The Post Pandemic Street by Clayco

THE POST PANDEMIC STREET CATALYST FOR NEIGHBORHOODS

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PANDEMIC STREETS THE CASE FOR REIMAGINING THE STREET In 2020, there was a significant drop of traffic on roads, including the elimination of rush hours in some of the most congested cities in the country. Because of the drop of motorists utilizing the roads, an opportunity was created to re-envision the way this large areas of our cities were utilized. Streets in the U.S. make up almost 40% of the land area. The right-of-ways have a variety of programming, however, paved areas make up a large part of space that can be reused for lifestyle amenities, recreation, and leisure. Re imagining streets as a continuation of our open and outdoor spaces, creates opportunities to increase the health and safety of our communities. Flexible, multimodal, scalable outdoor spaces can be more responsive to changes in climate, market forces, and demographic diversity.

COMMUNITY RESPONSE

WHAT DO GREAT PLACES LOOK LIKE IN A POST PANDEMIC URBAN LIFE?

COMMUNITY

BEING FLEXIBLE

Maintain the health and safety of people in dense environments with strategic guidance and responsive solutions that enhance quality of life.

Challenge the design of architecture and public space with future uses in mind that are responsive to the impact of externalities.

THE VALUE OF CONNECTION

EQUITY

Respond to new societal norms with post covid-19 strategies to maintain social connections.

Implement inclusive design processes that acknowledge structural barriers, embrace difference, and seek design solutions that promote equity.

STREET SELECTION MAXIMIZING EXISTING COMMUNITY INVESTMENTS

W. CHICAGO AVE.

In order to help businesses, cities should maximize the investments they’ve already made. Roads represent infrastructure investments that the government has already paid for that amortize over time and continue to maintain their value by moving people, goods and services to their destinations. There are many elements that comprise healthy and vibrant neighborhoods, districts and cities. Critical to the culture and identity to communities are small businesses that define the urban fabric of our cities and towns. As designers and curators of the built environment we must seek solutions to improve quality of life in these environments that support community development and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Creation of innovative tools that accomplish these goals is central to the safe reopening process.

As urban designers and architects, our role is to provide a functional framework that allows for change and flexibility to adapt to current and future challenges and opportunities. Designing spaces for creative intervention and business opportunity are the most successful. Utilizing streets as a medium for these ideas, we propose ideas for how to reimagine streets, how they might help business, and offer safer pedestrian movement. We have considered how utilization of the street can

work to expand community value and be adaptive to change. This process envisions alternative programming for the use of streets and the entire right of way and captures this additional operational space as an extension of the public realm. This proposal gives local governments a cost-effective tool to help small businesses function at a higher capacity. Using our infrastructure in additional ways can help balance the toll of the virus with the toll on the economy. The ultimate goal being to increase the health and safety of urban environment.

N. LARAMIE AVE.

•

growing business community underused infrastructure large population of public transportation users further than average distance to public open space or parks parking availability and access to loading

N. LOCKWOOD AVE.

• • • •

N. CENTRAL AVE.

An evaluation criteria for an appropriate street to test this case study was created. We identified Chicago Avenue in the Austin neighborhood of Chicago as en example. The street has the following characteristics:

W. CHICAGO AVE.

WHAT WOULD BE BETTER THAN CARS ON THE STREETS?

EXISTING CONDITIONS RESIDENTIAL

URBAN INFRASTRUCTURE

COMMERCIAL CORRIDOR RESIDENTIAL

Chicago Avenue is an example of a high-use commercial corridor. It carries over 15,000 per day and accommodates bike, car, and public transit. This corridor connects Chicago to neighboring Oak Park to the west. The Austin community is home to over 97,643 people, a captive audience for enhanced public realm and increased open space amenity.

LOCKWOOD

CHICAGO

NEIGHBORHOOD EXPANSION RECAPTURING THE RIGHT OF WAY Repurposing vacant lots and incorporating art into horizontal spaces creates an urban design framework that is identifiable to the neighborhood. A variety of open spaces are transformed into spaces of gathering that extend small business opportunity and introduce flexible uses along the corridor. A large public plaza anchors the block and bleeds into the street as a gateway and beacon for the neighborhood. Traffic lanes and sidewalks are recaptured to create unique zones for movement of pedestrians and bikes that are differentiated from the programmed zones adjacent to buildings. Infill lots, programmed as passive open space, transform the dense urban block into diverse programmatic areas of refuge, relaxation and leisure.

NEW CHICAGO AVENUE STREETS AS PUBLIC SPACE Opportunities for alternative programming along the street prioritize pedestrian and bike mobility and extend building functions into the right of way. Building uses can be creative in their exterior expression and imprint their identity and brand onto the public realm. This allows communities to differentiate themselves and create responsive spaces for residents and visitors. The street reimagined is flexible to accommodate a broad range of programmed elements without being limited by the sidewalk. These new uses can be seasonal. Loading and other utilitarian functions are accommodated through the alley system and car/bus traffic can be rerouted, temporarily and seasonally, to adjacent arterials.

BUSINESS FLEXIBILITY ADAPTIVE STREET REUSE Increased outdoor space creates value for business and property owners and adds vibrancy to the public realm at street level. Providing space for businesses to extend their unique character and identities into the street, spotlights neighborhood amenities. Temporary uses for vacant infill spaces can become parks, actively programmed commercial space, or passive places of repose, as a relief from the busy street. Opportunities for flexible and seasonable uses in these transitional spaces can increase investment activity by demonstrating the possibilities of currently underutilized space. Connecting pedestrian activity, commercial environments, and prioritizing health and safety give residents choice and a sense of discovery in their own neighborhoods.

POP POP COUR COU RTS! The chosen site, located on the corner of Chicago Ave. and Lockwood Ave, has laid vacant for years. It was littered with debris and has been used for informal parking.

INVOLVED AND INCLUSIVE The Soul City Corridor Plan plan casts a big picture vision for reinvestment and economic development along a 1.6 mile corridor on Chicago Ave in the Austin Neighborhood. The plan identifies sites along the central commercial corridor which could act as a catalyst for new development and serve the neighborhood’s needs and ambitions. Situated in the middle of this corridor is our site for PopCourts! The project has garnered a lot of community support. Neighbors and stakeholders gathered at the a groundbreaking last Fall. Despite the chilly weather, the event was bustling with community energy and engaged several local food vendors, a farmer’s market as well as local businesses. Several community artists have been engaged to complete the murals and art sculptures throughout the plaza. Working with a contractor from the community, the team has been able to start the construction of the project in record time.

10+ years: Fully Integrated Corridor with Anchor Nodes from the Soul City Corridor Development Framework: Chicago Avenue in Austin

POP POP COUR COU RTS!

PAINTED BUMPOUT (CDOT)

EXISTING CONDITIONS CHICAGO

PAINTED BUMPOUT (CDOT)

INTERVENTION AREA

SIDEWALK (CDOT)

LOCKWOOD

SIDEWALK (CDOT)

The site area is mixed use buildings on the edge of residential streets off the Chicago Av. thoroughfare. SITE (DPD)

FLEXIBLE PROGRAMMING The space is designed so that it can transform depending on the time of week, month and season to accommodate various events, support local businesses and foster community connections.

Pop Courts is a canvas for community outreach. The angular geometry of the site sets up a language for local artists to mural the walls of the site, for an art installation on the corner, and an opportunity for community members to help paint the street.

Weekday:

Weekend:

Special Festival:

Basketball games, small group socializing, impromptu picnics, seating for adjacent businesses

Food trucks, community gathering and socializing, casual basketball, seating for adjacent businesses

Vendors, DJ, food trucks, community gathering and socializing, dancing, seating for adjacent businesses

A key concept behind PopCourts is the ability of the site to provide a space for local vendors to showcase and sell their work. During special events and weekends, the paved basketball courts can be set up with tables and tents for farmer’s markets and small businesses. Copyright © 2021 Lamar Johnson Collaborative

INCUBATOR SPACE

LINDELL BLVD

20TH ST.

22ND ST.

COMPTON AVE

N. G R

AND B LVD.

TER AVE VAN DEV EN

OLIVE ST.

SPRING ST

SARAH ST

NEWSTEAD AVE

TAYLOR AVE

AVE SON FER JEF

THE THE BRICKLINE BRICKLINE

MARKET ST.

GRAND BLVD

AV E ER NT DE VE

CHOUTEAU AVE.

FOCU S

21ST ST.

JEFFERSON AVE

METROLINK RAIL

COMPTON AVE

TAYLOR AVE

CHOUTEAU AVE.

VA N

SARAH ST

FOREST PARK AVE

KEY MAP

AREA

LEGEND 5 MIN WALK 10 MIN WALK

CONNECTIVITY IN THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT The Brickline Greenway is up to 20 miles of urban greenway that not only knits together a wide range of St. Louis’ multicultural resources, destinations and neighborhoods in new and exciting ways, but also socially and economically knits together diverse communities throughout our city. The greenway will become a part of the everyday experience of St. Louisans— helping them reach their schools, workplaces and the many institutions throughout the city on a daily basis. More than a free, accessible trail where people can exercise, commute or explore, the greenway will offer an exceptional experience to residents and tourists alike. The greenway will create dynamic, active spaces and serve as a regional gathering place that encourages collaboration and boosts civic pride. Listening throughout the extensive civic engagement process, the design team distilled from the community six aspirations for design to supplement the Key Principles and Intended Outcomes of the project to guide their work and help to inform the greenway’s roles and contributions to ecological, social, cultural and economic landscapes across St. Louis.

UNEARTH Expose and educate the region about lesser known histories; amplify natural beauty and uncover present stories of local culture, challenges, and identities.

PROVOKE Boldly examine social and ecological challenges and inspire regional dialogue and new ideas.

CONNECT Bridge gaps that divide, cross real and assumed borders and weave together city’s strengths.

CULTIVATE Nurture opportunities, relationships and understandings within and between communities.

HEAL Foster reconciliation of historical and current cultural trauma; remediate ecological wellbeing of urban environment and foster new social infrastructures.

ENVISION Imagine future possibilities.

These aspirations are rooted in an understanding of the city’s rich past and energetic present; they acknowledge the diverse and sometimes tough histories of this place as we have struggled for ideas and equality; and they positively look forward to a future that is bright, inspiring, uplifting and fun for all who come in contact with the project. The following six aspirations are unique to the project and grounded in the distinctiveness of St. Louis. Strategies around design, identity, economic development, equity, public art and cultural programming should build on and be guided by these aspirations to increase walkability and vibrancy throughout neighborhoods, bridge geographical and cultural divides, incentivize greater social and economic equity and deeply engage and reflect the diversity of cultures that exist in the city.

outcomes

and

cultural

BEFORE

NEW STREET TYPOLOGY

EXISTING SECTION

Pedestal Art Installation

PROPOSED SECTION

ROW

Carriage Strip

Buffer

Linear Park

Buffer

Bike Path

Buffer

Parking Lane

West Bound Lane

Left Turn Lane

East Bound Lane

Sidewalk

The Brickline Greenway is up to 20 miles of urban greenway that not only knits together a wide range of St. Louis’ multicultural resources, destinations and neighborhoods in new and exciting ways, but also socially and economically knits together diverse communities throughout our city.

More than a free, accessible trail where people can exercise, commute or explore, the greenway will offer an exceptional experience to residents and tourists alike. The greenway will create dynamic, active spaces and serve as a regional gathering place that encourages collaboration and boosts civic pride.

The greenway will become a part of the everyday experience of St. Louisans— helping them reach their schools, workplaces and the many institutions throughout the city on a daily basis.

Listening throughout the extensive civic engagement process, the design team distilled from the community six aspirations for design to supplement the Key Principles and Intended Outcomes of the project to

guide their work and help to inform the greenway’s roles and contributions to ecological, social, cultural and economic landscapes across St. Louis.

22ND

HISTORIC MILL CREEK VALLEY

MARKET ST

ARTIST STATEMENT

The premise behind Damon Davis’ design is an idea of amending and uplifting forgotten and ignored histories. The historic neighborhood of Mill Creek Valley was once a bustling and thriving black community. It was destroyed and its residence displaced in the name of progress, a thinly veiled racist attack on the economic and social success of this

community of color. We have a complex history of racial and economic unrest in this country and St. Louis has been a hotbed for these conflicts for hundreds of years. This project looks to resurrect the story of Mill Creek, to commemorate its residence and their contributions to St. Louis and the world. At the turn of the century, some of the most prominent Black

people of American history resided in Mill Creek valley including, Maya Angelou, Scott Joplin, Josephine Baker and Madam C.J. Walker.