racks
[site enhancements]
Jaratt’s Alley
Lafayette Picnic Table Art Installations Low-Level Lighting Bike Rack Wayfinding Signage
site map 43
Water Feature Bench Sitting Ledge Refuse Receptacle
10’
N
alley ways + connections [jaratt’s prairie]
seasonal colors
44
alley ways + connections [jaratt’s prairie]
autumn
late-summer
summer spring
te
r la
ev
is
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public square + green spaces
gateways + downtown
housing + business infill
housing + building infill [3.3] 45
N Lafayatte
N Warren
Detroit
Whipple Wells
E Lake W Lake S Lafayatte
Washington
S Warren
E Liberty W Liberty
location 46
housing + business infill [whipple street]
[existing conditions] This area is actually in the core of the whole DDA area. But the conditions now are astonishingly against its location. Compared to the other side of the Lafayette Street, this area is almost dead. The whole area is filled with oversized parking, too much openness, and lack a pedestrian realm. From feeling maps by local residents, this area is mainly graded by bad or even awful. In order to look further into this problem, parking oriented and pedestrian oriented fronts are mapped out. As can be seen from the two maps, this area is almost all covered by parking lots. There are about 2 acres of parking areas while the pedestrian oriented space is only a quarter acre. Even these mere pedestrian areas are cut into pieces by those oversized parking monsters.
parking oriented fronts
existing conditions dominated by parking 47
pedestrian oriented fronts
housing + business infill [whipple street]
[site inspirations] minimal hidden parking
Inspired by small parking, shielded parking, and existing historically influenced facades, the improvement of this site is to break the oversized huge parking into smaller ones, reduce total parking areas, and transform the reduced land into housing or business use. Small parking means no oversized parking. The whole parking space should be reduced half its size, in which 60 percent should be buildings, 20 percent should be pedestrian open space, and another 20 percent should be green areas.
pedestrian continuity
Historically influenced facades in South Lyon should be preserved and their influence spread to the new development. The new infill buildings should use the traditional facades as well to create a sense of continuity and well being.
historically influenced facades
Shielded parking includes ideas of block the parking from being seen outside, and create a sense of continuity of sidewalks.
housing + business infill [whipple street] 48
[site enhancements]] By building a new street between the old city hall and the bank connecting Lake Street and Whipple Street, the oversized setback along north side of Lake will be divided into several interesting smaller spaces. These spaces fill voids currently existing on the long street. Also, more along-the-street space will be made for more opportunities for businesses and interesting walking experiences. Make Infill housing and commercial buildings in open spaces along streets to create a sense of enclosure instead of wild openness. Also, these infill buildings, with the help of existing buildings, will be able to shield parking behind them, and get rid of the bad influences the parking used to have on pedestrians.
After the infill, parking oriented space will be reduced down to one acre, while the pedestrian oriented space will be enhanced to 1.7 acres. What’s more, the improved one-acre parking area will be also shielded ones either by buildings or plants along the streets.
plan view - infill overview
housing + business infill [whipple street] 49
perspective - infill
housing + business infill [whipple street] 50
commercial space
residential space
garden space
housing + business infill [whipple street] 51
going forward [section 4] 52
[last thoughts] The designs discussed in section 3 are just the first step towards creating a more walkable, bikable and vibrant South Lyon. Building upon the vision and patterns defined for South Lyon the following is needed to achieve an enhanced city:
bikeable
1. Pair with a planning and design firm that will address all the elements of downtown development: housing, businesses, vacancies, traffic, public spaces, and streetscaping. 2. Hold a series of visioning and input sessions that will reach a wide audience including residents of South Lyon as well as those that use Lafayette as a thoroughfare.
walkable
3. Conduct a retail and housing assessment to gain better understanding of what South Lyon can support. 4. Meet with Michigan Department of Transportation to discuss possible traffic calming measures that will increase pedestrian safety while not causing severe traffic congestion during peak hours. 5. Evaluate the existing DDA budget to ensure that proper financing occurs and project plans are fully implemented. South Lyon has a unique opportunity to turn traffic, which is locally considered a detriment into an asset. The high volume of people passing through South Lyon can be drawn to stop and visit the city if the public sphere and businesses are improved thus turning the city into a vibrant destination.
vibrant safe social festive
an enhanced south lyon [going forward] 53