/June 2019
Chattanooga Innovation District
PUBLIC REALM ACTION PLAN Gehl — Making Cities for People
Chattanooga Innovation District1
Project Team
The Enterprise Center Ken Hays, President Ann Coulter, Strategic Planning Mary Stargel, Director of Innovation District Programs
Chattanooga Design Studio Eric Myers, Executive Director Lindsey Willke, Urban Design Coordinator
Gehl Matthew Lister, Director Geoffrey Dyck, Project Manager Lily Wubeshet, Urban Designer Aja Jeanty, Urban Designer Olivia Flynn, Urban Designer Alex Schuknecht, Urban Designer
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Innovation District Committee Members Blythe Bailey Kevin Boehm Matt Busby Elijah Cameron Clint Dean Lakweshia Ewing Eldred Fletcher Lisa Flint Bob Franklin Josiah Golson Yusuf Hakeem Kerry Hayes Heidi Hefferlin Kristy Huntley Katelyn Kirnie Meredith Levine James McKissic Kyle Miller Jennifer Mingola Jeff Pfitzer Philip Pugliese Darian Scott John Shepherd Meagan Shinn David Steele Justin Steinmann Jonathan Susman Macon Toledano Paula Wilkes
PSPL Volunteers Graham Alexander Jaclyn Anderson Eric Asboe Blythe Bailey Kofi Bannor Sicely Baquedano Juergen Bauer Jojo Brauer Lynsi Buford Matt Busby Teresa Dean Cole Sarah Cook Akosua A Cook Ann Coulter Clint Dean Alexander Drouillard Mackenzie Flynn Cortney Geary Gray Gill Kerry Hayes Ken Hays
Justin D Howell Cate Irvin Kirsten Jones Angela Langevin Alexander Leffew Meredith Levine Casey Lee Lomber-Gordon Sammy Lowdermilk MIKO Geoff Millener Jennifer Mingola Tom Montague Mary Helen Montgomery Heath Montgomery Sally Morrow Eric Myers Stephanie Nunez Allie O’Connell Jenny Park Lakisha Partridge Eugenia Payne
Daniela Peterson Jeff Rector Melita Rector Emily Ricks Andrew Rodgers Emily Roumen Darian Scott Mary Smith Justin Steinmann Jonathan Susman Brandon Sutton Brian Taylor Kristen Ton Tom Trevor Crissy Varnell TK Westfield Lindsey Willke
Chattanooga Innovation District
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Contents
1. 2. 3.
4. 5. 6.
7. 8.
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Setting the Stage for Tomorrow Public Space, Public Life (PSPL) Key Takeaways
4 11 20
Vision: The Experimental City Public Life Principles Public Space Framework Plan
70 73 75
Starting Now: Piloting Change Next Steps
107 117
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1.
Setting the Stage for Tomorrow Chattanoogans never stop working to improve their city. They continue to plan, build, and learn from the successes and lessons learned in past ones. The foundations of this Public Realm Action Plan lie in the 2014 Enterprise Center Strategic Plan, the 2013 Center City Plan and the 2006 Downtown Plan. Cities and their urban cores are in a constant state of flux and people’s expectations for what their cities should be and the qualities they should exhibit are also in flux. That’s why planning is always important. The plans people make must be guided at every step by the shared values and dreams of a city’s residents. The dream behind the creation of the Innovation District is that it be an authentic place where innovation, entrepreneurship and world class technology add unique value to the city around it and make a better city for everyone.
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The Innovation District Framework Plan of 2018 articulated the bedrock values of the District and four broad strategies to pursue on their behalf. One of these strategies is improvements to the public realm. But how to approach these all-important improvements? This is where Gehl enters the picture. Due to their international reputation of using public engagement as well as observational data and rapid prototyping to craft public space improvements, the firm was selected to work with The Enterprise Center in collaboration with Chattanooga Design Studio on creating Chattanooga’s first Public Realm Action Plan.
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A District leading the way in putting people first The public realm is the connective tissue of any district that allows the drivers of innovation - creativity, serendipity, and authentic exchanges among people - to truly flourish. Some important recent moves downtown are helping to illustrate this, such as the Miller Park re-design and Passageways – creative public art installations in downtown alleys. To set more such plans in motion, Chattanooga Design Studio, The Enterprise Center, the City of Chattanooga, Gehl Studio and other stakeholders conducted a Public Space Public Life Survey in fall of 2018. This study helps us know how public spaces are supporting public life in the District, how to identify challenges and opportunities for growing public life, and how to set target outcomes for public life in the future. It is all about a downtown and a district for people first. This plan helps set the stage for Chattanooga to be a leader in prioritizing people in the public realm – with the goal of hosting an array of collision points for people of varying backgrounds, age groups and gender, people who work, play, live and participate in District life.
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FRAMEWORK PLAN March 2018
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Rich with a collective energy to try, make, and experiment Chattanooga’s secret weapon is Chattanoogans themselves – the city’s collection of local creatives, grassroots movers and shakers and entrepreneurs. The downtown core is pulsing with innovative ways of creating imaginative solutions, processes and spaces for everyday life. This collective energy to try, make and experiment is a valuable asset – and the public realm prototyping process that is Gehl’s expertise, puts that asset in play.
Gehl — Making Cities for People
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Alignment from city leadership, institutions, and key stakeholders empowers citizens to be part of the innovation in the city Working together is well-practiced in Chattanooga and will be needed to continue the evolution of the District’s public realm. “Chattanooga’s Innovation District is where people from all walks of life come together to explore and collaborate on technology, art, recreation, commerce and civic engagement. Thinkers, starters and doers – it’s a bold place full of people working together to discover the next big thing.” - Mayor Andy Berke.
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As the city grows — how can the public realm be a platform to showcase and nurture the creative spirit and the city’s shared values? The Public Realm Action Plan is just that – a plan for up front, actionable next steps guided by rapid prototyping of ideas in key public spaces to test how well they work before investing in expensive public infrastructure. This method answers the question of how the public realm can be a platform to showcase and nurture the creative spirit and the city’s shared values. And this method continues to rely on feedback and engagement from everyday users of a space -workers, residents, students and visitors. The final sections of the plan provide next steps for prototyping improvements to three spaces in the Innovation District that were prioritized by the many local people engaged in the planning process. These next steps are up to all of us. We are betting we can be pretty good at it and that we can go on to use the principles and methods laid out in this plan to improve places far outside of the Innovation District.
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Project Roadmap Chattanooga Tomorrow Where we are going
Vision
Public Life Principles What will guide us
Public Space Big Moves How we’ll get there
North Stars
Urban Framework
Mix.
ground A meeting brings ly ve ti that ac th e er people tog
Lear
n.
A pla c to be e for all a g a stu dent es teach a e ideas r, to expl nd o , lear n, sh re are
ate. Incubor local
Experimental City
A city made by the people
ef ive A plac ses to thr s e e in h s t bu ase ga howc and s Chattanoo f o t s be
01
Establish EastWest Connections
02
Define a MultiModal Link
03
Create a Continuous Retail Experience
04
Activate Open Spaces for Everyday Use
05
Nurture a Neighborhood Network
Early Activation Projects Where to start
Pilot 1
The Porch
2
The Generator
3
Bus Stop Hotspots
Re-m
ix.
A pla c enco e that u try, m rages y o try a ake, (fa u to il), a gain nd
Future Interventions
ver. Discthoat inspires ery
Warehouse Park and Test Kitchen
e ov A plac nse of disc new e to your s ges you in ew n ud and n nces - with ie exper people
The Market Street Storefront Collective
Improv e. A pla
Bessie Smith Press Play
ce that prioritiz a contin es uo improve us ment & assessm ent
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Observe, listen, and learn Before any analysis of the public realm, it is critical to get an honest picture of how the Innovation District operates today — where people are spending time, where they aren’t, how people feel invited, who is missing, and what values residents, students, and visitors want to see reflected in their shared spaces.
Online Engagement
Online Engagement
Pop-Up Survey
Pop-Up Survey Gehl — Making Cities for People
Intercept Surveys
Observational Survey
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2.
Public Space, Public Life In order to shape strategies to guide growth that fits, reflects and supports the city’s overarching goals, we begin with a look at how people experience the District today. A PSPL provides empirical evidence and arguments for improving public space. Once we understand the life of a place, we start looking at what changes are needed in the physical environment to create a more sustainable and livable city for all.
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Why conduct a Public Space Public Life (PSPL) Study? The purpose of a PSPL is to put people at the forefront of urban design and decision-making in cities. The PSPL is a way to study how public life unfolds in the Innovation District today and to understand what some of the needs and demands are for future public space development. It is a way to benchmark public life and provide strategic recommendations for future public space development.
“Measure what you care about.” -Jan Gehl
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What is Public Space and why does it matter? Public spaces are a key element of individual and social wellbeing, the places of a community’s collective life, expressions of the diversity of their common, natural and cultural richness and a foundation of their identity. A city’s public realm is more than its formal parks and plazas. It is all spaces between buildings. From sidewalks and streets, to passageways and underpasses, to public buildings and informal cutthroughs, Chattanooga has a rich, connected network of public spaces to foster vibrant public life.
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Chattanooga Innovation District
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What is Public Life and why does it matter? Public life is the shared experience of the city created by people when they live their lives outside of their homes, workplaces and cars. It is the everyday life that unfolds in streets, plazas, parks, and spaces between buildings. Public life can be measured, and cities that do so can help develop a high quality of public life through changes in the public realm over time. Public life thrives when all people can enjoy being in public together, and is encouraged by quality public space that fosters social interaction. Vibrant public life promotes civic agency, supports health and sustainability, builds social capital, and connects people to their local communities.
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Getting a picture of it all The PSPL was kicked off with the help of the city’s greatest asset: Chattanoogans!
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Over 50 volunteers collected data on pedestrian movement and stationary activity of people in the public realm of the downtown core. Twelve key zones, each including 3-4 separate count locations and one stationary mapping location, were surveyed over a 12 hour period from 8am to 8pm on the following days:
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Thursday, November 15, 2018 30–39º | Partly cloudy, cold all day Saturday, November 17, 2018 42º—46º | Mostly sunny
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Method 1: Observational Surveys of People Moving We counted people moving through the District using different modes.
People Walking (or in wheelchair or stroller) Gehl — Making Cities for People
People on Wheels
Age & Gender of people moving Chattanooga Innovation District
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Method 2: Observational Surveys of People Staying We mapped and counted people staying, along with the activities they engaged in.
Activity Gehl — Making Cities for People
Group Size
Age & Gender of people staying Chattanooga Innovation District
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Method 3: Public Space Quality Analysis
Sidewalk Clutter Public Art
Bike Lanes
Paving Quality
Greenery
Facade Quality
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To understand the relationship between public life and public space, we documented facade quality, land use, neighborhood amenities, public space amenities, and performed test walks to feel the current pedestrian experience.
Seating
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Method 4: Engagements We talked to people to get an understanding of public space and public life beyond what can be counted and observed.
Intercept Surveys
Site Visits
Focus Groups
We asked people questions related to the purpose of their trips and the duration of visits. We asked questions about sentiment, sense of safety, feelings about downtown, and what might be missing. We asked questions focused on social interaction as well as on basic demographics including age, gender identification, and income.
Commuters
Pop-up Workshops
Cyclists
Workshop Sessions
Interviews
Neighbors
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Local Makers
Youth + Students
Chattanooga Innovation District
Stakeholders
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3.
Key Takeaways What is the experience of arriving, moving, and staying in the Innovation District? How well do the streets in downtown Chattanooga invite people to walk and bike—especially outside of commuting hours? What is the quality of experience moving through the city—by foot, bike, transit? How does the space support or hinder public life? The following section highlights key public life insights that inform the Public Realm Action Plan. Gehl — Making Cities for People
01 Welcome to Chattanooga where sidewalks (and streets) are the social hubs
02 Bus stops are the heartbeat of everyday activity
03 Public spaces are magnetic platforms for events
SOCIAL SIDEWALKS
ACTIVE BUS STOPS
EVENT DRIVEN PUBLIC LIFE
04 High quality public spaces but few invitations to spend time
05 Barriers come in different shapes and sizes and limit access to spending time
06 Market Street is an active multi-modal hub
PUBLIC SPACE INVITATIONS
PUBLIC SPACE INVITATIONS
NORTH-SOUTH SOCIAL SIDEWALKS ACTIVITY
07 MLK Boulevard has the potential to be a multimodal hub but it feels disjointed
08 Chattanoogans create their own pathways
09 The District is not a hub for cycling...but it’s on its way
EAST-WEST SOCIAL SIDEWALKS ACTIVITY
DEFINING SOCIAL SPACE SIDEWALKS
CYCLING SOCIAL CITY SIDEWALKS
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PSPL KEY TAKEAWAYS
01
Welcome to Chattanooga where sidewalks (and streets) are the social hubs Hospitality is the DNA of the city
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Sidewalks are the District’s hardest working and most sociable public spaces
Sidewalks are used as much as open spaces
186 people staying
57%
people are in groups
Open Spaces Weekday all day total
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234 people staying
66%
people are in groups
Streets + Sidewalks Weekday all day total
Chattanooga Innovation District
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Southern hospitality is the DNA of the public realm People hangout in groups more often than on their own
2/3
of people are in social groups
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88%
of people spending time at Patten Towers are in social groups during a peak hour Weekend, 5PM
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Chattanooga Innovation District
Sidewalks are a sociable scale Smaller spaces lend themselves to social interaction Miller Park
Market Street
Trafalgar Square
~1 per 10,000 ft2
~1 per 250ft2
~1per 250ft2 Reference: London, UK
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The 21st century street is a place A city’s greatest public realm canvas are its streets
You already know this!
80%
of cities are streets
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PSPL KEY TAKEAWAYS
02
Bus stops are the heartbeat of everyday activity Most people staying are waiting for the bus
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1/5
Of all stationary activities observed in the District waiting for transit ranks second behind leisure activity
of people spending time in the District are waiting for the bus Weekday + Weekend
Waiting for Transport
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Leisure Activity
Chattanooga Innovation District
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On Market Street bus stops are especially active hubs of public life Waiting for transit is the prominent stationary activity
162
people spending time on Market Street
Space and comfort could be better
77%
are waiting for the bus
Weekday and Weekend total on Market Street between 6th Street and 7th Street
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PSPL KEY TAKEAWAYS
03
Public spaces are magnetic platforms for events Chattanooga knows how to throw a good party
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Punching above its weight, events draw world class numbers Chattanooga 8th Street
108 people
Pittsburgh Liberty Avenue
144 people
San Francisco Market Street
Nashville Broadway
168 people
158 people
Weekend 4-6pm
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Events support a healthy public life profile Age & gender are more evenly distributed with programming
1/25
are children district wide
1/5
are children during events
2/5
are women district wide
1/4
are women during events
5
Data reports averages from a fall event on 8th Street
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d
Events see a broad and varied mix of activities Programming brings opportunities to spend time in different ways
Pictures taken in downtown Chattanooga
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Market S treet
Broad Street
Walnut Street
Chestnut Street
Cherry Street
treet
7th Street
During Event
After Event tre et
47 people / hour
6th
str eet / hour 14 people
Lin
dsa yS
5 people / hour
Pine Street
Market S
Broad Street
Before Event
Walnut Street
7th Street
Chestnut Street
Cherry Street
treet
Pine Street
Market S
Broad Street
Pine Street
Chestnut Street
But events can generate little public life ripple effect Few people stick around past the event
Lookout Street
6th Street
Lookout Street
6th Street
t
et
10th Street
tre sS
et
gla
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Str e
et
Str e ust on
A fall event on 8th MStreet exemplifies LK ing Blv d public life this rhythm—when the event packs up, so do ML Kin gB the people lvd
Dou
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Chattanooga Innovation District
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8th Street
Lin
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10th Street
Str eet
Par k
d L King Blv
Weekend 5pm
Str eet
tr ee
Chestnut Street
Chestnut Street
8th
Pat ten
Weekend 2pm
7th
8th Street
8th Street
to n Street Chestnut S
8th Street
8th Street
During Event
Walnut Street
treet
Cherry Street
Market S
Broad Street
Pine Street
Chestnut Street
Or explore beyond the programmed space
Lookout Street
6th Street
7th Street
6th
str e
et
Lin
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tre et
47 people / hour
7th
8th Street
Str eet
Pat ten
Str eet
Ho
8th
us to n
St
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Chestnut Street
8th Street
Only 4 people per hour around the corner on Chestnut Street
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Chattanooga Innovation District
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10th Street
47Mpeople per LK ing lvd 8th hour Bon Street during programmed event Lin
est nu
t St
ree t
4 people / hour
Ge
Chestnut Street
ia A ve
M
Part of the challenge is urban infrastructure
25%
Well-Lit
Mc
Cal
Market Street
Broad Street
This diagram illustrates the District’s pockets of quality light—and gaps in between lie
43%
Ave nu
e
ML
Dim
KB
oul eva rd
11th Street
Map Legend
32%
Dark Dimly-Lit
Dark
Well-Lit
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Where and when events are programmed streets and spaces are welllit: inviting to all ages to spend time
But dark gaps will stop people from exploring beyond the limits of the event space
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PSPL KEY TAKEAWAYS
04
High quality public spaces but few invitations to spend time Places to be, but no place to spend time
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Bessie Smith Lawn
Clear, open walking path
Consistent rhythm of sidewalk trees creates a defined edge
Public art creates a vibrant sense of place
Inviting open space, but where do I stay?
1
Flexible green space
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Chattanooga Innovation District
Person/hour spending time here through the week
39
Warehouse Row Rich urban fabric creates a defined space and lends great views
Inviting open space, but where do I stay?
At its peak, up to
450
people/hour are walking through
But only
3
people/hour are staying
Articulated, open facades activate the ground floor
Opportunity to enjoy positive aspects of weather
Weekday all day
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Just outside the sunshine
Seating without a home
For a city of views...
Opportunity to stay, but an uninviting space
Facing away from sidewalk activity Gehl — Making Cities for People
Chattanooga Innovation District
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PSPL KEY TAKEAWAYS
05
Barriers come in different shapes and sizes and limit access to spending time
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Barriers come in different shapes and sizes There are four recurring typologies in the District Raised Platform
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Maze
Hidden
Chattanooga Innovation District
Perimeter
43
Mature trees Beautiful building
But am I supposed to be here? Is this public? Lush lawn
Raised Platform
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How do I get over here?
Beautiful canopy and vegetation
Not immediately clear there are places to sit
Maze Nice informal seating option Not stroller friendly
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Is there something back there?
Yes! Public spaces tucked away from view
Hidden
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Chattanooga Innovation District
PokemonGo will lead us there!
46
3D maze defies space time continuum!
Perimeter
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Ideal open space
Perceptual
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But I can’t see behind the wall of cars—so let’s catch up here
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Circuitous pathways leading to unknown destinations
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Elevated
Miller Park used to be walled off
How do I get here?
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Open sight lines makes it feel safe
Visible destination draws you in
Programmable edge activates the space
Now, a model of inviting public space design Clear walking path provides legible access
Flex space allows for a variety of activity
Shared street responds to a multitude of desire lines
Radically Transparent
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For events
Flexible Canvas
And inviting for everyday
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A note that if designed intentionally, hidden public spaces can be an asset—as is the case with the Passageways
Lighting is a critical piece to the success of hidden public spaces Clear, bold, and creative gateways draw you in—and invite you to discover what’s around the corner
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PSPL KEY TAKEAWAYS
06
Market Street is an active multimodal hub that sees consistent activity throughout the day
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Market Street is a key northsouth connector Market connects the Riverfront to downtown and through to the Southside. The central location is a critical piece of the puzzle.
2.5X the
500
Pedestrian Movement Hourly Average All Streets
400
District’s average pedestrian flow
Westside
Market Street
Riverfront
Innovation District
173
MLK
101
300 112
200
88
91
110
96
Market Street Average
69
100
District Average
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Southside
8PM
4PM
12PM
8AM
0
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The action doesn’t slow down on the weekend Market Street sees no significant drop-off in pedestrian activity during the weekend, indicating this is a place people choose to visit during their free time, not just have to be during work hours.
500 400
Pedestrian Movement Hourly Average Market Street Weekday and Weekend
300 200
110
Weekday Average
100
109
0
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8PM
4PM
12PM
8AM
Weekend Average
Weekday commute
Weekend field trip
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6th Street
88 /daily 7th Street
7th Street
str e
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dsa yS
tre
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6th
et
str e
Lin
Lin
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dsa yS tre et
Walnut Street
Cherry Street
Lookout Street
reet Market St
Walnut Street
Broad Street
Cherry Street
reet
Market St
Chestnut Street
Lookout Street
Broad Street Street Walnut
Pine Street
Cherry Street Chestnut Street
Street arketStreet MPine
Broad Street
Chestnut Street
Coworking Retail Food & Beverage
8th Street
7th
Str eet
7th
8th Street
8th Street
Str eet
7th
8th Street
t
ML
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arriers
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ninviting, no clear ntrances
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Active FacadesAmenitiesBus Stops
12th Street
Ma
Ma
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t St rke
et tre
S ad
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Bro
Ma
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44% 12th Street
12th Street
Urban Amenities
Chattanooga Innovation District
lvd
85 /daily
Str eet
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lvd
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11th Street
ML
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Str eet
Par k
71/daily
Geo
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8th
Pat ten
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lvd
ML
Str eet
Par k
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Land Use
us to n
St
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10th Street
viting, no barriers
us to n
Par k
ML
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Pat ten
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8th
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brant
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Public Art vd ML King Bl
Quality
Str eet
Arts & Culture
Pat ten
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6th
People Staying
6th Street
7th Street
Innovation, Ground Floor
Market Street has pleasant facades inactive and local landmarks that lead people to continue into the District and invite people to spend time.
ngs
Pine Street
Innovation
7th Street
Urban Amenities
6th Street
Amenities
59%
ll
Lighting Quality
Lookout Street
Walnut Street
Cherry Street
reet
%
Market St
ant
6th Street
Broad Street
Pine Street
Chestnut Street
Market 20% Street feeds mixed public life through the District
%
Transit
Geo rgi aA ve
Geo rgi aA ve
rgi aA ve Geo
Facade Quality
29
12th Street
56
tre
et
PSPL KEY TAKEAWAYS
07
MLK Boulevard has the potential to be a multi-modal hub but it feels disjointed
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Chattanooga Innovation District
It’s the underleveraged connective tissue
57
It’s a key east-west connector MLK Boulevard runs through the Innovation District, connecting the MLK neighborhood and UTC to the city center. It has the potential to play a key role in strengthening the east-west connection of the city.
Riverfront
Innovation District
Westside
ML
KB
oul eva rd
MLK
Southside
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Chattanooga Innovation District
58
8th
Patt e
gB
lvd
Dou
Lind say
10th Street
Stre et
6th
et
t Stree t
11t
hS
stre e
say
t
Lind
ston
Walnut Street
Cherry Street
Marke
Broad Street
8th Street
Stre
Hou
Che stnu
10th
Lookout Street
t Str eet
Stre
et
7th Street
Active Facades
glas Stre et
Kin
Geo rgia Ave
ML
7th
Stre
3
et
tree
t
Transit
stre e
t
say
Bus Stops
Lind
Patt e
n Pa
et
tre
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eet Str
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t rke Ma
et
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Stre
et
8th
Stre
7th Street
sto n
St
re et
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rkw ay
g Blvd
ML Kin
ML
7th
Kin
gB
12th Street
lvd
Stre
et
us to n
Stre
8th
Stre
et
et
18%
Patt e
Stre
t Str eet
et
Lind
say
10th Street
Stre
St
lvd
glas
re e
t
gB
Dou
Kin
et
Geo
rgia
Lighting Quality
ML
Ho
Ave
8th Street
10th
11t
et
Well-Lit
lvd
hS
rgia
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gB
ML
tree
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lvd
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t
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ML
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et tre
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et
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rke
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tre
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10th Street
Dou
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g Blvd
ML Kin 11th Street
Urban Amenities
ston
rkw ay
Hou
stnu
n Pa
oa Br
Mixed Use Public Academic
18%
lvd
6th Street
Chestnut Stre
Land Use
et
Stre et
t
Geo rgia Ave
gB
11th Street
Pine Street
Public Art Hotel
t Stree
inactive
erage Food & Bev ty li a u FacadeAQ rts & Culture
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et
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arks between the MLK a criticalPlink ting, no barriers vi in District, the MLK neighborhood and r uninviting, no clea UTC. What could be a great ces connector nittrieans Ameen is now splintered by physical and iers banrr In ovation perceptual barriers. Filling in key nd Floor Innovation, Grou urban infrastructure will help bolster Coworking an essential east-west link. Retail
Broad Street
Chestnut Stre
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Facade Quality
Kin
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ML
Walnut Street
Buildings
vibrant n) mixed (in-betwee
rkw ay
6th Street g Blvd ML Kin
Cherry Street
MLK Boulevard is lacking critical urban amenities
n Pa
Ho us to nS
inactive
dull
tre et
Geo rgia
18%
11th Street
Hospitality
ML
Stre
et
KB
lvd
12th Street
11t
hS
6 /daily
tree
t
85 /daily
People Staying
t rke
Ma
et
tre
dS
eet Str
oa Br
21 /daily
18
Urban Amenities
12th Street
Amenities
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Chattanooga Innovation District
59
N
Gaps in the urban fabric interrupt the pedestrian rhythm
Little shade and protection from microclimates
Engaging local art
Walled off
Fast traffic Blank facade
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Chattanooga Innovation District
60
PSPL KEY TAKEAWAYS
08
Chattanoogans create their own pathways It’s a city of urban explorers
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Chattanooga Innovation District
61
11t
Market Street
hS
tre
et
At Warehouse Row people cut through wherever they find the most direct path
The following diagrams illustrate pedestrian route tracing
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Chattanooga Innovation District
62
Georgia Avenue
At Patten Parkway there is a clear desire to use both sides of the street together as well as continue toward to the university
Gehl — Making Cities for People
MLK Boulevard
Chattanooga Innovation District
63
People use the generous paved space as thoroughfare
At Miller Park, generous walking space allows the lawn to be generally respected as activity space as opposed to a cutthrough
People have transformed MLK Boulevard into one extended crosswalk Gehl — Making Cities for People
Chattanooga Innovation District
64
Route Tracing Warehouse Row
Miller Park
Crossing wherever it’s most convenient 11t
hS
Patten Parkway
People use MLK as their crosswalk
tree
t
People use the whole street and cut through the parking lot
MLK Boulevard
M
10th Street
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Lindsay Street
Georgia Avenue
Geor gia A venu e
et Stre t e ark
Lindsay Street
et k r Ma
et e r St
Patten Parkway
To capture this information we observed each space for a set amount of time tracing the paths of each person that crossed through the space during that time Chattanooga Innovation District
65
PSPL KEY TAKEAWAYS
09
The District is not a hub for cycling...but it’s on its way There are some notable peaks indicating a latent demand to get around by bike
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Chattanooga Innovation District
66
How do Chattanooga’s biking numbers compare? Chattanooga
Philadelphia
Peak cyclists per hour on Market Street:
Vancouver
Peak cyclists per hour on Chestnut Street:
Peak cyclists per hour on Burrard Street:
96
42 150
168 150
150
Burrard Street
8PM
4PM
12PM
0
8AM
0 8PM
8PM
4PM
12PM
8AM
0
50
12PM
Broad Street
50
8AM
Market Street
50
100
Chestnut Street
100
4PM
100
Weekend Peaks Streets with protected bike lanes or sharrows
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Chattanooga Innovation District
67
Bike infrastructure Weekend peaks
Is this a safe connection?
Protected Bike Lane Shared/Marked Lane
Cyclists are out, but in low numbers 12
12 12
12
How do I get to the waterfront?
84
6
42
42
12 12
No connections
A fair bit of cycling activity on Market Street!
42 30
6
6
3 24
Daily cyclists on Market Street, between 7th Street & 8th Street
18
6
3 24
6
6
Gehl — Making Cities for People
6
12 6
18
12 6
36
Chattanooga Innovation District
68
Safe bike infrastructure invites cyclists Separated and protected bike lanes are key gate-openers
Separated Bike Lane
Bike Lane
No Bike Facility
81% of people are likely to bike
39% of people are likely to bike
8% of people are likely to bike
Source: NACTO
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Chattanooga Innovation District
69
4.
Vision: The Experimental City Chattanooga’s Innovation District is a mindset activated from the ground up. It’s the collective spirit and energy for creating, tinkering, DIY’ing and participating in the life of a city made by its people — innovation made by Chattanoogans, for all Chattanoogans.
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Chattanooga Innovation District
70
William Whyte’s short film, Social Life of Small Urban Spaces illuminates the magic of giving people autonomy and choice in creating their own public spaces
Chattanooga’s Experimental City
The movable chair, one tool for user-generated citymaking
What’s next? Chattanooga will lead the way with the Experimental City Gehl — Making Cities for People
Chattanooga Innovation District
71
What to track, measure, and strive to see expressed in the Experimental City We track and measure public life in the District. But what keeps us on track with the Experimental City?
Do interventions:
1
Develop more creative confidence in more Chattanoogans from all walks of life
4
Measure, test, refine projects based on user experience and user feedback — and increase number of project iterations
Provide spaces —physical, virtual, and programmatic — where sharing of ideas can happen
2
Its important to define some measures of success to evaluate how effectively public realm interventions are at incorporating all people in the innovation process.
3
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Increase the number of ideas that grow into projects — prototypes, experiments, initiatives, and businesses
5
Chattanooga Innovation District
Share findings and takeaways with the community to build a collective understanding of innovation processes
72
5.
Public Life Principles A simple but bold vision for the District guided by a set of public life principles—or north stars. Together they form the shape and character of public life in the District.
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Chattanooga Innovation District
73
Guiding Principles — the North Stars The shared values that we heard Chattanoogans aspire for in their city are distilled into these six guiding principles — the north stars. Public realm interventions in the Innovation District should be led by and track back to these principles. Individual interventions do not need to tick every principle on their own, but rather work together to guide the Innovation District.
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Mix A meeting ground that actively brings people together and energizes adjacent neighborhoods as much as itself
Re-mix A place that encourages you to try, make, (fail), and try again
Incubate A place for local businesses to thrive and showcase the best of Chattanooga
Discover A place that inspires a sense of discovery and nudges one into new experiences — with new people
Learn A place for all ages to be student and teacher, to explore ideas, learn, and share
Improve A place that prioritizes a continuous process of improvement and assessment
Chattanooga Innovation District
74
6.
Public Space Framework Plan A Public Space Framework is a high level plan for the District. It illustrates the big spatial moves that land public life principles on the ground and support a vision for the Experimental City – where innovation is made by the people.
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Chattanooga Innovation District
75
4th Street
Public Space Framework Plan in 5 Big Moves
Geo rgia Ave
5th Street
02
Lookout Street
6th Street
Walnut Street
Cherry Street
Street Market
Broad Street
Chestnut Street
Pine Street
03
7th Street
Str eet
et
Lin dsa y
7th
8th Street
8th Street
str e
Str eet
St us to n Ho
Kin
gB
et
gB
lvd tre et
11th Street
Kin
tre
11th Street
bel
ML
sS Dou
gla
Lin
Str eet
dsa yS
10th Street
Ma
rgia
Ave
Str eet
lvd
tre et
ity ive rs
tre gS
rS
tre
et
Un
Kin
Ho
tre
et
rke
Str eet
01
Fos te
hS
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et
usto et tre 11t
Ne wb
yS
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Str eet
nS
et tre ia S mb Colu
10th
Ma eet t Str
Gehl — Making Cities for People
10th Street
eet Str ad
Nurture a Neighborhood Network
04
ML
Geo
Create a Continuous Retail Experience Activate Open Spaces for Everyday Use
wa y
MLKing Blvd
Bro
05
nP ark
Chestnut Street
04
Patt e
d ML King Blv
ter
03
Define a MultiModal Link Car
02
re e
t
01
05
Establish East-West Connections
6th
12th Street
Chattanooga Innovation District
76
5 BIG MOVES
01
Establish East-West Connections Downtown has strong north-south links. Who and what they connect is clear and active. East-west connections are less defined and are an essential missing link to establish a truly ‘stroll-able’ downtown core.
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Chattanooga Innovation District
77
01 - ESTABLISH EAST-WEST CONNECTIONS
18%
only of facades on MLK are active + mixed
Why this is important East-west streets are not working nearly as hard as north-south streets to connect people across downtown and into different neighborhoods.
Wayfinding Unique details
Many gaps in the urban fabric Signage
Mature shade trees
2X
as many More than people per hour on average on Market Street than on MLK Boulevard
Active ground floor Vacant and abandoned
People per hour, Weekday Averages
Mural, public art!
Vacant and abandoned corner
114
400 300
48
200
Market Street Daily Average
100
MLK Boulevard Daily Average
0 8 AM
10 AM
12 PM
Gehl — Making Cities for People
2 PM
4 PM
6 PM
MLK Boulevard
There’s a broken link between downtown and MLK Boulevard. We have to give people an incentive to make the walk ... MLK used to be the music street!” Chattanooga Innovation District
78
01 - ESTABLISH EAST-WEST CONNECTIONS
How we will get it done bessie smith cultural epicenter mlk cultural corridor west side connect
MLK
WESTSIDE
Strengthen Bessie Smith as a cultural anchor in the District
Gehl — Making Cities for People
MLK
INNOVATION DISTRICT
Make MLK a cultural corridor and connector
Connect the Westside neighborhood to the District
Chattanooga Innovation District
79
Pat te
nP ark
wa y
MLK Blvd 01 - ESTABLISH EAST-WEST CONNECTIONS
Strengthen Bessie Smith as a cultural anchor in the District
Develop the parcel across the street from the lawn in a way that complements the cultural center and helps extend the cultural amenities
Transparent and active facades
Improve the comfort of pedestrian crossings
Bessie Smith lawn and the vacant parcel across the street represent an under leveraged public life hub along the boulevard.
Consider programming the lawn with large scale interactive art to increase the cultural center visibility and presence in the neighborhood while reducing the barrier of participation
et
E
ia S
tre
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Cultural plaza with art programming and public art installations
Provide vegetation and seating along the edge to create a soft transition between the interior and exterior spaces
Chattanooga Innovation District
Mature shade trees et
Design for comfortable micro-climates, with protection from sun, wind, rain, and noise
tre
D
lvd
Ho ust on S
Reduce scale of the lawn to maximize quality and increase people interactions
KB
et
C
ML
tre
Subdivide Bessie Smith lawn into different zones related to activities and functions
An extension building or structure of the Bessie Smith Cultural Center
dsa yS
B
Increase safe and easy connections to the cultural center
Lin
Activate the Bessie Smith Cultural Center building edge facing the lawn
Geo
A
rgi a
Ave
Inviting green space that is flexible and adaptable for larger scale events and gatherings
80
tre et
t
re e
St us to n Ho
Str eet
wa y
Pat te
Cultural zone
Re-purpose vacant buildings along MLK Blvd between Mable Street and University Street
iiaaAAv eve
Ma bel Str eet
nP arkw ay
Social + event zone orrgg
et
Dou gla sS tree t
tre dsa yS
10th Street
Lin
tre
et
Fos ter Str eet
et
tre
hS
Ne wb
yS
tre et
Str eet
gS
um
10t
Kin
10th
Col
11th Street
Ho
bia
ust on
Str eet
Str eet
Fill the lighting gaps along MLK, with emphasis on the blocks between Carter Street and Georgia Avenue
Re-purpose AT&T building and provide an active edge around it
12t
hS
tre
et
t ree
t St
Science Center Plaza. Cambridge, MA
Local community + retail outposts
rke
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Souvla in San Francisco, CA
Ma
Invite local artists to develop a creative wayfinding system co-created with the community
dsa yS nP ark
eet Str
F
Str eet
Pat te
ad Bro
Improve street level human-scale amenities, with an emphasis on lighting
et
Lin 8th
Enhance transit connectivity with reliable bus and shuttle service, protected bike infrastructure, and the flexibility to test new alternative modes of transit
E
Calle Bandera in Santiago, Chile
Recreational zone
Chestnut Street
D
str e
GGeeo
Infill vacant lots with new cultural destinations, neighborhood amenities based on community need, and opportunities for local creative expression
6th
7th 8th Street
CaCra treterr S Sttrre eetet
C
Walnut Street
Encourage new and retrofitted development to activate the street edge
Cherry Street
B
7th Street
8th Street
Establish MLK Boulevard as the primary commercial, transit, and education corridor shaped by the local culture, and the historic character. Define the different characters of MLK (cultural, commercial, event)
et
Provide comfortable connections to the waterfront, including the Aquarium + Walnut Street Bridge
Make MLK a cultural corridor and connector
A
Stre Market
Broad Street
Chestnut Street
Pine Street
01 - ESTABLISH EAST-WEST CONNECTIONS
Lookout Street
6th Street
Chattanooga Innovation District
81
Opportunity to make lighting an experience at the underpass
B
Consistent humanscale lighting on west edge of Carter and 12th Street
11th Street
Opportunity for a creative installation
D
Slow traffic on Carter Street and consider street diet
E
Consider playscapes between the library and the 12th Street underpass
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Play Amenities
12t
hS
Planters and vegetation to create a green edge and soften the walking experience
tre
et
Define space with kid friendly play areas
Bulb outs and vegetation at intersection to slow traffic and make pedestrians visible
Chattanooga Innovation District
eet Str
Provide safe and visible crossings paired with bulb-outs on Carter Street at both 10th Street and 12th Street
Play Amenities
Bus Stop
ad Bro
C
Activate the library plaza (see pilot project section for details) 10th Street
Improve lighting conditions underneath the underpass, focusing on improving the perception of safety
Improve street level human-scale amenities, with an emphasis on continuous lighting, plantings, and shade on the west side of Carter Street Focus on the 12th Street underpass as an opportunity for a bold and creative installation, super-graphic, and lighting co-created with the Westside neighborhood
Bus Stop
Chestnut Street
A
Civic Space Phoenix, AZ
Provide opportunities for play on the way and moments of rest
Str eet
The connection between the Westside neighborhood and downtown poses challenges for pedestrians, and especially youth depending on this journey to get to and from the Library everyday, at times after dark. Poor lighting, high traffic speed and unsafe crosswalks make this path unsafe and unpleasant, requiring improvements.
Kiosks or temporary structures to create an activated edge and provide more “eyes on the street”
Car
Connect the Westside neighborhood to the District
Philadelphia, PA
ter
01 - ESTABLISH EAST-WEST CONNECTIONS
82
5 BIG MOVES
02
Define MultiModal Links Meet the demand to travel to and through the city on all modes with comfort and ease—from walking and biking, to transit—with key links working together to support each.
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Chattanooga Innovation District
83
02 - DEFINE MULTI-MODAL LINKS
“I’m an adventurous rider!”
Why this is important People bike in Chattanooga but an incomplete and fragmented network only invites the brave — there needs to be more invitations for all ages and skill levels to ride.
12 12
12
200
42
12
6
3 24 12 6 18
“I only bike with my kids on the sidewalk”
12 6
36
50 Perceived Risk
0 -50 -100 20 06
N
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Chattanooga Innovation District
20 13
6
6
6
3 24
100
20 12
18
Cycling Lane Miles
150
20 11
30
6
Less experienced and timid riders stick to the sidewalk without a comfortable and connected bike network
20 10
42
Daily cyclists on Broad Street, between 10th Street & 11th Street
20 09
12
While more experienced cyclists will bike in more extreme conditions, less experienced are much less likely to ride when the bike network is incomplete and perceived as unsafe. As demonstrated in the case of Washington DC, cycling numbers dramatically increased as more miles of protected bike lanes were implemented and the perceived risk of riding decreased.
20 08
42
Case Study — Washington DC
“I don’t feel safe on the street with “There are all the cars!” no clear bike routes! ”
20 07
6
6
Good bike infrastructure brings cyclists. People interested but concerned about cycling are ten times more likely to travel by bike with a protected lane.
Daring and more experienced cyclists feel more confident amongst traffic
120
12
Biking on Broad Street is relaxing because there’s a designated path.”
84
02 - DEFINE MULTI-MODAL LINKS
How we will get it done minimum bike grid network of transit
broad urban blbd
PAR K
15
PARK
Transform Broad Street into a recreational urban boulevard
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Establish a minimum bike grid
Provide incentives to park once
Chattanooga Innovation District
85
Aquamarine Way
Riverfront Multi-use recreational trail
02 - DEFINE MULTI-MODAL LINKS
Lookout Street
Walnut Street
Broad Street Boulevard Sonder Blvd. Copenhagen, DK
ia A ve org Ge Lookout Street
Existing Broad Street median condition
Walnut Street
7th Street
Lin dsa yS tre
et
7th Street
Cherry Street
Provide safe and clear crossings at each intersection along Broad Street
Cherry Street
D
Create places for rest and relaxation with comfortable seating and plantings
6th Street
6th Street
reet
Provide protective edges against vehicular traffic (bollards, green buffer)
CONNECT
Event areas with space for larger-scale programming
Market St
C
5th Street
Broad Street
Provide opportunities to stay along the way including interactive art installations, amenities, and social seating
Chestnut Street
B
3rd Street
Ensure adequate bike infrastructure including parking and places to access bike tools
4th Street
5th Street
Pine Street
Transform existing median parking into a people friendly promenade linking the Innovation District to Riverfront amenities
Provide amenities along the boulevard that support the adjacent block, such as exercise equipment, book kiosks or coffee carts
Market Street
4th Street
Establish a great green spine for leisurely discovery that makes it easy to explore the Riverfront and beyond. A
Broad Street
Chestnut Street
Transform Broad Street into a recreational urban boulevard
3rd Street
3rd Street
8th Street
Mc
6th
Ca
8th Street
et
Str eet
3’
10’
10’
3’
re et
3’
llie
str e
Pat ten
ML
st on
St
29’ Recreational Path Ho u
Traffic Lane
Pedestrian Zone
Par k
86
Chattanooga Innovation District
KB
Str eet
lvd
bel
Ave
MLK Blvd
8th
TrafficStreet Lane
wa y
MLK Blvd
rgi a
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Sonder Blvd. Copenhagen, DK
Pedestrian Zone
Walnut St. Bridge
02 - DEFINE MULTI-MODAL LINKS
Establish a minimum bike grid
Aquarium Way Aquamarine Way
rgia
Hou sto nS t
Geo 6th Street
Lookout Street
Market St
Ave
5th Street
Street
Walnut Street
Cherry Street
Market
Broad Street
Chestnut Street
Pine Street
Broad St Boulevard
Lookout Street
Chestnut St
Delineated & protected
Riv er W alk
4th St
4th Street
Improve the quantity and quality of the bicycle network (pedestrian space in streets should not be compromised, instead consider relocation of on-street parking, street widths, etc.)
Walnut Street
Cherry Street
Market Street
Broad Street
Chestnut Street
Provide a connected and safe set of routes to move around downtown by bike.
tre et
7th Street
dsa yS
6th
stre
et
Lin
A
3rd Street
3rd Street
McC
re e St
MLK Blvd ML
KB
tree t
Str eet
Str eet
Un
Kin
Ne wb
Fost er
yS
Chestnut Street
11th
iver sity
Str eet ston Hou
tre et
Str eet
glas S
Lin tre et ia S mb Colu
10th
ML KB lvd
Dou
dsa yS
lvd
gS tre et
tre et
Geo
KB
Str eet
Str eet
11th Street
ket Mar
W1 2th St
Ma
ML
bel
Ave
Str eet
lvd
10th Street
eet Str
eet Str
ad
Bro
D
us to n
way
12th
Provide sufficient bike parking close to key buildings, destinations, transit nodes, parks and plazas
Str eet
Ho
8th
nP ark
Car ter
Ensure that the network is protected from car traffic and is given priority at high volume intersections by marking crossings in a bold, visible color
Grade separated
Mc Cal lie Ave
Pat te
Car ter St
C
Str eet
t
Link gaps in the existing network, prioritizing safe and convenient bike accessibility around UTC, Westside and Southside neighborhoods
rgia
B
allie
8th Street
8th Street
Str eet
E1 1th St
12th Street
Existing bike infrastructure Future planned Proposed - Delineated & protected Proposed - Grade separated
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Chattanooga Innovation District
87
02 - DEFINE MULTI-MODAL LINKS
Provide incentives to park once Maintain auto-mobility to and from the District, but make it easy to explore the District on foot, bike, bus, or ride share once there. A
Consider a smart parking strategy to reduce number of cars, and amount of parking spaces needed in the District
B
Promote alternative means of transport for getting into the District — make them reliable, comfortable and accessible — encouraging a mindset change that begins to value parking less and shared mobility more
C
Reduce the number of traffic lanes where possible and necessary to make space for other modes of transit
D
$ $$ $$$
Systematically adjust parking fees and taxes to extend the radius of car parking paid zones away from the heart of the District
Provide and encourage the use of alternate modes of transportation in the core of the Innovation District
Consider inter-modal micro hubs at gateways into the Innovation District to increase accessibility and use of multi-modal transit
Create genuine expressions of arrival to the District through legible station areas and transit stops as places to wait, transfer, rest, and spend time
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Chattanooga Innovation District
88
5 BIG MOVES
03
Create a Continuous Retail Experience Concentrate reasons to stay block by block. The District needs a consistent commercial spine.
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Chattanooga Innovation District
89
03 - CREATE A CONTINUOUS RETAIL EXPERIENCE
Why this is important
We need a downtown that we can stroll and explore. A great stroll-able street.”
Market Street has the potential to be a strolling street that engages the senses and inspires you to stroll and discover the city.
— Mayor Berke
170 cm
A happy human brain is stimulated about 1000 times an hour, or 1 stimuli every four seconds
120 cm 90 cm
Average height
5 Senses
We experience our surroundings at eye level
We need continuous stimuli to feel happy
Humans take in their surroundings at eye level. Articulation and detail on the ground floor are essential to a positive pedestrian experience. What a street does to activate above the ground floor is far less important.
The human brain needs 1 stimuli every four seconds to feel happy. Humans walk at 3mph — covering about 24 feet every 4 seconds. This is the average rhythm of a well functioning retail street. Streets with continuous stimuli make us feel good.
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Walking Speed 3 mph
Chattanooga Innovation District
90
03 - CREATE A CONTINUOUS RETAIL EXPERIENCE
How we will get it done ot t l i P jec o Pr
creative tennanting
focus on one block
ot t l i P jec o Pr
bus stops activators
STOP AND READ
!
Café
BIKE SHOP
BAKERY + Bookstore
increase comfort
Focus on filling-in one block at a time
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Be creative with tenanting
Make bus stops street life activators
Chattanooga Innovation District
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Phasing
03 - CREATE A CONTINUOUS RETAIL EXPERIENCE 7th St
Focus on filling-in one block at a time
Phase 1 Start Here! 8th St
Phase 2
C
D
Market St.
B
Take advantage high traffic areas like corners with attractive retail and food & beverage options
Lease ground floor spaces with a mix of tenants to create a varied experience, including cutting edge retail and food and beverage Provide a mix of commercial and public seating
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Ad
7th St.
15
Weather protection for pedestrians
Opportunities for all ages to spend time and play
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Transparent facades, open up ground floor
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Ensure ground floor is transparent and open — tinted windows should be minimized, and active entrances should be prioritized Use creative lighting to encourage people to continue their journey down the street
B FT rs viso
Invite vendors in small or temporary structures to soften the edges Activate passageways for mid-block pedestrian connections
MLK Blvd
Establish a high quality commercial corridor by concentrating retail and experience one block at a time.
A
Phase 3
Lush, green buffer edge 8th St .
Bring the building down to the ground — awnings and canopies can make tall buildings feel more street scale
Multi-functional street elements — a key way to eliminate clutter and free sidewalk space is by combining furnishing elements: planter + seating or bike parking + trash receptacle, for instance San Francisco, CA
Human scale lighting is critical — both functional and ambient lighting is important for the character & identity of the street
Montreal, Canada
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03 - CREATE A CONTINUOUS RETAIL EXPERIENCE
Chashama
Proxy
Transforms empty ground floors and provides grants to artists for exhibition spaces and free art classes to under-served neighborhoods
A temporary open space that hosts flexible events and programming, including daily outdoor exercise classes and food and beverage in shipping containers
San Francisco
New York City
Creative tenanting Lower the barrier of entry for tenants by curating small groups of local entrepreneurs to share the cost, co-manage maintenance, and activate street frontages.
A
More than an interior space, pair storefronts with adjacent outdoor space to spill into the street
B
Establish monthly creative tenanting events and get-togethers for knowledge sharing and learning
C D
Prototype the right size and mix of tenants per space Introduce bold signage and graphic identity on storefront and into sidewalks
Gehl — Making Cities for People
The Alchemist’s Kitchen New York City
A wellness shop with an on-site holistic health expert that serves as a community hub and a place of idea exchange, discussions and learning
Moment San Jose
Four micro retail units on the ground floor of a parking garage have helped to advance, grow and celebrate creative retail in downtown San Jose
Chattanooga Innovation District
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03 - CREATE A CONTINUOUS RETAIL EXPERIENCE
Make bus stops street life activators Bus stops are some of the most consistent hubs of public life in the District. Make these more than places to simply wait for the bus and transform them into public spaces that invite for civic mixing, creative expression and small scale retail with this bus stop activation toolkit.
Protection
Eyes on the street
Human scale lighting
Protection from the elements
Opportunities for standing
Opportunities for leaning
Opportunities for seating
Comfort
15
Legibility
Clear sight lines to see bus arrival
Legibility of routes + real time info
Quality materials, public art, vegetation
Opportunities for passive + active interaction
Consistent and clear wayfinding
Enjoyment
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Chattanooga Innovation District
Opportunities for culture and commerce
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5 BIG MOVES
04
Activate Open Spaces for Everyday Use Downtown is home to some high quality open spaces, but there are few invitations to spend time during offevent periods. Make these spaces more part of the everyday experience, rather than only for special occasions.
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04 - ACTIVATE OPEN SPACES FOR EVERYDAY USE
5X
There were as many children during the 8th Street event than on a typical day
Why this is important
There are very few invitations for people to stop and stay at some of the most attractive public spaces downtown
A great place to relax, but no seating!
Warehouse Row
While events bring a diversity of people and a variety of activities, downtown’s public spaces power down during the day-to-day. Getting public spaces to support everyday public life is crucial to fostering a healthy and vibrant downtown.
380 people/hour walk by 3 people/hour stop & stay
Mature trees
Nice green lawn
Active building edges
8th Street Event Seating, but not a great place to relax!
It’s great when there are programs here, like concerts and events—but it usually feels empty, it needs more activation.”
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Inactive edges
District-wide
A place to sit
Nothing to look at
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04 - ACTIVATE OPEN SPACES FOR EVERYDAY USE
How we will get it done increase comfort
leverage the network active edges
Miller Park
Bessie Smith Cultural Center
Warehouse Row
Activate the edges around public space
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Increase comfort for everyday activity
Leverage the network of open spaces
Chattanooga Innovation District
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Street
Walnut Street
Cherry Street
Market
Broad Street
Chestnut Street
Pine Street
04 - ACTIVATE OPEN SPACES FOR EVERYDAY USE
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7th Street
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Gehl — Making Cities for People
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Work Edge Condition — place more active functions on the ground floor: meeting rooms, canteens, and coworking spaces
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Food & Beverage Edge Condition — encourage restaurant to ‘spill out’ into nearby open space, streets, and sidewalks, while providing flexible seating to accommodate various group sizes
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Establish compelling everyday reasons to visit public spaces throughout the District.
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12th Street
Work Edge Food & Beverage Edge
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04 - ACTIVATE OPEN SPACES FOR EVERYDAY USE
Everyday comfort Invite people to stay—and stay longer—in the District’s open spaces by emphasizing flexible, human-scaled environments. A
Prioritize flexible and modular furnishings to support diverse activities and group types
B
Support more food and beverage vendors to set up in public spaces on a more regular basis
C
Ensure comfortable micro-climates that allow people to enjoy the positive aspects of the climate while also having protection from the elements (wind, rain)
D
Ensure basic amenities including bathroom facilities and waste receptacles
Seating Comfort and Variety A mix of public, flexible & café seating
Amenities Food, beverage and cultural attractions as well as basic amenities (waste bins, bathrooms)
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Adaptability Flexible and sociable seating that fosters interaction
Micro-climate Mature shade trees, planters, good lighting and low noise levels
Play and Delight Exercise and play equipment that attracts people of all ages
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7th Street
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Develop clear wayfinding systems that make it easy for people to explore the District’s network of open spaces and other destinations
12th Street
8AM 12PM 8PM
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Str eet
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User: Teenager Day: Eat snack outside at Patten Towers, head to the library to check out latest maker inventions, then head to Miller Park to hang out with friends Str eet
11AM 3PM
Establish a clear identity and character for open spaces in the Innovation District that respond to their surrounding urban context Maintain a safe and high quality pedestrian network across neighborhood edges — ensuring connections that are comfortable, well-lit, and clearly marked
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8th Street
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s
Li n dsa y
User: Multi-generational family members Day: Check out the latest cultural exhibits at Bessie Smith Cultural Center, spend some time reading at the library plaza, then head 8th Street to Patten Parkway for dinner
04 - ACTIVATE OPEN SPACES FOR EVERYDAY USE
6th
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5 BIG MOVES
05
Nurture a Neighborhood Network The key to a downtown that encourages strolling and discovery is a robust network of local streets, and active ground floors that compliment key boulevards and streets.
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Chattanooga Innovation District
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05 - NURTURE A NEIGHBORHOOD NETWORK
Why this is important While main streets and boulevards need to be engaging to keep people downtown, it’s the neighborhood network that needs to be prioritized to comfortably, safely, and delightfully get people there.
Physical and perceptual barriers as well as lighting challenges, make downtown connections feel unsafe and uncomfortable
There are pockets of dead zones that deter me from walking. When it’s dark out it doesn’t feel safe, especially as a woman.” — UTC Student
The network to and from downtown is challenging
Dark! No visible anchor
Visual clutter
Over 50% of youth surveyed at the library come from the Westside neighborhood and pass through the 12th Street underpass - often alone and at night
Gehl — Making Cities for People
No indication of the waterfront
All I see is parked cars!
I feel unsafe walking under the 12th Street underpass. There’s no lighting, fast traffic, and the sidewalk is blocked — it’s not fun.”
— Youth at the Library
No one around!
Obstacles
No idea I’m at UTC
Chattanooga Innovation District
Blocked! Where to go?!
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05 - NURTURE A NEIGHBORHOOD NETWORK
How we will get it done people first core Fine grain network
bolder link to UTC
UTC
INNOVATION DISTRICT
Prioritize people first in the District
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Bolster the link to UTC
Connect the fine grain network
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05 - NURTURE A NEIGHBORHOOD NETWORK
Prioritize people first in the District
Ensure a variety of space typologies and scales along length of the block Locate parking off main pedestrian streets and away from edges and areas for potential staying
Create active facades by opening to the street where possible
Enforce transparency on ground floor facades (avoid tinted or reflective glass)
Consistent street wall except where programming or pedestrian volumes suggest set-backs or breaks in facades
Provide generous and continuous weather protection for pedestrians and outdoor seating Create 4-5 entries for every 100 feet
Provide spill-out seating in sunny locations
To invite people to visit, stroll and discover something new in the District, a few key people-first considerations must be emphasized.
A
B
C
Celebrate all streets as public spaces, leverage their existing qualities and prioritize streets that act as links between neighborhoods, local assets, and Districtwide destinations Maintain safe and high quality pedestrian connections across neighborhood edges, emphasizing safe crosswalks and continuous human scale lighting Slow traffic through road diet, reduced speed limits, and two-way conversions
MOVES ON THE GROUND
20
Pulling buildings back from corners can distinguish the intersection as a place and facilitate high pedestrian volumes Corners should receive special treatment as nodes of activity
Provide safe and comfortable crosswalks with bulb-out for high visibility
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Design habitable building edges or amenity zones in sidewalk, especially around building entrances
Amenity zone should promote seating and staying activity related to retail uses and building entrances
Keep vehicle traffic slow— 20 mph limit in the District
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Gehl — Making Cities for People
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Consider piloting other modes of e-commuting, dockless scooters and e-bikes as a way to encourage students to explore downtown
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Provide a continuous pedestrian link from Patten Parkway to UTC’s Mapp Building
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Overcome key physical and perceptual barriers to unlock a mutually reinforcing relationship between the District and the University.
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8th Street
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Walnut Street
Cherry Street
Market Street
Broad Street
Chestnut Street
05 - NURTURE A NEIGHBORHOOD NETWORK
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5th Street
Geo rgia
Cherry Street
Passageways Focus on pedestrian comfort — make sure these streets are well-lit, protected from harsh micro-climates, and feel engaging to walk along
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Prioritize streets that are key connectors to adjacent neighborhoods: 12th Street, Carter Street, Cherry Street, Georgia Avenue, and 8th Street
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Gehl — Making Cities for People
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Connecting the fine grain network
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05 - NURTURE A NEIGHBORHOOD NETWORK
12th Street
Chattanooga Innovation District
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7.
Starting Now: Piloting Change Embrace an incremental and experimental process that allows ideas to be tested, measured and refined with the help of meaningful community engagement and feedback.
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Chattanooga Innovation District
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International example
2. Test US example Do beforeThe and after test and Porch, Philadelphia track changes MEASURE
Fail fast to allow adjustments to a long-term vision based on real information Envision the unimaginable to build community support around new ideas and opportunities
TES T
Create a feedback loop between community need, intervention, and use
E FIN E R
Test an idea on a 1:1 scale engaging more people than traditional planning can by meeting people in space as part of their everyday routine Shorten the distance between citizen and decision maker, and idea and implementation
TES T
Small, testable public space projects have the potential to help cities move faster and make smarter decisions with stronger public input. Pilot projects give cities the ability to:
MEASURE
E FIN E R
Why pilot a vision?
1. Measure São Paulo Pilot Collect baseline public life information
3. Refine Re-imagine the design, based on evaluation of tests MEASURE
Gehl — Making Cities for People
TES T
Measure, Test, Refine to understand what kind of design and programming certain spaces need, how successful pilot projects are, and what should be refined moving forward
E FIN E R
Manage risk inherent in capital projects by testing ideas in a low-risk environment before full-scale implementation
Examples of piloting: left in São Paolo, right in Philadelphia
Chattanooga Innovation District
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Multiplying the Library’s reach and access by spreading its 4th floor resources to a series of small scale makerspaces in vacant parcels throughout the city. The Outposts bring the library to the people.
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THE STO MAR REF KET S RO NT TREE Fil COL T LEC wit ling in TIV E h
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The Library is home to creative collisions unlike anywhere else in the city. Civic mixing and discovery are it’s social fabric. But it’s tucked away on a windowless 4th floor. How might we spread the love and bring this energetic public life to the ground-floor and the public realm, inspiring opportunities for new people to learn, tinker, and create? A place CE where communities can gather to play with the EXPERIEN creative power of design and fabrication. EXISTING
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Potential Moves
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Curate 2-3 key adjacent resources in a pod to maintain creative collisions.
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Provide on-site and on-line ‘sign’ up opportunity.
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Bold and consistent branding to identify sites.
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Provide open studio time.
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Identify outdoor space for each outpost so creative energy can spill out into the street and invite people in. Street
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Provide Workshop classes led be trained instructors, enthusiasts, and community experts.
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From custom made kiosk, to retrofitted shipping container, to vacant storefront, build micro-maker pods to house resources.
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BUS STOP S HOTSPOT
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indsay x building/Llight the Anne s of Activate with a serie Street edge kiosks. weight food the spanning rience lighting expe Engaging a unified te crea space to ut. througho py to ular cano and mod o-climates. Creative micr against of protect olidate back ed and cons a centraliz Manage ations to house oper
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Community garden and greenhouse.
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Introduce playful lighting to make the space feel comfortable and safe at night.
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Provide rich pockets of greenery to make to improve micro-climate.
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Activate ground floor with uses that promote healthy communities - such as Bingo’s Market, cooking classes, and yoga or dance.
Reduce or eliminate car traffic on Georgia Ave to expand space for people.
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Create an “amenity kit” that is modular and mobile encouraging users to re-mix and make the space their own.
Extend sidewalk along Georgia and 11th with parklets that prioritized comfort.
St rket
As it is today, Patten Tower’s front porch does not provide enough comfortable public space to spend time and mingle. Seating is limited, lighting is inadequate, and the empty ground floors deter many people from passing through or spending time here. How might we meet a latent demand for residents to socialize, relax, express creativity, as well meet its potential as a true neighborhood meeting place?
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Georgia Ave and 11th Street with comfortable spaces for small groups and families to hang out, spaces for gardening, and engaging lighting that reaches out and welcomes all ages to spend time throughout the day.
Potential Moves
Gehl developed an initial set of pilot project “hunches” and proposals for the project study area. These included catalytic physical enhancements at key locations in the study area; connectivity and mobility improvements; recommendations for street re-balancing, streetscape improvements, and potential phasing strategies.
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Where to focus?
ST PARK & TE A lush and dynamic front porch that wraps Stre
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BES S PLA IE SMIT Y LA H PR WN ESS
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For the district, a new meeting ground for people to rest, relax, SE and socialize. WAREHOU KITCHEN
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THE PORCH
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s stop int ing the bu h quality Transform node, pairing hig information er ity commut for commun rtunities and clear po es op iti g en gin am and enga with quick and learning. n tio interac
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most Districts ovation ple are in of the Inn 70% of peo ce is harsh, and stop is one The bus ces. Up to spa public spa Yet the design of communal sociable inst the are 2 or more. pods work aga sidewalks the groups of ting re, sea at’s mo ized the bus individual these spaces. Wh spaces, yet of ve public ht we re-imagine character city ’s most acti h How mig ages wit the that eng k to them. some of the nal space their bac for the bus ting stops turn as a multi-functio wai makes the bus stopk’s public life and ? day the sidewal the commuter’s of t par best
Challenge
Gehl facilitated a key stakeholder workshop and hosted focus group meetings around these initial pilot project “hunches” to gain insight, refine, and prioritize design moving forward.
Potential
Moves
e structur t kit of infra al A consisten comfort: soci for le map, elements shade, legib ing, etc. seating, ports, light charging “Busthe first way with l makers and the Lead pairing loca bus stops as g let” day, re-imagin riders to es. public spac to build hood in neighbor Bring the e. the spac
trail of create a network: urage more Part of a ops’ to enco ‘superst . and ridership to interact sit-goers l exhibits, and Invite tran loca ctive. — videos, engage library colle the from projects t storefron il: Invite kiosks. to set up Micro reta tenants collective
Community input at the Bessie Smith Cultural Center
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Chattanooga Innovation District
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Geo rgia Ave
Early activation pilot areas
02 BUS STOP HOTSPOTS
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Where to start?
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Based on the data collected during the PSPL survey, combined with an understanding of potential partnership and funding opportunities, a range of six pilot project “hunches” were identified and workshopped with the Core Team, the key stakeholder Innovation Committee, and community focus groups.
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From these sessions, 3 pilots rose to the top for early activation: (1) The Generator; (2) Bus Stop Hotspots; (3) The Porch.
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FUTURE PILOT PROJECT
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PILOT PROJECT / 01
10th Street
The Generator Benches
Broad Street bike boulevard 5 to 3 traffic lanes
Operable windows Cafe seating
The Generator is mobile maker space with a home base at the Library Plaza, where communities can gather to play with the creative power of design and fabrication.
Pickup and drop-off zone
The ground floor plaza should be established as a comfortable and inviting public space for people to spend time. The Generator should then be used to host resources from the 4th floor of the library, and become a resource of its own. Start by operating the Generator with Library staff during regular hours and initiate block party events to spark curiosity and draw people in.
Mural
Maker furnishings
Festive lighting
Flexible seating at entry greenspace
11th Street
Gehl — Making Cities for People
The Generator Store 4th floor resources in The Generator afterhours
Broad Street
The Library is home to creative collisions unlike anywhere else in the city. Civic mixing and discovery are its social fabric. But many of the library’s creative and innovative resources are tucked away on a windowless 4th floor. How might we spread the love and bring this energetic public life to the ground-floor and the public realm, inspiring opportunities for new people to learn, tinker, and create?
Interactive gallery space for engagement and display
PICKUP / DROPOFF
Helping people throughout the city discover their inner innovator.
Social Hub. Essential to the Generator is that it is both a resource center for creativity and learning, but that it also supercharges the adjacent public space wherever it parks by providing places to sit, protection from harsh microenvironments.
Examples of truck graphics, bold and fun branding
Green edge buffer at parking
A Plaza at the Human Scale. The Library is a monumental and introverted building. Soften the edges with the addition of lighting, vegetation and seating.
Mobile retail engages the sidewalk edge in San Francisco
11th Street
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Examples of bus stops that provide a variety of experiences to their users
PILOT PROJECT / 02
Bus Stop Hotspots Create comfortable & convenient bus stops that inspire discovery & curiosity for commuters and pedestrians alike. Within the Innovation District, the transit stops are currently the most active public spaces. Up to 70% of people are in groups of 2 or more. Yet the design of space is harsh, and individualized seating pods work against the communal character of these spaces. What’s more, the sidewalks are some of the city’s most active public spaces, yet the bus stops turn their back to them. How might we re-imagine the bus stop as a multi-functional space that engages with the sidewalk’s public life and makes waiting for the bus the best part of the commuter’s day?
Note: While the location illustrated here is Market Street and 7th Street, recommendations developed and tested at downtown bus stops will be applicable to existing bus stops at other locations in the city of Chattanooga.
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Clear wayfinding with walking distances to destinations and real-time transit info
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Graphic surface treatment or paving can be integrated into the active transit to define the space as a complete plaza
Gare de Lyon Diderot, Paris
By engaging artists and local communities to adopt Chattanooga’s bus shelters and pilot a variety of interventions, an ecosystem of unique bus stops will soon fulfill the needs of transit riders and people who live and work in the neighborhood.
Temple of Agape, London
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Bus Stop Hotspots pilot the bus stop of tomorrow — pairing comfort, high quality amenities and clear commuter information with quick and engaging opportunities for interaction and learning.
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Gehl — Making Cities for People
Chattanooga Innovation District
Social seating and lush comfort with benches and seating should impart dignity and a high level of comfort for transit users, inviting for groups and informal socializing Leaning and standing should be comfortable options for those waiting Expanded shelter can provide extra needed protection from the elements, depending on the site Invite play for all ages through a wider range of activities Complete active mobility hub with infrastructure for bikes and scooters Human-scale lighting for improved safety and evening enjoyment Kiosk for daily needs can be mobile or integrated and determined by local needs Active facades are key for a successful social transit stop
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PILOT PROJECT / 03
The Porch is composed of a series of seven spaces–or zones–to accommodate a range of activities and group sizes throughout the day
The Porch
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For our densest downtown population, the residents of Patten Towers, a meeting ground for people to rest, relax, and socialize. As it is today, Patten Towers’ front porch does not provide enough comfortable public space to spend time and mingle. Seating is limited, lighting is inadequate, and the empty ground floors deter many people from passing through or spending time here. How might we create a space to socialize, relax, express creativity, as well as meet its potential as a true neighborhood meeting place? The Porch will be an inviting, comfortable space with something for everyone. A green and dynamic public space with comfortable nooks for small groups and families that reaches out and welcomes all ages to spend time throughout the day.
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Examples of edge seating that can accommodate small groups and gatherings in Vancouver, Canada
Example of edge seating that is comfortable to relax and spend time in Philadelphia, PA
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Zone 03 The Parklet — space for quick and informal gatherings
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Zone 04 The Block Party — space for temporary street closure for building and neighborhood events
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Zone 05 Outdoor Living Room — residents backyard for grills and games
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Zone 06 The Pick-up — space for waiting and drop-off
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Zone 07 Rest & Reflect — leverage quiet edge of building for relaxation
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Zone 02 Food & beverage area tailored for Bingo’s Market, and future retail
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Zone 01 The social hub of The Porch with space for groups of all ages and abilities to hang out
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Lookout Street
6th Street
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Strengthening the Bessie Smith Cultural Center as an anchor and link of the District.
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Action: Future Implementation
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• Extend Bessie Smith’s reach and take it beyond the lawn (and daytime use) • Celebrate local black history, art, culture and stories • Build buzz and anticipation • Bring back the music! • Make it an attractive destination that people want to keep coming to • Create a network of interested players
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Key takeaways from the workshop:
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An interactive art and storytelling canvas on the Bessie lawn that invites people to share and shape past, current, and future memories in the District. Identify key parcels along MLK Boulevard to extend Bessie’s reach and make it a networked cultural center.
Challenge Bessie Smith is a cultural and historic gem of the district and MLK neighborhood. However, only 5 people were observed spending time on the Bessie Smith lawn. This space has an incredible opportunity to be a great meeting ground and showcase the neighborhood’s stories and creativity. How might we leverage Bessie Smith as the cultural epicenter of the district where all neighbors are invited to experiencing but also participate in making the art, performance, and creativity in the space?
Potential Moves
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Create an outdoor exhibit space to showcase Bessie Smith pieces
the street and neighborhood can be heard
Partner with the library to introduce a mobile recording booth to capture stories of the district
Install Digital and interactive mural works that come alive with participation
Create ‘listening spots’ at Bessie and along the entire length of the corridor where recorded stories of
Identify vacant spaces along MLK as extension rooms for the cultural center to exhibits and showcase
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A new model for leasing vacant storefronts that lowers the barrier of entry for tenants by curating small groups of local entrepreneurs to share the cost, co-manage maintenance, and activate street frontages.
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• Use empty storefronts for temporary incubation of local business • Fill in the gap to provide reasons for people to travel down the block
Filling in the gaps with the best of Chattanooga.
Chestnut Street
Key takeaways from the workshop:
EXISTING EXPERIENCE 6th Street
Pine Street
The Market Street Storefront Collective
THE MARKET STREET STOREFRONT COLLECTIVE
Lookout Street
FUTURE PILOT
12th Street
Active facades are the bread crumbs that encourage people to walk, explore, and spend more time in a neighborhood. Despite downtown Chattanooga’s pockets of well preserved and articulate city fabric, vacancies interrupt the urban wanderer. Today, a full calendar of events fill in these gaps, and when programmed people flood in. How might we prototype a new leasing model on Market Street that fills in these gaps more permanently with local Chattanoogans, turning vacant storefronts into active community hubs that showcase local talent?
Potential Moves Concentrate before expanding: aim to complete one block before leasing the next
Establish monthly Storefront Collective gettogethers, for knowledge sharing and learning
Stipulate and encourage open hours for the public
Install bold signage and graphic identity expressed on the storefront and into the sidewalk
Pair storefronts with adjacent outdoor space to spill into the street
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Ensure stores are well lit through the evening
Prototype the right size and mix of tenants per space
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tten
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From car park to people park, a neighborhood space that invites all ages to spend time during lunch, after work, and on weekends with sociable seating areas activated by a retail/food edge along the Annex building that invites new and emerging chefs to discover their next Michelin Star dish.
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• Leverage future work on the Annex building to incorporate the Warehouse Park in a larger vision as a neighborhood amenity
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Key takeaways from the workshop:
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Creating an urban oasis in the heart of the District bustle.
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Warehouse Park
WAREHOUSE PARK & TEST KITCHEN
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POTENTIAL MOVES
Challenge Warehouse Row is the busiest “sidewalk” in the city. At its peak, over 450 people are walking through per hour. Yet, it sees some of the lowest numbers of people staying — 3 people per hour. There are many reasons to visit but without any clear invitations to spend time the space functions as a cut through. How might we amp up the stickiness and leverage Warehouse Row’s serene atmosphere to create an urban food hub where the impromptu dinner party is a daily occurrence?
Potential Moves Activate the Annex building/Lindsay Street edge with a series of light weight food kiosks
of house operations to a centralized location to free up street frontages and maintain quality sensory experience
Install engaging lighting spanning the space to create a unified experience throughout
Provide modular social seating and eating zones where people can adapt the space to their group size
Implement creative and modular canopy to protect against microclimates
Invite farmers market on weekends
Manage and consolidate back
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Partner with local schools to program an on-site edible garden that can support the food pods
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8.
Next Steps Prioritize building momentum towards the common vision.
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Chattanooga Innovation District
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Next steps: overarching recommendations to achieving the vision The following are recommended next steps for advancing the Public Realm Action Plan.
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Establish a communication strategy plan Different groups require different platforms. Ensure the community knows about events and social activities that are happening. Encourage community to be involved and invested in decision making process related to the public realm. Prioritize: Set a communication plan for each pilot project to keep community involved in the process and progress — measure, test, refine, and report back.
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Implement a Streetlife Plan
A Streetlife Plan can help in the implementation of multiple small scale initiatives with the common cause of nurturing life in the public realm. These initiatives will help develop cohesive character for Chattanooga while prioritizing comfort and delight in the public realm. Prioritize: Provision of sufficient human scale lighting and safe crosswalks across the entire District.
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Design a downtown Chattanooga Public Life Activation Strategy The PSPL study showed public life in Chattanooga blossoms during events. Creating a plan that consistently choreographs programming and events, activities, and experiences in the District will ensure year round public life. Prioritize: Encourage temporary events and uses in parking and vacant lots to create engaging experiences along streets, and test long-term program ideas.
Prioritize pilot projects in Chattanooga As exciting action oriented changes and measures are being taken all around Chattanooga, there are a few best practices to consider moving forward. Are projects effective — do they move the needle on at least one key strategy? Start with projects that can display long-term visions and show best-practice solutions. Pilots should test new collaborations across silos between elected officials, city agencies and departments, the public,
Gehl — Making Cities for People
nonprofits, the office workers and downtown population. Leverage community stewards and existing investment — prioritize projects where stakeholders are engaged and / or where they are already working. Start with something people can see and experience. Selecting a highlytrafficked, iconic and strategic location expands the conversation by simply being part of people’s everyday routines.
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People first approach. Gehl brings several decades of experience working with cities and engaging people. Since 2000, when Gehl was established as an urban design practice, we have been committed to balancing idealism with pragmatism to ensure our work has the greatest impact in ‘making cities for people’.