6 minute read
79 years
Design
Cross-Section of Vanderbilt Proposed Design
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S Flex Zone Car Lane
Figure 40. Vanderbilt Cross-Section
Bike Plaza Zone Bike Car Lane Flex Zone S
Design
Vanderbilt during Open Streets
Figure 41. Conceptual Vanderbilt Open Streets
During Open Streets season, Vanderbilt Avenue with our proposed design, will host numerous events, and the above configuration is one of many different options that could be done. The flex zone, as seen above, can accommodate urban furniture, greenery and activities such as kids play area, dance floor, concert and much more. The median could be a source of outdoor fitness exercises such as yoga sessions and salsa classes especially during the day in the weekends.
This flexibility in the design will allow Vanderbilt Avenue to accommodate all and any times of activities and allow Open Streets to be open to all.
Design
Underhill Existing Conditions
Underhill is a Limited Local Access type Open Street as categorized by the Department of Transportation. It supports 2 lanes of traffic, one lane traveling in a northerly and one traveling in a southerly direction. Limited Local Access streets are designated for pedestrian and cyclist use, and no through traffic is permitted. Despite Open Streets being in-effect year round, locals do not have clear indications on usage of the street and are heavily reliant on programming by PHNDC.
Taking into consideration the community engagement responses, the new street design would address various concerns of users of the street. It would enhance pedestrian experience, but also ensure that mobility is not restricted.
The figure below illustrates the existing conditions of Underhill between the intersections of Prospect Place and Park Place, with James Forten Playground.
JAMES FORTEN PLAYGROUND
Figure 42. Existing Underhill Avenue Street Design
Design
Precedents to Inform Underhill Design
The main concern for people using Underhill was that the designation of the Open Streets was not clear, and that the traffic management needed to improve. Residents felt the need for safer streets, and better signage. To inform the future redesign of Underhill numerous precedents were examined. The following precedents indicate a ‘chicane’ design.
Offset curb extensions on residential or low volume downtown streets create a chicane effect that slows traffic speeds considerably. Chicanes increase the amount of public space available on a corridor and can be activated using benches, bicycle parking, and other amenities.
Downtown Evansville, Indiana (Source: Visit Evansville) Downtown Evansville, Indiana (Source: Deb Turner)
Design
Proposed Design for Underhill
Figure 43. Conceptual Underhill Avenue Street Design
A new street design is proposed for Underhill, taking ideas from existing precedents. The design for Underhill has the following considerations:
● Chicane design used for traffic calming function, which will naturally slow down traffic. ● Wider areas on the sidewalk that can be programmed for green infrastructure, activity areas, gathering spaces, and play areas. ● The sidewalk is broadly categorized into four zones. They are activity-based and can be fleshed out in detail at a later stage.
Design
The following provides an overview of the four sidewalk zones:
Play Zone
Specific to the playgrounds and school blocks with elements designed for play (for all ages but mostly for kids). They would be elevated at a higher level so they are safe.
Play Zone Precedents
Images Source: Underhill Open Streets [@underhilloscc]; Street Lab [@streetlab]; Vanderbilt Open Streets [@vanderbiltopenstreets]; Street lab [@streetlab]
Activity Zone
Spaces for designated programming, possibly organized by PHNDC, during unprogrammed days still act as a space for any type of use.
Activity Zone Precedents
Images Source: Underhill Open Streets [@underhilloscc]
Design
Gather Zone
Judicious distribution of urban furniture and other creative ways for the residents to come together and socialize—almost acting like an extended living room.
These are sprinkles of green spaces that could be planters, buffers, pollinator gardens, rainwater collecting spaces that also add to the vibrancy of the street and are taken care of by the neighbors.
Gathering Zone Precedents
Images Source: urbanNext; Sport & Impianti; Arquitectura Viva; and Project for Public Spaces
Images Source: NJ Future; Seattle DOT; Vermont Urban & Community Forestry
Green Zone
Green Zone Precedents
Design
Green Zone Vehicle Lanes Gathering Zone
Design
Priority Connector Streets: Pacific Street as An Example
Atlantic Ave
Vanderbilt Ave Pacific St.
EXISTING
Figure 45. Existing Priority Connector Street Design
Underhill Ave Washington Ave
Atlantic Ave
Pacific St.
Vanderbilt Ave
PROPOSED
Figure 46. Proposed Priority Connector Street Design
For the typology of Priority Connector Street, serving as the connectors of the neighborhood, it is also streets that connect the key intersections of the the area physically.
The proposal recommends interventions that can be incrementally implemented. As the proposed street plan (Figure 46) shows, he recommendations include a system of: paving, plazas, historical landmarks and Tactical Urbanism opportunities.
Underhill Ave
LEGEND
PAVING
PLAZA
Washington Ave
TACTICAL URBANISM OPPORTUNITIES
HISTORICAL LANDMARK
The paving, together with the plazas and historical landmarks are aiming to reflect the feeling of the historic district of Prospect Heights, while the Tactical Urbanism opportunities are offering and equipping the community to build, to make their own spaces and places.
On the next page the recommendations set up a design palette showing some detailed examples of these. With the elements recommended, the rebranding of the area will be enhanced and processed.
Design
Design Palette for Priority Connector Streets
Source: Pinterest ART | SEATING | LIGHTING | WAYFINDING | PAVING | GREENSCAPE | SIGNAGE
