OSU STUDIO: Linden Community Design 2015 by Our Linden

Acknowledgements

Linden residents and community leaders Celebrate One Patrice Allan Brady, Senior Planner City of Columbus Erika Clark Jones, Director of Community Strategies City of Columbus Studio Instructor Jesus J. Lara, PhD Associate Porfessor The Ohio State University

The Linden Studio 2015 Team would like to thank

City and Regional Planning Department

Celebrate One, all the professionals that took the time to contribute to our process and attend our

Studio Guest Contributors

presentations. We cannot do our work without

Brad Dresbach, Vice President, Creative Strategy

collaboration and feedback. Above all, the Team

Brian Higgins, Arch City Development

would like to thank the community of Linden for the

Anthony Jones, Director Planning & Development City of Gahanna

opportunity to become familiar with the neighborhood

Matt Leasure, PLA, AICP, LEED associate MKSK

and make our best effort to contribute toward

Christy Rogers, Director of Outreach Kirwan Institute for the Study

increasing the quality of life in Linden.

of Race and Ethnicity Tony Slanec, Principal OHM Advisors

acknowledgements

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Team Members Food Environment

Arin Blair

Lisa Kowalski

Luan Nguyen

Marc Rostan

Eunjee Son

Katie Dodaro

Evan Mulcahy

Kalindi Parikh

Beth Paulsen

Conor Willis

Nick Emenhiser

Nick Frye

Patrick Holland

Tengkun Song

Luis Teba

Green Intrastructure

Jesus J. Lara, PhD Lead Instructor

Mobility

Graphics Team: Arin Blair, Beth Paulsen, Eunjee Son, Luis Teba Editing Team: Katie Dodaro, Lisa Kowalski, Evan Mulcahy, Kalindi Parikh, Marc Rostan

Table of Contents acknowledgements team members

1 2

table of contents

introduction

neighborhood assessment

health

quality of life

food access

transportation

framework plan

food environment

green infrastructure

mobility

learning lessons

123

food environment case studies

124

green infrastructure case studies

134

mobility case studies

142

strategic plan

158

food environment

159

green infrastructure

175

mobility

201

appendix: literature review

231

citations

254

table of contents

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Project Introduction

Scale: Inner-city Neighborhood

opportunity to engage in a real project,

of Healthy Community and apply its

Scope: Research-based-design

work with a real client, and provide

theories and principals to the Linden

strategies for a Heathy Community.

tangible solutions that included the voices,

area and its context, and then, based on

perspectives, and visions of previously

this understanding, envision alternative

This student lead publication provides

marginalized residents. The alignment of

planning and design scenarios for the

an overview of an ongoing university-

service learning, participatory design and

site interface and its residents. While

community partnership in Columbus,

research contribute to a larger community

large-scale urban design and planning

Ohio, designed to support the realization

benefit while preparing students to

issues were examined, the research

of community-defined priorities in

be both citizens and professional

team emphasized physical and social

neighborhood revitalization efforts.

practitioners, who are engaged in

aspects of urban design, and culminated

augmenting the interconnections between

in proposals for specific site plans that

people and places.

relate back to overall strategic design and

The Linden Community Design Studio project offers an example of combined

planning ideas including but not limited to

service-learning, participatory community

The Linden Community Design studio

three themes: (1) Food Environment, (2)

design, and research. Undertaking this

is one of the university courses and

Green Infrastructure, and (3) Mobility.

type of project is nonlinear and can

projects that link communities, students,

be challenging at different levels. For

and faculty can bring in new and needed

students in the city and regional planning

resources for identifying and solving

program who were part of the research

community challenges. The goal for

team, the experience was more than an

this planning studio was to thoroughly

academic exercise. They were given an

research and understand the concept

Learning objectives included site assessment, planning and design strategies in relation to three key learning areas: 1. Analysis: Working as a studio, the

2. Urban Design Framework: The

3. Urban Design Project: In the final

research team explored social and

research team transformed issues and

phase, the research team focused on

physical aspects of the neighborhood

objectives into a unified vision for their

detailed site-specific recommendations,

through maps, demographics, diagrams,

projects with a series of strategies and

placemaking and representation.

photographs, and physical models.

an urban design framework. The urban

The analysis provided an opportunity

design framework established a vision for

to learn about the community. More

future projects.

importantly, effective representation of

This study shows that Linden residents

conditions helped to set the frame for a

have diverse interests, wants, and needs

future. Analysis and inventory were the

that span many generations. While the

foundation upon which urban design and

project activities and documents reflect

development proposals were grounded.

a community vision, there is an ongoing need for participatory approaches where knowledge and solutions are produced and shared among everyone involved to provide guidance for future development.

Jesus J. Lara, Ph.D. | Associate Professor City and Regional Planning Knowlton School of Architecture table of contents

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Chapter 1 Introduction

In Chapter 1, the existing conditions of

families), and parks and open space. This

confines of their neighborhood. By

the Linden community are examined and

study identifies to the full extent which

connecting those observations with

divided into the subjects of: Health and

Linden needs more parks, as well as the

statistical health outcomes, this group

the Built Environment, Quality of Life,

full extent of housing challenges, both in

will paint a picture of how neighborhood

Transportation, and Food Access.

terms of quality and affordability.

health translates into public health. The

The group examining health and the built

The transportation study group studies

group also went through the exercise of

environment sought to connect specific

existing conditions for mobility not just

shopping from a healthy grocery list on

signs and identifiers embedded within the

within the neighborhood, but for the

the ground at the various options available

physical environment to health outcomes

residents of the neighborhood regardless

to Linden residents, to quantify the extent

in the neighborhood. By studying parks,

of where they are going. For the extents

to which the neighborhood puts healthy

walking infrastructure, economic assets,

of the study, they focused on the four

food out of reach.

and healthcare in the neighborhood, this

modes of transportation found in Linden:

By connecting these four study areas

group identifies the impact these factors

personal vehicles, bus, bicycle, and

of Lindenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s existing conditions, it will be

have on the lives of residents. The group

walking. Special emphasis was put toward

possible to identify the key challenges

looked at the neighborhood as a whole in

understanding the impacts of each mode

within the community that translate into

order to connect to CelebrateOneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s goal

on safety and stress. Through interacting

the unacceptable public health outcomes

of holistic community revitalization.

with residents and stakeholders in the

we are currently experiencing. Through

The quality of life group studied the

neighborhood, as well as simulating

this process, each group will also identify

support network that the neighborhood

several practical trips in the neighborhood,

asset-based opportunities that can

provides for residents, specifically

this study makes observations that will

make Linden a healthy and supportive

in terms of essential life needs. This

shape key opportunities explored later in

community. At the end of this phase, the

study evaluated community amenities

the book.

studio will be able to identify key insights

for families such as schools, childcare

The food security study group sought to

into the community in order to produce an

facilities (including 7-day-a-week and

identify how Linden residents achieve

actionable plan to transform Linden into

24-hour options needed by many working

health and nutrition goals within the

the healthiest possible community. introduction

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Health

Health and the Built Environment Health and the built environment are

This chapter is an inventory and

closely related. This relationship was

assessment of the challenges and

analyzed through a walking survey,

opportunities related to health and

a review of academic literature, and

the built environment in Linden. The

presentations from representatives from

examination of Lindenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s commercial

the City of Columbus and Celebrate

corridors, residential neighborhoods,

One. This range of sources provided

amenities and access to healthcare will

a strong background to examine the

help inform future design proposals.

relationship between health and the buildt environment. The physical health of the Cleveland Avenue commercial corridor presents a challenge to the neighborhood, as do an abundance of vacant lots and a street grid favoring car speed over pedestrian safety. Lindenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s residential areas are one of its strongest assets. A wealth of churches provide important community gathering places. Finally, access to healthcare in Linden is strong.

Safety and the Built Environment Commercial corridors should be the focal point of any urban neighborhood. They provide areas where one can feel part of a community, and have a sense of place. In areas where car ownership is low, corridors provide a walkable and safe environment, where one can access community and leisure activities, transit, healthy foods, and healthcare. Physical characteristics of the built environment are the focus of this section because they can be crucial determinants of health behaviors. Studies have shown that access to bicycle paths, parks, walkways, and even local shopping facilities all positively affect deliberate and incidental physical activity. Deliberate activity is planned physical activity, in otherwords, being active in order to exercies. Incidental activity is exercise gained while being active for another purpose. (Morenoff & Lynch, 2004). Many cities and neighborhood in Columbus have strong identities based off of their commercial corridors. For example Westerville, the Short North, and Bexley. However, the main commercial corridors of Linden, i.e.: Cleveland Avenue and Hudson Street, are neglected and are in very poor condition. The many vacant commercial structures and lots create economic dead zones and add to a feeling of insecurity when walking health

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

down the street. The sidewalks and crosswalks are also lacking design qualities that can help contribute to a vibrant walkable environment. In their current condition, the commercial corridors lack the economic activity and sense of safety that create a vibrant corridor. Cleveland Avenue Cleveland Avenue is the most historic of the commercial corridors. Originally a streetcar line, it contains many one or two story brick structures from the early part of the 20th century,.

Historic commercial along Cleveland

Historic theater along Cleveland

Lack of permeability on Cleveland

Strong commercial area/Cleveland

Currenlty it is in poor economic condition. A majority of the buildings along the street are boarded up and suffering from neglect. The stretch of road between Briarwood to the south, and Minnesota to the north still has the feel of a historic commercial corridor with the majority of its buildings intact and built up to the property line. It is also the area with the highest concentration of uninterrupted commercial zoning on both sides of the street. The buildings are built to the property line creating an edge that defines the area, this creates a sense of place. While a continuous edge may seem like a minor criteria, it is important in creating definition, security, and place. As Alan Jacobs states, â&#x20AC;&#x153;great streets have definition. Boundaries that communicate clearly where the edges of the street are, that set

the street apartâ&#x20AC;? (Jacobs, 1995). The edge is highlighted by the reproduction historic streetlights that add to the overall historic nature of the area. This stretch of road provides an opportunity for renewal which could serve as an example for the rest of the corridor. Hudson Street Hudson also has a strong commercial section between I-71 and Cleveland. The commercial zoning ends at Medina Avenue, Neglect and lack of permeability

Older commercial structure along Hudson

leaving a gap in the commercial section which is filled in with residential. The commercial development along this section lacks the architectural historic qualities of the Cleveland Avenue corridor. Instead, most of these buildings are mid-century single story structures set back from the property lines with parking out front. There are also many empty parking lots lining the street, and many of the food establishments along this corridor fast food establishments, or corner stores.

Drive through along Hudson

Older commercial structure along Hudson

health

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Weber Road The final corridor that contains some commercial lots is Weber Road at the northern boundary of the study area. This road is

Residential area along Weber

Sidewalk detail along Weber

Street profile along Weber

Newer commercial structure on Weber

mostly residential with a scattering of commercial lots thrown in on the western side towards I-71. These structures have similar architectural qualities as those along Hudson, although there has been more recent construction like the Family Dollar store.

Crosswalk and Sidewalks A sense of safety is one of the most basic necessities in creating and active vibrant place. There are several issues along these corridors that lead to a lack of safety, namely a high speed limit, narrow sidewalks, lack of adequate crosswalks, and lack of a proper edge between the sidewalk and the street. These design features create safety concerns for the neighborhoodâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s residents. Studies have shown that people are more likely to be active in areas that have street patterns that present fewer pedestrian obstacles. (Cubbin, Pedregon, Egerter, & Braveman, 2008) Cleveland Avenue is also Ohio State Route 3, stretching from Cleveland to Cincinnati. This street has two functions to fulfill, a commuter corridor for the suburbs, and a section of highway. In these aspects, the highway/commuter influences seem to be winning out over the walkability of the area. The speed limit along Cleveland Avenue is 35mph. (Weber Road and Hudson are also 35mph) By contrast, High Street through the Short North and Worthington, Westerville road through uptown Westerville, Granville Street through Gahanna, and East Main Street through Bexley are all 25mph. Even 161 through Dublin is 25 mph. Crosswalks in Linden

This high traffic speed is aggravated by the lack of safe sidewalks and crosswalks along the corridors, and a lack of a strong edge health

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

between the sidewalk and the street. Cleveland Avenue, Hudson, and Weber combine for a total of 5.27 centerline miles of street. Along these roads there are 85 intersections only 20 have crosswalks. The lack of edge between the sidewalk and the street could be alleviated by the planting of trees. “Trees added to the curb line, if close enough to each other, create a pedestrian zone that feels safe. Trees are the also the most effective expenditure of funds.” (Sucher, 2003) While there are some trees along the curb line of Cleveland Avenue, they are sporadic at best and in

Wide thoroughfare

Jaywalking on Cleveland

Lack of a crosswalk

Poor crosswalk design

some locations are planted on the wrong side of the sidewalk. Trees should be planted between the sidewalk and the street in order to provide an added barrier between the pedestrians and automobile traffic.

Finally, the sidewalks also lack any coherent design and change along the individual corridors. On Cleveland Avenue there are four distinct sidewalk designs. • From 11th to Chittenden the sidewalks have a decorative brick edge with trees and historic style street lamps.

• From Chittenden until 17th the lamps disappear and are replaced by high pole light on telephone poles. The brick edge still exists, but the trees become sporadic. • From 17th until 24th the sidewalk becomes narrow and loses any semblance of an edge between the sidewalk and the road. The tree and brick edge is gone, and at some locations the trees are planted on the outside edge of the sidewalk. • From Hudson north to Weber the historic styled lamps and trees between the sidewalk and street reappear, although the trees are sporadic with many stumps visible.

All these design issues can affect the stress levels of those Missing trees, uneven sidewalk

walking or riding along them. Takeaways • The built environment is an important factor on overall health and well-being. • Commercial Corridors should be a focus of future strategic planning. • Cleveland Avenue has a healthy stock of historic buildings which should be preserved and improved. • Many commercial structures are in a state of decay and neglect. • Empty lots provide opportunities for guided redevelopment. • High traffic speeds, poor sidewalk design, and lack of crosswalks create a stressful environment along the corridors.

Trees planted on the wrong side of the sidewalk

• There is a lack of coherent sidewalk design along the corridors.

health

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Health of the Residential Neighborhood One-Way Streets Many of the residential streets just west of Cleveland Avenue are one-way pairs. There are a range of benefits to converting oneway streets to two-way streets; perhaps the most relevant to the Linden neighborhood is safety. One-way streets encourage faster travel speeds for cars, as a lack of oncoming traffic presents little friction. One-way streets can also encourage traffic circling, as cars may have to travel longer in order to reach their final destination. (National Association of City Transportation Officials, pg. 78) Increased traffic circulation and higher speeds, create a less safe environment for pedestrians and children who use the road network.

Eastbound Westbound

Front yards and streets are important gathering places in residential areas, but are hampered by the street grid.

One-way street pairs dominate the road network and landscape west of Cleveland Avenue.

Alleys and One-Way Streets Alleys can be an important asset for a neighborhood. By moving driveways and garbage collection to the rear of the house, an alley network can help facilitate a cohesive street frontage in residential neighborhoods. Linden has almost 36 miles of alleys (City of Columbus, 2015). However, the alley network is poorly landscaped and lit. Residents have identified increasing street lights as an improvement they would like to see in the built environment. (Celebrate One Presentation, 9/11/15.)

Alleys

Linden’s alley system is almost as significant as the road network, presenting an important challenge for planners.

Linden’s alley network don’t feel safe, particularly at night.

health

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Parks Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fairly intuitive that physical activity is important for health. A lack of physical activity has been linked to a range of significant health problems. The risks of an inactive lifestyle are comparable to, and in some cases greater than, the risk of hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes, and even smoking to overall health. (Wei, 1999). Parks are crucial locations where both adults and children can maintain an active lifestyle. The design and functionality of parks are important for park use. For example, a combination of large and small parks offers residents different choices of physical activities, such as walking or playing sports. Linden has 5 significant parks totaling around 60 acres in size, however the distribution of these parks is uneven. Audubon Park and Linden Park are in the north side of the neighborhood, while Maloney Park and Windsor Park are on the southeast corner of the neighborhood. Parks are lacking in the central area of Linden.

Parks

More diversification is needed in the parks of Linden.

Vacant Lots: Challenges and Opportunities Vacant Lots present similar safety challenges to the alley network. Residents noted in their September 10th meeting that increased efforts to address vacant lots are a top priority. (Celebrate One Presentation, 9/11/15). Vacant Lots present opportunities for pocket parks and social gathering places. Residents identified that increasing public gardens and creating safe spaces for children are important goals (Celebrate One Presentation, 9/11/15). The pocket park on the 155 vacant lots present a range of opportunities in Linden.

Northeast corner of Kenmore and Cleveland (pictured to the left) is a positive example of revitalizing vacant lots. The perception of safety is important for the use of parks. If residents donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t feel safe walking to a park, either because it is dimly lit or poorly maintained, both park use and residential health will be effected.

A diverse use of park facilities can increase the usage of parks.

health

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Places of Worship Social capital is defined as the value created by the social network which enhance community productivity and cohesion. Individual social capital increases the probability of being in good health if the community has sufficiently high community social capital (Rocco, 2012). Churches can play a vital role in civic life. The 40 neighborhood churches will continue to play an important role in promoting, developing and expanding social capital by bringing people together, providing topics people are excited about, and creating a sense of community.

Takeaways • The one-way street grid and poorly maintained alley network present safety challenges for residents of all ages. • An abundance of vacant lots and parks present significant opportunities to diversify park facilities and promote physical health. • Gathering places at parks and churches promote social capital, which is critical for healthy communities.

Places of Worship

The abundant number of churches in Linden is one of the neighborhood’s strongest assets.

Healthcare Facilities Observations Given that the concentration of this study is to decrease the number of infant deaths inside the Linden Neighborhood, it is important to consider different aspects of health and healthcare. While the act of accessing healthcare contains both physical (location) and social (insurance) components, this section will be focusing on the former to stay within the scope of the built environment. To understand the relationship between healthcare and built Sampling of facades of several health facility locations inside Linden.

environment in Linden, this section catalogs the physical medical

Top left: Linden Medical Center (primary care)

location, accessibility, and types of care available at each facility.

facilities in the neighborhood of Linden. They are studied by their

Top right: Healthland Pharmacy the only standalone pharmacy inside the study area Bottom left: Columbus Neighborhood Health Center staffs (primary care including OB/GYN)

health

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Healthcare Facility Locations Linden contains quite a few healthcare facilities. Those facilities are all located, with the exception of one, on Cleveland Avenue. The placement along Cleveland Avenue, the neighborhoods main commercial corridor, is advantageous for visibility and access. This is not a product of chance but a result of good planning or site acquisition. As can be seen on the map, there are nine different healthcare facilities within the Linden study area. A large majority, eight of the nine sites are located on Cleveland Avenue. Of those eight, three are private practice dentistry offices, three are general (primary care type) clinics, and the remaining two are pharmacies. In addition to the sites on Cleveland Avenue, the Saint Stephenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Community House also contains a health clinic run by the Columbus Neighborhood Health Center. As it is located on East 17th this location is not as central to Linden as the others. Despite that, this facility provides the widest range of services. Having these types of health services, especially in visible commercial areas, is a great strength of any neighborhood. However, their true worth is dependent on how accessible they are and foremost the types of care they can provide. Location of healthcare facilities in Linden. The majority of locations are along Cleveland Avenue with the exception of Saint Stephenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s.

Healthcare Facility Access A function of location, the ease of traveling to these sites is important for reliable care to take place. This is especially true for those who may suffer from chronic or traumatic injury, sickness, or, or those who maybe pregnant. Luckily, location is another great strength of these sites. As previously mentioned, all but one of the healthcare related sites are located along Cleveland Avenue. Because of this, they’re easily accessible by bus route, by car, and in some cases by foot.

Bus For bus travelers, COTA’s #1 (illustrated in red) runs directly on Cleveland Avenue terminating at Polaris to the North and near the capital building to the south. As the majority of healthcare locations front Cleveland Avenue, the #1 gives great access. It is also worth mentioning, there are other healthcare locations along the #1 route. Two even listed in COTA’s route map. Both Saint Anne’s Hospital and Ohio Health’s Africa road facility are along the Cleveland Avenue bus route. Healthcare facilities and bus routes in Linden. All of the facilities are directly accessible by bus (depending on the route).

health

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

However, these two locations are to the

Street and pick up COTA #81. The #81

extreme north relative to Linden. It would

(illustrated in blue) stops directly at Saint

take over thirty minutes and forty-five

Stephen’s. However, this trip might be out of the way for some.

minutes respectively, just in ride time, to reach those locations by bus. While the bulk of healthcare facilities are

Driving

located on Cleveland Avenue, Primary

Due to the grid pattern layout of Linden,

One’s Neighborhood Health Center can

car trips in the neighborhood are straight

be found in the St. Stephen’s Community

forward. There are no identified indirect,

House on east 17th Avenue. As illustrated

meandering, or bottle necks for drivers

on the map, this community center is

attempting to reach healthcare facilities

just under ½ mile from the intersection of

within the neighborhood.

~ 1/2 mile

Cleveland and 17th Avenues. To reach St. Stephen’s, a rider on route #1 (up Cleveland Avenue) would have to exit the bus and walk the additional half mile. Though a short journey, it might be difficult for an expectant mother or a person who is sick. Possibly due to this reason, the health center has a car service for expectant mothers. Alternatively, riders can take the #1 up or down Cleveland Avenue to east Hudson

Saint Stephen’s Neighborhood Health Center is just under a mile from the intersection of Cleveland and east 17th. This distance may pose a problem for patients attempting to reach the health center. Direct bus service is available but disjointed.

Walking Whether just walking or a combination of bus travel and walking, reaching healthcare facilities within Linden is simple. Similar to driving, the grid layout facilitates easy walking to healthcare facilities in the neighborhood. If a quarter-mile radius, or a five to ten minute walk is projected from each facility as shown on the map, close to the entire extent of Cleveland Avenue is covered. The projection area also covers many bus stops (as they are on Cleveland Avenue). Projecting a half-mile radius, or ten to fifteen minute walk (not shown), would cover almost the entirety of the neighborhood. Healthcare Facility Services Access to healthcare also includes what services are available in the neighborhood. This metric is particularly hard to quantify, as each doctor (especially primary care physicians) preforms a wide range of diagnostics and consultations. However, a doctorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s personal level of experience can influence what services they are capable of providing. Additionally, they also make referrals, which may be necessary, to visit a specific type of doctors or schedule a .25 mile radius projected over each healthcare facility in Linden. Coverage along Cleveland Avenue encompasses several bus stops limiting walking distance and creating highly accessible sites.

procedure.

health

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

In attempts to best examine this topic,

One study found that nearly one-third, or

Sample of Healthcare Provider Hours:

considering the scope of an urban

32 percent, of welfare-to-work mothers

Children’s Primary Care

8:00a to 5:00p

design focused study, each facility will

are caring for children with chronic

Ayesu Health Plus

8:00a to 5:00p

be examined based on their open hours,

illnesses.” (Williams, J et. al). While purely

St Stephen’s

8:00a to 5:00p

types of doctors, a short list of what that

conjecture in Linden’s case, a mismatch

Healthland Pharmacy

9:00a to 6:30p

type of doctor does (according to their

in work hours and service hours at the

Linden Medical Center

9:00a to 6:00p

website and in general), and supporting

neighborhoods healthcare providers may

infrastructure.

be an issue.

Hours

Services Available:

Similar to most professional service

Linden, as it has a nine healthcare

offices, the medical facilities within

locations, has a range of available

Linden keep, for the most part, eight am

services. Most services fall into the

to five pm hours. Each facilities hours

primary care physician realm. Linden

can be seen in the chart to the right. No

Medical Center, Saint Stephen’s

observation has been made in Linden’s

Neighborhood Health Center, Ayesu

case but, “one study found that 30 percent

Health Plus, and Nationwide Children’s all

of low-income workers disrupted their

offer primary care type services (among

work schedules to meet family needs in a

other things). At those locations, a patient

single week [including healthcare or stay

can expect care to cover general physical

at home care].” This is especially true as

care, chronic conditions (diabetes,

“[l]ow-income families are more likely to

asthma),

be caring for a family member who is ill.

immunizations, and basic heart and

Blood work often takes place at specific

lung care. Additionally, a few locations

labs in larger medical complexes.

(Children’s, Saint Stephen’s, and Linden

Takeaways • Healthcare facilities front Cleveland Avenue • Facilities are visible and accessible

Medical) advertise women’s specific care.

Interestingly, no optometrist was found in

• Wide range of primary-care choices

However, only one of those locations,

Linden.

• Urgent care is lacking

Saint Stephen’s has an OB/GYN on staff. In addition to the primary care access,

Lastly, outpatient urgent care can be

Linden also has a few dentist locations.

more cost effective and expedient for

Three private practice and one within

minor emergencies stitches, serious

Linden Medical Center.

sickness outside of normal physician

Looking at support services, Linden

hours. Currently, this service is lacking in

contains one stand-alone pharmacy and

the area. There are hospitals a few miles

two integrated in Saint Stephen’s and

outside of Linden’s borders providing

Linden Medical Center. Availability of

these services but as mentioned earlier

drugs is unknown but given the physician

will likely be more costly and less

coverage for chronic conditions, common

necessary for minor issues.

• Potential mismatch between hours and population availability • Opportunity for after hours urgent care Range of care good, some income scalable services

place drugs are likely available. This concentration of pharmacies appears less dense than other Columbus neighborhoods. Also, care is advertised for blood work and other lab services, (and is not listed as available at other primary-care at Linden Medical Center. health

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Conclusion Examining the commercial corridors and

Linden residents; changes to the street

residential neighborhoods has identified

and alley network and vacant lots can

challenges and opportunities that the

help the neighborhood feel safer. Finally,

neighborhood faces with respect to the

access to healthcare facilities is relatively

relationship between the built environment

robust, although hours are sometimes

and health. Going forward, this analysis of

limited.

Lindenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s current conditions contributing to health can serve as a baseline. The Cleveland Avenue corridor is the backbone of the Linden neighborhood; street design improvements and vacant commercial corridors should guide improvement. The residential neighborhood can and should function as an important social gathering place for

Quality of Life

In quality of life research one often distinguishes between the subjective and objective quality of life. Subjective quality of life is about feeling good and being satisfied with things in general. Objective quality of life is about fulfilling the societal and cultural demands for material wealth, social status and physical wellbeing.

- Quality-of-Life Research Center, Denmark

Why do we care about Quality of Life? We care about the people who live in communities. Planners work with citizens, governments, civic organizations and businesses to come to decisions—decisions that affect people’s lives. In order to think about how decisions affect people, we must come up with variables to define and measure. In this section, we look at quality of life as something residents want and something that is essential to healthy communities. Our attempt measures social and economic factors. Our assumptions are that if you have connection, a social fabric in your neighborhood, the opportunity to grow, and means to obtain what you need, then your quality of life will improve. These assumptions led us to our topic studies of child care, religious institutions; libraries, parks, and recreation; education; housing; and businesses. How does this apply to Linden? First, the goal of this project is to help Celebrate One’s initiative to decrease infant mortality in Linden. Their #1 recommendation, and current focus, is to improve social and economic conditions that drive disparities across the highest risk neighborhoods. Thus, we are focusing on social and economic factors. Second, in Celebrate One’s community outreach, they have heard from residents that the neighborhood feels disconnected. They want to communicate better, to trust eachother more. Definitions. We would like to introduce some important terms commonly used by social scientists and city planners who focus on quality of life, and that you might find in this section. Social Capital. Refers to the collective value of your social network. Think of all everyone you know, plus everyone they know, and what types of opportunities and connections you might have access to because of this network.

quality of life

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Social Fabric. Refers to a community, in general, who gets together and trusts each other. Think of a place where neighbors say hello to each other, form groups to make decisions about their neighborhood or plan neighborhood eventsâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;a place where you have many friends nearby. Third Places. Refers to places where community is built, where you talk to other people and hear the gossip of what is happening. The term comes from Ray Oldenburg, a community builder who thinks third places are the most important. According to Oldenburg, a first place is a home, and a second place is a work environment. Third places are where relationships and trust are built. Think about where you chat about current events and where meet new people. Think about where you go with your friends or family for fun. Third places can be structured, like a library or park and occur where you may not expect, like the reception area of an office or the crosswalk of the elementary school. Here, we speculate that increasing the number and design quality of third places in Linden may increase the quality of life for residents. Community Anchors. Refers to places where people gather and which have the potential to actively strengthen the community fabric in a neighborhood. For example, here, we speculate that churches and libraries may act as important community anchors in Linden.

Methodology. As stated, our assumptions are that if you have connection, a social fabric in your neighborhood, the opportunity to grow, and means to obtain what you need, then your quality of life will improve. In order to have something to observe and measure in Linden to gain insight informing our assumptions, we chose to look at child care; churches; libraries, parks and recreation; education; housing; and businesses. Understanding these topics will help inform the goals to increase the social and economic factors in Linden that are driving its disparities compared to Columbus as a whole. For child care, we looked to see if it available, affordable, and has an engaging play and learning environment. For recreation, we looked to see where the libraries, recreation centers and park are, if they are functioning, and if there are enough of them. For education, we looked at the number and types of schools, the programs they offer, and discuss their benefits to the physical and mental health of residents as well as some of the challenges they face. For housing, we looked at security, affordability and availability of housing options; along with identifying vacant properties and possible solutions. For businesses, we looked at the number and types of non-food businesses in the neighborhood in order to understand resource access, urban design implications and community building possibilities.

Childcare

Social

Libraries, Parks and Recreation Religious Institutions

Quality of Life

Education

Economic

This graphic is a representation of the six topics of this section and how they connect to social and economic factors and quality of life. Each topic overlaps considerably in the context of the social and economic factors that contribute to overall quality of life.

Housing

Businesses

quality of life

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Childcare Conveniently located childcare is essential to working parents. The map to the right shows where daycare options are located in the study area. They are placed throughout the neighborhood, with a possible underserved area around 22nd and Hamilton. Childcare must be affordable and available. Cost. The rates are slightly lower than those outside the neighborhood. However, it costs between $150 and $200 per week per child. This adds up to between $600 and $800 per month. However, many residents are qualified for subsidized childcare due to poverty levels, so affordability is possible. Hours. Of the 10 daycares in the area, only one is open on Saturday and none are open on Sunday. The rest are open Monday-Friday. This may not fit the needs of people who work different hours. One childcare option is open 24 hours a day during the week, giving an option to parents who work overnight shifts. The rest of the centers hours ranging from 6am-Midnight. Age of children. The 10 daycares surveyed take children, on average, from 6 weeks old to 13 years old.

Above: Daycare Options in Greater Linden. The map above shows where the daycare options are located in the neighborhood. Locations were mapped by the author. Aerial photograph source: Franklin County Auditor

The design and build of a childcare center contributes to quality of life. We know that aesthetics affect perceptions of and quality of life in neighborhoods (Evenson et al. 2007; Bauman and Bull 2007; Owen et al. 2004; Saelens and Handy 2008). Also, we know that preschoolers learn through play. Considering these factors, the neighborhood has many challenges when it comes to the design and quality of childcare facilities and outdoor spaces. These photographs display some examples of childcare facilities that are assets or challenges to the neighborhood. For example, none of the daycares surveyed have shaded outdoor space. Only one had invested significantly in outdoor space (see top left photo). Two had grass areas with little structure. Most Assets: Investment in outdoor play

Challenge: Location, entrance conditions

are contained by chain-link fences. Also, nearly all the daycare centers surveyed lack exterior windows, making natural light indoors impossible. Finally, of the seven daycare centers along Cleveland Avenue, a 4 lane, high-traffic road, only one has crosswalks nearby. Childcare Takeaways • Subsidies may make childcare affordable in the neighborhood, but surely not without them. • More options for childcare in evening and weekend hours are likely needed to suit the hours of the workforce.

Asset: Investment in entrance, location

Opportunity: Space for investment in outdoor play

• Daycares in the area could benefit from design standards and design improvements, particularly in the outdoor play areas and surrounding pedestrian pathways.

quality of life

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Linden Park, Linden Recreation Center location Audobon Park

Libraries, Parks and Recreation Parks are important. Parks in a neighborhood raise property values, lift moods and promote health via exercise. (Kaczynski and Henderson 2007; Saelens and Handy 2008). Also, parks are valuable third places where community members network, make friends and build trust. Parks are missing in central Linden. Two of the parks are located in what is known as North Linden, roughly the area north of Hudson. This poses a problem in the area of Linden. The park in Linden is located at the southeast corner of the study area. Vacant lots throughout the Linden area provide an opportunity for smaller parks spread across the neighborhood. Planners recommend 1 acre of park for every 200 people in urban areas. (APA 2015) In the study area, there is approximately one acre per 600 people (measurement determined by author via google maps, population estimates via City-Data). This means the neighborhood could benefit from up to three times the amount of park space currently found there.

Pride Park

Linden Library

Windsor Park, Douglas Recreation Center location

Above: Map of parks, recreation center and library located in study area. Locations were mapped by the author. Aerial photograph source: Franklin County Auditor

The Linden Library is a great asset. Columbus has the highest rated library system in the country. (Columbus Metro Library 2015). At this branch, dozens of computers are available along with shelves of books for all ages and readers. Community information such as events, housing and jobs is found in the lobby.

Asset: Linden Park, acreage and greenspace

Asset: Audobon Park, acreage and treecover

Douglas Recreation Center to re-open Spring 2016. According to Celebrate One, the community has identified Douglas Recreation Center to be an important asset to the neighborhood. The center will offer free activities and afterschool programs, as well as affordable classes for all ages and daycare options. Assets. Audobon Park, Linden Park, and Windsor Park contribute over 33 acres of green space to the neighborhood. These are important contributors to quality of life. The library and recreation centers provide programming, safe space to play, places for the community to gather, and places for community members to find information about opportunities in their neighborhood.

Challenge: Linden Recreation Center entrance in alley

Challenge: Audobon Park lacks adequate maintenance

quality of life

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Opportunities. The number of vacant lots throughout Linden may be considered a challenge for housing, but here can be considered an opportunity. Could the vacant lots be connected into a framework of parks scattered evenly across the neighborhood?

Green boundaries represent 1/4 Mile distances from parks

Challenges. Several design feature challenges and maintenance features are present in the neighborhood. For example, Linden Recreation Center’s main entrance is in an ally. Although it has sidewalks connecting to a parking lot, this ally entrance can contribute to a feeling that is less safe or unappealing to the visitor. In Audobon Park and Sunshine Corner Pride Park (shown on the map on the opposite page) the built structures are suffering from a lack of maintenance and a lack of lighting. Library, Parks and Rec Takeaways • The Linden Library is a key place for community information. • The study area could benefit from 3 times the amount of dedicated park space it has currently. • Proximity to parks has been shown in many studies to increase physical activity and, therefore, overall health. The optimal distance from a park is one quarter mile. Above, the map shows the parts of the study area that are within 1/4 mile from the parks mentioned.

Religious Institutions social class, race, religion, or some other form of Going into Linden, it would be hard to not see the

social identity. Bridging social capital is the links

presence that religious institutions have in the

among members dissimilar to one another with

area. There are about 131 tax-exempt religious

respect to social identity.

institution parcels owned by about forty different religious groups. But to better understand the

Challenges

larger role of these institutions, it would be

The biggest challenge to the neighborhood is a

advantageous to review them based on their

problem that affects more than just religion; it is

assets, challenges, and opportunities.

the disinvestment of people in their community. If people were to not care about the things going

Saint Augustine and Gabriel Catholic Church

Assets

on around them, or the people around them,

One contributor to the seemingly large presence

that would be a social problem. The question

of religion is the abundance of religious structures

is, how can religion contribute to social capital?

that stands in the neighborhood. To understand

How do we build social capital? These concerns

the religious assets in the community, we can

summarize the goals and objectives in addressing

measure things like the number of churches or

the social disinvestment in the community.

the number of practitioners, however these are

New Journey Christian Ministries

quantitative measures that only mean so much on

Opportunities

paper. To get more qualitative measures, we look

It has been said that the people of Linden

at the concept of Social Capital.

feels that there are not many places in the

A simple definition for Social Capital is the

neighborhood for social gatherings. Religious

resources that individuals can access through

institutions offer places for people to congregate,

their connections to a social group. Social Capital

or third places.

could then be broken down into two kinds; Bonding, and Bridging social capital. Bonding Social Capital is the ties among members of a group who are similar to one another in terms of quality of life

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Third places, introduced in Ray Oldenburg’s “The Great Good Place” 1989, are shared places in which members can interact, whereas first place is home, and second place is work. Third places could be churches, hair salons, coffee shops—any place that could be shared and foster interactions. Development of these third places would be vital building social capital in the community. Religious institutions foster both Bonding and Bridging social capital as members within the group can bond with each other, as well as bridge out and interact socially with community members outside of their immediate social group. The relationship among community members can also positively impact the individual’s mental health. Lastly, religious institutions have a great span of influence onto the community. It has been noted by Ms. Ericka Clark Jones of the Celebrate One Initiative and Ms. Patricia Allen Brady of the Columbus Department of Development of the importance in working with local religious leaders because of their great influence they have in their

The Elevation Church

communities. This influence is not limited to the community group itself, but can span to the larger community through the outreaching interactions and social involvement programs the community may be involved in. There are many religious institutions in the neighborhood of Linden. These institutions are not interacting with each other, as are the people in the neighborhood may be disinvested in their communities. Religious institutions may help build relationships amongst people and groups. Religious institutions can have a great influence to the larger community as well as to their immediate social group. Religious Institution Takeaways: • The many religious institutions in Linden are not interacting with each other. • Increased communication may help build relationships amongst people and groups. • Religious institutions can have a great influence to the larger community as well as to their immediate social group.

Travelers Rest Baptist Church

Education Importance Education is an important social determinant of health. Higher levels of education can help create wealthier economies, however the benefits of education go far beyond the economy. Education has a large impact on social engagement, which can determine how cohesive, safe and healthy a community is (Higgins, Lavin, 2008). Physical and mental functions better for the better educated and children can learn the aspects of healthy choices through school at a young age (The National Bureau of Economic Research). Having a better understanding of the connection between education and health will help improve both individual and community health.

Link between education and health, Source: Education Requirements. Graphic by author.

quality of life

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Assets There are 20 schools total in the Linden area and they that offer different levels of education such as elementary, middle, high school and adult education. For a list of schools in the area, refer to chart 1.The schools are made up of 43% elementary, 14% middle school, 29% high school and 14% adult education. There is also a wide range of school type; from religious, charter, Columbus Public and community/adult centers. This gives residents options of schools types close to home. Schools in the Linden area offer programs to students to help them achieve better education such as free breakfast and lunch programs, antibullying programs, higher education opportunities and free GED

Monday

Tuesday

CHOOSE ONE MAIN ENTREE OR CHOOSE TWO OF THE FOLLOWING AT BREAKFAST: Assorted Cereals (20-27g) Yogurt (19g) Cheese Stick (1g) Muffins (25-27g) A variety of fresh fruits, choice of 1% low fat white milk (13g), skim chocolate milk (24g), orange juice (14g) and apple juice (14g), are offered daily with breakfast

Wednesday 8/26 Choose One: Maple Pancakes (40g) Bagel (34g)/Cream Cheese (2g)

Breakfast is FREE for students Revised 7/20/15

classes. Columbus Public Schools offer free breakfast and lunch daily, for all students regardless of income. The meals offered are a part of a well-balanced diet and help give students an idea of what a healthy meal is. Another asset in the community is LindenMcKinley high school, which was recently renovated and 34 million dollars was invested in the school. Linden-McKinley and

Chart 1. Schools in Linden Columbus Public Schools offer free meals for all students, and some options are better than other. Students have the choice of choosing eitheir a main entree or picking two other breakfast options. Typically the main entree is high in fat and sugar, and the other options for students tend to contain more nutrients. The quality of food offered is not consistent with nutrientional guidelines.

other schools in the area are now STEM Academies which focus on the integration of academics through real-world applications.

Linden-Mckinley high school STEM Academy

Challenges

Linden Park Elementary Boared up School

Evidence from the Institute of Public Health suggests

Playgrounds are lacking equipment and are out of

that those who achieve higher levels of education are

date. Many of the surrounding streets and sidewalks

more likely to have healthy lifestyles. In Linden, the

of the schools in Linden are in poor condition and limit

completion rate for high school is 71.5%, and women

access to the school. A study done by the Department

in Linden have lower levels of completion rates

of Education for the United States of America found

compared to men in the area (Areavibes, 2015) With

that good facilities are important precondition for

1.9% of women compared to 3.1% of men completing

student learning. These conditions also affect the

12th grade and 7.7% compared to 12.1% completing

general health and morale of students and staff.

11th grade (Areavibes, 2015). These rates are also

Residents have expressed to Celebrate one their

much lower than surrounding areas; for example,

want for better equipment and training for students,

Clintonville, which is 3.5 miles away from Linden,

more extra-curricular activities for kids and more

has a completion rate of 95% (U.S. Census Bureau,

family oriented activities such as tutoring for and with

2015). This is a challenge because young females

parents. There is also a want for more art programs,

are missing proper education on health and sexual

activities and after-school programs for kids.

education that is offered at higher levels of education and in return they do not know the importance of health and how to properly care for themselves and their children. Other challenges that Lindens schools systems face are poor conditions of the buildings themselves, parks Poor park conditions

and the surrounding streets. Many of schools in the area do not have central A/C and the buildings do not appear to be properly cared for and maintained.

Education Takeaways • Better education leads to healthier lifestyles physically and mentally. • Linden benefits from it’s numerous schools, that offer a range of curriculum programs for students. However some buildings, parks and surrounding streets suffer from poor conditions. • Linden on average has lower graduation rates than surrounding areas.

quality of life

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Businesses The businesses located in a community play a large part in the quality of life for residents by providing them with community anchors where people can gather. The ability of a community to have a social life relies on it having third places, or places to spend time outside of work and home. Not only do businesses act as social nodes, they also affect the environmental and economic strength of an area. Certain business types can improve or worsen walkability, air quality, visual quality, and noise pollution. Finally, the business type can determine what resources a community can access, and where the income from a community is used. The information supporting the graphic on the right was found by cataloging every business type (excluding food-only businesses) on three main commercial corridors: Weber Road, Cleveland Avenue, and Hudson Street.

Business makeup of Linden, not including food only shops and restaurants. Red represents challenges, blue represents assets, white represents opportunities.

Challenges In Linden, 41% of non-food businesses are automotive, including gas stations, car lots, and maintenance garages. The automotive

Assets

industry promotes car use over walking or biking and causes

On the other hand, twelve percent of businesses in Linden are salons, which are

the air to be polluted. The result is an environment with poor air

extremely social settings and are often locally owned. These businesses improve the

quality, poor visual quality, noise pollution, and fragmentation

social life in Linden by providing spots for informal interaction with familiar faces. Salons

of potential community gathering spots. Instead of a walkable

are also a great place to spread the word about happenings in the community. Daycares,

neighborhood where residents can walk from church to get food,

medical offices, and other types of service industry establishments are all positive assets

they instead have to walk past a few car lots, and are then less

for the community that promote health and social life.

likely to do so.

Opportunities Fourteen percent of businesses in Linden are corner stores or convenience stores. These establishments can be viewed as opportunities. Because of their prominence in Linden, the potential to improve corner stores is more plausible than the idea of removing them. Their size and frequency makes them accessible to almost all Linden residents. With improvements in both property maintenance and merchandise sold, these corner stores could easily turn into valuable assets for residents of Linden. Opportunities for positive impact on quality of life include various Assets: Medical offices and childcare

Opportunity: Corner store

retailers throughout the neighborhood, including mobile phone shops and home goods that with some maintenance and improvements to choice of merchandise can better meet the needs of Linden residents. Linden has enough vacant storefronts to allow for potential redevelopment. The neighborhood could benefit from a more diverse business climate that sells what the public needs within walking distance of their homes. Business Takaways

Opportunity: Corner store

Challenge: Automotive sales

• Businesses can be community anchors that enhance social life. Linden has some of those places, including salons and daycares. • Linden is currently overrun with automotive businesses that are bad for the economic, social, and environmental quality of the neighborhood. • Linden has opportunity to redevelop retail to better suit the community’s needs. quality of life

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Housing Housing is the underpinning of the preceding sections, as a shelter and retreat for the people who attend and support the institutions and anchors of the community. It also makes up much of the built environment in Linden, accounting for sixty-five percent of all land use in the neighborhood. The personal and spatial prominence of housing affects the social, economic, and environmental factors of community vitality. Social Simply put, having a permanent address is crucial for residents to thrive. It allows children to enroll in school and adults a point of contact when applying for jobs or obtaining services, aiding personal and household growth. To sustain these measures, housing options that are safe and affordable are musts. In the Linden area, housing is available but may be costly to residents. According to 2013 American Community Survey estimates the 43211 zip code- which represents the Linden neighborhood and some surrounding blocks- had a median monthly housing cost of $733 and median monthly household income of $1,826. At 40 percent of median income in the area, housing costs in Linden are 10 percent higher than federal standards for affordable housing, meaning residents have less money for food, healthcare, and other necessities. Economic In American society buying a home is a milestone purchase, often the greatest individual asset one can own. When homeowners are spatially concentrated, they represent a collection of investors in their neighborhood and community; people who share an interest in maintaining the quality and aesthetic of their local area. Linden has thousands of homeowners who take pride in their houses and enjoy the independence of their own land. However according to 2013 American Community Survey estimates, no tract contained over fifty percent owner-occupancy. This is not to discount the many rental properties, also profitable as an income source to landlords. However not all landlords are area residents,

Linden Homeownership rates by Census Tract, 2013 American Community Survey

meaning rent leaves the area and repairs may not be immediately attended to. This affects nearby property values and leaves lasting impressions on potential homebuyers. Investing in a quality housing stock is in the interest of both existing property owners and for regenerated community growth from new residents. Environmental As the predominant land use in Linden, housing is an environmental feature that affects nature and health. As an inner-ring section of Columbus, it is not a surprise that an estimated 75 percent of housing units in the area were built prior to 1960 . Many of these homes will be functional for years to come, but being built in eras when asbestos and lead paint- now known health hazards- were common, the risk of their exposure to residents remains a concern. Housing conditions

Such materials may potentially pose an issue in occupied housing, but these problems are compounded in vacant homes. When left unattended housing falls into disrepair, exposing materials and pose risks of structural hazards to neighbors. The clear signs of neglect further invite loitering and crime, exacerbating anxiety and social withdrawal among residents. Vacancy has a harmful affect on both physical and mental health, and the issues that arise from its sustained presence in Linden are a major point of concern for residents. Finding solutions for these properties are necessary for the benefit of human health and the environment they inhabit. Housing Takeaways • Safe and secure housing that is affordable relative to income level is needed for individual and family development 43211 zip code, American Community Survey, 2013

• Homeowners are important investors in property and community, but they are in short supply in Linden • The older housing stock poses potential health risks with asbestos and lead • Vacant properties are health and environmental hazards that demand solutions

quality of life

SOUTH LINDENLINDEN STUDIOSTUDIO 2015 | CITY 2015AND | CITY REGIONAL AND REGIONAL PLANNING PLANNING | THE OHIO | THESTATE OHIO UNIVERSITY STATE UNIVERSITY

Food Access

One of the most significant indicators of health in a community is nutrition. Access to nutritious foods and education about what kinds of foods are beneficial to health are the building block of a healthy diet. However, in Linden, these building blocks have crumbled away, and residents are left with little to no access to healthy foods. Caloric intake is the most basic element of nutrition. Calories consumed turn into energy for the body. More important than the amount of calories consumed however, is the content of these calories. Many processed foods, such as chips, sugary drinks, and cereals that are consumed by Americans are what the American Heart Association considers â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;emptyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; calories, which are detrimental to health because they do not provide nutrients or sustainable energy for the body. If these calories are

not used during exercise or regular calorie-burning activity, they turn into fat, which in turn causes people to become overweight and obese. This leads to heart disease, diabetes, lower cognitive function, and high blood pressure. However, when foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains are consumed, the opposite effect is observed. According to the Harvard School of Public Health, people who eat multiple servings of these foods every day are less likely to have health problems and have better cognitive function. When nutritious food is not accessible in an area, as in the case of Linden, it has a major effect on the overall well-being of the residents, as poor health contributes not only to physical, but also mental health, according to the Nutrition Journal.

Background

30.8% Lower-income residents in Ohio are

These health problems come at a high

likely to suffer from obesity and other diet

cost. Diet-related diseases, such as

related health problems. A growing body

hypertension, obesity, and diabetes create

of research conducted by the Institute

untold suffering and expense in families

of Medicine and National Research

and communities. In a single year, it is

Council indicates that people who live in

estimated that Ohioans spent $6.8 billion

communities without a supermarket suffer

fighting obesity-related diseases. This

from disproportionately high rates of diet-

money could have been spent in any

related health problems. According to the

number of positive ways, like making

Center for Disease Control, heart disease

improvements to homes, buying bicycles,

and stroke are among the top five leading

or even buying healthier foods, but

causes of death in Ohio, and overweight

instead was spent treating diseases that

or obese adults are significantly more

are, according to the Harvard School of

likely to suffer from these conditions.

Public Health, preventable.

million

$6.8 billion

of Ohio children ages 10-17 that are overweight or obese

of Ohio residents live in low-income areas that are underserved by supermarkets

of Ohioans spending on fighting obesityrelated diseases in a single year

food access

SOUTH LINDENLINDEN STUDIOSTUDIO 2015 | CITY 2015AND | CITY REGIONAL AND REGIONAL PLANNING PLANNING | THE OHIO | THESTATE OHIO UNIVERSITY STATE UNIVERSITY

Background

In the case of Linden, nutrition is poor. According to the Reinvestment Fund, more than 33% of residents in Linden are obese (see map, left). This is also evident in the life expectancy of Linden residents, which at 69.7 years, is 7.5 years less than the average of Franklin County according to Columbus Department Public Health. Lack of fresh food contributes to poor nutrition in Linden. Low access to nutritious food and high access and availability of ‘empty’ calories, as well as food prices in general, leave the residents of Linden with little to no choice in the matter of what goes in to their bodies.

This map, from The Reinvestment Fund’s PolicyMap, shows that in all Census tracts in Linden, rates of obesity (Body Mass Index of > 25) for adults are above 33%.

Study of the Area

Methodology Prices and availabiltity of basic foods

USDA on the MyPlate website (Fig. 3).

were used to study the state of nutrition in

Three stores in the Linden area (Fig. 1).

Linden. MyPlate was used to determine

were studied to determine a) if the foods

which foods would be studied throughout

were available and b) how much did they

the area.

cost. The three stores were 3 Star Food

MyPlate is a campaign created by

Mart, Cupps Market, and Family Dollar

the USDA to educate and encourage

(11th Avenue location). These stores

Americans to eat healthier. The program

were selected based on their locations

provides interactive tools for a variety of

throughout the area to represent Linden

nutritional categories including daily food

as a whole. The prices of the items were

plans, weight trackers, BMI calculators,

also recorded at Kroger on King Avenue

and growth charts. MyPlate daily food

(approximately 3 miles away from the

plans and grocery shopping lists were

Linden area) to compare.

used to study Linden in terms of what was available and how much healthy food costs. A grocery list was compiled of common food items that were suggested by the

Fig. 1: This map displays the three corner stores that are compared in this chapter. Supplies were searched for in these locations using the MyPlate menu described in the study.

food access

SOUTH LINDENLINDEN STUDIOSTUDIO 2015 | CITY 2015AND | CITY REGIONAL AND REGIONAL PLANNING PLANNING | THE OHIO | THESTATE OHIO UNIVERSITY STATE UNIVERSITY

The availability of the items on the list, (Fig. 3) was limited. Many of the stores in Linden were reselling items bought at major grocers at an increased price. In most stores items on the list were not available at the time of the study. Store managers provided prices for items that were not available. The prices for all items were then totaled and compared by store. The results showed that the stores in Linden charged more than the major grocer, Kroger. This shows that Linden residents are paying more for healthy foods. This causes consumers to resort to cheaper options full of empty calories which is detrimental to their health. This type of price difference is characteristic of the poverty tax. A poverty tax is the circumstance where consumers are charged more for goods and services in low income areas. This poverty tax makes it difficult for residents of Linden to maintain a healthy diet. In terms of health, Linden residents are paying more to eat the healthy foods that the USDA recommends. There are no major grocery stores in the study area, allowing the smaller stores to charge more. When consumers only have one option for buying healthy foods they will either pay the higher price or find an alternative. This leads to substituting healthy foods for fast food and cheaper foods with poor nutritional value. The residents of Linden need access to affordable, healthy foods. The lack of transportation options and a major grocer in the area are the driving forces behind higher prices.

Fig. 2: Bar graph showing the cost of ingredients at each location. Note: the Kroger price is the only place where everything was available. Fig. 3: This table shows the cost of each item on the MyPlate menu grocery list.

Linden Food Deserts Urban Food Deserts exist wherever there is over a one mile distance to a grocery store, supermarket, or fresh food provider along with poverty rates of at least 20%. These areas see higher rates of obesity and food related diseases (USDA 2014).Cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and other food related diseases lead to shorter lifespans of residents, especially when combined with high poverty rates (Badger 2012). Lindenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s poverty rate is over 40%, with over half of residents living further than a mile and a half from a grocer. The average poverty rate for Franklin County is just over 18%. The vast majority of residents in Linden have little access or economic means with which to purchase healthy foods. Also, many residents have incomplete knowledge of the long-term effects of an unhealthy diet, and have issues preparing healthy meals for their families either due to time constraints or lack of recipes utilizing fresh foods.

food access

SOUTH LINDENLINDEN STUDIOSTUDIO 2015 | CITY 2015AND | CITY REGIONAL AND REGIONAL PLANNING PLANNING | THE OHIO | THESTATE OHIO UNIVERSITY STATE UNIVERSITY

Linden has a robust network of convenience stores and one-stop shops. These stores offer a narrow range of nutritional options for residents, and are highly accessible to all areas of Linden, grouped around Cleveland Ave. and Hudson St. Individuals with lower incomes tend to buy heavily processed, unhealthy foods in order to consume an adequate amount of calories. Convenience stores often have little to no fresh foods, and those that do get their food from supermarkets. This results in higher prices for more healthy or fresh foods. Transforming a liability into an asset. There are a variety of ways to change the convenient store network into one that offers healthy and affordable options for residents. Since their geographical proximity to residents is key, they must be used to their fullest abilities. something about studies where small grocers use vacant convenient stores. something about policy changing what convenient stores sell, south Chicago, similar metropolis. Takeaways •

Good nutrition is crucial to creating healthy communities

•

Linden lacks access to good nutrition

•

Linden residents are subject to the poverty tax

•

Lack of access to healthy foods is contributing to obesity in Linden

•

Obesity and other diet-related diseases contribute to lower life expectancy of residents

Conclusion Food Access has large scale implications for communities.

Takeaways

Residents that have better access to healthy food options and

•

use them have lower rates of food-related diseases, better

Good nutrition is crucial to creating healthy communities

cognitive abilities, and longer lifespans.

•

Linden lacks access to good nutrition

Fresh and healthy foods cost more in low-access areas due to

•

Linden residents are subject to the

the poverty tax. Most businesses in the area selling fresh foods are simply buying them from large scale grocers. Thus, healthy

poverty tax •

foods are marked-up in price in order to make a profit. This makes healthy food less affordable than unhealthy food.

Lack of access to healthy foods is contributing to obesity in Linden

•

Obesity and other diet-related

Linden exists as a community with little to no healthy food

diseases contribute to lower life

options, which is exacerbated by the high poverty rates in the

expectancy of residents

area. This leads residents to rely on calorie-dense, unhealthy, foods. This has contributed to lower lifespans, and higher rates of obesity and other diet-related diseases.

food access

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Transportation

What does transportation mean? Residents in Linden may want to access to... Job centers • all located outside of Linden

Food • nearest grocery store in North Linden

Entertainment • Easton, Short North, Clintonville, Northland areas

Observation Categories (Modes that exist in Linden) • Automobile • Bus Transit • Biking • Walking

Library Major corridor in Linden (Cleveland Ave.)

• on Cleveland Ave

Health • Small clinics, otherwise OSU East Hospital

School • Neighborhood schools w/ safe routes • Remarkable lack of destinations within commercial corridors

Bike-friendly residential street

(Modes that exist in other neighborhoods) • Carshare • Bikeshare • Intercity Bus • Tourist trolley (Cbus)

Overview

Qualitative Methodology

As the transportation study group, we have endeavored

threats, for instance a car running over you. Our grades for

to study how Linden moves, where it is going, and how it

comfort speak to how the trip makes you feel. Our ratings for

experiences the trip. Not only is transportation the most essential

condition speak to the pavement condition specifically, and how

means of experiencing our community, but it is also a basic

it has been maintained by the city, or if it even exists. Utilization

human need to be connected to essential life resources. There is

ratings speak to how heavily each mode is being used.

no health care without health access. There are no jobs without

job access.

is both comfortable and convenient. Bus utilization while high,

In Linden, access comes in the form of four modes

does not translate into a high level of service. The residential

of transportation: walking, bus, bicycle, and car. Our group

streets greatly contrast the characteristics of the commercial

explored each of these modes through a tour designed to both

corridors. Residential streets rated higher across the metrics

simulate the practical trip experience with an end destination in

because they typically have smoother pavement, better shade,

mind, and also to explore the surroundings and ascertain the

and safer traffic flow, compared to Cleveland Avenue and Hudson

facilities and amenities that support each mode. We developed

Street. Bicycling and walking modes were difficult to assess for

separate qualitative input matrix for Cleveland Avenue and then

lack of proper facilities, yet they persist as the most accessible

surrounding streets to organize our findings and present key

mode of transportation to all residents of Linden regardless of

insights which will follow. This matrix includes level of service

income level. These last two modes, in spite of the obstacles

ratings for each mode, 1-10 ratings for safety, comfort, condition,

we will delineate, are heavily-utilized and deserve physical

and utilization.

enhancements. Keeping utilization rates in mind, we can target

physical interventions to serve the greater good.

Level of service is used to illustrate traffic flow on a scale

As evidenced by the matrix, Lindenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s driving experience

from A-F. We looked at safety from the perspective of physical transportation

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Assessment (Matrix) • Level of Service (A-E) • Safety (1-10) • Comfort (1-10) • Condition (1-10) • Utilization (1-10)

Assessment of Cleveland Avenue

Key Interpretations • Car-ownership aspirations • Opportunities in high levels of built-in ridership • Relatively high pedestrian and bike traffic for lack of an active commercial corridor

Assessment of other residential streets

Automobile

Driving a vehicle in Linden

Physical condition for automobiles

is definitely the most comfortable

in Linden gets a decent score (8/10),

transportation mode (10/10) therefore

compared to other transportation modes

highly utilized (10/10). The neighborhood

(5/10 average). There are very few

is easy to drive right through because not

potholes on residential streets, and streets

only it is in a grid structure but Cleveland

are recently repaved. Potholes are more

Avenue and Hudson Street serve as main

prevalent in spaces “in-between” Linden

corridors for automobiles. Drivers are able

and other districts. Furthermore, drivers

to pass through Linden at higher speed

have fewer issues with safety (8/10) while

(35mph) on the major corridors than

posing a threat to others.

on High Street in Short North area (25

mph); they also do not experience much

is realated to quality of life. Constant noise

congestion.

from large trucks and cars affects not

only mother’s stress level but also infant’s

The advantage of automobiles

Noise stress is a health issue that

in Linden is that drivers have premier

sleep-related death. The major reasons

access to activity and job centers, such as

of the noise are vehicle speed and lack of

Downtown Columbus, University District,

adequate streetscape that could reduce

or Columbus Airport. Since transportation

noise from automobiles.

is a basic human need, and it is the best form in this neighborhood, it seems reasonable for most residents to desire a car ownership (witnessed from informal

Car Route Map

Car-friendly route

interviews with 3 transit users in Linden). transportation

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Highlights Comfort (10/10) • Easy to bypass neighborhood • High speeds, no congestion

Level Of Service (B) & Utilization (10/10) • Premier access to activity and job centers • “We want a car” (unsolicited 3 transit users) Comfort: Highly accessible to activity and job centers (downtown, OSU, airport) By driving

Condition: Newly repaved, very few potholes

Condition (8/10) • Very few potholes, Newly repaved streets

Safety (7/10) • Threat to transit users

Audible experience • Noise stress is Health issue (Quality of life) • Mother’s stress level, infant’s sleep-related death • Cause? Vehicle speed, Lack of adequate streetscape Cleveland Avenue

Safety: High, uncontrolled speeds, few street lights

Bus Transit

By any empirical measure, not

transit routes. According to the Project for

just those in the qualitative input matrix,

Public Spaces (Source: Thinking Beyond

public transit in Linden is average. Despite

the Station), such bus stops could be an

heavy ridership and slow travel times,

opportunity for community identity and

COTAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s service delivery of routes #1 and

information.

#8 is far too demand-responsive. While

service is adequate during the mid-day

relate to safety and comfort, with a lot

hours (not as good otherwise), waiting for

of overlapping issues between them.

a bus at designated stops is not a good

Currently, the standard bus stop is a pole

experience.

placed on a major arterial road with no

buffer, shelter, or lighting for those waiting.

Level of Service, relating to traffic

The lowest qualitative scores

engineering standards for traffic flow, are

The user experience at these bus stops,

also moderate. Flow is hindered by the

considering the public safety context of

high frequency of stops. Riders may not

Linden, is that of being a sitting duck.

need to transfer as much because routes

Once you board the bus, safety improves.

connect Linden to the primary job centers

Transit riders are friendly and the bus

of downtown, OSU, and the airport.

provides a great opportunity for social

interaction.

Linden neighborhood has 12

stops on a 1.6 mile stretch of Cleveland

Avenue. The high number of bus stops in

of 10, for lack of benches and shelter at

a short span slows travel times through

bus stops, and commonly overcrowded

the corridor and diffuse riders, eroding

busses. When exiting the bus, pedestrians

opportunities for placemaking along

on the sidewalk are often covered

COTA #1

COTA #8

Comfort is relatively low, 4 out

Bus Route Map

Bus Route

transportation

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

in plumes of smoke due to the slow

for the bus. Many specific small tweaks

to add dignity, a sense of security,

transition to compressed natural gas. The

could streamline the service itself.

and comfort can improve how these

transit consulting firm, Nelson Nygaard

commuters experience Linden. By

(Source: Evans interview), stresses the

#1 through the neighborhood and looking

prioritizing transitâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s place along the

important relationship between walkability

at ridership statistics enhancements are

Cleveland Avenue corridor, it is possible to

and ridership, given that any transit trip

recommended for the top 5 stops:

get more area residents and eyes on the

After traveling on COTA Route

actually begins and ends on foot.

Cleveland and Hudson

Cleveland and Duxberry

By enhancing the dignity of riders,

public transit could be harnessed as a

Cleveland and 24th

placemaking opportunity, perhaps with

Cleveland and 17th

enhanced bus stops and a buffer between

Cleveland and 11th

fast moving cars and pedestrians waiting

Exploring placemaking opportunities

Bus Experience (COTA 1)

Clevelend Bus stop condition

street.

Informal interview with a resident at a bus stop

Biking

To evaluate Linden’s bicycle

approaches were used to describe

accessibility, a short field trip, by bike,

the area. Less than ten bicyclists were

was conducted. The route included many

encountered during a walk along the 1.6

streets, and street types. Qualitative

mile stretch of Cleveland Avenue; every

ratings were given based on user’s

single one riding on the sidewalk, likely for

experiences when traveling through the

fear of traffic.

neighborhood.

and can improve the health of individuals,

Bicycling is difficult to evaluate

While bicycling saves money, time

as a transportation mode for existing

it is not a desired mode of transportation

conditions due to a surprising lack of data

by the majority of people. The Colorado-

available. While unrelated, The Mid-Ohio

based non-profit, PeopleForBikes

Regional Planning Commission and OSU

(source: Health Statistics Library), cites

frequently do bike counts along major

an extensive list of mental and physical

thoroughfares. One OSU-conducted bike

health benefits including reduced risk of

count of High Street in April 2015 revealed

cancer and diabetes.

148 bike riders per hour. The only

bicycling data found on the neighborhood

participants ranked car ownership as the

comes from the GPS tracking cycling app,

most desirable among nine transportation

STRAVA. The app is not representative of

mode options. In 2013, 55 percent

the entire population and should be used

of respondents strongly agreed with

with caution when drawing conclusions.

the statement “I want to own my own

car.” (Source: CityLab) This sentiment

Without defined quantitative

statistics on bicycling, qualitative

In contrast, a 2012 survey survey

is often understandably amplified in

Bicyle Route Map

Bike-friendly Route Bike-unfriendly Route

transportation

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

disenfranchised, low-income communities where automobile traffic whizzes by.

The Hiawatha Avenue bike boulevard provides the

residential street grid with an officially-designated north-south spine for the movement of bikes, complete with physical elements that enhance safety and reduce conflict with cars. Hamilton Avenue also features many of the same physical enhancements but lacks the official bike boulevard designation, which would be the easiest improvement to make. Boulevards designed in this Hudson Avenue Bike Route

Hiawatha Bicycle Boulevard

matter discourage cut-through traffic but still allow local traffic, and give priority to people biking through the neighborhood.

Sidewalk Traffic calming berm Crosswalk Pedestrian Island

The qualitative ratings reflect this: Relatively high safety ratings (7/10) and comfort ratings (8/10) on residential streets. The same upgrades on Cleveland Avenue could work similarly to improve commercial corridors.

In contrast, bicyclists on Hudson Avenue (an officially-

designated bike route), actually share the road with semi-trucks that cut through Linden without regard for those who reside here.

Add Sharrow Add Bicycle Boulevard How Hamilton Road could easily further safe bicycle access

High, uncontrolled speeds of automobiles on Cleveland Avenue make a low-stress ride impossible. Commercial corridors also lack bike parking.

Walking

With a “WalkScore” of 57% (out of

Code enforcement issues with litter and

100) according to the popular walkability

tall weeds also present obstacles to

resource, WalkScore.com, Linden rates

walkability along Cleveland Avenue.

higher than the overall Columbus average

of 40%. Despite being slightly above the

of the surrounding neighborhood streets,

composite average, Linden is only the

it is worth noting that sidewalks often

42nd “most walkable” neighborhood in

totally disappear between some property

Columbus, and by far the least walkable

lines, and that some streets don’t have

near-downtown neighborhood.

sidewalks at all. The city has since been

upgrading roadway surfaces to facilitate

WalkScore also gives Linden a

While the team did not walk each

“bike score” of 50%, and a “transit score”

only cars, as evidenced by visibly new

of 42%, which is worth noting although an

pavement and ignored sidewalks.

independent analysis was used for this

study.

of Columbus adopted a Complete Streets

Based on qualitative

Despite that MORPC and the City

policy in 2008 (Source: City Council

observation during the middle of a nice,

resolution), seven (7) years ago, this

summertime day – walking is the least

policy has not quite hit the pavement in

of any transportation mode available

Linden.

in Linden. Despite their high utilization,

sidewalks are disjointed, lack ADA

fundamental problem of few neighborhood

upgrades in many places, and outdated

anchors to which a resident might walk.

streetscape enhancements give the

Places of employment almost entirely

corridor a languishing appearance.

exist outside of the neighborhood, and

Linden also presents a

Walking Route Map

Walk-friendly Route Walk-unfriendly Route

transportation

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

â&#x20AC;&#x153;third placesâ&#x20AC;? only exist in the form of barber shops and churches, which are absolutely legitimate neighborhood anchors. Linden needs to find a way to add more establishments, in attempt to get more residents walking for enjoyment. One notable exception is the lack of anywhere to walk to for coffee, a quick bite, or a drink with friends.

The lowest observation score for walkability is for safety,

which was given a 2 out of 10. While the team never once encountered a perceived safety threat, it is worth noting that other Condition: Disjoint sidewalks

Good example of ADA sidewalk in Linden

No turn lane, left turns prohibited Stamped concrete crosswalks Decorative street lighting Stimulating building fabric ADA amenities Diagram of walkability in Linden (Good example)

studio teams have, and that 6 individuals informally interviewed all expressed unsolicited concerns about their own safety while walking. Based on this experience, safety is arguably the biggest issue with walking in Linden. Threats exist on multiple fronts, not just with crime, but also uneven and non-ADA compliant sidewalks, and reckless high speeds of motorists.

Safety is the most important aspect of walkability to

target with physical interventions, examples of which could include decorative lighting (so as to simultaneously maintain/ restore dignity and pride), and possibly a bike buffer and/or parking lane along Cleveland Avenue wherever the ROW width will allow.

Conclusion

Key Observations on Transportation Car-ownership aspirations The easiest and the most convenient transportation mode for residents to get activity centers Opportunity High levels of built-in public transit ridership, relatively high pedestrian and bike traffic albeit lack of an active commercial corridor Challenge Lack of adequate built environment for public transit users (comfort, safety, maintenance/service issues)

Good example of creating Walkable â&#x20AC;&#x153;Point of Interestâ&#x20AC;? in Linden (Cleveland Ave. & 14th Ave.)

transportation

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Bus Transit

Biking

Walking

Comfort

• No enhanced bus stops (C-MAX will help)

• Every bicyclist spotted on sidewalk

• Sidewalks litter-covered

• Buses were very crowded (high ridership)

• Only 1 dignified bicycle route (Hiawatha)

• Lack of amenities to walk to

• Easy to access OSU and/or downtown

• Hudson Ave (“bike route”) is also a freight truck route

• Narrow sidewalks

• Slow transition to CNG – gas buses cover pedestrians in a plume of smoke as they drive off • 12 stops in 1.6 miles (too many)

Safety • “Sitting duck” feeling while standing at bus stop • Friendly transit riders, great way to get social interaction

Condition • COTA performs competitively on all bus maintenance metrics (average age of fleet, etc.)

• No bike racks anywhere

Safety • High, uncontrolled speed of cars on Cleveland Ave • Commercial corridors even lack wider “parking lane” with room for bicyclist refuge • Neighborhood streets much safer

Condition • Hiawatha route is in ideal condition • Hudson route is in abysmal condition

Safety • Street lighting is an issue • 5-6 individuals claimed to not feel safe • 0 individuals claimed to feel abundantly safe • High, uncontrolled speed of cars

Condition • Disjoint sidewalks • Tree planters are awkwardly-placed, not maintained

Chapter 1 Conclusion

During the course of people’s lives

Urban design, to foster active lifestyles

Building parks and trails, both of which

today, there is not a more important

and a sense of security, can further food

Linden is lacking, can reduce above-

social support system than one’s

and job access. Targeted improvements

average obesity rates. Over thirty-

community.

can accomplish the CelebrateOne goals

three percent of Linden children are

Just as it takes a village to raise a child,

of revitalizing communities.

obese, which is compounded by the

it takes the same village to reinforce a

Cities can choose from many

number of seniors and children who are

healthy and active lifestyle. As you have

interventions to encourage better health

malnourished. This community is being

seen, the Linden neighborhood has

outcomes, but its sidewalks are the

deprived of food access by the lack of

struggled with infant mortality as well as

most effective tool for getting residents

options the free market has yielded.

other health indicators across the board.

to exercise. In Linden, this environment,

Strengthening connections between first,

For far too many Linden residents,

often existing precariously alongside

second, and third places can solidify the

the community in which they live puts

speeding traffic on Cleveland Avenue,

building blocks of community in Linden.

healthy choices beyond reach. A “poor

exists in the form of disjointed sidewalks,

As a community that is rich in assets,

tax,” in which basic staples cost more in

85 poorly-marked crosswalks, and streets

but not economic anchors, there is still

neighborhoods with diminished access,

that go dark when the sun goes down.

much within Linden that can make this

upcharges everyday living for many

With the right targeted strategies, Linden

community work again. In a way, where

residents who work more than one job.

can become a healthy community.

other neighborhoods are anchored by

conclusion

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

employers, this neighborhood has the

causes of stress among low-income

which will be explored to the fullest

chance to be anchored by third places.

households, of which Linden is heavily

extent in the second phase of the urban

It already supports 40 churches, and a

comprised. Many of these residents

design studio. Similarly, while Linden is

strong presence of salons and barber

are losing hope that their community

a mobility-challenged community today,

shops. These institutions are the social

will resemble what it once was. If given

this is an opportunity for urban design

centers for residents.

the proper amount of attention (from

to enhance the role of public transit

However, diversifying the neighborhoodâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

which other comparable Columbus

and active transportation. With the right

economic activity must be a key strategy

neighborhoods have benefited), Linden

small-scale physical interventions, the

to make more resources and amenities

would be more vibrant, more secure, and

neighborhood fabric can reinforce the

accessible. The current business

healthier for it.

role walking and being active plays in

mix is comprised 41% of automotive

While Linden does not meet the standard

living a healthy life. All of these possible

businesses, 14% carry-outs, 12% salons,

of 1 acre of park land per 200 population,

solutions and more will be explored within

and 8% maintenance businesses. This

this may be an opportunity for green

the context Lindenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s challenges and

is not to say that Linden needs less

infrastructure to achieve multiple goals.

opportunities during the second phase

automotive businesses, but rather that it

Concentrations of vacant and abandoned

of the Fall 2015 Knowlton School of

needs more of other businesses.

properties may lead to opportunities for

Architecture Urban Design Studio.

Financial worries are one of the major

more needed green and open space,

Chapter 2 Introduction

In Chapter 1, teams approached four different topic areas

Chapter 2 discusses a general framework plan for Linden. Based

with potential effects on Linden’s infant mortality rate. These

on the conclusions made in Chapter 1, three focus areas were

areas were Quality of Life, Food Access, Transportation, and

created to address the community’s needs within the scope

Health and the Built Environment. The teams identified specific

of urban design: Green Infrastructure, Food Environment and

challenges and opportunities for improvement within the topic

Mobility. Each team brainstormed potential projects to address

areas in order to create an urban design plan that would address

Linden’s challenges and researched their applications. Teams

these issues. In addition, the Greater Columbus Infant Mortality

also addressed potential locations for projects that would have

Task Force identified eight social determinants on health that

the greatest impact in Linden by creating a list of site selection

support the findings of Chapter 1, including:

criteria. Examples of successful projects in other locations are also included in the chapter for reference and design inspiration.

●

Adequate Income

Finally, teams identified the proposed benefits that their projects

●

Access to Healthy Foods

would have on Linden with respect to the challenges and

●

Transportation

opportunities identified in Chapter 1. The Green Infrastructure

●

Jobs

team identified projects focusing on parks, streetscape, and

●

Stable Housing

stormwater management within the neighborhood. The Food

●

Quality of Schools

Environment team proposed the idea of a food hub to serve the

●

Strong Social Networks

needs of residents. Finally, the Mobility team focused on projects

●

Access to Healthcare

improving pedestrian mobility, bicycle mobility, and bus rapid transit.

introduction

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Process

a presentation about economic development. He focused on

Each team arrived at a final framework plan through different

the skills needed to create meaningful partnerships between

processes. However, in order to keep up with the work that

public and private entities. He summed up his presentation with

needed to be done and receive critical feedback, teams

the slogan “comfort, concept, cash.” In short, this promoted the

presented at frequent desk critiques with the professor. At these

idea that trust and a unified vision are just as much a part of the

critiques, each group explained what progress had been made

economic development process as finances.

and discussed subsequent steps. In mid-October each team presented a framework to two planning Along the way, various practitioners volunteered to give guest

practitioners, Patrice Allen Brady and Alexandria Voignier from

lectures to provide different perspectives with which to revise our

the city of Columbus. Both provided feedback on graphics,

work. Brad Dresbach from Weber Associates gave a presentation

presentation skills, and overall ideas. This feedback was used to

on place branding that will prove useful in full plan development.

refine our projects and create more cohesive goals.

The presentation focused on how to “define a desired brand”

plan development.

and “create the experiences that your audience will use to define your brand.” Anthony Jones from the City of Gahanna also gave

Food Environment

Introduction As we learned in chapter 1, thinking about nutrition and healthy options in Linden is an important factor for increasing the health of the community. In this section, the desire (or lack of desire) for healthy food, the access to healthy food and the ongoing research on food in Linden are called the “food environment.” First, the method and processes that formed our thinking are discussed and the goals of the section defined. The goals of our work in food environment are 1) to build capacity toward achieving residents’ desires for more restaurants and a neighborhood food hub in their area and, 2) to collect information about all the work being done in the Linden neighborhood in order to inform community members and the organizations involved about eachothers efforts. Food hub is defined next. Third, we discuss work ongoing in the neighborhood. Then, we present the conceptual pre-design process for a neighborhood food hub in Linden. Finally, we present a framework development process and methods for the development of a food hub. Above: Produce display of food distributed by the Common Market Philadelphia, a case study that will be discussed in Chapter 3. Source: phillyliving.com

food environment

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

How? ...Processes and Methods We know the food environment in Linden is an important focus for our work, but we must decide how we want to approach the issue and what to focus on in order to accomplish a valuable contribution to the neighborhood. To begin the process of defining goals and methods for our approach, we performed an initial brainstorming session. What is the definition of our topic? We came to the agreement of â&#x20AC;&#x153;food environment.â&#x20AC;? What topics should we explore? We decided on the food hub. Brainstorming First, we followed the path of demand and supply. In order to increase the number of healthy foods eaten by Linden residents, we see the need to increase the number of residents who want healthy options in their neighborhood and to increase the number of healthy food options in the neighborhood.

The graphic here is a picture of our thought process. As you see, focusing on the areas of supporting food culture and methods of education are the best ways to increase demand for healthy foods in a neighborhood. To increase supply, we emphasize a focus on economic development procedures and strategies coupled with a focus on partnering with local leaders.

Seeking More Information After dispersing to gather research

chapters, Celebrate One has heard

about food supporting food culture

repeatedly that community members in

and economic development strategies

Linden feel disconnected. They want more

to support food businesses in

consistent communications. Combining

neighborhoods, we found there is a lot of

this knowledge with the goals defined

research and work currently happening in

by Local Mattersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; efforts, we defined our

Linden regarding their food environment.

goals for a positive contribution to the ongoing work in Linden.

One example is Local Matters, a local non-profit who has recently published

In Chapter 2, we continue to explore the

work titled Visions for a Healthier

idea of a food hub and follow the path of

Community, Linden Food Planning Group,

ideation and development. As we move

Summer 2015. Their work is to promote

along, it is important to note this process

healthy food in all of Columbus with a

can serve as a model for thinking about

neighborhood approach.

starting all types of food business. By building capacity toward a neighborhood

Local Matters worked with neighborhood

food hub, we hope to provide valuable

leaders and community members to

information for any Linden entrepreneur. In order to help Linden residents reach their goals of

identify community goals for increasing food access. After a planning process

To define best practices, we will take a

having more restaurants and supporting a food hub in the

conducted in two meetings in the

look outside the neighborhood through

neighborhood, we seek to do as much as possible in our

summer of 2015, the group defined

case studies in Chapter 3. We will look

work to build capacity toward those goals.

three community-identified goals for

at other examples of work being done to

the neighborhood. Their first two goals

support food culture in neighborhoods and

Building capacity in this context is defined as any valuable

became a primary focus for our work

look at examples of successful food hubs.

contribution we can make toward achieving the goals of Linden

here: (1) to create a neighborhood food

With this information, we will summarize

residents.

hub and (2) to increase the number of

learning lessons that may apply to Linden

restaurants. As mentioned in previous

and the future of its food environment. food environment

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

What is a Food Hub? The National Good Food Network defines a food hub as such: â&#x20AC;&#x153;A regional food hub is a business or organization that actively manages the aggregation, distribution, and marketing of source-identified food products primarily from local and regional producers to strengthen their ability to satisfy wholesale, retail, and institutional demand.â&#x20AC;? (ngrn.org) We envision a neighborhood food hub in Linden as a gathering, learning and event space where local food is available for purchase. Depending on the scale, the hub may distribute local and conventional food throughout the neighborhood. A food hub in Linden would serve residents and draw economic investment from within and from outside the neighborhood. This rendering is a concept designed for the Weinland Park Food District in Columbus. A Linden Food Hub could be similar to this concept and should work in collaboration with the Weinland Park development if both are implemented. Source: thefooddistrict.org

Community Partnerships in Achieving Food-Distribution Goals

Food as a social development tool

have explored different options to creating

Larry Cochran Jr. of the Heart of Christ

Food, at its most basic meaning, is a

a better food situation for its inhabitants.

Community Church, and the St. Stephens

concern for all. People eat to sustain

Each new approach implemented

Community House. Pastor Larry Cochran

a source of strength and nourishment.

presents new and unique ideas made to

is currently leading a group called

Food brings people together. From family

fit the special conditions of their respective

“Community Faith Leaders for Change”

gatherings to neighborhood parties, food

communities. It would be beneficial to

in which he hopes to gather community

is a common attraction that can create

borrow and incorporate some of the

leaders of faith and discuss making

interactions among people and potentially

ideas to achieve Linden’s very own food-

positive changes for the neighborhood.

increase social capital. However,

goals. To achieve these goals, we stress

St. Stephens Community House has

individuals don’t always have the power

the importance of building partnerships

been providing essential neighborhood

to create their own access to fresh-food

that would be helpful in creating a

resources in family services, childcare,

sources. In settings where fresh foods

neighborhood food-hub and and providing

food-distribution, and organic food

are not well-distributed, the challenge is

better food-distribution for the area.

initiatives in the area. With the services

how a community can have better fresh-

Identifying partners

that these neighborhood entities provide,

food access. A community pursuing better

The Food Environment group has identify

they would be an invaluable resource in

food access will also be presented with

potential neighborhood partners that

the creation of a neighborhood food-hub.

opportunities where food can become a

would share a similar vision in a better

social development tool.

food-environment. Locally, efforts in

Creating Partnerships

creating a social change have been

Across the United States, communities

supported by leaders such as Pastor food environment

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

It would not be possible to create a foodhub without the establishment of publicprivate partnerships. Potential partners include Celebrate One, Local Matters, the United Way, food educators, business owners, the neighborhood commission, and the City of Columbus. PublicPrivate Partnerships amongst entities can provide important financial and technical resources in the implementation of a neighborhood food-hub. Overall, these partnerships can build capacity by creating a network of resources and social capital. Local leaders and

Message to the leaders

community members have the opportunity

What we want to convey through this work is that while we as planners are approaching from the outside, and

to contribute by creating new links to this

that creating a neighborhood food-hub would not be possible without the help of public-private partnerships, the

network or by getting involved with the

greatest change must happen from the within. The community anchors, community leaders, and the community

existing links working within Linden.

itself are the main characters acting to bring forth this change. They will be ones pulling this food-hub together.

Building Capacity Toward A Food Hub: Design Process Brainstorming

Our brainstorming led us through a process of discovering what a food hub might be like in Linden. The following graphics and summary lists elaborate our thoughts of what the most valuable food hub in Linden would contain. These are predesign thought processes that will contribute to the final product in Chapter 4. Some of the ideas are very abstract. Service • Provide jobs • Bring money into the neighborhood • Be a gathering place • Support local food growers and food business owners • Encourage entrepreneurship • Connect community members with information

This graphic is a visual representation of our groups thought process when brainstorming the essential assets of a food hub. Many of the ideas are abstract.

food environment

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Resources • Sell food and locally made crafts or other items • Provide a space for a farmers market featuring food grown in neighborhood community gardens • Provide education spaces and materials about healthy food • Have a display space to communicate local events • Have workers and volunteers who educate community members about resources available to them • Provide education to local entrepreneurs about starting food-based businesses • Distribute food throughout the neighborhood

This graphic is a visual representation of our groups thought process when brainstorming the essential assets of a food hub. Many of the ideas are abstract.

Location • Close to a bus stop • On Cleveland or in an equally high-traffic location • On or near existing neighborhood focal points • On a site at least 16,000 square feet • Accessible by cars and pedestrians

This graphic is a visual representation of our groups thought process when brainstorming the essential assets of a food hub.location.

food environment

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Location, location... Location can make or break a project. This map shows the overlap of the criteria discussed on the previous page, as we begin to narrow down site recommendations for a nei ghborhood food hub or other medium to large scale food-focused development in Linden. Chapter 4 contains specific location recommendations for the neighborhood.

This map shows the overlap of several key attributes in the neighborhood that we think are essential to a successful food hub. Features include access to transit, access to arterial roads and proximity to schools. Chapter four will contain final location recommendations.

Food Hub and Enterprise Development

Putting the pieces into place

development doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t end with classes,

An equally important regulator and

Now that partnerships, place, and

however. In addition, few resources are

educator is Columbus Public Health. As a

programming ideas are explored, the

more valuable than talking to members of

City body they have final say on whether

trick lies in putting it all together to make

the community and other neighborhood

spaces, equipment and conditions are fit

something tangible.Turning ideas into

business owners. Their insights lead to

for handling and preparing food. However,

a final product can be a challenge, as it

an understanding of what is in demand

they do not declare noncompliance

takes time, money and resources to put

among the surrounding community and

at random. Publicly available guides

together. For those reasons it is important

what they are willing to support.

and classes on proper equipment,

to take steps at the right time and put all the necessary pieces into place.

inspection checklists, and food safety Follow the codes

guide preparation and help expedite the

Once a plan is in place for the business

process.

Make the plan

to move forward, the next step is to

The first step is to draft a workable

make the space it occupies functional

Get the funding

business plan, outlining where money will

and secure. The Building and Zoning

One of the final, steps in predevelopment

be spent and how it will be made back

Department approves building plans and

is to obtain capital to get the work done.

for future growth. Local nonprofits teach

examine the capacity of older buildings in

If a credible business plan is in place,

classes on business plan development,

handling and processing food. As there

this process becomes much easier.

often at scatter-site locations. One

are many older structures in the Cleveland

Banks will want to see workable plans

such organization, the Economic and

Avenue and Hudson Street corridors ripe

before committing funds, but they

Community Development Institute (ECDI)

for redevelopment, the department is an

are nonetheless hesitant at times. An

even operates a commercial kitchen

invaluable resource for aspiring Linden

alternative option is through nonprofit

space for food business development,

enterprises.

microlenders and revolving loan funds,

known as the Food Fort. Plan

such as ECDI, that offer lower interest food environment

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

rates through compliance with their terms. Another option is through the public sector with City or State incentives. The Cleveland Avenue corridor in particular is a designated Neighborhood Commercial Reinvestment (NCR) area by the City of Columbus. The program offers grants and loans for equipment purchases, building renovations and capacity building as well as technical assistance to grow businesses and hire more workers. Takeaways • Ideas can be turned into action, and the process doesn’t and shouldn’t have to be done alone.

This diagram displays the essential elements in any development plan and available resources for achieving results in Linden.

• Business plans have certain requirements, and there is guidance within reach. • City departments regulate as well as educate. • Financing may follow multiple routes because there are multiple sources available.

Conclusion The process of building a better food environment in Linden takes multiple routes, from determining primary goals to enhancing social development to taking structural steps toward implementation. There is one constant through each step, however: collaboration and partnerships are key. Better ideas for eating and distributing food are not thought of in a vacuum, and turning ideas into action is not possiblewithout the expertise of others. Listening to different voices will guide a more robust food environment, where scores of people both within the neighborhood and outside are invested in its economic and social capacity.

Green Infrastructure

Introduction Green infrastructure is a cost-effective and resilient method that uses natural elements within the built environment to advance social, economic and environmental goals. These goals are advanced through the following five proposals recommended for Linden: green streetscape design, mitigating the environmental impacts of auto lots, improving existing parks, developing a longterm vacant lot strategy and developing a neighborhood-wide stormwater improvement plan. These five projects vary in scope, scale and timing, allowing for a long-term green infrastructure strategy to be implemented.

green infrastructure

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Process To begin the investigation of Green Infrastructure, the team set

The brainstorming process resulted in the flow chart, which

out a plan of action in the form of a chart (seen below). This

shows what benefits come from which green infrastructure

chart guided the research process for the team. This chapter

techniques. Through this brainstorming process we came up with

includes the following sections: brainstorm, links to phase one,

eight topics to look into for Linden:

background data, existing green infrastructure, and locations,

• Green Auto Lots

which are shown in bold in the Design Process Flow Chart.

• Green Roofs • Public Spaces around healthcare facilities

Design Process Flow Chart (bold included in this chapter)

• Improve existing parks • Enhance alley network • Turn vacant lots into pocket parks

Brainstorm

Links to Phase 1

• Implement streetscape design • Provide public, green, stormwater management infrastructure The team studied the social, economic, and environmental

Background Data

benefits of each of these topics. After research, the topics were narrowed down to two short term plans and two long term plans

Existing Green Infrastructure in Linden

(bold items in the list above). These four topics are discussed in this chapter and are in bold in the list above.

Feasibility

Case Studies/Supporting Studies

Locations

Implementation/Design Examples

The Design Process Flow Chart above shows the steps taken to complete this phase of the design process. The steps in bold are included in this chapter.

Green Infrastructure: Pocket Parks

Enhancing Existing Parks

The 4 listed project categories are applicable

Social: Pocket parks add social gathering places.

Social: Improve existing social gathering places.

to Linden in various ways. Some projects,

Economic: Vacant parcels can be programmed to

Economic: Greenspace improves the economic

such as renovating vacant lots, are short-

respond to the needs of the community.s.

value of a neighborhood.

term, pressing concerns for the community.

Environmental: Reduces stress on stormwater

Environmental: Reduces stress on the stormwater

Others, such as the installation of green

systems.

system.

A cost-effective and resilient method that uses natural elements within the built environment to advance social, economic and environmental goals

public infrastructure, are much longer-term, more expensive strategies.

Streetscape Design

Social: Informal interaction and safety.

Social: Can diversify open space and parks.

Economic: Attractive streetscape attracts

Economic: Will reduce redevelopment costs to

commercial development.

business owners on Cleveland Avenue..

Environmental: Improves pedestrian environment

Environmental: Reduces non-point pollution and combined sewer overflows.

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Pocket Parks A pocket park also known as a parkette,

Why Pocket Parks in Linden?

mini park, vest-park or vesty park is a

In Chapter One we discovered that Linden has an over

small park accessible to the general

abundance of vacant lots and many residents in the area have

public. Pocket parks are frequently

expressed to Celebrate 1 a desire for more parks. Pocket parks

created on a single vacant building lot or

create more opportunities to experience green space and re-

on small irregular pieces of land. Pocket

purpose vacant lots. Using the vacant lots in the area to create

parks make use of small parcels and

more parks will have social, economic and environmental

vacant lots, in an urban area and can be

benefits.

located in commercial corridors. They also may be created as a component of the public space requirement of large building projects. Currently the City of Columbus is working on Blueprint Columbus, which explores green infrastructure in the city. One of the pilot projects is the re-purposing of vacant lots to pocket parks. The project looks to put land to good use by directing stormwater with porous pavement and bio-swales that will treat and slowly release water into storm drains. These sites will also include trees and other amenities such as walking paths, benches, picnic tables and play areas. Blueprint Columbus plans to work with Linden on creating similar projects on vacant lots in the area.

Social Benefits

Site Selection Criteria

Pocket parks can help redesign the built

A good site location is essential to the

environment and create social gathering

success of a pocket park. Not all vacant

spaces for the area. They also offer

lots are the best option for a park.

better landscaping and can incorporate green infrastructure into the design and

When choosing a site location for a pocket

landscaping.

parks the following criteria should be considered:

Economic Benefits

1. Visibility

Vacant parcels can be programmed to

Locations should be visible to the

respond to the needs of the community

street for safety.

and create job and training opportunities. Having pocket parks in a commercial corridor can help attract more people to an area which in return helps the local businesses.

2. Traffic flow Consider streets that are less busy. 3. Proximity to a main road Site should be close to a main street. 4. Setbacks

Example of a pocket park in a urban area, that includes open space, a play area and seating.

Park infrastructure should extend

Key Takeaways

Environmental Benefits

closer to the street than adjacent

1. Pocket parks are small park accessible to the general public.

Pocket Parks can have environmental

buildings and front the street for

They are frequently created on a single vacant building lot or

benefits by supporting storm water

visibility.

on small irregular pieces of land.

management systems and incorporating

5. Proximity to anchors

these systems into the built environment.

Locations should be close to city

This can be done by using pervious

anchors.

or porous pavements and bioretention

6. City / county land bank

ponds. These parks can also include

Consider looking into properties that

trees and other landscaping that can help

are owned by a land bank.

2. Columbus Blueprint is currently working on a project to convert vacant lots to pocket parks in the area. 3. Pocket parks can have social, economic and environmental benefits to an area.

with overall air quality.

green infrastructure

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Enhancing Existing Parks Overview By improving existing parks, the

improve health. The Linden community

community can promote use, physical

expressed to Celebrate One that they

activity, and community gathering. The

desired to have a place for community

community of Linden would experience

meetings and gatherings. If the existing

social, economic, and environmental

parks were more inviting and usable the

benefits from improving their existing

residents would have a place to host

parks.

community events. Crime rates have

Why in Linden?

also been shown to decrease in areas with parks and recreation opportunities.

Currently, the existing parks are in poor

Several studies have shown that offering

condition and are not inviting to use. The

late night hours to basketball courts and

parks are not well maintained and the

other recreational infrastructure caused

equipment is out of date. If the usability

a decrease in crime. Implementing youth

of the parks was increased, the health

programs that combine education and

of the community could be improved.

recreation have shown to improve the

There are currently five parks in Linden:

grades of the students. Lastly, recreation

Audubon Park, Linden Park, Pride Park,

and play provide the essential skills

Windsor Park, and Maloney Park which is

that children need later in life. Not only

located adjacent to the eastern boundary

do children learn motor skills, but they

of Linden

gain knowledge relating to interaction

Social Benefits

with others. Learning how to play and interact with others provides children with essential skills for school and work in their

The social benefits of improving these parks would be that they create a gathering place and an anchor for the community to meet, reduce crime, and

future. Existing Parks in Linden: Audubon Park, Linden Park, Maloney Park, Pride Park, Windsor Park

Economic Benefits

Environmental Benefits

In terms of economic benefits, parks increase property values,

Improving existing parks would reduce pollution and aid in

create jobs through their maintenance, and attract businesses

stormwater management. The Linden area is dominated by

to the area. Increasing property values increases the amount of

the car in terms of transportation and existing businesses.

property taxes collected. This creates an incentive to improve

The automobile industry makes up most of the commercial

the parks because, not only are the residents benefiting from

establishments in the area. The pollution from these businesses

improved property values, but the costs of improving the parks

and the cars themselves can be reduced through the parks.

can be mitigated through the increase in collected property

Adding more trees to the parks reduces not only air pollution but

taxes. Jobs would be created through the improvement process

also addresses water pollution via the soil. The existing parks are

and then through the life of the park through maintenance. By

also prime locations for implementing a stormwater management

employing the local community to maintain the park, the economy

system. The stormwater management has positive externalities,

would improve and keep money in local business. Finally, existing

such as neighborhood beautification, educational uses, and

businesses would thrive, and more businesses would enter the

increased property values.

local area. For example, a restaurant could benefit from being near a park because it provides outside seating for customers. The parks could also host local food truck events which not only

Takeaways

help the economy, but also bring the community together, relating

â&#x20AC;˘ Cost effective, as they already exist, with many benefits.

to the social benefits discussed earlier.

â&#x20AC;˘ Creates a sense of community and a place for social gathering. â&#x20AC;˘ The existing parks are assets for Linden, by improving them the community can get the most benefit from them.

green infrastructure

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Streetscape Design In this chapter, streetscape design will

often provide shade from the elements

refer to any aesthetic improvement

and keep an area cool.

to street or sidewalk infrastructure

Social: Perhaps the most important effect

that influences the way people and

of streetscape on a neighborhood is its

automobiles interact with space.

ability to improve the social atmosphere

Streetscape elements can include any of

and create a sense of community. By

the following:

improving the pedestrian experience, people are more likely to choose to walk

•

Seating

and enjoy walking. When people choose

•

Street Lighting

to walk they are more likely to interact

•

Trash receptacles

with the physical environment and other

•

Potted plants

community members. In a study called

•

Street trees

“Sense of community and its relationship

•

Larger sidewalk width

with walking and neighborhood design”

•

Street parking

•

Decreased driving lane width

Potential Benefits of Streetscaping

researchers discovered that leisurely

•

Buffers between pedestrians and

The benefits of streetscaping are much larger in scope than

and having interesting sites to view

automobiles

being purely aesthetic. While well-designed streetscapes do help

while walking all contribute to a sense

•

Transit stops

to beautify an area, their presence can also affect the economic,

of community. In addition, commercial

•

Public Art

environmental, and social quality of an area.

structures that have street frontage are

•

Wayfinding signs

Economic: Aesthetically pleasing streetscapes can attract

less likely to detract from a sense of

•

Low setbacks

businesses to an area. These businesses can provide residents

community than those with large surface

The image to the right is a rendering of

with much needed resources and even bring in jobs.

parking lots. (Wood, Lisa, Lawrence D.

a street in Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Environmental: Quality streetscapes often include a variety of

Frank, and Billie Giles-Corti)

made by Confluence. The image contains

natural elements, including street trees, shrubs, potted plants,

a number of the elements above,

and permeable surfaces like grass, mulch, and other similar

making it a very pleasant and walkable

materials. These elements can improve air quality and help to

environment.

slow the flow of storm water into sewers. In addition, they can

walking, seeing neighbors while walking,

Site selection criteria

Why change the streetscapes in Linden?

In order to select the sites where

The research conducted in Chapter

streetscape improvement can have the

1 uncovered a number of challenges

greatest impact, we have identified a list

facing Linden that can be alleviated by

of site selection criteria. The site must:

better streetscape design. In the section

1. Exist on a main commercial

titled “Quality of Life,” it became clear

corridor

that the neighborhood could use more

2. Have high visibility/high traffic

greenery. While they are not designated

3. Have active commercial land

green spaces, streetscapes can make

uses with small setbacks

the neighborhood greener in general.

4. Be near health facilities

Seating near commercial areas can also

5. Contain a transit stop

give people a place to gather or relax

A possible first site for streetscape

outdoors. The large number of automotive

redesign could be Cleveland Avenue from

businesses was also highlighted in this

Hudson Street to Republic Avenue. This

section. Combined with the research

portion of the street contains a bus stop at

Key takeaways

on automobile traffic discussed in the

either end, experiences a large amount of

1. Well-designed streetscapes can positively impact

section titled “Transportation,” it becomes

automobile traffic across four lanes, has

the economic, environmental, and social quality of a

clear that the main commercial corridors

a few low-setback structures that could

neighborhood.

in Linden prioritize automobile traffic

benefit from commercial redevelopment,

and make the pedestrian experience

and is close to Linden Medical Center,

in Linden relating to automobile traffic, pollution, and

unpleasant. Better streetscapes can

pictured on the right.

greenspace.

allow pedestrians to claim more of the

2. Better streetscapes can address a number of challenges

3. The most effective sites for streetscape design would be busy

street, inspire a more diverse business

commercial corridors with access to healthcare facilities and

mix to locate in Linden, and decrease

transit stops.

some of the air pollution created by cars, thus making for an overall more pleasant walking experience. green infrastructure

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Green Stormwater Infrastructure: moving rainwater while creating engaging public spaces Overview Green stormwater infrastructure is a series of constructed natural

and costly, project. However, Columbus is currently working

features designed to move and contain stormwater.

on a stormwater infrastructure project, Columbus Blueprint, to

Aside from managing rainfall, these systems can provide benefits

â&#x20AC;&#x153;eliminat[e] sanitary sewer overflows while also investing in our

in a socially equitable, fiscally solvent, and environmentally

neighborhoods and our local economy,â&#x20AC;? (City of Columbus).

sustainable way. In terms of components, green streetscaping,

Given that, planning potential projects in Linden can showcase

bioswales, and constructed wetlands make up the pieces and

the process and benefits of green infrastructure.

parts of a green stormwater system. Lastly, green infrastructure components in some cases can work Due to Linden being built out, these systems will need to be

with traditional stormwater infrastructure to convey and store

retrofitted. Because of that, this is a long term, multi-phase,

rainwater.

Ballona Wetlands filters stormwater from the Playa Vista neighborhood before the water moves into the ocean. This reduces cost and provides a unique greenspace

Components Green Streetscape Green streetscaping elements take a several forms. The most popular are rain gardens. “Rain gardens are shallow, vegetated basins that collect and absorb runoff...(EPA)” Rain gardens can be installed in right-of-way areas or private lawns.

Streetscapes can not only provide a buffer but also actively contribute to the stormwater system

Bioswales “Bioswales are vegetated, mulched, or xeriscaped (landscaping the requires no water) channels that provide treatment and retention as they move stormwater from one place to another. Vegetated swales slow, infiltrate, and filter stormwater flows (EPA).”

Bioswales largely serve as linear paths for stormwater to travel to a wetlands

Constructed Wetlands “Constructed wetlands are treatment systems that use natural processes involving wetland vegetation, soils, and their associated microbial assemblages to improve water quality (EPA).” They can also serve as retention systems before releasing water into a sewer system. The South Los Angeles Wetland was built to help reduce combined sewer overflows

green infrastructure

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

How the system works 1. As rain falls, it is collected on a site specific basis. In dense

areas, water is directed into green streetscape elements de-

signed to carry water. 2. The rainfall is then transfered to bioswales primarily designed to transport the water. As it is transported, further filtering and absorption occurs. 3. Next, the rainwater reaches a wetlands area. Here, while the water is stored, plant and soil mediums do the bulk of water

filtration. 4. Lastly, sometime after the rainfall event, the filtered water can be moved into the traditional stormwater system. By delaying the release, combined sewer overflows are prevented. Alternatively, after passing through the wetlands water can be expelled into a stream as it has been purified. The diagram above illustrates how a green stormwater network functions from site, to bioswale, then to wetland, and eventually to a river or wastewater network

The graphic below illustrates, from left to right, how water is filtered as it moves through a wetlands system.

Houtan Park, Shanghai, shows how a wetland system can filter water as it moves through the system

Benefits Social • Can be a component of a new or existing parks • Natural community assets can be integrated and enhanced • Wetland areas can provide unique walking trails, wildlife observation areas, relaxation, and educational opportunities

The South Los Angeles Wetland Park provides walking paths for the community

Economic • Reduces cost of redevelopment by reducing cost for private stormwater infrastructure • Reduces costs associated with water purification and flooding • Allows for more dense development by providing public space dedicated to stormwater management instead of site specific stormwater infrastructure

By using a wetland to filter runoff, that water can avoid the water treatment system, saving money

Environmental • Reduces sewer overflows by slowly releasing water into storm system • Reduces non-point pollution by filtering water through plants • Wetlands can remove roughly 50% of all pollutants in the water (inflow to outflow) (EPA meta-analysis)

Wetlands are highly effective at filtering pollutants from water runoff

green infrastructure

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Green Infrastructure

Conclusion The 5 projects highlighted address social, economic and environmental objectives. The projects address current problems in Linden, both immediately and in the long-term. Chapter 4 will address design specifics and feasibility for a select number of projects highlighted above.

Mobility

Mobility is crucial to the daily lives of residents, and currently Linden residents rely upon vehicular transit in order to move from destination to destination. With community health in mind, our group has sought to incorporate active mobility into the lifestyle and social fabric of the neighborhood. Active mobility encourages walking, bicycling, mass transit, or any other style of transportation that facilitates exercise and lessens the need for personal automobiles. Active transportation has several key health benefits that have been researched, and can even lead to economic growth. These health and economic benefits are measurable and have been replicated in several other areas, so logic dictates that these same issues in Linden can be resolved similarly. The process of integrating active mobility into the daily lives of Linden residents must be multifaceted, and broad in scope in order to have the most impact possible. Some designs to encourage active mobility have included selective one-way to two-way street conversions, a plan for designing and implementing a bike trail to help connect Linden to the city of Columbusâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; existing trails, and a placemaking-oriented approach on the upcoming CMAX line. The combination of improved existing infrastructure and particular construction of select projects will lead to a healthier Linden, and therefore a healthier Columbus. mobility

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Weber Road

McGuffey Avenue

Commercial Background

Linden contains a unique historic commercial corridor along Cleveland Avenue. Cleveland Avenue has been a strong commercial corridor since its inception and has been the backbone for the Greater Linden

Hudson Street

area. Early in Lindenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s history Cleveland Avenue was used as a commuting and commercial hub for local industrial workers, but as these jobs have disappeared, the road has shifted in use.

Cleveland Ave. is different from other similar corridors throughout the city because of the 35 mph speed limit. As planning has shifted from the resident scale to the regional scale, Cleveland Avenue has changed purposes. It now

Daily Vehicle Count 20,000+

serves residents by moving traffic instead of catering to their

15,000 - 20,000

neighborhoodâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s needs. This traffic is designed to flow as

10,000 - 15,000

efficiently as possible through the neighborhood in order to get downtown. However, there is no consideration for the commercial aspect of Cleveland Avenue. These issues have

17th Avenue

5,000 - 10,000 1,000 - 5,000 0 - 1,000 11th Avenue

Figure 1: Traffic Flow in Linden

and vel

neighborhood.

Cle

Hamilton Avenue

and has the greatest visibility for residents from outside of the

Ave n

This road brings in the highest volumes of daily traffic in the area,

Lane Ave

17th Ave

High S

The Short North is the most readily available success story in the revitalization of a historic commercial corridor. It has had a

Summit St

11th Ave

backbone of the area (High St.), the area has become vibrant Linden are not so different, both have a similar past and history, both saw a significant degradation in their respective populations and their daily lives for similar reasons, and both have similar

5th Ave

Neil Ave

tumultuous history, but with significant improvements along the once again. The differences between the Short North and Greater

4th St

King Ave

Comparison at a glance

daily traffic volumes. The Short North is not the exception,

Linden is.

The Short North has a 25 mph along High St. in order to encourage walking, bicycling, and to slow traffic enough to lower the risk of serious collisions between roadway users. This 25 mph speed limit is replicated in various successful historically commercial corridors such as: Westerville, Bexley, Dublin, Figure 2: Traffic Flow in The Short North

Hilliard, and Grove City.

mobility

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Access to Unhealthy Food A personâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s health is directly correlated to their intake. This intake

The overbearing issue with these offered foods is that the vast

comes in the form of three different facets: air breathed, liquid

majority of them are prepackaged, processed, unhealthy foods.

drank, and food eaten. Food is readily available throughout

These foods are then complimented by beverages that are

Linden, however, the type of food that is available is unhealthy

high in sugar and carbohydrates, so residents that look to eat

to residents. The unhealthy and readily available processed

a daily meal from their local store are effectively lowering their

foods have a high caloric content, high fat content, high trans fat

life expectancy. On average, Linden residents have a lower

content, and high amounts of sodium, which all lead to a high rate

chance of owning a vehicle in comparison to the Franklin County

of obesity, heart disease, and diabetes.

average. So, their ability to drive out of their neighborhood to a

As populations shift from physical to nonphysical labor, and they

supermarket or grocery for shopping is comparatively limited.

have increased consumption of energy-dense, processed foods,

This easily available access to the unhealthy, and relatively

these same populations see an increase in rates of obesity,

difficult access to fresh and healthy foods puts Linden residents

high blood pressure, and diabetes (McMichael 2000). This trend

at a disadvantage for healthy living.

has been observed worldwide, in developed and developing

Integrating active mobility into the lack of access for healthy

countries, in urban and rural settings. Since Linden used to be

foods is crucial to improving local resident health. Residents can

heavily industrial and had intense physical labor as the main

use healthy exercise in order to get to their healthy food options,

source of income, residents have seen this same trend as their

instead of a light walk to get to their current harmful choices. The

occupations and diets have shifted.

light exercise required to actively move towards healthier choices

The network of convenience stores offers residents a walkable

has a variety of health benefits, both for the individual and for the

opportunity for foods, in fact the vast majority of residents have

community. These benefits first manifest themselves as physical

more than one food option within a ten minute walk. This trend is

and emotional improvements, and subsequently start to improve

displayed on the next page with Figure 3.

the community as a whole.

Weber Road

ue Ave n and vel Cle

Hamilton Avenue

Hudson Street

Legend

17th Avenue

Market/Convenience store Walking radius (10 min)

Figure 3: Markets and convenience stores in the area and their 10 minute wallking distances. mobility

101

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

20 minutes

90-120 calories

Benefits of Active Mobility We identified potential impacts of BRT system and multi-use trail on physical, social and emotional health of community members. Access to goods and services A high quality level of service of BRT will create better connection to healthy food supermarket and healthcare facilities.

Economic benefits Per dollar of transit investment and under similar conditions,

Access to jobs and education

BRT leverages more transit-oriented development (TOD) than

The destination or origin of the BRT is job center and urban center, which will create

Light Rail Transit (LRT) or streetcars. For instance, Cleveland’s

opportunities for people to access jobs and education institutions. Stress and depression

HealthLine BRT and Portland’s MAX Blue Line LRT leveraged the

of unemployment will be alleviated.

most overall TOD investment of all the corridors we studied—$5.8 billion and $6.6 billion, respectively. Yet, because the HealthLine

Increase mobility from mass transit rather than private auto-oriented travel

BRT cost significantly less to build than the MAX Blue Line LRT,

With the built pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, more BRT-generated trips will begin

Cleveland’s HealthLine BRT leveraged approximately 31 times

and end by walking or biking, which is conducive to the physical health of BRT riders.

more TOD investment per dollar spent on transit than Portland’s

Based on the surveys were conducted with riders of local and BRT buses for New York

MAX Blue Line LRT. (Hook, 2013)

City’s M15 Select Bus Service line. Longer walking distances are associated with riding

BRT station can spur the walkable development of community

the BRT versus the local bus (Day et al., 2014).

hubs and make transit-related materials available at corridor

Researchers from University of Cambridge found that transit availability encourages an

businesses.

extra 20 blocks walked per month. A daily brisk 20-minute walk can reduce the risk of

BRT has been shown to help stabilize home prices during the

early death by 16-30%. (University of Cambridge, 2015)

recent recession. BRT zones in Boston SilverLine performed

The presence of more walkers and bicyclists influences drive behavior (Jacobsen, 2003).

200% better in retaining value than the region between 2006 and 2011. (Petrie, 2013.)

2 BRT Drives Economic Opportunities Typology of TOD Impacts and allDevelopment other relevant factors.

corridor

brt standard

land potential

government tod support

(millions)

tod investment per dollar of transit investment

tod investment

(millions)

strong tod impacts Cleveland HealthLine BRT

Emerging

Strong

$5,800

$114.54

Kansas City Main Street Metro Area Express (MAX) bus

Below Basic

Strong

$5,200

$101.96

Seattle South Lake Union (SLU) Streetcar

Below Basic

Strong

$3,000

$53.57

Portland Streetcar

Below Basic

Strong

$4,500

$41.48

Emerging

Strong

$6,600

$3.74

Portland MAX Blue Line LRT

moderate tod impacts

Economic benefits comparison among BRT and LRT Las Vegas Strip & Downtown Previous research Express (SDX) BRT Strong

Application on Linden project Moderate

$2,000

About users say they spend modest amounts of money, typically between Boston one-fifth Washingtonof Street Silverand Line$20 bus $15

for

Below Emerging refreshments andBasic dining, on a trail

Moderateall visit. Across

trail

$650 users, this

result

In$42.28 the same vein, community engagement like a survey about

converting the existing abandoned rail to a multi-use trail, the so $20.97“Linden Link”, should be conducted. This effort can give called

Denver Central LRTexpenditure by individual Strong $2,550 indicates an Corridor average trail users Moderate of about $3 per visit. (Impacts

$14.88 the Linden residents an opportunity to voice their opinion of the

Emerald Express Green ofEugene Central Ohio Trails, 2015)

“rail to trail” idea. Previous study has shown that bringing trails

Line (EmX) BRT

Emerging

Moderate

$100

$3.96

Analyses of written comments by participants in the on-line survey show that users

into planning discussions early on is critical. It is much easier to

Jr. East Busway BRT are well-maintained facilities Emerging $903 believe the trails that provideModerate safe access and connectivity

$3.59 an area correctly the first time than to fix a development develop

Metro LRT throughout Central Ohio. When Emerging Moderate $2,820 toPhoenix destinations asked about needed improvements,

$1.99 later on when critics and issues are brought up later on. problem

Ottawa Transitway BRT Emerging $1,000 participants emphasized greater connectivity, particularly Moderate east-west routes that provide

As$1.71 such, it is important to have community members participating

Charlotte Lynx LRTto destinations like parks andEmerging $810.20 better access connection toModerate roads for commuting to

the$1.66 decision-making process so that there is neighborhood

Boston Waterfront Silver Line employment.

buy-in. This will help ensure that health improvement efforts are

Pittsburgh Martin Luther King,

bus

Below Basic

Strong

Moderate

$1,000

$1.39

Emerging

Moderate

$300

Denver Southwest Corridor LRT

Limited

Moderate

$160

Ottawa O-Train LRT

Limited

Weak

nominal

Pittsburgh "The T" LRT

Limited

Weak

nominal

Regional leaders echoed existing survey results: trails provide value to their

viable and sustainable because they fully integrate the needs and

communities, increase connectivity and access to destinations, produce positive

concerns of the community into both the process and solutions

economic impacts, help attract and retain talent, and can contribute to the economic weak tod impacts vitality and health of the region in the future.

(Minkler and Wallerstein 2005).

Los Angeles Orange Line BRT

$0.83 $0.71

Las Vegas Metropolitan Area Express (MAX) bus

Below Basic

Limited

Weak

nominal

Pittsburgh West Busway BRT

Basic BRT

Limited

Weak

nominal

mobility

103

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Modal Split Matrix Facts of BRT

Facts of LRT

Context of Linden

Flexible routes can be changed

Permanent routes provide assurance

Strong central corrider

Lower capital costs

Higher capital costs

Public disinvested

Lower TOD potential

Higher TOD potential

Low investment potential

Utilitarian transit

Choice transit

High public transit dependency

Flexible configuration needs

Specific configuration needs

Very limited ROW (Cleveland Ave)

Implication In recent years, BRT has emerged as the highway and motor

while, in contrast, typical new “BRT” systems may experience

vehicle industry’s competitor of choice to rail transit (and

modest increases in ridership, but certainly not the avalanche of

especially light rail transit, or LRT) new-start proposals. Ideally,

passengers seen on LRT. By and large, LRT mode significantly

the public has no preference for trains or buses if the quality

outperforms BRT in attracting ridership. However, from promoters

of service is the same. Unfortunately, LRT attracts passengers

of active mobility’s perspective, BRT does combines the quality of

more strongly than bus transit. Certainly, some BRT services –

rail transit and the flexibility of buses.

and even regular, local services in some high-volume corridors – attract substantial ridership. On most new LRT systems, parking lots are jammed, and riders are pouring onto trains;

Weber Road

Walkability of Linden Genessee Avenue

While the previous section discussed the economic benefits that pedestrian activity can have on a community, this section analyzes the walkability of Linden, and presents proposals to improve itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pedestrian environment. It will focus on walkability Hudson Street

because walking is the most basic form of active mobility. Some of the key elements of the built environment that

determine whether an area is walkable is the distance between

important form of exercise and stress reduction, our parameters defined a walkable community as one where people can

vel

while walking (Moudon and Lee). While casual walking can be an

Cle

Hamilton Avenue

streets with sidewalks, and perception of comfort and safety

and

Ave n

intersections, closeness of desirable locations, proportion of

complete some of their daily activities by walking. In other words,

Linden has the potential to be a community with desirable locations. The average human walks half a mile in ten minutes, which means that almost every residence in Linden is within a ten minute walk of the commercial corridors. These corridors provide destinations, although as Chapter 1 discussed they need to be improved.

10 minute radius to Cleveland

17th Avenue

10 minute radius to Hudson

Billite r Bou

such as grocery stores, restaurants, or shops.

levar d

a community needs destinations that lie within walking distance,

10 minute radius to Webber Commercial Corridors/Areas 1/2 mile walking radius

11th Avenue

mobility

105

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Grid Pattern Closeness of desirable locations is one of the criteria of a walkable environment, but this can only be achieved by having direct routes to those destinations. Direct routes for pedestrians are best achieved by a grid street pattern. Being a historic neighborhood, Linden was developed before the widespread adoption of non-grid street patterns. As is shown below, non-grid street patterns are characterized by cul-de-sacs, and looping streets. It is an auto oriented development pattern which makes it difficult for pedestrians to reach their destinations due to the lack of direct routes. Linden has a grid pattern, which is preferable for walking as it creates more direct routes and shortens travel distances to desired destinations. Thus the street patterns of Linden are an asset that improves walkability.

Grid network in Linden.

Photo Source: CNU

Non-Grid vs Grid Streets

Weber Road

One-Way Streets Genessee Avenue

The grid pattern of Lindens residential neighborhoods is conducive to pedestrian mobility. However, some of the residential streets in this grid pattern have one-way streets. Studies have shown that one way streets can have negative

Hudson Street

impacts on neighborhoods. They can increase traffic speeds, lower property value, and increase crime. (Riggs and Gilderbloom, 2015) These elements make it a less safe, and

way streets back to two way streets. This can be done by repainting the existing streets, without having to do any repaving

Ave n and vel

The proposed solution to these conditions is to revert the one-

Cle

Hamilton Avenue

thus less walkable environment.

conversion. 17th Avenue

Billite r Bou levar d

or widening of the roads. Below is an example of the two way

11th Avenue

One way to two way conversion

One-way streets in Linden

mobility

107

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Weber Road

Extensive Alleyway Network Genessee Avenue

Linden contains an extensive alleyway network with over 35 miles of total roadway. This network is an important asset not only because it removes congestion and traffic from the street, but because it removes the need for front facing driveways which

Hudson Street

create conflict points for pedestrians, residents, and automobiles. Unfortunately, the alleyways of Linden are overgrown, and Ave n and

garages that fronted the alleyways have disappeared, or are in

vel

deteriorated conditions. They have been replaced on many lots

Cle

Hamilton Avenue

underused by residents of the community. Many of the rear facing

with front facing driveways. The alleyways system should be rejuvenated by clearing the right feet. Doing so would create a safer and more functional alleyway system which would help improve the main residential streets.

Billite

17th Avenue

r Bou

levar

of way, improving the lighting, and repaving them at a width of 16

11th Avenue

Alleyway network in Linden.

Proposed alleyway improvements

Combined Solutions An improved and functional alleyway network is a key element in preserving the safe pedestrian experience in the residential neighborhoods. The main points are to: 1. Preserve the remaining uninterrupted sidewalk by halting additional front facing driveway construction. 2. Reduce the on street parking to one side. 3. Revert the one-way streets to two-way. These improvements to the alleyway network will help encourage people to park their cars in the alleyways instead of in the street. This is critical, because limiting on street parking to one lane allows for the return of two way streets to the area. It will also cut down on the need for front facing driveways, which increase conflict points with pedestrians and create a dangerous pedestrian environment. These improvements should help create a more safe environment which is conducive to walking. If Linden desires to be a walkable neighborhood, it has to begin in the residential streets. If people are encouraged to walk more in their immediate vicinity, then it is more likely that they will walk to the commercial corridors. All residential street improvements

mobility

109

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Columbus Trail Network Columbus has started to build an extensive trail network. This map identifies current and planned routes throughout the region, but as shown on the map trail extensions are focused on the

Linden Neighborhood

outskirts of town leaving the Linden Neighborhood completely ignored. However, a recent MORPC study identified the need for an east-west connection between the two most heavily used trails; the Alum Creek trail and the Olentangy Trail. Conveniently, the Linden neighborhood is located between these two trails and provides a great opportunity for an east-west bike trail connection. Additionally, opportunity for a Rail to Trail conversion on the neighborhoods eastern edge. Building bicycle infrastructure has the opportunity to connect Linden to the rest of metropolitan Columbus with a healthy and accessible form of transportation. Employment, healthcare, and healthy foods are all located within an easily bike-able distance for Linden residents. Current and planned Central Ohio bike paths with the Linden neighborhood highlighted

Linden Link Trail Along the neighborhoods eastern edge lies an abandoned rail corridor that could easily be converted into a bike trail. An extensive portion of the old rail line is in good shape making it a prime opportunity. The abundance of open space provides enough room to accommodate pedestrians and bicyclists who may want to use the trail for recreation or transportation. Building a trail along this corridor has the opportunity to connect the Linden neighborhood to the rest of Columbusâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s extensive trail network and increase biking throughout the neighborhood. Implementing similar infrastructure to this has been shown to increase bicycling immensely. The addition of a protected bike lane in a similar neighborhood in Philadelphia was shown to increase bicycling by 266%. Since there are no data points on current bicycle trends in Linden it would be impossible to get concrete data on the increase of bicyclists, but the opportunity for healthy transportation would surely increase. Current conditions of abandoned rail line

mobility

111

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Weber Road

Hudson Street Multi-Use Path

Genessee Avenue

A 2015 study, Impact of Central Ohio Trails, conducted by MORPC identified the need for an east-west connection between the Alum Creek Trail and the Olentangy Trail. After looking at a map, Hudson Street was identified as a possible opportunity.

Hudson Street

Hudson is currently identified as a bike path with sharrows and

Trail, but decided against because the connections would not have been as direct. 11th Avenue and 17th Avenue provide the northern and southern border for the fairgrounds just west of the neighborhood and contain a lot of dead space. Hudson Street flows seamlessly

17th Avenue

into Clintonville where a connection to the Olentangy trail can take place. A Hudson Street connection provides another way to access jobs, healthcare, and healthy foods located nearby.

11th Avenue Hudson Street multi-use path location

and

connections between the Alum Creek trail and the Olentangy

vel

11th Avenue and 17th Avenue were considered as possible

Cle

Hamilton Avenue

neighborhood.

Ave n

enjoys retail spaces on its eastern and western border inside the

Current Conditions of Hudson Street

Hudson Street can currently be broken into two distinct sections. West of Cleveland Avenue the street is marked with sharrows. This type of infrastructure does little to improve safety levels for people on bikes and does not encourage new people to use biking as a form of transportation. People riding bikes on the Hudson Street, west of Cleveland Avenue are expected to share the road with semi-trucks. This environment is not comfortable to ride in regardless of your ability.

Hudson Street West of Cleveland Avenue

Hudson Street east of Cleveland Avenue looks much different. A multi-use path has been started providing safety for riders of all ages and abilities. Bicycle infrastructure like this has the ability to attract people who may be cautious about using bicycles as transportation. The landscaped buffer provides protection from motor vehicles and provides a much more enjoyable experience for people choosing to walk or bike. Infrastructure like this can easily be used for recreation or transportation purposes.

Hudson Street East of Cleveland Avenue

mobility

113

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Hudson Bike Path Streetscape Connecting the Olentangy Trail to the Alum Creek Trail has the potential to look like this. The landscaped buffer between bicyclists and motorists provides a green infrastructure opportunity and beautifies the streetscape. Economic opportunities can arise along the corridor as bicyclists pass through the neighborhood and want to grab something to eat or drink.

Current conditions of Hudson Street

Hudson Street has the capacity to fit this design inside the right of way and the ability to provide Linden residents with a truly complete street for pedestrians and motor vehicles. Vehicular traffic would actually increase because of the clear delineation between motorists and bicyclists. In addition to providing safety for pedestrians and people on bikes, there is added value in providing a predictable traffic flow on one of Lindenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s commercial corridors. Hudson Street re-imagined

Transit Placemaking Research conducted on the real conditions as they exist in Linden found that public transit is the most accessible and utilized mode of transportation, based on a number of

Context, Route, Length, Cost, and

factors. To build on the opportunity that mode represents, COTA has secured a TIGER

Impacts of BRT in Selected Cities:

grant to cover most of the proposed $46 million C-MAX BRT connecting downtown and Westerville along Cleveland Avenue. The funding is committed to a new bus fleet, stations, and a $500 commission for artists to design glass film at each station. While incorporating a visual design into a glass wall is better than not doing so at all, the underlying belief of this studio’s emphasis on BRT is that more can be done. Indeed, in terms of design and placemaking, there are some cities that do this well. To ascertain the design prowess within the BRT landscape, some introductory case studies were considered, which include as follows: Cleveland Healthline, KC MAX Troost Line, Hartford CTfastrack, and Grand Rapids Silver Line, to see what best practices emerge. All of these contexts, except for Grand Rapids, resemble comparable communities to Linden. The CTfastrack system in Hartford also cost more than $500 million, and thus probably does not yield valuable insights when compared to the Cleveland Avenue corridor project. Specifically we diagrammed the physical presence of the Healthline and Troost line, which took distinctly different approaches that allowed them to make the best of their respective contexts. Cleveland’s Healthline, with $200 million in funding, took a consistent branding approach and improved everything from building face to building face. This heavy physical presence, often described by RTA itself as “very rail-like,” evolved out of a public participation process that never quite got over the modal choice. Cleveland had always intended to develop rail-based transit along Euclid Avenue, so thus the BRT stations, platforms, running ways, and more were not just designed to imitate light rail corridors, but also to be feasibly converted to light rail should funding ever become available. KC MAX, with only $36 million on the other hand, had a base station like COTA’s proposal but then identified a few key intersections for placemaking stations. Pressed by the need to stretch the budget, KCATA took a nodal approach and concentrated its design and branding capacity where it would make the most difference. mobility

115

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Fixed Guideway Transit is coming to

■ Route #1 current daily ridership: 4,800

Columbus! This exciting upgrade to the

people

city’s transit network is made possible

■ Projected to increase by 20%

by a $31.5 million grant from the Federal

■ KCATA increased ridership across

Transit Administration’s Section 5309

entire system by 30%, according to case

program, also known as New Starts. The

study research

$31.5 million grant covers 80% of costs

■ KCATA also saw a 15% increase in new

and requires a local match. The City of

riders who previously never used transit,

Columbus has stepped forward to find

following implementation of BRT

funding to make this possible, to finish the

■ There are no projections for transit-

hard work started by COTA in 2010,

oriented development (TOD) along the

Cleveland Avenue was chosen for

C-MAX route

Columbus’ first Fixed Guideway Transit

■ Both Cleveland and Kansas City

investment due to the need to alleviate

experienced in excess of $10 billion in

congestion and crowding on the #1

TOD along each of their BRT lines

route. The opportunity to jumpstart

■ Most of this TOD was institutionally-

neighborhood revitalization in Greater

driven

Linden, and specifically within Linden

■ Due to a lack of institutions along

where it is most needed, is a golden

Cleveland Avenue, C-MAX is unlikely to

opportunity to build on this public works

catalyze the same volume of TOD

project.

■ Any amount of TOD would go a long

This is no different from other public

ways toward improving Linden

works projects in Linden, which need to strengthen the link between public realm and placemaking. Placemaking need not be a new program on its own, but rather just improve and build on what the city already does.

KC MAX Troost Line Diagrammed Indeed, as BRT as a mode itself has evolved out of utilitarianism and as a balance to move cities forward on issues left unresolved for so long due to funding paralysis, it makes since that utility and efficiency would be a driving philosophy that intersects with all considerations. This is true of considerations relating to design and branding of the built environment and indeed the commercial corridor that is the life blood of Linden, just as it is for the transit service and technology that makes up the â&#x20AC;&#x153;nuts and boltsâ&#x20AC;? underpinning this kind of transit system.

Streetscape rendering from KC MAX project

Branding w/ lighting

Shelter w/ lighting

Bus lane special paving

Landscaping

Public art w/ lighting

Auxiliary station

Cleveland Healthline Diagrammed

Streetscape paving

Troost Avenue MAX amenities diagrammed, photo: KCATA

C-MAX will provide the bare minimum of improvement needed along Cleveland Avenue, at least compared to waiting for the #1 or #8. It provides shelters, but not much more. It will not increase utilization nor desirability. KC-styled placemaking stations on the other hand would make people feel safer and more interested in waiting for the bus. Healthline-styled improvements, perhaps out of reach in this case, would re-brand the entire corridor into something that looks primed for investment. Within this full spectrum identified by focusing on BRT implemented in KC and Cleveland, there are various degrees of design that Columbus

Streetview photo showing streetscape conditions typical of the Healthline in Midtown

Extensive landscaping

Shelters w ticket kiosk

Corridor branding

Bollards and elevated grade

Pedestrian island

ADA curbs

Lighting

Cleveland Healthline amenities diagrammed, photo: Google Streetview

can Xerox (in theory, not practice hopefully). Chapter 1 identified key nodes within Linden as follows: 11th

bookend the neighborhood with another Point of Pride.

Avenue and Cleveland Avenue, 17th Avenue and Cleveland

The opportunity at these stations is one of utilitarianism:

Avenue, 24th Avenue and Cleveland Avenue, Duxberry Avenue

Design interventions that are brought to these sites will make

and Cleveland Avenue, and Hudson Avenue and Cleveland

the strongest difference in the Linden neighborhood. They

Avenue. These are strong opportunities for an enhanced station

will interface with the highest traffic counts and highest transit

based on traffic counts, bus onboarding data, and spacing

ridership, they will meaningfully brighten the built environment

relative to amenities within the neighborhood. Hudson in

at key intervals along the way, and change how virtually anyone

particular is an opportunity to connect Linden inside and out and

experiences the Linden community. mobility

117

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Kansas City Transit-Placemaking: Theory Meets Practice

KC MAX Troost Line Diagram

From Top Left to Bottom Right: (1) Rendering of rain gardens standard at all BRT stations, (2) KCATA “AmeriTram” streetcar passing Union Station, (3) “Every Day I Have the Blues” Station at 75th and Troost, (4) standard KC MAX bus station design, (5) “Inspire” station at 39th and Troost, and (6) “Daybreak” station at 31st and Troost. All photos from KCATA.

Weber Road

Mobility: A Means to an End Genessee Avenue

Capturing the Inherent Value in the Means A mobility-reformed Linden is an asset-rich Linden, with the following needed improvements:

Hudson Street

■ Upgraded city-designed Hudson Street bike route ■ “Linden Link” Rail 2 Trail ■ Vital connections to city-wide bike network

■ Restoration of rear alleys to meet parking needs

Bicycle Infrastructure

■ “Heart of Linden” at Hudson St. and Cleveland Ave.

Crosswalks

■ Safer, more functional, user-friendly urban street grid

Missing Crosswalks

The following modes complement each other at the multi-modal

Ave n

levar

One way Streets

17th Avenue

Billite

intersection at Cleveland Avenue and Hudson Street, where

r Bou

■ Transportation network that encourages active mobility

Alley network

and

C-MAX Pavillions

■ Conversion of 1-way streets to 2-way traffic flow

vel

Mobility Network

Cle

■ Enhanced Cleveland Avenue commercial corridor

Hamilton Avenue

■ Installation of needed crosswalks

■ BRT implementation augmented with placemaking

further synergies can be leveraged to revitalize Linden: ■ Automobile traffic ■ Hudson Bikeway and “Linden Link” converted railroad trail ■ C-MAX Bus-Rapid Transit and COTA Local Bus ■ Enhanced pedestrian streetscape ■ Alley parking capacity

11th Avenue

mobility

119

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Concluding Remarks on Mobility None of these proposals single-handedly revitalize Linden,

drops riders off at a placemaking-enhanced transit station. These riders, presumably

nor will they turnaround the neighborhood’s health outcomes

Linden residents, can then safely stream into the surrounding neighborhood on

overnight. However, the combination of these proposals together

converted two-way streets with better lighting.

can add meaningful active mobility changes to the landscape of Linden, which has been deprived of this essential human need

Anywhere in northeast Columbus, bicyclists will be able to get around for exercise or to

for too long. Indeed, this neighborhood began to decline when

work in any of the city’s major job hubs, just by adding two trails - one on an already-

streetcar service ended along Cleveland Avenue and miles of

designated bike route that the city never invested in, and another on an abandoned

suburban sprawl engulfed northeast Columbus.

infrastructure asset that guerilla tactical urbanists are already using.

In particular, it is the synergies realized by combining these

The goal of bringing active mobility to Linden isn’t to help residents leave, nor is it to

mobility projects, that translate into meaningful changes that

bring in new residents to replace those that currently reside here. There are countless

improve the lives of residents. An example of this could be

other interventions that will receive funding over the next few years, but this is one of the

found at the corner of Hudson and Cleveland - a high-traffic,

few that do add immediate value for current residents. By getting people moving again,

unpleasant, unsheltered, underdeveloped, and unwelcoming

and more feet and eyes on the street, Linden residents themselves will develop the

interchange that happens to anchor Linden. In our plan, this

capacity needed to restore their neighborhood and live healthy lives.

intersection becomes a hub of active transportation, as BRT

Chapter 2 Conclusion A communityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s health is influenced by far more than its healthcare facilities. Improvements to the built environment can positively affect a communityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s behavior by improving mobility, willingness to walk and get exercise, likelihood of running into neighbors and other community members, ability to access healthy foods and even their attitude about food. Simultaneously, the built environment can also affect things that are not necessarily perceived by community members, like air pollution and water quality. The term Green Infrastructure was chosen to represent the dichotomous relationship of how natural elements in Linden can affect the manmade issues facing residents. The term food environment expresses an effort to impact not only food access, but attitude as well. Through the creation of a food hub, the economics, culture, and education can be improved in Linden. Finally, the term mobility was used to reach a larger-than-transit scope of understanding and influencing the way people in Linden get around. The next step for this plan involves a discussion of academic literature on topics related to our projects and a review of related case studies. It is the intent of these findings to either support each teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s project or provide context with which to revise. After this discussion, teams will work on refining the details of their proposed projects and provide strategies for implementation.

conclusion

121

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Chapter 3 Introduction

Writing case studies is a practice found in a diverse range of fields, from urban planning to medicine to law. Landscape architect Matt Francis provides a holistic view of the benefits of a case study. A case study is a well-documented and systematic examination of the process, decision-making and outcomes of a project that is undertaken for the purpose of informing future practice, policy, theory and/or education. (Francis, 9). Planners and municipal governments can draw important lessons from studying projects that mirror current proposals. Examining the process of developing a project may raise new ideas as to how to engage with the community. Quantifying costs and benefits of existing projects can allow local leaders to figure out if certain proposals are right for their community. Examining case studies allows communities to ensure a greater probability of success for their projects and ideas. Chapter 3 is an examination of relevant case studies, which will highlight important lessons to inform the proposed projects in Chapter 4.

introduction

123

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Food Environment Case Studies

Introduction

Creating healthy food environment is not restricted to

providing a physical on-site platform for food but also involves promoting a paradigm of sustainable local food culture. Our case study is to learn how others have achieved the process and made positive change on food environment in their region. The cases put emphasis on approches that are relevant to our goals: Relevant to neighborhood demographics

collect and inform on-going local efforts, and build capacity. The selection criteria of case study is following: • Planning processes or projects that are relevant to demographical and physical environment existing in Linden. • Planning processes or projects oriented toward resident leadership rather than simply participation or community engagement.

Oriented toward local leadership

Effective and innovative strategies

• Planning process or projects that contains effective and innovative strategies and tools to create healthy community food culture.

Detroit Black Community Food Security Network Formed in 2006 in Detroitâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s African-American community, DBCFSN is an organization that addresses food insecurity issues by leading their community members to promote healthy eating, develop youth leadership, and influence public policy through various food-related programs. They foster the community residents to become the leaders of sustainable movement. Because of them, the City of Detroit has experienced great support from food justice activists recently. D-town Farm Community Tour

Diagram to understand DBCFSNâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s organization

food environment

125

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Influence Public Policy

D-town Farm (Food Hub)

DBCFSN took a key role in the

In order to increase food

development of Food Security Policy in

environment, the City of Detroit approved

Detroit. They connected its governing

a licensing agreement that the city

body, the Food Policy Council, and the

let DBCFSN to lease a two-acre lot

community and held a series of public

in the City’s Meyer’s Tree Nursery in

hearing sessions over 18 months.

Rouge Park for one dollar for ten years

The Food Security Policy was initially

annually. The space is used as D-town

established after community visioning

farm, which is for fresh local food

process. It framed food justice issues,

production, the organization’s leadership

and address current food system in

and entrepreneurial development

Detroit including access to quality

programs, and the site of the Annual

food, hunger and malnutrition, urban

Harvest Festival. The Harvest Festival

agriculture, economic injustice within

helps engaging the public in the local

food system, public education in Detroit’s

food system and regularly highlighting

African-American community.

the Detroit Food Policy Council and

organization’s achievement.

The organization tries to work on

D-town Farm Annual Harvest Festival Programs

policy-level projects. For instance, one of DBCFSN members is currently on a decision-making agent for food choices in Detroit’s Public Schools.

D-town Farm community place for education

Food Co-op and Community Event

A food cooperative is a

collectively owned grocery store that emphasizes on providing affordable natural foods for it’s members.

DBCFSN launched a food

cooperative program called the Ujamaa Food Co-op in 2008. Ujamaa (meaning “collective economics” in Swahili) members are able to purchase them at discounted price when purchasing bulk

Community Events

foods, household items, or supplements.

Moreover, DBCFSN opens

regular public events like lecture series “What’s for dinner?” for the community residents. This a series that focuses on topics that are relevant to current food system in Detroit and its impact on the

Public Lecture Series “What’s for Dinner?”

community.

Fresh food sales for co-op Ujamaa members

food environment

127

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Challenge The organization has a lack of operational resources to hire dedicated full-time staff. As such, all DBCFSN’s successes are attributed to tireless volunteers so far. The community volunteers had to take a burden of large workload in order to organize the action plans. Furthermore, throughout the years, many volunteers were discouraged before a tangible outcome in public policy.

Lessons • It is important to regularly recognize accomplishments of volunteers through publications and hold public events to encourage volunteers and maintain their passion of the work. • Involving community members to lead working groups is significant in order to sustainably and proactively follow action plans. • Hiring technical staff who can work full-time is required to effectively run the food system programs, and they should be working with volunteer and local leadership. • To effectively engage local residents, informal food events are helpful to grow inner excitement. • It is feasible to connect policy making bodies with the community to run on both neighborhood-level and larger-level food related initiatives.

Detroit Black Security Food Network Site Case Study

Detriot Black Security Food Network Site Case Study Site acreage

0.56 acres 78 ft

Building depth Building frontage Building square footage

118 ft 8870 sqft 20

Parking spaces

In order to understand the urban design of this case study, an analysis of the site was performed. The above output table shows the results of this site case study including the total acreage of the site, the building dimensions and square footage, and the number of designated parking spaces. Aerial image of the Detroit Black Community Food Security Network Site

food environment

129

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Common Market Philadelphia

Founded in 2008, Common Market Philadelphia is a nonprofit food distributor in North Philadelphia. Common Market was selected as a case study because the area in which it operates is demographically similar to and faces challenges that are similar to those of Linden. Demographically, the north side of Philadelphia is low-income and largely African American.

Common Market-distributed produce display at a Philadelphia grocery store

A Broken Food System

The Solution

The founders of the Common Market recognized that, similar to

In order to repair the broken food system, a food hub was

Linden, residents of this area suffered from poor health, obesity,

established, which would be a distribution center for local farms,

and diet-related diseases, and that this was caused by lack of

serving a wide range of markets; from schools and hospitals

access to fresh and healthy foods. The Common Market also

to grocery stores, as well as serving workplaces, community

recognized that local small and mid-sized farms were struggling

centers, and places of worship with their Delaware Valley Farm

to connect their goods to the appropriate markets.

Share Program. The primary goals of the Common Market were to create local jobs, generate economic development, and connect local farms to underserved communities.

Diagram to understand Common Marketâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s organization

food environment

131

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Building the Value Chain To achieve these goals, the Common Market used partnerships to build a “value chain,” a supply chain in which each step is driven by values such as sustainability, fairness, and equity. For Common Market, equity has been core to their mission, ensuring that farmworkers are paid and treated fairly and developing a base of institutional and retail customers that serve people of all backgrounds.

The Common Market supply chain

Financial Stability

Lessons

Common Market has achieved success by growing to a sufficient

• In order to serve the community, business model must be based on community needs

scale at a sustainable rate, by moving large amounts of product

• Making connections is essential

in order to have a greater impact on the farms and communities

• Grow quickly, but at a sustainable rate

that it serves. Though not a self-sustaining enterprise, the Common Market has achieved financial sustainability by serving a diverse group of markets and by having a variety of financial backers, from partnerships with public entities like the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to funding from private entities like the Kellogg Foundation.

Common Market Philadelphia Site Case Study

Common Market Philadelphia Site Case Study Site acreage

2.8 acres

Building depth

258 ft

Building frontage

200 ft

Building square footage

55,000 sqft 32

Parking spaces

Aerial image of the Common Market Philadelphia Site

food environment

133

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Green Infrastructure Vacant lot redevelopment in New Orleans Addressing vacant lots on a city wide scale. Partners: Jericho Road Episcopal Housing Initiative, in collaboration with The Tulane City Center. Problem Scope:

City of New Orleans has one of the highest vacancy/empty lot situations in the country. Almost 1/5 of all residential addresses in the city have abandoned lots on their property or are vacant lots themselves. Vacant lots are a visible component of the complex cycle of poverty, bringing down property values and acting as hot spots for crime. Different site layouts, such as long narrow sites, will require different vacant lot treatments.

How are vacant lot redevelopments defined as successful? Case Study Thesis: The success of a vacant lot redevelopment strategy cannot be defined by This is a site strategy document, aimed at presenting comprehensive

maximizing profit margins. The Jericho Road Episcopal Housing Initiative has

ideas city-wide across New Orleans for how to address the vacant lot

developed 4 metrics to measure success of vacant lots.

problem. This site strategy plan presents 2 different kinds of solutions

for addressing vacant lots. Scalable solutions are “easy-to-implement

improvements.

and cost-effective” strategies designed to be replicated across a

Environment – how does the site fit in with the local ecosystem?

number of vacant lots in the city. Site-specific solutions provide

Organizational – how do community organizations play into the

targeted and specific solutions to lots identified as important for the

development/maintenance of the site?

community redevelopment.

Financial – how much will it cost to maintain this site.

Social – qualitative measurements designed to show quality of life

Policy Coordination: What levels of government will be responsible for this collaboration? Three approaches for managing vacant land across the city. All 3 approaches rely heavily on city government support. 1. Comprehensive: city government manages a city wide vacant land strategy and funding stream. 2. Neighborhood by neighborhood approach: recognizing that different neighborhoods have different needs, this approach requires coordination with a variety of neighborhood

Potential uses for vacant lots include tree nurseries, which would provide both economic and environmental value.

stakeholders. Working neighborhood by neighborhood

3. Running Groundcover.

may take more time, but may also lead to more effective and

a. Climate-appropriate solutions, maintenance is a factor.

sustainable solutions.

4. Trees: a variety of scales can be used. Trees need to be

3. Organizational, grassroots approach: by loosening control,

watered for a year before they can survive on their own.

different ideas emerge, successful ones will receive government funding and traction across the city. Linden Application Specific Site Design Elements:

The Jericho Road Episcopal Housing Initiative provides a

Generic Elements:

city-wide strategy and approach to vacant lot redevelopment.

1. Stormwater Management: Locate plantings close to

Several components of this strategy are relevant to Linden.

where water ponds up, etc.

Examining vacant lots in Linden by site and scale are important

2. Trees, plantings can provide edge and mark

to developing appropriate vacant lot strategies. Examining lots

boundaries, in addition to fencing.

in Linden on a phasing scale, from temporary to permanent, will

a. Edge Conditions include modular fencing,

allow for the development of appropriate vacant lots that will

bollards and planting.

maximize its life.

green infrastructure

135

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Streetscape Design in Portland, OR Division Street Name

Scope

Southeast Division Street: 6th to

The size of this streetscape redesign project was large, including 33 blocks of Division

39th Avenue Streetscape and Street

Street. Not only were streetscape elements added to the project area, but the street itself

Reconstruction Project

was repaved.

Location Southeast Division Street: 6th to 39th Avenue, Portland, OR Date Designed June 2010

An example of public art along the street

Construction completed May 2013 - Fall 2015 Cost The project is funded by: •

City revenue from gas taxes

•

Transportation System

Development Charges (SDCs)

•

Federal transportation funds

allocated through Metro

•

Bureau of Environmental

Services Project funds

Design Design elements for this project include pedestrian safety features like signage and

The total amount of funding was $6

crosswalks, green infrastructure like street trees and stormwater management facilities.

million for transportation and streetscape

The design includes bus stops, bicycle amenities, public art. on street parking, signal

improvements.

improvements, street lighting, street furniture, wider sidewalks and bumpouts.

Stated Goals (abbreviated) 1. Balance the multi-modal transportation demands and create a sustainable main street and community place. 2. Balance the use of the public right-of-way for parking, pedestrians and green space 3. Work with the Bureau of Environmental Services (BES) to achieve the goal of watershed health 4. Address goals, issues, and ideas identified in the Division Green Street/Main Street Plan related to street improvements 5. Design a flexible right-of-way that sets the stage on which local businesses and the community can grow and flourissh Lessons The Division Street project was successful because the community was involved in the whole process The city was able to use a large amount grant funding to complete a large streetscape project in a short period of time, making the change obvious and exciting The redesign of the street inspired businesses to occupy vacancy and made room for

A portion of the planned streetscape design on Division St.

mobile vendors Linden can learn from the successes of the Divison St. redesign by engaging the public and potential investors in identifying what would make commercial corridors more walkable and more attractive for businesses.

The public engagement process

green infrastructure

137

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Green Outdoor Gym at Petrus Molefe Eco-Park in South Africa

Project Name Green outdoor gyms in Johannesburg City Parks Location Petrus Molefe Eco-Park in Soweto, Johannesburg Date Completed March 21, 2012 Designers Green Outdoor Gyms Client Citizens of Johanessburg Consultants City Parks, Tim Hogins of Green Outdoor Gyms About Johannesburg City Parks: “a section 21 company with the City of Johannesburg as sole stakeholder, was set up in November 2000 to manage the City’s parks, cemeteries, open green areas, street trees and conserved spaces. As custodian of 22 278 hectares of open space and green areas, City Parks’ aim is for a greener environment for the present community and future generations.” (Johannessburg City Parks - jhbcityparks.com) Context The plan for the project is to encourage healthy lifestyles in the city. The city addressed in their 2040 plan that there is a need for a healthy lifestyle in the community. The residents are prone to diseases such as obesity and diabetes. Background/History City Parks is an entity in Johannesburg dedicated to maintaining and developing healthy recreational areas for all citizens to use.

Residents use the outdoor gym equipment at the park.

They had started several parks in low-

Accomplishments

income areas, and although participation

The created a gym that is free to use.

was slightly lower than other areas, the

This allows residents of all income levels

parks took hold and people began using

to use the high quality equipment in

them regularly. City Parks teamed up with

the parks. The park is open 24 hours a

Green Outdoor Gyms and started this pilot

day, 7 days a week. This allows even

project in 2012.

more access that residents might not

Design Process

find at other gyms due to the hours of

In 2008 Tim Hogins started meeting with

operation. The city also opened the option

City Parks and gave his proposal for the

for a partnership with a local contributor

Gym. City parks asked Tim to make a few

who helps maintain the equipment and

changes to the plan and he presented the

keeps the garden safe and secure. This

new proposal in 2009-2010. In 2011 they

partnership allows for the park to exist

agreed to build a pilot gym and it opened

without any cost to the city. The parks

in March, 2012.

created jobs for those who work security

Goals

and those who work as personal trainers.

They wanted to create areas of recreation

Park attendance has increased since the

in the city to help citizens live healthy

installation of the gym. Lastly, the health

lifestyles and engage with others while

has improved in the area as reported

the city expands. They also wanted to

by residents, and they have also made

promote this healthy lifestyle through

stronger bonds with other health initiatives

partnerships with companies/investors

in the area such as community gardens.

who had the same goals and values as

Scope

the city. Lastly, they wanted to test to see

The success of the park encouraged

if the Green Outdoor Gyms would be used

City Parks and Green Outdoor Gyms to

and be beneficial to the community to see

consider developing the gyms in other

if more should be implemented.

areas. They plan to develop 20 more

Residents participate in a community fitness class.

gyms. green infrastructure

139

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Wetlands composite case study Alewife Reservation Stormwater Wetlands Overview • Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts • Size: 3.4 acres, serves 420 acre site • Client: City of Cambridge, Massachusetts, Cambridge Department of Public Works, Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation • Consultant: Kleinfelder: sewer separation design and stormwater management program MHW Global: hydraulic modeling and civil design

Alewife as seen from the path. The wetland contains about 1,200 plant species

Bioengineering Group: wetland design, habitat improvements, and park amenities • Land use type: Parkland and constructed wetland • Quick facts: Part of a larger system that reduces 84% of combined sewer overflows Can accomodate 10 year storm event Incorporates an educational and passive recreation park space • Project Link http://www.mwhglobal.com/project/alewife-reservation-stormwater-wetland/ • Sources: CEnews.com (http://cenews.com/article/9668/large-engineered-wetland-combines-form-and-cso-function) MWH Global (http://www.mwhglobal.com/project/alewife-reservation-stormwater-wetland/) Cy, Et Al (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21076228) EPA green infrastructure (http://water.epa.gov/infrastructure/greeninfrastructure/gi_performance.cfm) An aerial view of the 3.5 acre Alewife Wetlands. The wetlands is wrapped in a walking path that provides recreation in addition to the ecological benefits

A diagramtic illustration of the Alewife Wetlands highlights how water enters and settles before entering the Little River

Completed in 2013, the 3.4 acre Alewife Reservation Stormwater

restore the natural water resources. The wetlands are designed

(constructed) Wetlands is a piece in Cambridge’s larger

to handle all stormwater from the West Cambridge area.

stormwater system overhaul. Previously, the city used joint

• Stormwater is directed into the wetlands for retention and

infrastructure for both stormwater and sewage resulting in

filtration

combined sewer overflows. Cambridge’s efforts to separate and

• Collects stormwater for 420 acres in West Cambridge

repair their combined system are due to a court mandate, similar

• Scientific analysis has shown wetlands can effectively filter

to Columbus and its stormwater project, Columbus Blueprint. That being the case, several city and state entities collaborated throughout the larger project that began in the 1990’s.

out many pollutants • Wetland implementation diverts water from water treatment plants, reducing costs

• The total cost of the project is $117,000,000 • Specifically, the Alewife Wetlands cost $26,400,000 to construct • The entire project reduces combined sewer overflows by “84% (43.6 million gallons annually)”

Not only do wetlands retain and filter water providing ecological benefits they can also serve as unique social amenities. In this case as in most, designers focused on adding passive recreation opportunities. • The Alewife Wetlands incorporate social amenities including a

The primary goal of the Alewife Wetlands, in conjunction with

walking path, observation areas, and an amphitheater

the larger stormwater overhaul, is to improve water quality and green infrastructure

141

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Mobility

Introduction Research has been compiled and produced in regards to mobility in order to find the most effective ways to transport human beings from destination to destination. This research has changed the way that both governments and businesses approach human transit due to the conclusions derived from lengthy inquiry. As the built environment is shifted to better serve residents, notable conclusions can be drawn. These conclusions come from successes as well as failures, as both provide an added learning lesson for future users. For example, simple conversions of streets help to reduce crime and traffic congestion. This conclusion was able to be drawn because of a controlled set of streets and a variable set, which led researchers to noticeable impacts in each experimental subset. The neighborhood environment can also be specifically modified in order to encourage healthier lifestyles through exercise. For those that are less able or willing to exercise, public transit fills the gap. Public transportation also allows communities and investors to build around the stations or stops in the area; as more individuals use individual stops these same stops start to spark economic development. The following case studies will help residents and investors alike in understanding some of the improvements made around the United States and the world, and why their findings should be utilized in producing a more connected Linden.

Riggs and Gilderbloom

One way streets to two way conversion in Lousisville, KY Introduction The study site is located within 2 miles of downtown. Today the neighborhood has approximately 13,000 residents. While it is racially mixed, it still has a large share of blacks (44 percent). The median income ranges from $16,000 to $27,000, far lower than the median income of $45,352 for Louisville as a whole. Louisville is a mid-size U.S. city that, unlike New York or Los Angeles, is representative of small to midsized cities across the United States, in which case, we believe it is a relevant and qualified comparable to our Linden neighborhood. Methodology The variables studied are traffic collisions and crime. The results confirm that two way streets can function at a higher capacity while being safer. The net traffic volume along four streets

Location of two way conversion and control streets

combines was unchanged. It overthrows the conventional wisdom of traffic engineers who assume that drives choose the fastest Figure 4. Location of two-way conversion and control streets.

Source: U.S.aCensus Kentuckiana RegionalThe Planning and Development Traffic Count Database; Louisville/Jefferson Coun dropped 23 percent. interview from local Agency peopleRegional revealed route from point A to point B. In fact, people might choose route Bureau; Information Consortium.

based on other factors such as beauty, interesting historical sites,

that the conversion from one way to two-way creates conditions

for improved police surveillance and more evenly distributes To measure potential change, monthly collision rates Crime cars. They thatThe crimes may be harder to get away than area of traffic, we show that after the conversionfrom of Brook and 1st three time periods were indicate analyzed. rates/periods Crime data come from the Louisville Metro multilane, Cars going Streets to two-way flow, there was a 36 percent and 60 percent studied included (1)onthe averageone-way numberstreets. of collisions per both ways may mean Department. Total crime was tabulated for Brook month during the five-year period before theare conversion, (2) different directions. more eyes on the street looking in two reduction in total collisions. The crime rate overall Streets as well for our control group, 2nd and 3rd Str the average number of collisions per month in the twelve between the preconversion and postconversion periods trended a similar manner to the data collected for collision months immediately following the conversion, and (3) the down. Nearly three years after the conversions took place, crime includes all types of crimes reported along the entire c average number of crimes per month in the year following for the four study streets; however, we categorized the first year. One limitation of the analysis is that the twelve mobility 143purposes. The and property crimes, for illustrative months postconversion were dramatically different than totals for each street were broken down by (1) averag prior years. Nevertheless, this three-step comparison, comber of crimes per month during the five-year period bined with traffic volume information, provided a normalizsafety, scenery, restaurants and choose lower speeds. In the

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Conclusion

Journal of Planning Education and Research

Given this analysis, we can conclude that there something about two-way streets that makes them safer and more desirable than one-way, multilane streets. This empirical analysis shows that conversions can result in busier yet slower streets that have the potential to increase the vitality of an area and promote economic regeneration through fewer traffic collisions, and reductions in crime. Though the collected data are limited to just one area, they do offer insights to the benefits of converting one-way streets to two-way. To a traffic engineer, a traffic problem might mean that a street is running below capacity, whereas for a parent living on that street the traffic problem could be too many cars, or cars going too fast. As streets are converted from one way to two way, and the surrounding areas become safer, the roadways become more comfortable for multi-modal transit. This multi-modal transit manifests itself in a variety of ways, such as walking and bicycling. Biclcying is specifically worth noting due to the high amounts of research done on the topic in regards to economic development and community Figure 5. Total crimesComparison per month. of the total crime Pre- and Postconversion per month

Riggs andThe Gilderbloom building. next case studies will delve further into the bicycling topic, and

Source: Louisville Metro Police Department.

discusses some fo the advancements neighborhoods with adequate bike Table 3. Traffic and Collision Rate Pre- and Postconversion. infrastructure are able to enjoy.

Preconversion

Postconversion

Street

ADT

Monthly traffica

Collisions per month

Total collisions

ADT

Monthly traffica

Collisions per month

Total collisions

Percentage change

BrookConversion 1stConversion 2ndOne-Way 3rdOne-Way

3,473 3,673 8,880 8,440

105,647 111,730 270,100 256,716

3.22 3.82 5.20 4.17

32,843 29,274 51,942 61,612

3,934 5,145 7,700 7,550

119,659 156,493 234,208 229,645

2.07 1.53 6.40 3.87

57,899 102,061 36,595 59,391

–43.27 –71.32 41.94 3.74

Source: Collision Analysis for the Public; Kentucky State Police; Kentuckiana Regional Planning and Development Agency Regional Traffic Count Database. Note: ADT = average daily traffic. a Monthly traffic was calculated by multiplying the ADT by 365 and dividing by 12. Figure 6. Auto thefts per month.

We discovered the opposite was true. There was a 13 percent increase in traffic on Brook Street and a 40 percent increase on 1st Street. This traffic increase was accompanied

Source: Louisville Metro Police Department.

of collisions per months by dividing them. This comparison led to one of the most startling compelling arguments of sale date, and one property had neither a positive two-way street conversion. This and increase in property values their last occurred at a Street time when Louisville’s housing prices, as a nor negative annual growth percentage since its last sale.1 all. While Brook saw a 43 percent reduction in athe

Protected Bike Lanes Mean Business While the American economy is experiencing a rebound so are its

protected bike lanes make biking a comfortable experience and

cities. After 40 years of decay, inner cities are starting to become

more popular, they help companies locate downtown without

alive again and booming with new residents and development.

having to spend enormous amounts of money on surface parking

21st century transportation networks are helping shape this

lots.

development and spurring economic development.

Protected bike lanes ensure employees are getting some form

As the great urban rebound continues cities are planning for

of exercise every day. By creating clear distinctions between

new transportation networks that can give them an advantage

automobile and bike traffic more people are choosing to bikeâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;

over competitors. After 50 years of planning their infrastructure

burning calories, relieving stress, and strengthening their hearts

around the automobile cities are realizing that this may not be the

and lungs. All of this is great news for employers scrambling to

best way to attract employers, cut rising health care costs, and

ensure lower health care costs. The gentle exercise of biking to

mitigate traffic concerns.

work helps boost overall hourly productivity and cuts healthcare

While a new economy emerges during this urban rebound cities

bills.

are starting to build protected bike lanes to fuel new real estate

Perhaps the greatest benefit to protected bike lanes are the

markets, recruit and retain skilled workers, enable healthier, more

increase in retail visibility and sales volume they provide. In urban

productive workers, and increase retail revenue in growing urban

communities, protected bike lane networks encourage people of

markets.

all age and ability to ride their bikes for everyday trips. This helps

When city residents grow, automobile congestion increases.

to keep money in the community, plus ten customers who arrive

Building new roads are seldom a preference in established cities,

by bike can easily fit in the space of one customer who arrives by

but building protected bike lanes bring order and predictability

car.

to crowded streets while providing new transportation choices.

And, A. Report From Peopleforbikes, and Alliance For Biking &

Protected bike lanes can extend the geographic range of travel

Walking.PROTECTED BIKE LANES (n.d.): n. pag. Web. 26 Oct.

while helping neighborhoods redevelop without weighting years

2015

for new transportation services to debut. Millennials and members of generation x, increasingly prefer downtown jobs accompanied by nearby dwellings. Since mobility

145

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Chicago Streets for Cycling Plan 2020 Introduction Bicycling will play a crucial role in the economic future of cities. It will help present and forthcoming citizens travel throughout the city and attract new employers. Creating safe and convenient routes for people on bikes will have several positive impacts on the quality of life for people including; improved physical health, reduced transportation costs, and increased economic development. Chicago’s Streets for Cycling Plan 2020 sets forth a bold blueprint for implementation for becoming the best big city for bicycling in the United States. The plan pinpoints 645 miles of bicycle networks to create a comfortable experience for riders age 8 to 80. The plan would like to implement enough bicycle infrastructure so that no resident is farther than ½ mile away. While Columbus certainly isn’t the size of Chicago it would still like to capture the advantages of providing its residents sufficient bicycle infrastructure. The current plans for Columbus include expansions of the current greenway network and an east-west connection between the two most heavily used trails—the Olentangy Trail and the Alum Creek Trail.

Current Conditions

Chicago currently enjoys a robust array of bicycle accommodations. There are over 200 miles of on-street bikeways, 36 miles of trails, and more bike parking that any other city in the United States. Bike-share will launch in 2013 with over 3,000 bikes and 300 stations with plans to expand to 4,000 bikes and 400 stations.

Lakefront bike path, Chicago

Bike-share investments along with social, economic, and environmental factors have led to a tremendous increase in bicycling throughout Chicago over the past decade. The ongoing commitment to improve bicycling as a mode of transportation has led to the percentage of bicycle commuters in the city to more than double (0.5% to 1.3%) from 2000 to 2010. Providing infrastructure where people feel comfortable is a crucial element to increasing bicycles as a mode of transportation regardless where a community is located.

mobility

147

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Process

Bicycling in Chicago is very different depending on which part of the city you are in. Riding your bike through the loop downtown feels very different than riding on residential streets regardless of age or ability. Each neighborhood has its own unique challenges and opportunities when it comes to bicycling. A process of public meetings was compiled to ensure the best possible plan was drafted. The process of bicycle network planning would be similar in Columbus. Close knit residential streets feel much different for bicyclists compared to fast moving auto-centric streets. Neighborhood meetings organized by DOT officials confirm the opportunity for all individuals to have a voice in the planning process.

Chicago Streets for Cycling 2020 public meeting

Neighborhood Bike Routes: Best Practices 2020 Network

The Chicago 2020 network provided three main objectives for buildings one of the nation’s most robust cycling networks: 1. Provide a bicycle accommodation within ½ mile for every Chicagoan 2. Provide a greater number of bikeways where people live 3. Increase the amount of infrastructure where ridership is high, while establishing a strong backbone of infrastructure where ridership is currently lower.

Protected bike lane on Kinzie Street, Chicago

Building bicycle infrastructure through the Linden Neighborhood would certainly compliment Columbus’s current bicycle network. The amount of people using bicycles as a form of transportation is unknown in the Linden neighborhood, but the neighborhood is bordered by two of the metropolitans most heavily used routes.

mobility

149

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Neighborhood Bike Routes

Since Chicago enjoys several different types of neighborhoods different types of bicycle infrastructure are needed. Each type of infrastructure is designed to create a low stress bikeway that all levels of riders are comfortable using. Portland style neighborhood greenways focus on making residential streets safe for people on bikes. The residential streets on a neighborhood green way prioritize pedestrians and people on bikes by using a variety of traffic calming treatments to reduce motor vehicle speed. This type of infrastructure would fit perfectly throughout the Linden neighborhood.

Portland neighborhood greenway

New York City typically uses painted bike lanes. Many of the streets that the lanes are painted on are probably already adequate for bicycling but the painted lane proves dedicated space for people on bikes and may help reduce some traffic speeds. Painted bike lane infrastructure would be appropriate on some of the busier residential streets throughout the neighborhood. New York City bike lane

Crosstown Bike Routes

As part of a more vigorous piece of infrastructure, Chicago, is in the process of building crosstown bike routes on collector and arterial streets. These routes are long, continuous, routes that get people on bikes across the city. These type of routes are thought of as bicycle super highways in other cities. This type of infrastructure typically provides protection to bicyclists from motor vehicles. Crosstown bike routes would be appropriate in the Linden neighborhood in two areasâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;Hudson Street and the Linden Link. Providing a protected bike lane on Hudson Street would provide an east-west connection for the people of Columbus riding bikes through the Linden neighborhood. Another route on the neighborhoods eastern edge could provide an additional north-south bicycle route through the city.

Crosstown bike route through the loop in Chicago

mobility

151

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Conewago Bicycle Trail

This is an example of a rail to trail covnersion that was implemented in Pennsylvania. The Linden Link Trail could potentially look something like this. Coverting the abandoned rail line into a bicycle trail has the opportunity to not only provide a place for healty recreation in the nieghborhood, but also has the ability to provide a positive image in the neighborhood.

Conewago rail-trail conversion, Pennsylvania

Potential Rail-Trail conversion in Linden

Implementation

Implementing Chicagoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s network will be a challenge. Transforming hundreds of miles of streets will require extensive leadership and funding from several sources. Without political leadership, community support, and coordination with multiple agencies the plan will surely fail. Taking small steps throughout the process and ensuring everyone voice is heard can ensure that Chicago can establish the most ambitious on-street bikeway network in the United States.

nections between established routes. Greenways could continue to be expanded while beginning to implement a neighborhood routes. Lastly Columbus could fill remaining gaps of infrastructure in neighborhoods that do not experience much bicycle activity. The Linden neighborhood has no data on bicycle activity in the area, but developing infrastructure could lead to the neighborhood being studied.

The implementation process will happen in three stages. Phase one will primarily consist of building 100 miles of protected bike lanes as well as the first 10 miles of protected neighborhood greenways. Phase two will implement the remainder of the network including 50 miles of protected bike lanes and feature a stronger focus on neighborhood bike routes. The second stage will feature improvements at intersections making them safer for bicycles and pedestrians. Phase three will fill the remaining gaps in the network and expand the number of bikeways into neighborhoods that do not currently experience much bicycle activity. Columbus could follow a very similar plan. Currently there are several greenways throughout the city but there are a lack of con-

mobility

153

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Funding Funding the Chicago Streets for Cycling Plan will require resources from several agencies including federal funds and arterial resurfacing projects. Building any similar infrastructure in Columbus would have to be funded in a similar way. Federal funds with be used for a majority of the project. A $32 million grant provided from Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Improvement Program, matched by $8 million in local funds will provide enough funding for phase one of the projects. Arterial resurfacing money from Chicagoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s DOT will fund phase two projects that change the surface of the street when they are repaired. These type of projects are typically completed on an annual basis. Conclusion With more people biking to, through and from Linden, the need for destinations will become paramount. However, these destinations do not necessarily have to stray away from the topic of mobility, in fact destinations are built and enhanced by the transportation that connects them. Bus Rapid Transit is a connecting force between destinations and people, and has a large destination-making component to the affected area. These Bus Rapid Transits are circulating throughout the world due to their effiency and value when built correctly. Linden has a planned Bus Rapid Transit that is in the process of being implemented along Cleveland Avenue. This will be explored through the next case study.

Bus Rapid Transit Case Studies prepared by Community Planning Workshop (Eugene, OR)

Process The Community Planning Workshop case study analyzed five

The case study report also included “Intelligent Transportation

American BRT systems, which are as follows: Cleveland, Ohio;

Systems” which overlaps heavily with “Service and Operating

Honolulu, Hawai’i; Eugene-Springfield, Oregon; Kansas City,

Plans,” as well as “Running Way” which is actually the difference

Kansas-Misouri; and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. BRT itself as a

between “BRT” and “BRT-lite.” The Cleveland Avenue corridor, as

mode of transportation actually evolved out of the developing

well as all of Kansas City’s numerable BRT routes, are examples

world, primarily in Latin America. Bogota, Colombia is particularly

of the latter. The running way that is typically found with “true

well-known for pioneering BRT as one of the world’s most

BRT” may often be synonymous with “transitways” found in the

innovative solutions to the unique set of problems that they faced.

U.K., Australia, or Canada (such as in Ottawa). The following is a

The following traits that Bogota built into their BRT have become

table highlighting each of the case studies, analyzed for the traits

definitive of BRT as a mode, and are applicable to all of the case studies analyzed in this report, and could have important implications for Linden and Northeast Columbus as a whole: A. Vehicle fleet with aesthetic enhancement, circulation enhancement, and green features B. Rapid boarding concept including fare collection C. Branding elements wherever community interfaces with corridor D. Service and operating plans including methods of schedule control (usually signal priority) E. Stations that are well-located, well-designed, well-maintained, and well-branded

mobility

155

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

On the previous page, Figure 1 is particularly relevant to Linden

Case Studies Conclusion

because with “BRT-lite” systems, there are often degrees in between one absolute or another that can be satisfied with

As our mobility team has found, the way in which an area focuses

design. For instance, COTA’s CMAX will not have a running

on transportation is key to the health and ecnomic vitality of their

way, but a service and operating plan can satisfy its needs for

respective neighborhood. Circulation of residents is important,

schedule control through other means like signal prioritization,

but how residents actually move from place to place is even more

and most importantly in our case, well-branded and well-

crucial. Linden can learn several lessons from the areas that

designed stations.

have augmented their own transit network, and can thusly make the most appropriate decisions for their community. Although

Conclusions

initial cost may be high in some instances, these costs have

Since we lack resources to build a solid corridor, there is an

been researched to be negligible given the amount of human

opportunity then to create a strong corridor of linked “pods”

capital and economic resources generated from the infrastructure

(stations). The case study also identifies an issue that BRT is

improvements. Human history has thankfully given Linden

often seen as the “second choice,” which makes it all the more

residents a multitude of information with which to make their

important in the case of Cleveland Avenue that COTA chose

decisions, both with the failures and successes of projects, such

it first, over any other corridor that may have been considered

as Kansas City’s designation of the Troost Line, and Chicago’s

ripe for a fixed-guideway transit system. Finally, the case

robust bike infrastructure plan. Most importantly, as Linden

study produced by Community Planning Workshop is most

implements the most appropriate improvements they can expect

valuable for its work in analyzing “public perceptions” following

to see a betterment of their public health. These case studies

implementation of these projects. In the case of Kansas City, the

have been selectively chosen in order to provide Linden residents

MAX network of BRT routes has been declared an overwhelming

with the most relevant and most needed information in order to

success. With overall KCATA ridership up by 30% since MAX first

derive a set of educated improvements.

began operations in 2005, not only have existing riders gotten more out of the system, but new riders have been brought into the fold. Indeed, 15% of MAX passengers did not utilize public transit before.

Chapter 3 Conclusion

Several case studies have been examined in this

chapter, covering the subjects of food security, mobility and green infrastructure. These case studies will generate and spark new ideas for Linden, which will be explored in Chapter 4.

The Common Market in Philadelphia provides an

appropriate case study on implementing a food hub in a food desert. A distribution hub is the focal point of the Common Market, allowing local farmers to sell fresh vegetables to a community often deprived of healthy options. In New Orleans, the Jericho Road Episcopal Housing Initiative, in collaboration with design experts for Tulane, have compiled a comprehensive vacant lot redevelopment program, and proposed a range of solutions based on scale, community context and financial availability. In Lousiville, a series of one-way streets were converted to two-way streets in a neighborhood that mirrors Linden demographically. Traffic capacity remained the same while collisions dropped dramatically.

The case studies selected in Chapter 3 highlight

important lessons that will inform the projects proposed in Chapter 4. Selecting examples from neighbhorhoods that mirror Linden demographically, economically and historically provides an improved opportunity for success for the proposed projects in Chapter 4.

conclusion

157

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Chapter 4 Introduction

Pathways to implementation are an important component of

The content of these proposals is presented after extensive

neighborhoods realizing plans in an efficient, sustainable manner.

feedback and consultation. As in earlier phases, teams continued

Where Chapter 2 focused on research for a general framework

to display progress made at desk critiques with the professor,

and Chapter 3 reviewed case studies and literature to apply best

where comments were received and subsequent steps

practices in Linden’s unique context, Chapter 4 is built on these

discussed.

foundations to present concrete strategies for Linden’s built environment. Emphasizing guidelines for design, site selection

Practitioners also volunteered their time and expertise to the

and development of projects, students representing the three

studio by providing guest lectures and feedback on projects. In

teams devised core goals, principles, and recommendations to

late October Brian Higgins of Arch City Development discussed

form a strategic development plan.

his work with the Linden Area Commission earlier in his career, lending perspective to the history and recent development

The following proposals are a diverse set of projects, all with the

of the neighborhood. Alongside Higgins was Tony Slanec of

intention of advancing the social, economic, and environmental

OHM Advisors who talked about urban design’s human impact,

health of the community. The food environment team advanced

particularly the influence it can have on happiness. In mid-

the concept of a food hub to include core principles maximizing

November, Matthew Leasure of MKSK Studios sat in on early

the hub’s physical design and location. The green infrastructure

drafts of each team’s presentation, offering guidance going

team offered strategies to enhance existing green space such as

forward. In early December, Dr. Christy Rogers of the Kirwan

vacant lot reuse, pocket park development, and neighborhood

Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity met with individual

park improvements, as well as space creation such as

teams to provide feedback on effectively conveying messages

constructed wetlands and streetscape designs. The mobility team

and content to the community and stakeholders.

presented an array of projects to improve safety and connectivity including street conversion, alleyway improvements, roadway art and branding, and bus and bicycle infrastructure.

Food Environment

Introduction In previous chapters we have researched the challenges and opportunities in Lindenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s food environment, and how we think these challenges could be addressed. In phases 2 and 3, we looked at examples of foods hubs in neighborhoods similar to Linden, demographically and otherwise. We learned that their successes were due largely to the fact that they were made for the people and by the people. That is to say, they were community-based organizations that were dedicated to improving the quality of life of their respective communities. Knowing this, we came up with a development plan that is based on community involvement, and encourages existing community leaders to start the movement. In our final phase, we have developed a concept for a food hub that could be implemented by the community. We selected possible locations for these plans based on specific criteria, researched sustainable building practices such as adaptive re-use and LEED standards, created a set of SAFE+SMART principles to guide our designs, and also came up with a list of recommendations for the community to use to build

Images of plans for food hubs in Washington, D.C., Norway, Portland, Louisville, Baltimore, and Chicago. These examples, and others, were used as inspiration for our original designs for a food hub in Linden.

the capacity for a food hub, which we hope be a catalyst for change in Linden.

food environment

159

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Food environment group goal Basis and mission A food hub, like prior examples documented in Detroit and Philadelphia, is characterized as a place connecting farms to consumers. Under the direction of a for-profit or nonprofit corporation in collaboration with community members, food is sourced from farms at a local or regional distance and warehoused in space operated by the corporation. One destination for the food is to be sold to consumers, either to individuals in a market setting or to local schools, businesses, or other organizations at wholesale. Alternately, food could be used by the corporation and community for food hub-sponsored programming, such as cooking classes or food business development. The food environment group seeks to adopt the food hub operating model and expand upon its mission to envision a neighborhood food hub for Greater Linden, a place that functions as a point of purchasing, learning and gathering for the community. A hub for Linden would occupy a building, either as a new construction or adaptive reuse of an existing structure, and serve its surrounding neighborhood on multiple fronts.

Food hubs can vary in size (above left) and include numerous functions, including commercial kitchens for education and business development (left), classrooms, offices, and market space for direct sale to consumers (right).

One use would be as a place for residents to obtain fresh and

gaining the commercial cooking skills necessary for a successful

local food not easily found in the neighborhood. This would allow

enterprise, all within a collaborative environment.

residents who primarily rely on local corner stores for groceries easier access to fruits and vegetables for consumption within

A third use would be as a point of gathering, a new public place

their households, foods with more nutritious value than the

for the community. As a new public landmark open to all, a

processed foods already within reach.

neighborhood food hub would provide market and cafĂŠ space as a reference point for neighbors to meet and get to know one

A second use would be as an educational center for residents of

another; an exchange of social capital to increase awareness of

all ages. The possibilities for classes are numerous, from children

local goings-on and new opportunities.

learning about growing their own food from seeds, to expectant parents learning the benefits of maintaining good nutrition,

These varying uses are bounded together by food and its utility

to individuals with the aspiration for a food based business

as the source of energy and nutrition, but its use can go beyond the physiological. The goal of this group is to detail the vision of a neighborhood food hub that harnesses the health benefits of food to enhance the social and economic development of the neighborhood. Our goal of providing a Neighborhood Food Hub concept for Linden that serves as a point of gathering, learning and purchasing for the community is supported by the nine specific principles detailed on the following page, which we have nicknamed our SAFE+SMART Principles.

food environment

161

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Principles

SAFE+SMART

SAFE+SMART Principles Our design concepts and recommendations for a Neighborhood Food Hub in Linden follow these SAFE+SMART principles. Social A place where people and friends are encouraged to gather to socialize, network and

SOCIAL ACCESSIBLE FUN EDUCATIONAL SUSTAINABLE MULTI-PURPOSE AFFORDABLE REALISTIC TRANSFORMATIONAL

make new friends. Accessible A place that is easy to get to with all ranges of abilities and from all modes of transportation. Fun A place that offers events to celebrate the talents of community members and their interests. Educational A place where you can take classes on how to cook healthy food, share family recipes, learn about local farming, and get information on community events and resources. Sustainable A place that is environmentally responsible in design and operation. A place that benefits the neighborhood its residents by providing jobs and an anchor for further development. Multi-purpose A place with several types of nodes of activity that each supports the othersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; success. Affordable A place with goods for sale that are affordable to local residents and accessible to those who receive SNAP benefits. Realistic A place created with a plan that fits the neighborhood, is solid economically, and takes advantage of all available tax incentive opportunities in order to ensure success. Transformational A place that, once implemented, leverages surrounding neighborhood development.

Design Concepts Design Concept 1: Adaptive Reuse The first design concept takes place in the former Kroger building on Cleveland Avenue and 25th that is the current home of Brightside Academy. As shown by the site plan on the following page, Brightside Academy has become part of this food hub concept, along with the post office and pharmacy that exist in the building today. The concept design adds a structured patio and events stage, cafe, market space, teaching kitchen and storage/distribution space. Further, the concept features ample greenscaping, including a green roof.

Concept 1 Uses

Concept 1 Features

• Cafe

• Strong branding

• Market

• Regular events

• Green Roof and defined green space

• Public information kiosk at entrance

• Events and Farmers Market Stage

• Information for entrepreneurs

This drawing represents one concept for a Linden Neighborhood Food Hub and is not an accurate rendering of a planned project. The drawing features a design concept of a food hub located in the former Kroger building on the corner of 25th Ave. and Cleveland Ave. in Linden. Drawing by Arin Blair

• Teach and Learn Kitchen • Daycare (retained from plaza) • Post Office (retained) • Pharmacy (retained) food environment

163

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

The former Kroger building todayâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;the site of Linden Neighborhood Food Hub Concept 1 and the current location of Brightside Academy daycare, a pharmacy and a post office.

The site plan of Linden Neighborhood Food Hub Concept 1 highlights its uses of daycare, pharmacy, market, cafe, post office, teaching kitchen, green space and storage/distribution space. This drawing represents one concept for a Linden Neighborhood Food Hub and is not an accurate rendering of a planned project. The drawing features a design concept of a food hub located in the former Kroger building on the corner of 25th Ave. and Cleveland Ave. in Linden. Drawing by Arin Blair

Design Concept 2: New Construction The new build design was drawn on the E. 26th Ave and Cleveland Ave site with the intention that it could be adapted to fit in many locations of the creators’ choosing. Concept 2 Uses

Concept 2 Features

• Market

• Strong branding

• Cafe

• Regular events

• Teach and Learn kitchen

• Public information kiosk at entrance

• Green Roof and defined green space

• Information for entrepreneurs

• Events and Farmers Market Stage

These drawings represent one concept for a Linden Neighborhood Food Hub and are not accurate renderings of a planned project. The drawings feature a design concept of a food hub located on Cleveland Ave. in Linden. Drawing by Arin Blair

food environment

165

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Design Principles Our group suggests two design strategies, LEED certification and Adaptive Reuse, to sustainably actualize Linden Food Hub ideas.

LEED What is LEED?

Benefits of LEED

LEED (Leadership in Energy and

Along with the apparent environmental

Environmental Design) is a point based

advantages, LEED-certified buildings are

rating system that evaluates sustainable

usually more desirable for occupants and

environmental performance of a whole

cost less to operate. LEED commercial

building, including sustainable sites,

real estate property lease rate is

energy and atmosphere, water efficiency,

20% more than non-LEED buildings.

material and resources, and indoor

Furthermore, green buildings conserve

environmental quality.

energy and reduce electric consumption through the use of natural light. At the same time, LEED buildings may also qualify for financial benefits through tax

LEED credit evaluation categories

rebates and incentives. Green Columbus Fund program describes that green buildings would achieve reimbursement of the fees required for LEED certification, and additional incentives are available.

Guide to LEED Certification â&#x20AC;˘ http://www.usgbc.org/cert-guide/commercial Green Columbus Fund â&#x20AC;˘ http://programs.dsireusa.org/system/program/detail/4397

Adaptive Reuse What is Adaptive Reuse?

Benefits of Adaptive Reuse

In the built environment, adaptive reuse is

The cost to adapt existing building into a new use is often

a process of using an old building to serve

regarded as one third of the cost of new construction. It also has

current needs. Adapting building that has

direct effects on the local economy because they would bring

great bones is a highly sustainable act

density and activity to the neighborhood without changing urban

not only for environment but also for the

infrastructure. Furthermore, adaptive reuse has environmental

community.

benefits. Reuse of existing portion extends material life cycle and reduces landfill waste while 75 percent of the material waste in a typical house can be reused.

75% of material waste can be reused

Before

After

Example of Adaptive Reuse: Avanti Food and Beverage in Denver, Colorado

food environment

167

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Location Criteria

In addition to design guidelines, evaluating potential locations for the food hub is essential. In order for the hub to host its various uses and to be accessible to producers and consumers alike, a final location must be selected after careful consideration. Building size, to determine the maximum square footage of the The food environment group evaluated several sites along

food hub, which is a function of both the lot size and Floor Area

the Cleveland Avenue corridor for a potential location. The

Ratio (FAR) building regulations from the City of Columbus;

corridor was chosen because of its multiple access points as a neighborhood arterial; its zoning mix of commercial, residential,

Access points, to examine points of entry and exit to the food

and institutional uses allowing for diverse activity; and its status

hub along the Cleveland Avenue corridor, as well as neighboring

as a Neighborhood Commercial Reinvestment (NCR) area by the

roads and proximity to highways, bike lanes, and other modes of

City of Columbus qualifying the hub and future developments for

transportation;

incentives to invest. For specific sites on the corridor, the group deduced seven points of criteria to consider. These points were:

Local traffic, to inform visibility and access of the food hub to producers and consumers alike, based on Average Daily Trip

Lot size, to ensure the site is sufficient to host all food hub

(ADT) traffic counts from MORPC near the site as well as

programming and uses as well as site features such as parking,

proximity of bus stops and crosswalks to the site, and;

refuse removal, and drainage infrastructure; Amenities nearby, to determine where the food hub might Lot condition, to ensure the zoning and environmental conditions

leverage its function with important services and uses by

of the site are not hazardous to the development and operation of

reviewing existing businesses and public places in the

a food hub, as well as to determine if demolition or rehabilitation

neighborhood.

work is necessary; Purchase price, to ensure the cost of property acquisition does not adversely impact the total development cost of the food hub;

Location Criteria Based on the location criteria five opportunity sites emerged, each with unique strengths and weaknesses: four lots on the

Lot Size

Lot Condition

Purchase Price

Building Size

Sufficient for programming & site plan elements Minimum 16,000 sq ft

Zoning Is demolition necessary? Environmental issues

northwest corner of Cleveland and E. 14th Avenues, three vacant

Access Points

Access from central corridor Along a one-way street? Alley access

lots on the northwest corner of Cleveland and E. 19th Avenues, the current shopping plaza at the northwest corner of Cleveland and E. 24th Avenues, a vacant lot at the northwest corner of Cleveland and E. 26th Avenues, and a group of buildings at the southeast corner of Cleveland Avenue and Hudson Street. Each site features unique strengths and weaknesses, and with

Local Traffic

Traffic counts Proximity to bus stops Risks for pedestrians?

varying abilities to support new build or adaptive reuse building as outlined in the previous section. A more detailed evaluation of each site is outlined on the next page. While the preceding sites offer distinct advantages to the neighborhood if redeveloped, they are not the only possibilities

Privately or publicly owned Market value

Amenities Nearby Maximum buildout per City of Columbus regulations

Churches Other food businesses Institutions Other landmarks

for future food hub location. Expanded analysis may reveal more positive and negative aspects of these sites as well as uncover more areas of opportunity within Linden. Regardless, to create conditions for successful food hub operation and service to the community, a thorough consideration of the space it may occupy is urged.

food environment

169

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Spotlight of current conditions of opportunity sites along Cleveland Avenue. Clockwise from top left: Hudson Street, East 26th Avenue, East 24th Avenue, East 19th Avenue, and East 14th Avenue.

Cle + 14th Cle + 19th Cle + 24th Cle + 26th Cle + Hud Lot Size

LotLot Condition Size

Purchase Lot SizePrice

Building Size Lot Size

Access Points

Local Traffic

Amenities Nearby

food environment

171

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Recommendations

1. Engage the Community To engage the community and people,

Pastor Larry Cochran Jr. of the Heart of

key stakeholders within the community

Christ Community Church, and Leighann

must be identified. A common vision

Ward Equine of Miracle Gardens. Pastor

of better food-distribution must be

Larry Cochran Jr. recognizes that there

shared among these stakeholders, and

are already many religious communities

methods must be established for them

within Linden that may offer services

to get involved in bringing a food-hub to

to the community. However, he also

Linden. A common vision amongst these

recognizes that better coordination

stakeholders is emphasized because

between these organizations may lead

it plays into the sustainability of public

to a much greater combined benefit for

involvement. It sets the stage for the

Linden. That is why Pastor Larry Cochran

community to become the acting force.

is currently leading a group called

They will become the ones molding the

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Community Faith Leaders for Changeâ&#x20AC;?

idea and essentially selling and spreading

in which he hopes to gather community

the idea of a food-hub to other members

faith leaders and discuss making positive

of the community. Because of that, we

changes for the neighborhood. Leighann

must reach out to community leaders

Ward Equine and her daughter, August,

and anchors because of their multiplying

operates two community gardens in

power in selling and spreading this

Linden. With their experience in producing

vision of better food distribution and a

fresh-foods locally, their thought and input

neighborhood food hub. Examples of

would make them valuable stakeholders

potential community stakeholders include

in formulating a neighborhood food-hub.

While there are many organizations that offer great services and resources to the community, many of these groups and their services remain uncoordinated with others. Better cooperation and coordination between these organizations may lead to a greater benefit to the people of Linden.

2. Employ a Strong Marketing and Branding Plan

4. Identify Designers, Builders, and Financing

A strong marketing plan should reflect the SAFE+Smart

Methods for architecture, development, and financing will be

principles. These principles should be continually reinforced

identified based on the budget of the business plan. Designs of

and revised by community input. Community ideas should be

the food-hub should reflect the character of the neighborhood

employed to craft a message, develop a name and color scheme.

as well as sustainable measures such as LEED and other

This principled message, and branded vision should then be used

environmental standards. Development should take advantage of

to market to the rest of the community and to potential investors.

grant opportunities and tax incentives if available. The operating entity must also work with local government leaders to establish

3. Form an Operating Entity and Business Plan

partnerships.

To organize and manage this food-hub, a for-profit or non-profit must be chosen based on the interests and specialties of the stakeholders. Potential operating entities like, The Greater Linden

5. Select a Location

Development Corporation, and the St. Stephens Community

Guidance for site selection from earlier chapters should be

House. The Greater Linden Development Corporation works with

followed as a starting point for the final site selection. A clear

Linden leaders, partner organizations and government entities

site selection criteria must be identified and an understanding of

to create a better quality of life for Linden residents through

the constraints of the proposed financial structures must also be

housing and economic development. St. Stephens Community

established. This may come in the form of a market study.

House has been providing essential neighborhood resources in family services, childcare, food-distribution, and organic food initiatives in the area. In addition to neighborhood leaders, outside partners must also be identified to bring in and provide financial and technical resources. Examples of potential outside partners include: Celebrate One, Local Matters, the United Way, Food educators, and the City of Columbus. A professional business model and plan must be developed by consultants if professionals are not present within the group already.

food environment

173

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Phase 4 Take Aways

Conclusion First, our research in Linden led us to the understanding that

Goal

SAFE+SMART Principles

• To create a concept for a Linden

• Social

there are needs in the neighborhood for access to healthy foods,

Neighborhood Food Hub that serves

• Accessible

access to information, and community gathering places. Next,

as a place for learning, gathering and

• Fun

further reading led us to the voices of the residents. Through

purchasing for the community and

• Educational

work being done by Columbus’s Celebrate One initiative and

follows our SAFE+SMART Principles

• Sustainable

local non-profit food advocates Local Matters, we learned that

• Multi-purpose

residents of Linden echo this need for informations sources, for

• Realistic

gathering places, and they wish for a food hub.

Recommendations

• Transformational

Then, we researched best practices, defined food hubs, and began to define what a Linden Neighborhood Food Hub might be

1. Engage the community

like. Throughout the text we have provided valuable resources

• From concept to implementation and by starting with the most active community

and strategies for those who wish to pursue the implementation of a food hub in Linden. As is aligned with our goal in the previous

members and leaders and building a network from there 2. Employ a strong branding and marketing plan

chapter—to build capacity both toward a food hub and toward

• To be sure the food hub will be unique to Linden

other future local businesses in Linden—the strategies in this

• To be sure everyone knows about it and is ready to celebrate its opening

chapter will be helpful for any type of neighborhood business development and community driven program development in the neighborhood.

3. Form a strong operating entity and business plan • Based on active community leadership, available resources and consulting, rooted in Linden economics 4. Identify designers, builders and financing • Fostering relationships with those who are or have completed quality and successful projects in the neighborhood 5. Select a location • Based on resources identified in the text and supplemented by additional neighborhood market data and pedestrian, bus and traffic counts

Green Infrastructure

Introduction

Our previous research has informed our final project proposals. Our four proposals, wetland parks, pocket parks, enhancing existing parks and improving streetscape designs, are all designed to improve the health of the built environment in Linden, while advancing social, environmental and economic priorities for the neighborhood. Linden residents have expressed interest in safer streets and in turning vacant lots into community assets, which we deem to be a short-term project. Our designs are an attempt to answer these

THIS IS A PLACEHOLDER IMAGE

desires. Proposals such as wetland parks generate a long-term vision on how to solve the Combined Sewer Overflow problem in Columbus, while adding social, economic and environmental value to Linden. We hope these proposals are the beginning of a long-term design process in Linden. A vision for re-designing Cleveland Ave.

green infrastructure

175

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Constructed wetlands implementation guidelines Introduction and Process: Design goals

As identified in earlier research, a constructed wetlands in Linden

Park contain passive recreation infrastructure. Those parks

should not only provide environmental benefits but also serve

integrate walking paths and observation areas. Constructed

as a place of social interaction all in efforts to improve health

wetlands can also provide educational opportunities especially to

in the area. Many constructed wetlands, including the Alewife

science programs.

Reservation, Ballona Wetlands, and South Los Angeles Wetlands Practical Considerations

Location: Topography is an important consideration. Wetlands

Funding: Columbus Blueprint, a program designed to reduce

the most effective, both in terms of cost and performance, when

combined sewer overflows has dedicated $10 million to the

located in the low areas of the study area.

Linden area. This project, while different, shares similar goals. Constructed wetlands help reduce sewer overflows by detaining

Size: A constructed wetlands performance and size is highly

and or redirecting water entering the combined system.

dependent on very site specific variables such as soil type, rain fall, and types of properties serviced. Case studies show

Other funding sources:

constructed wetlands ranging in size from a 1:100 to a 10:100

• Ohio EPA 319 grant: $2.2 million awarded in 2015. 40% local

ratio (wetland size: service area).

matching funds required. • Parks budget for recreational facilities on-site.

Components:

Sketch Plan Process

• Functional wetland area

• Learning space

• Vegetation buffer

• Shelter house

• Walking paths

• Parking area

• Locate suitable area for wetlands park based on topography • Determine service area based on available area • Consider existing schools location for educational use • Integrate recreational structures

Benefits recap: For this project, in the Linden context, the two most important

Social

benefits are social and environmental improvements. Previous

• Increased greenspace leads to more physical activity

community engagement through Celebrate One has identified

• In a greener environment people report better perceived general health

a need and want for more greenspace in the form of a park. By

• Wetland areas can provide unique walking trails, wildlife observation areas, relaxation, and educational opportunities

doing so, the neighborhood will have increased opportunities for social interaction.

• Increased educational opportunities

If that park space is built in the wetlands form, the space can also

• A wetlands education program (on site learning) resulted in “general science knowledge increase on average of 28% across grades 4-12,” in Louisiana (youth wetlands aducationd outreach program)

serve an environmental function. Wetlands are designed with the purpose to way to filter and hold water. Holding the water, and slowly releasing it, can prevent combined sewer overflows.

Environmental

Because of that, this project synergizes with current Columbus

• Reduces sewer overflows by slowly releasing water into storm system

storm water management goals giving opportunities for funding.

• Reduces non-point pollution by filtering water through plants • Wetlands can remove roughly 50% of all pollutants in the water (inflow to outflow) (EPA meta-analysis)

The South Los Angeles Wetland Park provides walking paths for the community

Young scientists take a learning trip to Ballona Wetlands

green infrastructure

177

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Proposed location: In order to locate a proposed wetlands elevation must be

Location opportunities:

considered. Wetlands work best, and do not require any energy

• Proposed site is a low point in the neighborhood

input, when located in the lowest laying areas. Elevation

• Located in oportune area for parks expansion

contours, shown left, show the lower areas in the southernmost

• Well contected to neighborhood

part of the neighborhood.

• 5 acre site provides good site area • Proposed site is clear other than baseball fields

Open space is also a factor. Case studies show most constructed wetlands are installed in greenfields. This is more cost effective and does not displace households or disrupt the existing pattern. A potential location has been identified, shown on the elevation map in red, that is both a low spot in the neighborhood, open, and of decent size.

• Proposed site is adjacent to a STEM academy which creates good locational synergy (outdoor learning lab) • Further site engineering should be conducted to show site viability

Location challenges: • Site currently being used as an open field for sports including baseball diamonds • Neighborhood is already built out leaving little room for wetlands or surface level water transport • Water will need to be transported via traditional infrastructure or through bioswales on private property (maintance may not be easiest on private lands)

general water flow

ELEVATION 840 841 - 844 845 - 846 847 - 848 849 - 850 851 - 854 855 - 856 857 - 858

potential site

859 - 860 861 - 862 863 - 864 865 - 866 867 - 868 869 - 872 873 - 876

Hamilton STEM Academy green infrastructure

179

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Size and potential service area: Case studies show wetlands ranging in size between .75% and

infrastructure, catch basins and pipes, exist. Additionally, surface

10% of the area they service. The actual area they can service

bioswales can be used to transport water. In Linden, as the area

is very site specific. Area, soil type, amount of inflow water, and

is already urbanized, possible locations for bioswales include

drainage dictate their effectiveness. As such, site engineering

front lawns or alleyways.

analysis must be conducted before any final determinations are made.

As this project is a retrofit in a built out area and will be servicing a relatively small area, it can serve as a case study for installing

As site engineering has not been preformed, to estimate service

constructed wetlands in the greater Columbus region.

area size, simple percentage math was done. If the wetlands is 1% in size of the area it services water runoff, that area would be about 500 acres. More simply that equals 5 acres of

Size and service area opportunities

wetlands servicing stormwater from 500 acres of development.

• Wetlands size 1% of service area = 500 acres

For a wetlands that is 5% in size, that number is 100 acres of

• Wetlands size 5% of service area = 100 acres

development. The map to the right highlights the range and size

• Potential to connect to Cleveland avenue, the neighborhood’s commercial corridor, creating green commercial sites

of the service area. Additionally, Columbus soil is largely bennington-cardington-

• Wetland size and service area relatively small = good learning lab for functional constructed wetlands in the Columbus region

centerburg soil type. As such, it poorly drains and filters water. Given that the neighborhood is not advantageously near a river in which to drain, it is best for this wetlands to function as a holding center for stormwater before draining into traditional infrastructure. To get water to the wetlands, traditional infrastructure can be rerouted or bioswales installed. In this context, traditional

Size and service area challenges • Routing stormwater to the proposed wetlands will require infrastructure update and (or) easement acquisition as Linden is built out • Wetland size and service area relatively small = small environmental impact

~475 acres

~275 acres

green infrastructure

181

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Design proposal renderings Before

Hamilton STEM Academy

After

green infrastructure

183

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Constructed wetland summary: Building a wetlands in the Linden study area accomplishes several goals. They preform both an social and environmental function. For social, they create quality greenspace that can assist in improving health outcomes and can integrate learning opportunities. Environmentally, wetlands are effective at managing stormwater runoff and thus have increased funding opportunities. However, this project should not be an assumed cure-all in addressing those issues. Wetland implementation opportunities • Offers quality passive recreation space in the heart of the Linden study area • Integrated into existing green space • Provides space for social interaction • Provides space for passive recreation (walking, relaxing) • Quality greenspace shown to improve self reported health outcomes • Directly adjacent to STEM school for learning lab synergy • A constructed wetlands project is synergistic with both Celebrate One’s goal of improving health and the City of Columbus’ goal improve stormwater management throughout the city

Wetland implementation challenges • Adjacent resident buy-in to the wetlands proposal • Removes baseball diamonds and open field • Limited size and no room for expansion if successful - if expanding a new site will need to be considered • More costly construction than a traditional park

green infrastructure

185

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Addressing Vacant Lots Goal: To improve the health of the built environment in Linden

Guiding principles to improve health of the built environment: Social: • cleaning up vacant lots or creating active spaces can improve the feeling of safety in Linden, while providing new gathering places.

Economic: • cleaning up vacant lots can improve property values and potentially City property tax returns.

Environmental: • certain designs, specifically in residential neighborhods, can improve soil health or reduce runoff.

Vacant lots in Linden vary between commercial and residential (commercial lot on Cleveland Avenue pictured above).

Key Questions: 1. Why are vacant lots a problem? 2. What is the scope of the Vacant Lot problem in Linden? 3. How can urban design solutions address vacant lots?

1. Why are vacant lots a problem?

2. What is the scope of the vacant lot problem in Linden?

Addressing vacant lots in Linden will improve the health of

Examining former use and current ownership of vacant lots in

the built environment; an issue that residents have expressed

Linden is important for developing appropriate design strategies.

dissatisfaction over. Commercial lots once home to vibrant businesses sit idle on Cleveland Avenue. Dark, overgrown

Vacant Lot Highlights:

lots can be found in every neighborhood, creating a sense of insecurity and emptiness. By addressing why vacant lots are a

Residential Vacant Lots:

problem in Linden and defining the scope of the issue, viable

• 113 vacant lots

solutions that can improve the social and economic health of the

• Wide range of owners

Linden neighborhood can be posed.

• Average lot size: 5,585 sq. ft.

Density of Vacant Lots

Commercial Vacant Lots: • 36 vacant lots • 5.02 acres total, primarily on Cleveland Avenue. • Average lot size: 6,075 sq. ft.

Largest Owner of Vacant Lots: City of Columbus Land Bank • 57 residential vacant lots • 1 Commercial vacant lot

• Cleveland and Hudson Ave is the major commercial intersection in Linden. • Approximately 62,000 SF of vacant land near major intersection, a significant economic drag.

green infrastructure

187

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

3. How can urban design solutions address vacant lots? 3 different types of vacant lots will require 3 different design ideas. 1. Vacant Lot between Residential Lots

2. Vacant Lot as a Connector Design Highlights: Guiding Principles met:

Activates an abandoned

• Social

lot by connecting two

• Economic

heavily used parts of a

• Environmental

neighborhood. Gives a vacant lot a purpose. Active lots help alleviate residents’ concerns of blighted lots with little to Guiding Principles met:

no human activity that don’t “feel” safe.

• Social

Design Highlights: Residential lots are intended for homes.

The above example from the

Designing the lot is a temporary use.

Jericho Road Episcopal Housing

Proposed Site Location:

Edge conditions, such as trees and

Initiative in New Orleans

Lot between Cleveland Avenue and the

shrubs can help define property values

highlights the redesign of a

CMHA housing development. This lot

and edge conditions.

vacant lot between residential

connects two heavily trafficked areas and

Specific grass and shrub plantings can be

lots.

activates a space.

used to improve soil health.

Vacant Lot Repurpose Concept: Pocket Park Action Plan Implementation The implementation process for a pocket park includes a number of steps and starts with locating a suitable site in the desired

In walkable distances for intended users

Green element visible and clear priority

Open and inviting to everyone

area of the community. Site assessment or a survey that includes, size location and access is the next step and is important when considering vacant lots as a potential site. Next, is the negotiation of public

Must be visible on 2-3 sides

access and to organize local support such as, including the local community, management group, and holding public consultation. Once a site is selected and negotiated it is important to consider the cost and list the cost to set up project including land

Special consideration must be given to lighting, to make park feel safe

acquisition, legal costs, trees, fencing, tools, signs, paths , etc. After the cost

Site Characteristics Recommendations

is established, funding needs to be

• Site must be located on major corridor or adjacent to a community landmark.

considered. The last steps include the

• Site should be visible and accessible from 2-3 sides. This is to insure that it stands out as a “pocket”.

launching of the project locally and after

• Pocket Parks need to be less than half the size of a soccer field or 900 to 9,000 square feet.

the project is constructed it is important to encourage and maintain commitment and

• Green elements should be visible and clear priority, preferable with focus on long term solution such as, vegetation that becomes more green and attractive over time.

enthusiasm.

• There should be special consideration to lighting to make the park feel safe. • Each park should have its own identity and to be designed and developed specifically to site in question.

green infrastructure

189

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Vacant Lot Repurpose Concept: Pocket Park Site Plan

Concept project site

Concept project site plan

Concept Site

infiltrates into the underlying soil. This park design includes a porous

This site is located at 1520 Kenmore Road, and is southwest of the

basketball court and play area with jungle gym which also acts as

Linden branch of the Columbus Metropolitan Library. The site is

a stormwater management system. The site plan includes seating

currently vacant and is owned by the library. The location of this lot

around the basketball court and play area. There are also tables and

meets the location criteria and is considered a complementary space

chairs for social gathering. The park design includes open green space

to existing public space. This site offers residents and visitors a social

and landscaping that can improve the air quality and promote healthy

gathering space and can act as an active and passive park.

activities.

Concept Site Design This site design for the Linden Library park includes connector paths from the Linden branch of the Columbus Metropolitan Library and surrounding streets such as Kenmore Road. These paths are made from permeable pavers that allow for the storing of rainwater before it

Vacant Lot Repurpose Concept: Pocket Park Benefits Social

Environmental

Economic

The social benefits of this pocket park

The environmental benefits of this park

The economic benefits of this concept

include the offering of a social gathering

are the potential to offer green open space

include the creation of new jobs and

space for community, which residents have

and ensure sustainable managment of

training opportunities. It will attract more

expressed to Celebrate One that they want.

landscapes. It will also provide stormwater

residents and business to the community

It will provide children with places to learn

runoff managment while Improving the

and possibly improve the property values

and play. It will also provide free public

built environment.

of the surrounding homes.

access to open green space and improve overall health and fitness in the community.

Concept project site design

green infrastructure

191

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Streetscape Design

Goal: To foster a sense of community in Linden

business investment and create jobs by demonstrating the vitality of a place to interested business owners. Finally,

This multifaceted goal needs to be

streetscaping can provide physical

approached from multiple angles. In

barriers to high-speed travel that will allow

order to foster a sense of community,

pedestrians to travel more safely to and

significant achievement needs to be

from their destinations.

A diagram of where a bump out could be positioned on a street in Linden

made towards three objectives: What can streetscaping look like in 1. Create a healthy community

Linden?

2. Promote economic vitality

At some points along Cleveland Avenue,

3. Prioritize resident safety

the street becomes wide enough that it is possible to take some of the space away

How can streetscaping achieve

from cars and return it to pedestrians.

these goals?

This can be done in the form of bump outs, which are parts

Streetscaping can make a neighborhood

of the sidewalk that jut out into the street. Strategically placed

more walkable by lowering traffic speeds,

at crosswalks, the bump outs slow traffic and allow space for

creating more attractive and safe walking

greenery, shielding pedestrians from automobile traffic while

paths, and by increasing pedestrian

simultaneously producing cleaner air. Bumpouts are an attractive

amenities. Making a neighborhood

addition to the street and can increase pedestrian traffic and

more walkable can persuade people to

support business investment. In addition, ample lighting, street

walk instead of taking other modes of

trees, benches and trash cans can all be added to commercial

transportation, thus improving overall

corridors for pedestrian comfort. Linden trees are approriate

health and air quality. Furthermore,

street trees and can add a sense of pride and identity to the

busy, walkable streets can attract

neighborhoodâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s commercial core.

Location selection:

Steps for implementation:

The primary location for bump outs is highlighted in red on the

Implementation of bump outs and other streetscape elements can be carried out

map above and to the right. The west side of Cleveland Avenue

using funds from Community Development Block Grants, the Ohio Department of

from Aberdeen to Briarwood was selected because it has active

Transportation, or the US Department of Transportationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s TIGER Discretionary Funds.

commercial uses and because it has a third lane for parking. This

This project is a medium to long term project that will require participation from the City

would allow bump outs to be constructed without having to widen

of Columbus and from leaders and residents of Linden. Bump outs in the focus areas

the road or disrupt normal traffic flow, which is crucial to an active

should be constructed first, with additions of lighting, trees and seating added throughout

commercial corridor.

the corridor upon completion. green infrastructure

193

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Enhancing Existing Parks: Outdoor Gyms Existing Conditions Goal: To create a healthy and connected community by encouraging physical activity with the enhancement of existing parks in Linden through outdoor gyms. The neighborhood of Linden currently includes four parks. These parks lack adequate and/or updated equipment to encourage physical activity. The two largest parks, Audubon Park and Linden Park do contain courts for various sports. However, the existing infrastructure in Audubon Park are unkempt and out of date. Linden Park contains tennis courts, basketball courts, and baseball fields. These provide opportunity for physycal activity, but are sport specific. This limits the number of people who are interested or wanting to engage in physical activity or recreation. Linden Park also contains a community center. The community center offers varying classes for the community and contains reservable community rooms, including an art room, dance room, game room, weight room, and fitness room. Another factor limiting the access to physical activity is the lack of indoor gyms and fitness centers in the area. While the Linden Community Recreation Center does have several fitnessfocused rooms, the hours of the center do not cater to the needs of everyone in the community. The center is not open on the weekends and is not open after 8:45 p.m. This lack of fitness equipment and fitness centers leads to a lack of physical activity in the community. By enhancing existing parks with outdoor

Map shows the parks located in Linden with a half mile walking radius.

Existing Conditions gyms, the Linden community could see social, economic, and environmental benefits. Top left: Audobon Park Bottom left: Linden Park from Briarwood Avenue Top right: Linden Park baseball field Bottom right: Linden Community Recreation Center

green infrastructure

195

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Implementation of Outdoor Gyms

Site Selection: Linden Park

Funding

Why Linden Park?

Grants:

Existing baseball fields, tennis courts, and basketball courts

Ample grants are available to fund the construction of an

would compliment an outdoor gym. Building an outdoor gym near

outdoor gym. Some funding opportunites come from The Ohio

this location could boost attendance at the existing courts.

Department of Public Health, Greenfield Outdoor Fitness (a

The Linden Community Recreation Center provides a central

company which manufactures outdoor gym equipment), the Ohio

point to organize classes for the outdoor gym and could provide

Department of Natural Resources, The Trust for Public Landâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

an alternative to the outdoor gym during poor weather conditions.

Fitness Zone Program (provides funding for outdoor gyms across

The Community Center could host classes that encourage and

America and has already implemented gyms in Los Angeles,

educate those who are interested in using the outdoor gym.

St. Petersburg, Miami, Cleveland, Washington D.C., and many

Linden Park has the largest walking radius. If the gym is in a

more).

walkable location, people are more likely to use it. Being close enough to walk to the gym would further encourage physical

Local Businesses:

activity in the area.

Businesses in Linden could have the opportunity to advertise on

Existing playground infrastructure allows parents to bring their

the equipment. This option is available from many outdoor gym

children with them while they use the outdoor gym. This is not an

manufacturers. This is an optimal funding opportunity because it

option at an indoor membership gym. This encourages both child

also improves the local economy by boosting business.

and parent to engage in physical activity. Local Partnerships: The Franklin County Health District, Celebrate One, or local community groups could provide donations for the construction of an outdoor gym.

Construction

Maintenance and Growth

Outdoor gyms can be purchased from many manufacturers in the

Very little maintanence is required for outdoor gyms. The

United States. Including: Greenfields Outdoor Fitness, Outdoor-

equipment is made to withstand weather and use for years. Since

Fitness, Fitness Park, TriActive America (which even offers an

Linden Park is already maintained by the City of Columbus, the

online program that allows you to plan the gym on your own

outdoor gym would not require the employment of maintenance

before purchasing), Landscape Structures, and many more.

personnel.

Linden would also have the opportunity to employ a local

The outdoor gym creates job opportunities and provides

contruction business to assemble and install the outdoor gym,

equipment for local personal trainers and fitness coaches. Since

which can further benefit the economy.

the outdoor gym is free to use, local community members may provide personal training or host group classes at the gym.

green infrastructure

197

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Example Rendering of Outdoor Gym at Linden Park

Benefits Social

Environmental

An outdoor gym provides a free access to physical activity in an

The Park could benefit from an outdoor gym encouraging more

area where there are no gyms available. The gym can be used

people to go to the park. Aside from lighting, the outdoor gym

at all hours that the park is open and can be used at any fitness

does not incur any of the costs that come with an indoor gym.

level, catering to the needs of every community member. With

This environmentally friendly approach to encouraging an

the gym being located next to the playground, it instills habits

active lifetyle allows for the environment to not be impacted in a

in chidren to maintain an active lifestyle and want to engage in

negative way by the construction or use of the gym.

physical activity. Outdoor gyms can also activate a communitywide interest in nutrition. With an outdoor gym in Linden, the community can grow through their engagement in physical activity. Through group classes, the community is engourage to engage in a healthier lifesyile together. Economic The outdoor gym is a great place for local fitness coaches and personal trainers to work. Since there are no gyms in the area, providing free equipment to all allowes for personal trainers to work with their clients. Through the construction process, local construction businesses could be employed to assemble the gym, benefitting the local economy.

Examples of outdoor gyms being used in communities.

green infrastructure

199

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Conclusion

Our four projects, while varying in scope and complexity, accomplish the same underlying goal: to improve the health of the built environment. Furthermore, our proposals advance social, economic and environmental priorities important to the residents of Linden. Pocket parks flip vacant lots into community assets, providing active uses to otherwise inactive spaces. Enhancing existing parks increases access to health and recreation activities for Linden residents. Improving streetscapes, particularly on Cleveland Ave., can improve the pedestrian experience on the commercial corridor.

Mobility

Introduction Celebrate One approached Ohio State with an issue of the comparatively high infant mortality rate in Linden. Residents have expressed concerns through meetings and interviews regarding their safety and the need to develop community pride. As the group focused on the transportation and the relative mobility of residents, we decided to approach the issue of infant mortality as an overall health concern for the neighborhood, which has led to a necessity for healthy, safe, and prideful solutions. Planning Focus We have found that Linden residents have a higher probability for both cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and obesity, which is representative not only of their diets, but of their exercise habits. Since Linden is auto-centric in roadways and prioritization of space, residents have a strong influence to use and own a personal automobile. In fact, surveys done by our class have

less economic resources in order to move, as it mainly relies

found that residents aspire to own their own personal automobile,

upon the human body for transit. We have designed five different

instead of desiring increased democratic connectivity to their

approaches for the integration of active mobility, one way to two

destinations. Instead of requiring that residents have the

way street conversions, alleyway improvements, pedestrian

economic means to acquire and maintain their own vehicles,

mobility improvements, bicycle paths utilizing regional needs and

we have decided to approach the health aspect of community

scale, and an optimization of the upcoming CMAX project that will

members by integrating active mobility into their lifestyles. Active

run north and south along Cleveland Ave. No single improvement

mobility is any type of transit that requires exercise: whether it

will effectively transform Linden into a utopian community, though

be through walking, bicycling, or public transportation, because

the inclusion and optimization of any variety of these renovations

all of these components require the user to exercise more than

will positively affect local health, and subsequently lower the

a personal automobile would. Active mobility also requires far

infant mortality rate. mobility

201

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

One-Way Streets to Two-Way Weber Road

Introduction Most east-west streets, such as Kenmore, Blake, Maynard and many numbered streets are 26 feet wide, curb-to-curb, with Genessee Avenue

parking on both sides of the street. These streets were designed and built to operate as two-way streets but were converted to one-way streets nearly 30 years ago. Residents often ask to have two-way streets converted to one-way in order to eliminate the need to yield to other drivers. Many of them are satisfied with having to come in and exit a particular direction in exchange and case studies, one-way streets tend to increase speeding, a

One interesting observation is that many streets are one-way east of Hamilton Avenue and two-way west of Hamilton Avenue, a very unusual situation that indicates two-way operation should

Legend One-way Streets

work well, with neighborhood approval.

E Blake Ave Proposed to convert to two way

Goals

E Maynard Ave Convert to two way in 2017

1. Maintain and improve the circulation of traffic

17th Avenue

2. Reduce crime and accident rate on the street 3. Keep the consistency with neighborhood design

11th Avenue One-way streets to two-way map

and vel

are recommended to be converted to two-way operations.

Cle

Hamilton Avenue

problem identified on many streets. Therefore, one-way streets

Ave n

E Blake Ave

for easier movement along their street. In previous chapters

One-Way Streets to Two-Way

Traffic Lane

Parking Lane

Green Buffer

Sidewalk Traffic Direction Width Measurement

2 ft

8 ft

4 ft

10 ft

8 ft 2 ft

Current Condition: One-Way

Objectives 1. Make the connection to Cleveland Ave in both directions 2. Eyes on the street can contribute to public safety by making people having the feeling of safety 3. Historically, the streets are two-way, it is consistent to keep the residential streets having the same traffic flow pattern

4 ft 8 ft 2 ft

10 ft

4 ft 8 ft

2 ft

Recommended Conversion: Two-Way mobility

203

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Criteria to identify location to initiate Because of the following points, we identified E Blake Ave as our

Anticipated specific influence

first site to initiate the project.

• Less driving, less confusion, and better traffic access

1. Better traffic circulation around school will benefit students

• Eliminates the need to drive blocks and blocks out of the way

and parents. Because E Blake Ave is close to Linden-McKinley

• No need to make extra turns to get to nearby destinations

school, and once it passes Dresden St., it becomes two way

• Drivers can get directly to their destination

street. Currently, the one way direction is leading the traffic to

• Increases commercial traffic and business activity

Cleveland Ave. It is consistent to keep two way circulation. And

• Decreases the speed

at the end of E Blake there is the school’s parking lot. It is easier for people who drive from Cleveland Ave to school to park on the

Take away • The project needs to get residents living in the area engaged

street and park at the parking lot.

so that the conversion can be initiated. For example, planners

2. E Blake Ave is close to Cleveland Ave which is the commercial

should approach the residents along E Blake Ave and ask for

corridor of the neighborhood. Therefore, it creates better

their input.

accessibility for business patrons. 3. This Segment of road is 0.2 mile, which is shorter than the other one-way streets. The conversion will create smallest

• After the conversion, speed and crime rate needs to be evaluated and compared with pre-conversion condition. • If residents are satisfied with all the results of the conversion,

amount of work and consume the fewest resources.

the remaining street conversions could be discussed and

4. E Maynard Ave could be the second street to convert.

developed.

Alleyways/Intersection Art/Banners

Alleyway Improvements

Goals: What are we solving?

Alleyways: We have three main objectives: sidewalk integrity, community space and connections, and crime reduction. Intersection art/banner: For the corridors we are going to focus on

Sidewalk Integrity

three main objectives: improve crosswalk safety, community pride & awareness, and public art placemaking.

Community Space/ Connections

Crime Reduction

Intersection Art/Banners

Improve Crosswalk Safety

Community Pride & Awareness

Public Art Placemaking

Project Goals: Alleyways/Intersections/Banners

mobility

205

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Alleyways: The alleyways need several remediations in order to make them safe and functional environments. The right of way needs to be cleared of all overgrown vegetation, and continually maintained in that manner. Much like low grass height and overgrown vegetation is enforced in front yards through resident complaints and fines, the alleyway conditions must also be enforced in a similar manner. Narrow alleyway before

The alleywayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s asphalt is in a high state of deterioration and is too narrow, less than eight feet wide in many areas. The right of way should be asphalted as much as possible, ideally sixteen feet to allow vehicles to turn into garages and yield to oncoming traffic. The wider asphalting will also cut back on the overgrown vegetation currently in the right of way and would cut back on maintenance by the city in the long run. The neighborhood should prohibit the construction of additional front facing driveways in order to cut back on curb cuts, and encourage people to use the alleyways.

16 foot alleyway after

Limiting the number of front facing driveways also makes longterm economic sense for the residents of the neighborhood. On average, a front facing asphalt driveway costs around $4,000.00 to build. If there are 35 houses on a street, and each constructs a driveway, that is $140,000.00, as opposed to $49,000 dollars to asphalt an alleyway. Finally, the alleyways should be numbered nad named as they

Alleyway as unsafe area

are in other areas. This will assist with way finding, and reinforce the alleyways as actual routes in the neighborhood. How does this address our goals? A more viable and functional alleyway system invites more people to use the space for legitimate, legal purposes. This will reduce the criminal activity taking place in the alleys by increasing the number of eyes in the area. By removing their stigma as unsafe barriers, we create greater neighborhood connections, alternate routes, and maintain the integrity and safety of the sidewalk. All this can be done for far less than the cost of building individual driveways.

Alleyway as community space

mobility

207

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Intersection Art/Banners: Neighborhood pride and pedestrian safety will be addressed through the addition of 36 crosswalks throughout the neighborhood. Adding these crosswalks provides the opportunity to create four signature intersection crosswalk pieces along Cleveland Avenue. One art piece will be at the intersection of Cleveland and 11th Avenue, and the other at Cleveland and Weber and Cleveland: Linden Logo intersection art

Weber. These two art pieces will be made out of durable concrete pavers and should contain an image which represents the Linden community. Examples are shown to the left. For our rendering we chose to create a Linden emblem that could be used in the intersection art work as well as banners. A 40 foot circle encompasses a Linden tree transposed over the outline of a combined North and Linden. The colors of the emblem are those of both Linden McKinley High School and Brookhaven High School. This symbolizes unity in the Linden community. Surrounding the art piece is concrete poured in a diamond pattern that extends out to the crosswalks. The crosswoalks will be made out of pressed concrete, but this time in a brick pattern.

11th and Cleveland: Linden Logo intersection art

Two other intersection art pieces should be placed at both Hudson and 17th, to create a common theme throughout the corridor. In order to reduce costs, these art pieces could be done with paint. The actual art piece designs could be created by local artists. Finally, in order to raise awareness of the neighborhood to visitors, banners should be placed along the four corners of these intersections, and at intervals throughout the corridor. How does this address our goals? Similar intersection treatments have been shown to slow traffic speeds and impact economic development along corridors where it they been implemented in the past. They raise the visibility of the intersections, and the neighborhood in general. The aim is to create greater community unity and pride, help put public art in the commercial corridor, and hopefully attract people to local businesses.

Linden logo as banner for community pride and awareness.

mobility

209

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Location Selection Criteria Alleyways: Due to the fact that there are 35 miles of alleyways in Linden, our plan calls for renovating one alleyway, and then phasing in the other alleyways over time. The criteria was to find an alleyway Alleyway behind Linden Public Library.

that could act as an example to the rest of the community of what an alleyway should look like, thus it had to be an alleyway in a high visibility area. It also needed a large number of intact rear facing garages and few front facing driveways. The alleyway that meets this criteria is the one directly behind the Linden Public Library, between Kenmore Road and Kohr Place. This is a central location to the neighborhood that is highly visible due to the library foot traffic. It also lies adjacent to a proposed pocket park location Intersections: In order to raise awareness of the community to visitors, we searched for intersections that acted as gateways to the community. The intersections should also be spread evenly along Cleveland Avenue, and be located at the northern and southern boundaries. In this way, the intersection improvements would signify the beginning and end of the community. Thus we chose Weber and Cleveland as the northern boundary, and 11th and Cleveland as the southern boundary. 17th and Hudson were

Four locations of intersection improvements.

Cost/How to Implement While Celebrate One is only receiving $50,000.00 for project implementation, Linden is due to receive $1.8 million over the next five years, or $350K annually, in Urban Infrastructure Recovery Funds (UIRFâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s) from the city of Columbus. In order to initiate the process, the neighborhood commission submits projects to the UIRF approval board. If the board deems the project appropriate, they will allow for funding of the project. This is the best source of funding for the above described projects. The estimated costs of the proposals are: The alleyway behind the Linden Public Library would cost approximately $50,000.00 The intersection art pieces run approximately $50,000.00 each. The banners run approximately $625.00 including design, and installation. For four intersections this totals $10,000.00 Total: $180,000.00 Totals for all three projects.

mobility

211

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Weber Road

Pedestrian Mobility: Why?

Genessee Avenue

Missing Crosswalks

d levar r Bou

Existing Crosswalks

Billite

Existing Crosswalk Network

Cle

vel

and

Ave n

Hudson Street

Hamilton Avenue

Walking is an integral part of active mobility, as it combines physical exercise with transportation. Crosswalks help to facilitate walking by making safer access for pedestrians to traverse their community. Currently, Linden lacks crosswalks at the majority of the intersections along the main commercial corridors of Hudson St. and Cleveland Ave. These corridors combine for a total of 12 painted crosswalks, with 40 intersections entirely negelected for any type of pedestrian infrastructure. Unsurprisingly, these commercial corridors are not used by pedestrians, and this has led to a deserted feeling along both Cleveland Ave. and Hudson St. Revitalizating these roadways is necessary for an ecnomically healthy Linden since they are the commercial backbone of the area. Increased pedestrian activity has been shown to increase spending along the areas frequented by walkers, so making Hudson St. and Cleveland Ave. more pedestrian friendly will help to alleviate some of the ecnomic downturn through these areas. Crosswalks also give residents a unique opportunity to embrace Linden as their home, and can provide them with place making opportunities to be prideful of. If done correctly and with calculated intent, the empty intersections in Figure 1 will help to tie Linden together, while pushing Linden towards a healthy future.

17th Avenue

11th Avenue Figure 1: An Existing Crosswalk Network Map showing Lindenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s current pedestrian infrastructure

Goals: What are we solving? Figure 2: Cleveland Ave. between 17th and 18th As mentioned before, this area has one of the highest pedestrian/vehicle collision rates in the entire city. With a modest improvement of crosswalks and a pedestrian median, residents will be able to safely cross Cleveland Ave. without concern.

Increasing the walkability of Linden by increasing safety for pedestrians by making both pedestrians and crosswalks more visible Pedestrian safety is critical in the effort to increase the walkability of Linden. By improving the visibilty of areas that are hotspots for vehicle/pedestrian collisions, we can start to bridge the gap created by the major trafficked roadways. Improve the overall health of Linden through social interactions and safe walking along the major commercial corridors Walking also creates opportunities for social interactions between residents as they are passing by one another or waiting with each other. The lack of attention residents have to use when crossing the roadways can instead be used to communicate with one another. Increase reasons for community pride through outreach and the involvement of residents in the decision making process and implementation of new crosswalks All crosswalks are different! Lindenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s should be no exception. Residents and businesses along the crosswalk intersections should be involved in the decision making process in order to help unite Linden in a prideful way.

mobility

213

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

How to solve these challenges Community Pride Increasing pedestrian connectivity to destinations along the commercial corridor will enhance social interactions in comfortability, frequency, and meaning. As residents see increased infrastructure being designed for them and by them, they will have more positive things to talk about to one another. Involving local creative minds in the design of the crosswalks, such as those at the local schools (Linden McKinley STEM academy, Columbus Alternative School, and Hamilton Elementary) will give residents a sense of ownership of the projects. These members of the community will reflect the culture unique to Linden in their designs of the crosswalks. Involving local religious organizations will be a crucial step in the implementation of these projects, as these groups have the ability to leverage volunteer hours out of their followers, and will be directly influenced by the increased infrastructure. Instead of having to send vans to pick up their members, the members of their faith will be able to walk instead. The democratic standard of sidewalks also helps to alleviate some of the alienation felt by residents due to their lack of personal automobiles. Whether it is children that feel left out because they cannot legally drive, or residents that cannot afford the burden of a personal motor vehicle, these individuals are welcomed into the Linden community by infrastructure that reflects their needs.

Crosswalk and placemaking opportunity for local schools, businesses, and religious organizations at the Heart of Linden, Hudson St. and Cleveland Ave.

Visibility

Simplistic visibility enhancements for pedestrians at Cleveland and Cordell

Visibility will be crucial in all crosswalks, especially those along Hudson St. and Cleveland Ave. Since these roadways are trafficked by vehicles exceeding 30 mph, and are over 2 lanes of traffic, there is a large chance that crosswalks alone will increase the rate of pedestrian and vehicle collisions. Figure 4 shows this relationship, and illustrates how critical it will be in order to add some type of vertical component for the vehicles to recognize that pedestrians will be crossing in front of their vehicles. These crosswalks must utilize more than paint on the surface of roadways. Variances on the traditional paint design include but are not limited to: electrical overhead systems, rapid flashing beacons, curb extensions, raised crosswalks, signage in the roadway between lanes, and signage on the sidewalk. Signage in between the roadways, overhead systems, and rapid flashing beacons are the most effective â&#x20AC;&#x153;low-costâ&#x20AC;? systems as found by The Minnesota Department of Transportation. Regardless of the system employed, pedestrians should feel as though they are being adequately represented and protected when in the crosswalks along the roadway in order to increase usage and comfort of bipedalism.

mobility

215

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Safety Safety comes from a combination of influences, not just the measurable statistics but also the feeling of safety. First, vehicles must be made more aware of the likelihood of pedestrians crossing the street. This has a direct correlation to visibility. This awareness will prepare motorists for the inevitability of encountering a pedestrian on the roadway. The slowing of traffic is also necessary, as it allows drivers more time to stop before crosswalks, and decreases the likelihood of a fatal or major collision with a pedestrian. Traffic calming techniques are not always going to rely on police enforcing the posted speed limit; they also require appropriately implemented infrastructure. Also, with large amounts of lighting along crosswalks vehicles will be more likely to slow because of the high amount of activity transversely illuminated across the roadway. The presence of lighting also helps pedestrians identify appropriate crosswalks, which in turn lowers jaywalking. With less jaywalking the incidence of safe passage increases.

An elaborate attempt at improving safety using LED lighting in the roadway and signs

Weber Road

Location selection criteria Genessee Avenue

Proposed Crosswalks Pedestrian Median Renovated Crosswalks School Crosswalks

ard Boule v

Missing Crosswalks

Billite r

Existing Crosswalks

Cle

Crosswalk Network

Hamilton Avenue

vel

and

Ave n

Hudson Street

17th Avenue

Locations were selected using several variables, such as pedestrian and vehicle collision data, the need to ensure that children are able to safely walk to and from school, visibility of location, need of location due to lack of nearby pedestrian accessibility, and bus stop proximity and ridership data. Since studies have been done to establish that children under the age of 10 have difficulties discerning how fast an oncoming vehicle is approaching, they are the highest valued areas. These intersections are around Hamilton Elementary. The Linden McKinley STEM Academy has but one crosswalk; and even though the students are older here, they still should have protection when crossing the roadways. Some areas such as 17th and 18th Avenues connect residents to vital services, such as St. Stephenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Community House. This is the only location in the area that provides expecting mothers with prenatal care. The proximity to bus stops is also crucial, as every bus ride starts and ends with walking. If riders are not safe when coming to or leaving the bus stop, they will be less likely to actively transport themselves. The bus stop areas chosen also coincide with an upcoming Bus Rapid Transit that is planned to run along Cleveland Ave.

11th Avenue

mobility

217

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Cost/How to Implement Cost varies throughout the design and implementation process. Figure 3 shows the different types of crosswalk designators and their expected timetables in Minnesota. Figure 4 shows the difference in pricing according to the Federal Highway Administration. The pedestrian median shown in between 17th and 18th Ave. would cost between $20-35,000, though similar medians have found to lower pedestrian and vehicle collisions by upwards of 46%. The implemenation of these pedestrian oriented infrastructure projects would be entirely hingent upon available funding in Linden, and the desire for residents to create a pedestrian friendly zone.

Above: Figure 3 Below: Figure 4

Bicycle Mobility Improved bicycle infrastructure has been shown to provide several benefits to communities throughout the United States and the rest of the World. After several years of planning cittes around the automobile, cities are realizing that this may not be the best way to attract employees to their neighborhood, cut rising healthcare costs, and mitigate traffic concerns. Linden currently lacks bicycle infrastrcuture throughout the neighborhood, but there are several opportunities for improvement. The lack of infrastrucute is discouraging to people who would like to ride bicycles, but are wary of dangerous traffic situations. In addition to the aformentioned benefits, bicycles have the opportunity to connect Linden residents to employment centers, provide recreation oppotunites and enhance safe healty travel throughout the neighborhood.

Scioto Greenways, Columbus, Ohio

mobility

219

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

The Linden Links The Linden Links provide two different strategies for improving bicycle ifnrastructure througout the neighbhood. The Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission previosuly identified the need for an east-west connection between the two most heavily used trails in Central Ohio; the Olentangy Trail and the Alum Creek Trai,l but currently there are no plans to build an east-west connection through the Linden neighborhood.

Linden Entertainment Healthcare Employment Center Bicycle Boulevard Existing Trail Network The Linden Links

Current bicycle infrastructure with planned Linden Links

Bicyle network locations were chosen based on routes that either improve or supplement the existing bicycle network, routes that connect Linden to employment hubs, routes that interface well with commerical corridors to spur revitalization, and routes that connect with public transit. Hudson Street was identified as the best corridor to connect the Alum Creek Trail and Olentangy Trail through the Linden neighborhood. The neighborhoodâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s eastern edge also contains an abandoned rail corridor. After completeing an urban transect along the rail line it was identified to be a prime location for a rail to trail conversion.

Hudson Street Link Hudson Street currently provides a great opportunity for an east-west bicycle connection through the city. Hudson Street currently contains businesses and the street already connects to the Olentangy Trail and the Alum Creek Trail in other neighborhoods. Unfortunately the only infrastructure on Hudson Street through Linden comes in the form of sharrows. These do little to protect riders from motorists regardless of ability, but a multi-use path through the neighborhood could provide residents a safe place to bike.

Hudson Street Curently

Connecting the the Olentangy Trail and Alum Creek Trail with a multi-use path provides Linden residents a healthy connection to amenities within biking distance of the neighborhood, such as The Ohio State University, the Short North, and Downtown. Each of these amenties provide employment, healthcare, and entertainment options for Linden Residents. With this infrastrucute all resdients can enjoy safe travel by bike. The multi-use path also provides a green infrastructure opportunity and beautifies the neighborhood from its previous state.

Hudson Street with a multi-use path

mobility

221

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Rail to Trail Link On the left there is a rendering of what a rail to trail conversion in the Linden neighborhood could look like. The wide open space of the old rail corridor provides a prime opportunity for conversion into a multi-use trail.

Current conditions of rail line

Converting the old rail line into a multi-use path provides several beneficial opportunities to Linden residents including healthy recreation, connectivity to the rest of the city, and a safe place to ride your bicycle. With this type of trail the Linden neighborhood becomes a quick bike ride to Easton Town Center or Downtown. Without this rail to trail conversion the Linden neighborhood will remain isolated from the rest of Columbus in terms of bicycle infrastructure. There are no such paths through the neighbhorhood where residents can enjoy themselves on a leisurely ride to the next destination. Linking Linden to the rest of Columbus through a rail to trail conversion has the opporunity to provide a safe bicycle connection creating a sense of pride and place for residents.

Rail to trail conversion

Implementation Linking Linden with bicycle infrastrucutre to the rest of the city could be a timely and costly processs. Bicycle infrastructure does not simply pop up overnight, but continuing to educate Linden resdisents about the benefits will contiue to build momentum.

Creating the Linden Links would provdide the most benefits to people on bikes, but they are by no mean the only solution. Expanding bicyle boulevards and sharrows throughout the neighborhood can enhance the current conditions of resdiential streets leading to a bicycle friendly neighborhood.

For the rail to trail to be built th land would need to be aquired by someone willing to build the connection. This most likely would be some type of government agency, such as the city, although theoretically the trail could be built privately. The simplest form of aqcuistion would be to buy land outright, although this process could be costly. The Hudson Street link would need to be implemented as part of a Hudson Street re-surfacing project. Currently there are no plans to resurface Hudson Street, but the best time to build the link would happen during this time. The current design would fit inside the right of way, and continuing to educate residents of the benefits of the project would ensure a smooth construction process.

mobility

223

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Transitscape and Bus Rapid Transit-Oriented Development

Due to high bus ridership on Cleveland

provides well-designed transit structures,

light beacon, while the other side can be

Avenue and within the Linden community,

and is also creatively integrated into its

scaled up or down to provide boxes for

there exists an opportunity to create

surrounding context. Its shipping container

programming and retail. These boxes can

a “transitscape,” which is a unique

concept pays homage to the industrial

bring community information to people

environment designed around a transit

heritage of Linden, and brings edgy

while they wait for the C-MAX, or they

piece. While the COTA C-MAX project

modern design into a neighborhood that is

can provide cool, attractive, convenient

will bring needed service upgrades, its

lacking in that department. Bus Box brings

retail spaces at a low cost that brings in

focus is not to create critical spaces along

contextual solutions to the sites where

community development resources for

the routes with a placemaking focus on

it is employed. The two sites featured

incubating retail startups. While transit

projects. Given that the C-MAX is one

here couldn’t be more different. Eleventh

users can make use of kiosk-type retail

of the most exciting projects to come to

Avenue has well-developed spaces

opportunities, the real opportunity is the

Linden in a while, this provides a unique

that provide opportunities for activation.

Linden economy. Ideally, successful

opportunity for small physical interventions

Hudson Street is a more challenging built

businesses can start in the Bus Box

to touch the lives of Linden residents. As

environment for developing a sense of

and then move into available bricks and

a mode that they either utilize and/or see

place. Both sites featured in this section

mortar space behind them. Bus Box can

being utilized, there is no questioning that

function as key intersections. The 11th

help the Linden economy by encouraging

bus-oriented interventions can deliver

Avenue site could be the gateway and

use of the BRT to get residents moving

urban design possibilities that serve the

Hudson the heart of Linden.

and working, and creating feasible retail

community.

At 11th, the Bus Box can serve

opportunities for while they wait.

Toward this goal, this section proposes

northbound C-MAX trips from the plaza

At Hudson, the entire Linden community

two new bus stations and a framework for

space on the northeast corner. To

comes together at a very dysfunctional

“BRT-TOD,” or “BRTOD” (bus rapid transit-

consider permeability and visibility, in this

and unpleasant intersection. There has

oriented development). One station, titled

concept, shipping containers are raised

to be a realistic acknowledgment about

Bus Box, is an innovative project that

on stilts. A vertical container serves as a

the condition of the physical environment

located here. Hostile to anything but cars, this intersection is proposed to see two new bikeways as a part of our studio, in addition to COTA’s C-MAX already underway. Invisting in placemaking projects at the intersection of Hudson and Cleveland Avenue could be a good way to better connect Linden to jobs at OSU and Easton, as well as the Olentangy and Alum Creek trails. Harnessing the BRT and bike infrastructure, Bus Box can be scaled up into an innovative “pop-up” TOD, which could be the first-ever equitable community TOD. This proposal for the Heart of Linden focuses on opportunities to reduce cost, maximize benefit, create capacity within the community, and provide spaces that Linden can make its own.

Rendering of a Bus Box that could be potentially located on the NE corner of Cleveland and 11th, activating the plaza space in front of the Greater Linden Development Corporation office.

mobility

225

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

It all starts when somebody gets off the C-MAX at the 2 Bus Boxes on the southwest and southeast corners, or when a tired bicyclist stops at a half-way rest stop along the Hudson Bikeway or Linden Link trails. The southeast corner, currently plagued with blighted properties that can be condemned or acquired through the Land Bank (fair market value altogether is $430,000), gives way to an open-air transit hub and community center anchored by Shop Box, an expanded retail incubator space, an expandable Food Hub, a Bike Coop and Bike Box, a Food Truck Hub, and a gathering space for schools, churches, mosques, and concerts. The entire complex is connected by a really cool, amorphous pathway called the Aorta. The Aorta weaves through an alley and spills over a vacant lot on Cleveland Avenue, where a crosswalk featuring a tree root design connects to the Linden Library. It also raises awareness about the health benefits of walking and exploring your environment, as humankind was meant to do. The Heart of Linden is a really cool TOD, but it is different from most really cool TODs. It is not a large-scale development, it does not drives gentrification, nor is it a high-cost development. Every component is designed to be scalable, with temporary uses such as a baseball diamond on the Food Hub phase 2 expansion site. The Heart of Linden simply takes a bad space and activates it with amenities wanted by the community. Above all, this project builds on the synergies of creating connections for a disconnected community, and by doing so creates something for residents to love about living in Linden.

Existing conditions at Cleveland and Hudson.

The premise of the Heart of Linden development proposal is simple, and can extend across the entire C-MAX corridor: Communities traversed by this BRT-lite route have the opportunity to mold a transitscape where C-MAX has left off. With a concerted effort and agreements in place, these communities should make sure all new development occurs along this corridor to the extent that this is possible. Within Linden in particular, where the commercial corridor is comprised mostly of auto-oriented businesses, there is room to grow. This corridor need not be this way, and the community has the capacity to do something by refocusing on these corridors. In particular, community uses proposed must activate strategic sites that both improve how Linden is perceived, as well as yield potential off-spin private infill. By concentrating first at Hudson and Cleveland, the Heart of Linden, this community can build a strong backbone. Once that small success has been achieved it will be easier and more fruitful to branch out with improvements along the entire corridor

Visual representation of Heart of Linden concept, as viewed from intersection of Cleveland and Hudson.

through Linden. As much as the neighborhood may want to minimize the corridor with the thinking that a community is one or the other, the reality is that Linden is a corridor neighborhood. Embracing that will start to turn around how Linden revolves around this corridor, one of the most iconic and lengthy within Greater Columbus.

mobility

227

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Root Walk

Shop Box

Bus Box

Food Hub 1

Food Bridge

Food Hub 2

Bike

Coop

Bike Box

Aorta

Pathway

Food Truck Hub

THE HEART OF LINDEN

Site plan diagram of how a “pop-up TOD” could anchor a BRT station in Linden, as seen in the above proposal for the Heart of Linden.

The Hub Stage

Bike Trai aills

Conclusion

Solution must work together

Upgrade bus amenities Fix bicycle connectivity and safety

Fix street network and streetscapes

Solution must work independently

This map and graphics are a representation of the entirety of mobility groups recommendations in chapter 4

mobility

229

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

○

A holistic transportation approach helps build capacity within Linden, empowering residents to take charge of their community and move together toward the following goals:

A holistic transportation approach in Linden will help build

Health & Food partners

capacity toward empowering residents to take charge ofand their ○ Concentrates amenities where it creates reinforces intermodal linkages community and move together toward the following goals: ●

Amenities for bus users

1. Concentrate amenities and reinforce intermodal linkages • Amenities for bus users • Amenities for trail users • Amenities for joggers • Amenities for bicyclists

●

Amenities for trail users

●

Amenities for joggers

●

Amenities for bicyclists

2. Create a connected,○ accessible community Creates a community premised on access Community for both CMAXcorridor corridor and Greater 3. Create a community○ anchor for anchor both the CMAX and Linden

greater Linden. ○

Promotes revitalization from the heart outward, leveraging the corridor

4. Promote revitalization from the center outward by leveraging the intersection of existing corridors.

Transit & Access partners Economic Development Incubation partners

Literature Review

Following is a review of select chapters from A.L. Dannenberg et al. Making Healthy Places: Designing for Health, Well-Being, and Sustainability.

Chapter 2: Community Design for Physical Activity

Frank et al. 2005 studied adults, King et al. 2003 studied older adults; Sallis, Saelens et al. 2009)

It is well known that physical activity increases health and

Walkable neighborhoods have connected streets, slower traffic

decreases the risk of preventable disease. In fact, physical

overall, and dense mixed-use destinations to walk to and with

activity reduces the risk of most common causes of death,

well-maintained, tree-lined and safe sidewalks to walk on.

disability and suffering of Americans, including obesity,

(Carver, Timperio, and Crawford 2008)

cardiovascular diseases, high blood pressure, heart attacks,

Individuals that live within Âź mile of a park have been shown

strokes and type 2 diabetes. (US DHHS 2008)

to have higher levels of physical activity than those who donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t. (Kaczynski and Henderson 2007; Saelens and Handy

What is less well known is the connection of built environment to

2008; Cohen et al. 2007) Neighborhood features that have

physical activity. Researchers in fields from medicine to sociology

been connected to decreased levels of physical activity are

to city planning have connected built environment factors to

unappealing aesthetics, crime, graffiti and litter. (Evenson et al.

physical activity levels in dozens of studies. Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more, is

2007; Kaczynski and Henderson 2007; Reynolds et al. 2007)

they are beginning to identify items in neighborhoods that tend to increase or decrease the amount of physical activity partaken

Finally, the most important thing for designers and policy makers

by their residents. This is excellent news for designers, because

to keep in mind, when attempting to improve the health and

this means we can begin looking at neighborhood design in such

character of a neighborhood, is the most effective interventions

a way to benefit the health of residents in the neighborhoods we

involve comprehensive approaches including outreach, programs

get a chance to work with.

and design (Sallis et al. 2006), projects and programs that are well planned, work together, well designed and well maintained.

Neighborhood attributes that have been shown to increase physical activity the greatest are walkable and close to parks. (Saelens and Handy 2008; Kligerman et al. 2007 studied youths, literature review

231

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Chapter 3: Food Environments

Linden feels the effects of an uneven food environment. There

The growing numbers of overweight and obese Americans

are no supermarkets within the neighborhood, but a number of

(those over the 85th percentile of Body Mass Index, or BMI)

small grocers and convenience stores that either don’t sell fresh

is well documented. Much of this comes down to what we eat.

food or have little amounts at significant mark-up (Food Access

Individual choice matters, but so do the places we inhabit and

Team 2015). When possible, residents can access supermarkets

the food within them, referred to here as the food environment

beyond the neighborhood limits such as Kroger at Northern

(Story et al 2008). Research is ongoing, but two layers related to

Lights or Aldi near Mapfre Stadium but their access to fresh food

place and the environment include the community environment,

could still happen close to home. Community gardens, smaller-

or the places where food can be obtained and the consumer

scale growing associated with higher fruit and vegetable intake

environment, or what a person is exposed to at said places

(Alaimo et al. 2008) have a presence in the neighborhood, most

(Glanz et al 2005). Food environments vary across communities,

prominently opposite the Linden Branch Library on Cleveland

with research finding less access to supermarkets and fresh

Avenue, and have the potential to increase.

food particularly in low-income, African-American neighborhoods (Larson, Story and Nelson 2009). Consequently, places with less to dietary guidelines and a greater risk of chronic conditions

Chapter 4: Community Design and Air Quality

(McCullough et al. 2002).

In chapter four, Samet makes the case for both local and large

diverse access to food have been found to have lower adherence

scale design measures to combat poor air quality. He strengthens The unequal distribution is driven by the “food system chain”,

his argument by exposing the relationship between the physical

referred to as the production, processing, sale, and consumer

environment and air quality, and eventually relates it to health

choice of food. Its structure is influenced by the Farm Bill, a

problems that people may face as a result of exposure to these

funding mechanism for food policy revisited by the US Congress

factors. This chapter not only clearly illustrates the problem or

every five years. Historically larger economic interests have

poor air quality; it acts as a call to action to planners, policy

influenced the Bill, resulting in more centralized production and

makers, and designers.

subsidies for more processed foods such as dairy products. This has began to change somewhat, with the 2008 re-authorization

Main points:

paying more attention to population nutrition with provisions to

Air quality can be affected by local point sources and by sources

foster fruit and vegetable production (Weber 2008).

from larger geographical areas. Point sources are sources of air

pollution that can be identified as a single producer of a harmful

education are also more likely to live near a polluting facility and

chemical or particle being released into the air. While these

are more likely to struggle with weight, smoking, and inactivity.

kinds of sources have a negative effect on the community, the air quality of a place can also be affected by dense populations,

Pollution in urban areas is directly related to health risks. Studies

transportation, power plants, and more. Overall air pollution has

have shown that pollution from traffic can be harmful to people in

become a regional problem, and not a local one.

cities not only from their emissions, but from the dust and debris they push into the air while moving. Primary pollutants are the

Microenvironments are smaller geographical areas where certain

ones produced directly, while secondary pollutants are formed

particles or pollutants are more prominent. An example of a

while in the atmosphere. Both kinds of air pollution increase

microenvironment might be a house, a car, a particularly busy

risk of death. In particular, children and fetuses have a higher

street, or an â&#x20AC;&#x153;urban canyonâ&#x20AC;? which is a place where tall buildings

susceptibility to the negative effects of air pollution. Traffic in

enclose the street. While thinking on a large regional scale, it is

particular has been shown to cause death from cardiorespiratory

also important to consider microenvironments to improve local

problems, and also causes asthma and other lung problems, birth

health.

outcomes and cancer.

Exposure to air pollution can be reduced by the built environment.

Reducing air pollution requires local and larger scale strategies

Overall health is directly linked to having open space, walking

to be successful. Useful strategies include requiring plants to

paths, bike paths, and opportunity for physical activity. However,

reduce point source pollution, and in general reducing the use

sometimes physical activity can increase amount of air breathed

of personal automobiles and encourage alternate forms of

in, and in areas with high pollution, exercise can actually prove

transportation. Collaboration amongst various municipalities

dangerous. Designers can mitigate this effect by creating

or even countries is the only way to effectively address large

microenvironments that avoid point source pollution and heavy

scale air pollution sources. Air quality management on a human

traffic.

scale may also produce the benefit of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Air pollution is a social justice issue. Lower income neighborhoods are more likely to be less walkable, and have

In South Linden, the automobile industry has created a car-

more exposure to air pollution. Low quality housing can be a

friendly environment instead of a pedestrian one. However, with

microenvironment for pollutants. People with lower levels of

no large industrial plants or major point sources, the strategy literature review

233

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

for South Linden has to be a more general policy to improve environments instead of one to reduce polluters. A prioritization

Finally, there are built environment factors than can help

of humans over cars could drastically change the air quality

decrease injuries due to crime. Three basic approaches are

for the residents, and especially for fetuses and children, who

effective in reducing violence and crime: natural surveillance,

are more susceptible to health problems from poor air quality.

access control and territoriality (Crowe 2000). Natural

Another strategy for South Linden will be to eliminate negative

surveillance includes windows with clear views of the street,

microenvironments and try to create opportunities for physical

bright outside lighting and neighborhoods with frequent

activity within positive environments.

pedestrian activity. Access control includes limiting access to escape routes, such as schools having only one (monitored)

Chapter 5: Injuries and the Built Environment

entrance. Finally, territoriality refers to a sense of ownership or belonging to a neighborhood. Features that build up this feeling

Because Injuries are the third leading cause of death in the

are those such as well-landscaped and maintained sidewalks,

US and the leading cause of death for children and young

businesses and landscaping. Characteristics of neglect, such as

adults (CDC, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control

broken windows and graffiti signal lack of ownership and may

2011), it is important for designers to understand how the built

invite crime.

environment can be modified to help prevent both unintentional injuries, such as falling, and intentional injuries, such as assaults. For example, strategies such as separating pedestrians from

Chapter 6: Community Design and Air Quality

motor vehicles and installing traffic signals, in-pavement flashing

In chapter six, Samet discusses multiple facets of water health in

lights, four-way stops, pedestrian overpasses, fences that

the environment. He discusses water quality and water quantity.

inhibit street access and sidewalks are effective in preventing

He specifically focuses on the effects of wastewater and runoff

pedestrian injuries. (Retting, Ferguson and McCartt 2003) Also,

on the overall quality of water and its effects on the health of the

measures designed to make pedestrians more visible, such as

public. He makes the case for policy changes regarding the use

moving bus stops to the far side of intersections decrease injury

and disposal of water.

risk; as well as interventions for managing vehicle speed, like four-way stops and speed humps can help decrease injuries in

Background on water systems: Water quality is regulated for

neighborhoods. (Tester et al. 2004)

public water systems. Few states have standards in place to test

private wells. Most have recommendations about maintaining

increasing the amount of precipitation in cities. Rain barrels,

underground wells but donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t enforce them very well. Wastewater

roof gardens and swales can decrease the effects of flooding

is disposed of through a number of methods including public

and overflow. Cities use rain gardens as well to beautify the

sewers, septic tanks, cesspools, or chemical toilets. Often,

environment and absorb water from storms. When cities have

wastewater can accidentally be discharged into local water

too much pavement, storm water collects pollutants and runs

bodies as a result of poor weather or maintenance issues. A

into local streams and other bodies of water. Furthermore,

sewer system overflow (SSO) occurs when the amount of water

dense development of waterfronts can cause cities to be more

entering the sewers is more than the sewer can handle.

vulnerable to the negative effects of storms.

Another issue, called combined sewer overflow (CSO) occurs

3. Water Quality

when storm water mixes with sewage and causes the treatment

Drinking water quality is harmed by the wastewater conveyance

plant to be unable to process the quantity of water it receives. An

system. The best way to maintain the quality of drinking water

on-site wastewater treatment system (OWTS) is an option for an

is to build dense communities with easily maintained sewer

individual household to store and treat its own wastewater, thus

systems.

mitigating the overflow problem. Overall, cities need to make policy decisions that improve water Three Challenges:

quality and access. For dry communities, water conservation

1. Too Little Water

needs to be the focus, whereas rainy communities need to focus

Highly developed cities often overuse their water sources to

on controlling flooding and overflow. Water systems span larger

mimic landscapes that are not native to their locations. For

than just the immediate community. Policies that aim to improve

example, Las Vegas and Phoenix are both deserts, but much

water quality need to be negotiated over larger areas.

of their suburban landscape is actually covered in greenery. Some solutions include xeriscaping and the use of gray water, or

South Linden is in a relatively rainy climate compared

leftover water.

to the rest of the country. The focus when designing for South Linden needs to be on the effects of storm water. Most of the

2. Too Much Water

community is currently hardscaped and would benefit from more

Cities that have too much water can suffer from floods, damage

rain-centered design. Columbus also has a combined sewer

to buildings, and overflow of sewers. Climate change has been literature review

235

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

system. Because of this, efforts need to be made to prevent

contributes to psychological distress (Evans 2001) and higher

combined sewer overflow, by providing alternate routes for rain.

levels of aggression (Evans 2006).

Chapter 7: Mental Health and the Built Environment

Linden, like many places, exhibit both positive and negative

Mental health is an important aspect in a person’s quality of life.

and external effects on residents. Greenspace and natural

It influences our own well-being, views on our community, and

settings are available, most notably at Linden Park and Maloney

views on individual life chances. In addition to social aspects,

Park, but good accessibility to those who may need to cross the

the places we inhabit day-to-day have an affect on our mental

busy, noisy Cleveland and Hudson corridors is a concern. Lastly,

health. These environments can be either a positive or negative

residents hold a desire for more landmarks in the area. Even in

influence.

the form of digital billboards or banners (Brady and Clark-Jones

elements. Vacant structures dot the landscape, causing internal

2015), things that denote a neighborhood exists contribute to a Environments contain many positive elements. The presence of

positive sense of place.

greenspace is seen as capital, benefiting children’s psychological development (Evans et al. 2001) and gently hold the attention When integrated with pathways, nature can foster interaction and

Chapter 8: Social Capital and Community Design

build social ties, an important aspect of community development

What does it mean- The social aspect is much more qualitative

(Kuo et al. 1998). Elements of distinction are also important, with

than quantitative. To build socially interactive environments is

landmarks and signage giving people a sense of where they are

important to building the social capital of an area.

of adults to recover from intensive brain activity (Kaplan 1995).

to reduce anxiety and enhance emotional security (Lynch 1960). Social Capital Negative elements are abound as well. Unsafe and dilapidated

Social Capital are the resources that individuals can access

buildings cause social withdrawal (Evans 2006), fueling a

through their connections to a social group. There has been

greater chance of depression (Galea et al. 2005). It further invite

different renditions of social capital over time. According to Pierre

criminal behavior, causing a host of psychological problems in

Bourdieu in 1986, Social Capital is the aggregate of actual or

both children and adults (Osofsky 1995). Excessive noise and

potential resources linked to possessions of a durable network”.

crowding, such as on a busy street or in inadequate housing,

In 1990, James Cole added that social capital can take different

forms: A. Trustworthiness of social environment; B. Information

undertake collective action. Behaviorally Mediated Mechanisms

channels; C. Norms and effective sanctions; D. Appropriate social

is represented as group enforcement of social norms. An

organizations, or associations that are established for specific

example of Behaviorally Mediated Mechanisms is the informal

purposes but can later be used for broader purposes. Finally

social control where the adults in a community have the ability

in 1993, Robert Putnam defined social capital as “The features

to intervene when they observe undesirable behavior. Finally,

of social organization, such as trust, norms, and networks that

there is fairly consistent evidence of an association between

can improve the efficiency of society by facilitating coordinated

an individual’s health status and his or her perceptions of

actions”.

trustworthiness of other people in the community.

There is then Bonding, and Bridging Social Capital. Bonding Social Capital are the ties among members of a group who

Linking Social Capital to the Built Environment

are similar to one another with respect to social class, race or

One question, then, is how do we build Social Capital? This can

ethnicity, religious affiliation, or other axes of social identity.

be broken down to Formal Interactions, Informal Interactions, and

Bridging Social Capital, then, are the links among members of

the concept of “The Third Place”. Formal Interactions can only

a community who are dissimilar to one another with respect to

happen when there is a place for them to occur such as town

social identity.

meetings, or little league team meetings. It is also an integral part of both bonding and bridging social capital as it encourages

Linking Social Capital to Health.

contact between people who might otherwise remain disparate or

Social Capital can influence the health of individuals through

isolated, while strengthening ties among people who are already

many ways. Examples are: Network Based Resources, Positive

bound by a common thread. Informal Interactions are unplanned

Psychosocial Effects of Social Cohesions, Collected Efficacy, and

encounters such as bumping into a neighbor while running and

Behaviorally Mediated Mechanisms. Network Based Resources

errand or seeing a “regular” at a coffee shop. It may be equal in

contain information channels through which new ideas are

importance to informal interactions as it facilitates social capital in

introduced, then spread, and eventually become adopted with

inciting conversation among neighbors.

a community. Positive Psychosocial Effects of Social Cohesion

The Third Place was suggested by Ray Oldenburg’s in his

is represented as when those living in a community are familiar

1989 “The Great Good Place”. In it, First place is home, second

with their neighbors, an overall sense of safety can mitigate

place is work. Third place is a shared place in which members

the psychosocial stress associated with neighborhood crime.

can interact— any place that offers a way for people to use

Collected Efficacy is the ability of residents to mobilize to

their neighborhood beyond private living. When residents are literature review

237

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

invested in spaces beyond their private homes, a bond emerges

residents of such pedestrian-oriented environments reported a

with others who are similarly invested. Conversely, the more

much stronger sense of community (Lund 2002). A Reliance on

time people spend away from the public eye at home, the more

cars has a detrimental effect on civic life, due in part to decreased

disinvestment there is in the community.

opportunities for chance encounters while walking but also to the amount of time people spend in cars. Commute time may be the

Evidence for the Association of Social Capital and the Built

most important individual predictor of community involvement

Environment

(Putnam 2000).

When keeping in mind the Built Environment, one primary

Finding the right Solution may not be as simple. A recent analysis

characteristic reported in communities with high social capital is

suggests, however, that highly dense compact cities are not

mixed land use (Leyden 2003), where residents live in proximity

necessarily the solution to the problem of urban sprawl. On

to services and amenities rather than in a purely residential

balance, mid-density designs with up to about forty dwelling

environment. Mixed land use provides opportunities for daily

units per acre appear to be optimal for interaction with neighbors

interactions among community members, leading to a greater

and participation in groups, even though neighborhood pride

familiarity with oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s neighbors, more trust, and a greater sense

and attachment may be highest in low densities, and use of

of connection. The presence of parks has also been associated

neighborhood facilities may be peak at higher densities (Bramley

with higher collective efficacy within a community. (Cohen,

et al 2009).

Inagami, Finch 2008) There is a virtuous cycle in which collective efficacy ensures the al 2008), which is in turn critical in promoting perceptions of social

Chapter 9: Vulnerable Populations and the Built Environment

capital and safety. When mixed land use and access to outside

Built environment design choices that improve quality of life for

destinations are not options, design features of buildings, such as

one population often do so for many populations. Solutions to

courtyards, have potential to facilitate social interactions (Nasar

vulnerabilities must be identified and implemented collaboratively

and Julian 1995)

with the populations impacted. Universal design, a strategy that

When considering the Transit Orientation of a neighborhood,

reduces or eliminates much vulnerability, is best implemented

residents of communities with a pedestrian orientation rather

early in the design process. A more complete understanding

than a vehicle orientation reported more strolling around the

of populations and their vulnerabilities is crucial if health and

neighborhood, as well as walking to destinations in the area. The

design professionals are to address health threats effectively.

diligent upkeep and cleanliness of these public spaces (Wood et

Vulnerabilities within individuals and groups are due both to

2001). Design choices should prevent vulnerability wherever

personal characteristics and to conditions in social and built

possible, mitigate it when prevention is not possible, and promote

environment. For vulnerable populations a major focus of public

resilience among all community residents. Some examples

health should be creating, in collaboration with planning and

include brownfield cleanup and redevelopment projects, Safe

design professionals, the physical and societal environments that

Routes to Schools projects, and complete streets projects.

protect and promote health.

Outcomes of factors that impact vulnerable populations, such as ethical norms, environmental factors, social and economic

Evolving Awareness of impacts on Vulnerable Populations

factors, person environment fit, adaptive responses, and

Efforts to address the health implications of community design

maladaptive response. At an individual level, positive outcomes

choices among the various social determiants of health have

includes optimal child development, social participation, and

evolved simultaneously within the civil rights, environmental

active coping. Negative outcomes include obesity, activity

justice and disability rights movements. Design and health

limitation, and passive coping. At a community level, positive

professionals need to understand the short and long term health

outcomes include community resilience, social capital, lower

implications of their decisions on all populations.

health care cost, and better community health status. Negative outcomes include segregation, gentrification, and costly overuse

Practical Understanding of Vulnerabilities in Individuals and

of public health and medical services, excess illness and death.

populations Historically, vulnerable populations have been defined in

Case studies

ways that highlight weakness, creating either stigma or pity.

In Rural, Humboldt County, California they used health impact

Populations may be made vulnerable by age, young children

assessment to integrate health considerations into process. The

and older adults, disability status i.e.mobility, vision, hearing

HIA has built awareness of health impacts related to planning

and cognitive impairments, and socioeconomic status. Health

decisions among county agencies, project decision makers,

and isolation are other factors that cause vulnerabilities, health

participating community members and the general health.

meaning person with chronic health conditions and isolation such as segregated by race, ethnicity or age. A vulnerability

For San Francisco, gentrification has led to increased land values

model is needed that can be adapted across a variety of

and rents and the involuntary displacement of tenants. Health

populations, communities, and conditions and that address both

professionals conducted workshops in which participants

community and individual level correlates of vulnerability (Aday literature review

239

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

collectively identified pathways among health, environmental,

Chapter 10: Transportation and Land Use

economic and cultural conditions and public policies. The Healthy

Transportation and land use are directly correlated with the “5

Development Tool was created as a comprehensive metric for

D’s” of development—density, design, destination accessibility,

evaluating projects of this type in the future.

and distance to transit. Each variable impacts the physical, social, and mental health of community residents. Development

Georgia wanted to pursue a more healthy and sustainable

patterns influence whether a community is attractive, walkable,

model for addressing the needs of the regions older residents.

can support transit, has convenient destinations that support

Health and design professionals organized a charrette to

quality of life, and reduce automobile dependence (Cervero and

explore the challenges of creating lifelong communities in largely

Kockelman 1997; Ewing and

suburban landscapes. Through this process the group outlined a

Cervero 2001, 2010).

comprehensive accessibility code. Density is usually measured in terms of persons, jobs, or Summary

dwellings per unit area. Areas that are more dense are

For vulnerable populations to achieve optimal health and quality

more likely to be walkable, served by transit, and have

of life, new ways to prevent physical and social hazards while

lower dependency on automobiles. As automobiles have

encouraging health-promoting change must be found (Corburn

shaped development over the past 50 years transit oriented

2009). The process should be evidence based, inclusive and

developments like Linden have fallen on hard times. At one time

participatory. It is important to understand that all individuals

Linden enjoyed a much denser community than it does now.

have health vulnerabilities at some point in their lives, often

Redeveloping homes in the neighborhood can lead to people and

due at least in part to community design decisions. Community

jobs coming back to the neighborhood.

design can be either a source or solution and often the solutions can benefit many groups. Community leaders, health and

Diversity refers to land-use mix, often related to the number of

design professionals can identify and address health threats

different land uses in an area as well as the degree to which

and contributes to reducing and eliminating vulnerabilities in

they are “balanced” in land area, floor area, or employment.

communities.

Communities that are diverse are more likely to have a range of people and places that makes an area interesting and to have easier access to more destinations. Currently, Linden does not

enjoy a diverse land-use mix. No major employers are located

stop. Neighborhoods well served by mass transit have bus

within walking distance of the neighborhood and there are no

or rail stops within convenient walking distances of many

grocery stores that can be easily accessed by foot.

residential and commercial areas, therefore reducing automobile

Design is extremely important to the characteristics of the

dependence. South Linden residents enjoy transit access along

neighborhood. The street network characteristics of a

Cleveland Avenue and Hamilton Avenue but they are inefficient in

neighborhood can include sidewalk coverage, building setbacks,

providing residents with all their needs. The lack of good service

street widths, pedestrian crossings, presence of street trees, and

perpetuates the want and need for an automobile.

other physical variables. Each variable differentiates pedestrian from automobile oriented environments. Areas that have good design are attractive, have a sense of place, and are more

Chapter 11: Healthy Homes

walkable. The Linden neighborhood was initially developed with

Housing is perhaps the most important aspect of everyday life

good urban form. The streets are gridded and Cleveland Avenue

and occupies a special place among built environments. They

once enjoyed its own street car that connected the neighborhood

are structures that serve as shelter to provide protection from

to downtown. In recent times, the design of the neighborhood

the elements and potentially from hostile environments. Homes

has deteriorated. Many of the streets are missing sidewalks and

provide meaning for people who live in them and are often

the streetcar has been replaced with bus lines. The development

objects of aspiration, sources of personal and cultural identity,

of a new BRT system in the neighborhood hopes to replace what

safe and secure havens, and settings for family life to prosper

the old streetcar provided.

(Rybczynski 1987; Marcus 1997).

Destination accessibility is measured in terms of the number

Housing can and should support good health for its residents.

of jobs, stores, schools, parks, or other attractions reachable

Healthy houses are residences that are sited, designed, built, and

within a given travel time. Accessible destinations tend to be

maintained to promote the health of their residents by creating

highest in central locations and lowest in low-density peripheral

healthy indoor environments and linking residences to healthy

areas. The Linden neighborhood enjoys a mixture of parks and

neighborhoods (US DHHS 2009). The link between housing and

schools that are located within walking or biking distance; but

health has long been acknowledged (CDC and US HUD 2006).

jobs, stores, and healthcare are inaccessible to the neighborhood without the use of a car. Distance to transit is typically measured

Physical and environmental factors can negatively impact

from home to work to the nearest rail station or express bus literature review

241

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

individual residences. Second hand smoke inside homes can

facilities planning, by shifting the focus away from a tenant’s

lead to lung cancer for non-smokers and impact the health of

occupancy, and instead toward a building’s construction, use, and

children. Asbestos and lead materials that cause cancer were

eventual demise.

often used in homes built during the time period homes in the Linden Neighborhood were built (until the 1970s)(US EPA 2010).

While these intangible benefits may often include flexible work hours, a relaxed work environment, opportunities for workplace

Educating residents about the importance of not smoking inside

camaraderie – one of the most impactful means is to offer a well-

their home and providing structural modifications to homes with

designed, attractive work environment that not only makes the

chemical exposure can go a long way toward the health of a

employee feel safe and secure, but also promoted well-being,

community. In Ohio, the percentage for adults who currently

and enhances productivity. All of these goals have been achieved

smoke cigarrettes was 25.1% in 2001 (cdc.gov). Across all states

through environmental design innovations, but the article on

and D.C., the prevelance of cigarette smoking adults ranged

Healthy Workplaces focuses on the extent to which sustainable

from 11.8% to 29.0% placing Ohio 44th amongst the states. In

design practices have promoted workplace safety and led to

2009-2010, 73.5% of adults in Ohio reported that their homes

lasting lifestyle improvements that the individual worker can take

had smoke-free rules. Keeping homes smoke free can add to

home with them.

the overall health of neighborhoods. This is especially true for the Linden neighborhood that experiences abnormally high infant

Occupational safety hazards are still a very real issue in many

mortality rates.

workplaces, despite modernization that has either mechanized or minimized manual labor. In 2008, according to Table 12.1,

Chapter 12: Healthy Workplaces

transportation was actually the leading cause of occupational fatalities in the United States. Following transportation accidents

Traditionally conceived as off-limits to design innovations, the

(half of which were highway accidents), there are three

American workplace is being reimagined as it aggressively

relatively equal causes of death: “contact” with objects and

embraces environmental design innovations in an effort to

equipment, assaults and physical violence, and falls. While

attract the most talented possible workforce. Companies that are

transportationrelated accidents comprise 2,130 deaths (per

maxed-out on compensation packages have turned to intangible

100,000 workers), the other three causes represent 937, 816,

ways to attract the human capital they need to be competitive in

700 respectively – or combined, slightly more than transportation-

the 21st century. The life cycle approach has also revolutionized

related occupational fatalities.

Chapter 13: Healthy Health Care Settings

The article mentions the importance of holistically designing

Healthcare facilities, as a specialized design prototype, began

a facility and including wraparound measures. This is to say

appearing in the 1800s – typically as a barracks-style facility.

that the most sustainable workplace in the world isn’t at all

This design approach was thought to maximize efficiencies as

sustainable if its workers can’t sustainably get to it. As it relates

the “warehousing” of patients was in a manner similar to how

to promoting well-being and reducing occupational hazards,

an attending doctor would make his or her rounds to check on

transit access is vital. Not only is public transit the safest means

patients. While seemingly efficient, the concept eroded any

to travel, but active transportation (biking/walking/jogging to work)

possibility of individual-based service delivery, which has proven

can increase worker health and wellbeing. Placing a workplace

to be essential for good outcomes.

within reach of these means alone resembles tremendous progress. Designing a sustainable facility on that site is the way

In 1999 the Institute of Medicine (IOM) published its first “quality

to hit a home-run as a “Healthy Workplace.” Within said healthy

chasm” report which found that even in the U.S., medical care

workplace, there should be considerations for internal circulation

is surprisingly dangerous. 44,000 to 88,000 people were dying

as well. For instance, attractive stairwells make a big difference in

annually from preventable medical errors, and potentially up

encouraging employees to “get their steps in” throughout the day.

to 2 million patients were contracting infections while receiving

Lastly, there must be an emphasis on indoor environmental

the healthcare they needed. All of these issues can be solved

quality (IEQ), including ambient lighting, heating/cooling settings,

through providing comfortable, individualized settings for medical

and views. All of these three factors have an equal psychological

attention. The DuBose and Zimring reading actually opens with

impact in a workplace environment. Third party assessments like

a story of a patient who had a number of issues that they would

LEED have always done a good job of measuring these inputs,

only inform a doctor about in progressively private settings.

but have gotten a lot better at balancing site considerations like transit/trail access.

The implication is that in a barracks-style or even semi-private environment, a patient is less likely to report all of the information that a doctor needs to make decisions to prevent symbiotic relationship between health care facilities and the vital services delivered inside its walls.

literature review

243

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

The following are all design goals that relate directly to desired

numerous, and are as follows: single-bed rooms, access to

health care outcomes: Reduced hospitalacquired infections,

daylight, appropriate lighting, views of nature, family zone in

reduced medical error, reduced patient falls, malpractice death or

patient rooms, carpeting, noise-reducing finishes, ceiling lifts,

healthcare-contracted infections from taking root.

nursing floor layout efficiencies, decentralized supplies, and

Similar to “Healthy Workplaces,” innovations in “Healthy Health

acuityadaptable rooms. Single-bed rooms, lighting improvements,

Care Settings” tend to revolve mainly around improvements

and noise-reducing finishes are shown by the literature to relate

in indoor environmental quality (IEQ) and a research-based

most directly to the most goals. These are the most utilitarian

approach called evidence-based design. Evidence based

places to focus design resources, but it’s important to interface

design is defined as follows: “The process of basing decisions

with all of these building features to holistically design a

about the built environment on credible research to achieve the

healthcare setting that is conducive to improved health outcomes.

best possible outcomes” (Center for Health Design 2008). This approach has been particularly pervasive in designing medical facilities due to the parallels with “evidence-based medicine,”

Chapter 14: Healthy Schools

which is a critical health

This article draws upon comparisons to other facility types, as

care delivery process. These dualities have fostered a symbiotic

schools are not unlike other facilities in terms of having a finite life

relationship between health care facilities and the vital services

cycle which they will go through, but they are also unique from

delivered inside its walls.

other facility typologies in some ways. The literature focused on

The following are all design goals that relate directly to desired

an elementary school, Clearview Elementary School, which was

health care outcomes: Reduced hospitalacquired infections,

replaced with a LEED-certified structure. This school has since

reduced medical error, reduced patient falls, reduced pain,

undergone numerous environmental health audits that have shed

improved patient sleep, reduced patient stress, reduced

light on the health benefits of their new green building.

depression, reduced length of stay, improved patient privacy,

In general, schools buildings are uniquely important indoor

improved patient and family member communication, improved

environments because the children for which they are built are

social support, decreased staff injuries, decreased staff stress,

particularly vulnerable in the event of poor indoor environmental

increased staff effectiveness, and increased staff satisfaction. In

quality (IEQ).

essence, the constituencies for each of these goals are two-part;

The touch points between the school facility and the young

patients and staff.

children who comprise its student body come in the form of not

The design solutions that relate to each of these goals are less

just indoor environmental quality, but also transportation getting

or storing a bike upon arrival, etc.

to school, the environment surrounding the school (playgrounds,

High-performance schools must be environmentally-friendly, safe,

fields, etc), as well as opportunities to integrate the natural

healthy, easy to maintain, and easy to use. By achieving these

environment into learning opportunities. Younger students are

goals they lend themselves to fostering a supportive academic

especially responsive to active lessons, for instance where they

environment where students are engaged.

might take a “field trip” to a creek behind a school to learn about science. the building systems that impact that) due to the unique high-density of schools. Young children, according to this article,

Chapter 15: Nature Contact

breath more air “pound for pound” than adults do – so not only

While built environment refers to physical infrastructure, nature

are their bodies more reactive to environmental considerations,

contact is an experience in the built environment. Contact with

but they also take in more of that air at the same time.

nature in many forms may benefit public health and cooperate

While the bulk of an academic curriculum takes place within a

into healthy community design.

central school building, that curriculum is enriched and made more effective for an individual by extracurricular activities.

People appreciate nature not only for aesthetic reason but also

Similarly, the role of the school building is enriched by

for their well-being. They find tranquility, comfort, and restoration

wraparound venues such as sports fields, exploration grounds,

in contact with nature. Human lives were rooted in natural

and such.

environment for a long time in an evolutionary perspective. The biophilia hypothesis proposes that people are inherited to

The role of transportation getting to school is also very important.

associate with nature (Kellert and Wilson 1993).

A school is not very different from other “second places” (workplaces) in that its inhabitants arrive from different directions

What mechanism works in contact with nature to improve health?

using different forms of transportation. Many school children may

Theory puts emphasis on directed attention with “ability to focus

arrive by bus, while many may also arrive by walking or bicycling

and block competing stimuli during purposeful activity” (Kaplan

to school. Safe routes to school are essential toward facilitating

1995). Many scholars confirmed, therefore, contact with nature

active transportation and attempting to solidify its role in the lives

could improve cognitive abilities, task performance, and reduces

of the children as they mature, but once on-site, that “safe route

stress and enhance health. Research supports that those who

to school” must end at facilities that are conducive to walking in,

are exposed to nature more often have less stress and recover

literature review

245

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

more quickly (Wells and Evans 2003). Contact with nature also

Chapter 16: Resiliency to Disasters

benefits children. Researchers assert that contact with nature

Natural hazards including hurricanes, forest fires, earthquakes,

improves children’s ability to develop perceptual skills and

tsunamis, floods, tornadoes, severe drought, and heat waves, are

expressive skills (Louv 2005). Moreover, it also enriches social

prevalent in most areas of the world. Researchers found that a

support that enhances public health. Natural settings function as

mix of disasters resulted in $1 billion or more damage in the last

physical activity space.

thirty years. Natural disasters have an impact on health as severe as death and injury.

Natural elements are common decorations of buildings, such as schools, hospitals, and offices. Researchers suggest bringing

Planners should work to improve social vulnerability and build

natural daylight in buildings in order to promote health and well-

resilient communities that can withstand disasters. Godschalk

being. (Boyce, Hunter, and Howlett 2003) Moreover, biophilic

(2003) describes resilient cities as ones “capable of withstanding

design that “fosters beneficial contact between people and nature

severe shock without either immediate chaos or permanent

in modern buildings and landscape” (Kellert 2008, 5) could

harm”. Resilient planning is to build adaptive capacity; resilient

work to bring nature into buildings. Neighborhoods with nature

infrastructure should continue to work during disasters, and would

surroundings may benefit health as well. Researchers found that

become stronger (Godschalk 2003, 137). Community resilience

people experience less illness with more green neighborhoods.

is interrelated to resilience of buildings, land use, ecosystem and

Horticultural therapy (Simson and Straus 2003) uses healing

environment, social and governmental capacity.

gardens (Marcus and Barnes 1999) to cure patients, families, and staffs. Community gardens are places to promote participation

Passive survivability refers to the “ability of a building to maintain

of hands-on contact with nature. From small pockets to gigantic

critical life-support conditions for its occupants” when services

reserves, parks offer health benefits as well.

such as power or water are lost for significant time period (Wilson 2006). Planning, design, and social networks affect

A co-benefit of promoting contact with nature is that it can yield

community resiliency. Adoption and enforcement of building

energy efficient buildings, better access to food, and nature

codes is a popular method to support community safety and

conservation. Challenge of designing nature contact is that these

health. Landscape features like low-impact development (LID)

benefits operate differently across ethnical and cultural groups.

can help resiliency, such as improving permeability to absorb rainfall. Vegetation could also protect the community and provide ecological benefits against natural hazards.

Communities should have effective resilience strategies in land use development in order to minimize risks of natural

On the built environment side, Schneider briefly examines how

hazards. Strategies such as lifelines are systems or networks

space can influence choice. Her main point being, all personal

that “are the means whereby a community supports its day-

factors equal, the built environment must present healthy choices

to-day activities and include mechanisms used to respond to

(stairs) in a manner that equals the alternative, unhealthy, choice

emergencies” (Johnston, Becker, and Cousins 2006, 40). Critical

(elevators). In order to motivate individuals to take the healthy

infrastructures, such as energy sources or ecological services,

choice, barriers must be removed. The healthy choice must

should be placed outside high-risk areas.

be as well designed, visible, and accessible. In simple terms, a stairwell should not be shuttered off to a dark corner of the

Planning actions should enhance ecological resilience, such as

building, but be equally as attractive in design and location as

providing sufficient wetlands buffers to absorb floodwater and

an elevator. Expanding on that logic, by designing the unhealthy

mitigate sea level rise. Moreover, communities should strengthen

options to be less attractive, all else equal, the healthy option will

social qualities and relationships to develop their resilience, and

see greater use. However, even equally presenting healthy and

one of the most effective strategies is to support local economies.

unhealthy options, individual choice will still vary between the two

Resilient local economies include diverse, prepared, sustainable

alternatives.

and green, and community connected regional economic activites.

Throughout her report, Dr. Schneider, showcases several examples of how the interplay between healthy and unhealthy

Chapter 17: Behavioral Choices and the Built Environment

choices manifests. For example, after being exposed to information about fruits and vegetables, participants who had higher access to those foods had better outcomes for changing

In this short piece, researcher Margaret Schneider, overviews

behavior. Conversely, those who lacked access were unable to

factors that influence behavioral choice. While the focus is on

modify behavior.

the built environment, she does place strong emphasis that a person’s surroundings can only exert so much influence on

Coupled with the built environment examples, Dr. Schneider

behavior. In other words, both the built environment (nature) and

also examines how personal factors influence choice. In one

an individual’s personal preferences (nurture) work together in

case involving increased access to physical activity equipment,

informing the decision making process.

participants with “low self-efficacy [one’s ability to plan and literature review

247

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

follow through]…increased physical activity,” while other groups

use law and policy. Land-use and health are intimately related.

(organized by personal traits) remained constant.

Proximity to parks or factories can effect residents’ ability to lead active lifestyles. Land use is planned and regulated in couple

To sum up, both the design of the built environment and a

of important areas. Comprehensive plans guide future land-use

person’s motivations influence decision making. To increase

strategies and dictate subjects such as the future location of

healthy options likelihood of the use, those options should be

parks. Zoning codes regulate how specific tracts of land can be

at least equal in design to unhealthy options. However, just be

used for different uses. If activists want to ban industrial land

placing both healthy and unhealthy options on equal footing does

uses near parks or homes, they would turn to the zoning code.

not ensure equal use. Individual behavior characteristics also influence an individual’s decisions as they move through the built

Housing

environment.

The federal government plays a larger role in the housing market than it does with land use. Federal tax policy encourages

Ch. 18: Policy and Legislation for Healthy Places

home ownership through policies such as the mortgage interest deduction. Affordable housing developments are often subsidized through federal grants, although local governments have

Land use, housing and transportation are policy areas that

significant sway over the location of affordable housing units. The

overlap with public health and the health of the built environment.

quantity, quality and location of housing in relation to the rest of

Federal, state and local governments have varying degrees of

the built environment is important for residents of all incomes and

influence over the funding and implementation of these policies.

backgrounds to improve their health.

Policymakers, planners and activists tasked with improving the health of the built environment need to be familiar with the roles

Transportation

and functions of different levels of government.

Federal laws, budgets and policies have a significant impact over transportation infrastructure within, and between, America’s

Land use

communities. Transportation has the ability to impact health in

Land use is principally controlled by state and local governments.

a number of different ways. Encouraging active transportation,

In Dillion’s Rule states, state governments have primary control

such as walking and biking, can help lead to healthy lifestyles.

over dictating land-use law and policy. In Home rule states,

The reduction of automobiles can reduce air pollution, and

like Ohio, local governments have primary control over land-

related diseases, such as asthma rates. Nationwide, activists

are adopting complete streets policies, which are designed to

have the ability to create healthy and sustainable physical

meet the needs of pedestrians, cyclists, public transit users and

environment, which provides the rationale that community

automobiles.

engagement is effective.

Land use, housing and transportation are not only important

Through reviewing Arnsterin’s article, we learned an eight-

subject areas that can improve the health of the built

step ladder or levels of citizen participation, which answers the

environment, they are also interrelated. Active transportation

question who gets engaged and how:

needs to be incorporated with existing and future land use

• Manipulation

strategies. The location of safe, affordable housing in proximity

• Therapy

to parks and complete streets is important to obtain healthy,

• Informing

equitable lifestyles.

• Consultation • Placation

Ch. 19: Community Engagement In this chapter, the authors identified and discussed key

• Partership • Delegated Power • Citizen Control

considerations and strategies about implementing community engagement when planners want to advocate for new

Researchers also found that community engagement not only

development or bring improvements to communities.

reshapes the physical aspects of a community but also alters the social landscape by creating strong bonds among members, thus

By definition, community engagement involves opportunities

potentially contributing to an increase in healthy eating and active

for community members to participate and input on a project

living.

or process. And the forms or ways of engagement consist of quasi-government organization like a planning commission,

A case in point is introduced to explain how to tackle the issue

nongovernmental organizations like church groups and

when eminent domain is used to develop the built environment.

promotoras and community-based organizations like charrettes

To overcome the NIBYMism in the community, the Seattle

and community meetings.

Department of Transportation (SDOT) incorporated testimonials from other people who have gone through the process. Authors

By giving an example of El Sereno community in LA, the authors

also demonstrated that a community survey can reveal residents’

point out that organized and engaged community member

priorities. And the chapter also emphasize that the history or literature review

249

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

legacy of both positive and negative of the community will

program or project on the health of a population. They involve six

have substantial impact on the strategies used for community

steps: Screening, Scoping, Assessment, Developing Regulations,

engagement purpose.

Reporting, and Evaluation. These Assessments are often time consuming and can be expensive, and oftentimes assessments

Ch. 20: Measuring, Assessing, and Certifying Healthy Places Everyone wants to live in a healthy place, but we need effective

required by law are the only ones to have any real impact on legislation and policy. However, they are necessary to have a full understanding of how the built environment is affections our overall health.

tools that allow us to measure locations as healthy or unhealthy. While qualities of the built environment such as level of service

The last tool available is the LEED-ND, a neighborhood design

for roadways, number of illnesses, traffic accidents, or crime, are

rating system. It encourages neighborhood development projects

often reported, most of the time there is no surveillance regarding

that are energy efficient; enhance the natural environment,

factors that contribute to chronic diseases such as obesity and

health, and quality of life of communities; and promote the

diabetes.

location and design of walkable neighborhoods. Health Benefits of such communities include:

Creating and sustaining walkable locations is key in creating healthy places. Walkable places offer health benefits such as

• Reducing the risk of obesity, heart disease, and

increased physical activity, social capital, and decreases in

diabetes by integrating physical activity into residents’

injuries and air pollution. However, it can be difficult to determine

daily lives through developing communities that make it

the best measure of walkability. Five key questions are often part

convenient, safe, and enjoyable to walk or bicycle to work,

of a walkability study: Did you have room to walk? Was it easy

school, shopping, parks, and other destinations.

to cross streets? Did drivers behave well? Was it easy to follow safety rules? Was your walk pleasant?

• Reducing the risk of asthma and reducing air pollution and injuries from motor vehicle crashes by encouraging the building of homes and businesses closer together and

Health Impact Assessments include both qualitative and

by providing facilities for walking, bicycling, and public

quantitative measures of health impacts, and are a combination

transit, thereby reducing dependence on automobiles for

of procedures, methods, and tools that systematically judge the

transportation

potential, and sometimes unintended, effects of a policy, plan,

• Increasing social connections and sense of community by

providing appealing and comfortable street environments,

must be developed and established and linked to existing urban

parks, and active open spaces for social networking, civic

planning and public health training requirements. There are some

engagement, personal recreation, and other activities that

schools and programs that offer dual-degrees or cross-listed

create social bonds among individual and groups.

courses in planning and public health, but the authors argue that

• Improve mental health by reducing time spent commuting and increasing time devoted to leisure, community

these programs should be more common.

activities, and family, and by providing a variety of active

In summary, “achieving the goal of healthy places will require a

open spaces close to work and home.

new generation of public health and planning leaders equipped

• Encouraging healthier diets by making fresh fruits and

to seamlessly integrate skills, theory, and tools from both fields.”

vegetable more accessible through promoting community-

The development of cross-disciplinary public health and urban

based and local food production.

planning programs could be beneficial for Linden, and areas similar to Linden, because it could lead to more experts working

Ch. 21: Training the Next Generation to Promote Healthy Places This chapter is centered on the idea that planners and public

in the area and offering well-rounded solutions to the public health challenges that these communities face.

or programs that allow them to better understand the intersection

Chapter 22: “Urban Health in Low- and Middle-Income Countries”

between public health and the built environment. The authors

Urban Health in low and middle income countries is vastly

argue that many steps must be taken in order to achieve this goal

different from the health of developed countries metropolises.

of ‘integrated learning. These steps include the development of

However, conclusions from these developing countries still hold

a ‘shared language’ between disciplines; expansion of funding

relevancy for developed areas such as Linden. For example,

for cross-disciplinary research, training, and practice; and the

urbanization is the largest shift in population trends over the last

formalization of interdisciplinary curricula and programs.

two centuries, and will continue. This has large implications for

health professionals should be trained in interdisciplinary courses

Linden, since it is so proximal to downtown Columbus. Also, the Along with these steps, the authors contend that all professionals

authors acknowledge that social and infrastructure factors are

who are engaged in promoting healthy places need to be

unique to individual urban environments. These infrastructure

educated in a set of core competencies. These competencies

factors play an essential role in determining population health literature review

251

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

and is crucial for Linden, because residents have a distinct lack

have transitioned from working with the rail lines to less caloric-

of infrastructure and have a comparatively low population health

intense occupations. This is similar to the transition in developing

in comparison to nearby communities.

countriesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; rural to urban population shift because the residents are moving from more intense physical work, to more mentally

These basic conclusions have far reaching implications for

taxing work. Linden can shift some of their transportation policies

Linden, and further studies of these areas has led to more

and activities in order to shift the overall population health of

suppositions. As the population is gravitating towards urban

the area; as the individual human is prioritized in transportation

areas, the transition from physical to nonphysical labor in

policy, then the automobile will become less convenient. As the

combination increased consumption of caloric dense/processed

automobile becomes less convenient both the air quality will rise

foods leads to increased risk of obesity, high blood pressure, and

and the safety for pedestrians will increase, which leads to a

diabetes. City transportation policies and activities in these areas

healthier, longer-living, community.

influence road safety, air quality, and physical activity in their respective urban environments. The air pollution in these urban and 50-70 million respiratory diseases annually. Municipal

Chapter 23: Social and Welfare Programs: A Case Study

policies in these areas can improve road safety and air quality by

Rising per capita income is often accompanied by greater

further restricting speed in vulnerable areas. For example, cities

income disparity. Urbanization is the largest shift in population

can reduce the risk of accidents by improving road infrastructure,

trends, and will continue to be in the foreseeable future. Social

such as: lighting, rumble strips, crosswalks, speed humps, and

and infrastructure factors unique to urban environments play an

structural separation of pedestrians and cyclists. In combination

essential role in determining population health

with these improvements, urban farms and community gardens

Urban areas along the coast will need additional infrastructure

reduce the need for transit and refrigeration of goods, while

due to rising sea levels, though these urban areas will have more

reducing urban carbon footprints.

resources with which to redefine their infrastructure

areas leads to approximately 130 thousand premature deaths,

These suppositions are applicable to Linden in a variety of ways, even though the comparison may not be immediately evident.

City transportation policies and activities influence road safety, air

Linden was traditionally an intensely labor based occupation

quality, and physical activity in urban environments.

market, which required comparatively large amounts of caloric

Air pollution in urban areas is responsible for 130,000 premature

expenditure in order for residents to work. However, now they

deaths annually, and 50-70 million respiratory diseases.

Transition from physical to nonphysical labor and increased

• Transit-oriented development

consumption of caloric dense/processed foods leads to increased

• Combine life and work

risk of obesity, high blood pressure, and diabetes.

• LEED

Municipal policies can improve road safety by further restricting

• Government policy

speed in vulnerable area. Cities can reduce the risk of accidents

These concepts of sustainability can prevent a crisis in resources

by improving road infrastructure: pavement, lighting, speed

and have less of an impact on the environment. The authors

humps, rumble strips, crosswalks, and structural separation of

describe how the needs we have today have changed from

pedestrians and cyclists will likely reduce risk

those of our hunter-gatherer ancestors. They present a table

Urban farms and community gardens reduce need for transit and

of the universal health needs which contains both physical and

refrigeration of goods while reducing urban carbon footprints.

psychosocial needs. Some examples are:

What means now:

• Clean Air

The built environment can and will shape Linden residents lives.

• Clean Water

Pursuing the correct improvements will be crucial in the future of

• Sleep

the citizens. We must recognize the greatest positive change that

• Minimal contact with pathogens

can be made through the built environment

• An emotional support network • Opportunities for learning • An aesthetically pleasing environment

Ch. 24: Built Environments of the Future

The authors suggest that we can address some of these

This chapter focuses on the rapid growth of the population and

needs through sustainable living. This topic is applicable to

the threat it has on our resources. To mitigate this problem it is

Linden because of the need for better health. Sustainable living

important to train future generations to live more sustainable

addresses the universal needs, and by addressing these needs

lives. New habits can be implemented to make the population

we can create a healthier community.

more sustainable and reduce the competition for resources. Those habits/techniques include: • Urban agriculture • Active transit • Reduce human waste (use less water, compost) literature review

253

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Citations: • A.L. Dannenberg et al. (eds.), Making Healthy Places:

• Crowe, T. 2000. Crime Prevention through Environmental

Designing and Building for Health, Well-Being, and

Design: Applications of Architectural Design and Space

Sustainability, DOI 10.5822/978-1-61091-036-1_2, c Island

Management Concepts. 2nd ed. Woburn, MA: Butterworth-

Press 2011

Heinemann.

• Asbestos in Your Home. Washington, DC: • US Environmental Protection Agency. http://www.epa.gov/ asbestos/pubs/ashome.html • Brady and Clark-Jones. Guest lecture. 11 September 2015. • Carver, A., A.F. Timperio, and D.A. Crawford. 2008. “Neighborhood Road Environments and Physical Activity among Youth: The Clan Study.” Journal of Urban Health: Bulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine 85: 532–44. • Cervero, R., and K. Kockelman. 1997. “Travel Demand and

• Evans et al 2001. “Community Noise Exposure and Stress in Children.” Journal of the Acoustical Society of America 109: 1023-27. • Evans 2001. “Environmental Stress and Health.” In Handbook of Health Psychology, edited by Baum, Revenson and Singer, 571-610. Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum. • Evans 2006. “Child Development and the Physical Environment.” Annual Review of Psychology 57: 423-51. • Evenson, K.R., M.M. Scott, D.A. Cohen, and C.C. Voorhees.

the 3Ds: Density, Diversity, and Design.” Transportation

2007. “Girls’ Perception of Neighborhood Factors on Physical

Research D 2: 199–219.

Activity, Sedentary Behavior and BMI.” Obesity 15: 43–45.

• CDC and US HUD (Centers for Disease Control and

• Frank, L.D., J.F. Sallis, B.E. Saelens, L. Leary, K. Cain,

Prevention and US Department of Housing and Urban

T.L. Conway, and P.M. Hess. 2009. “The Development of a

Development). 2006.

Walkability Index: Application to the Neighborhood Quality of

• CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. 2011. Web-Based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQARS). http://www.cdc.gov/injury/wisqars/ • Cohen, D.A., D. Golinelli, S. Wiliamson, A. Sehgal, T. Marsh, and T.L. Mckenzie. 2009. “Effects of Park Improvements on

Life Study.” British Journal of Sports Medicine. http://bjsm.bmj. com/content/early/2010/04/22/bjsm.2009.058701.full. • Galea et al. 2005. “Urban Built Environment and Depression: A Multilevel Analysis.” Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health 59: 822-27. • Healthy Homes Reference Manual. Atlanta: US Department

Park Use and Physical Activity: Policy and Programming

of Health and Human Services. http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/

Implications.” American Journal of Preventative Medicine 37:

publications/books/housing /housing.htm

475–80.

• Kakczynski, A.T., and K.A. Henderson. 2007. “Environmental

• Saelens, B.E. and S. L. Handy. 2008. “Built Environment

Correlates of Physical Activity: A Review of Evidence about

Correlates of Walking: A Review.” Medicine & Science in

Parks and Recreation.” Leisure Sciences 29: 315–54.

Sports & Exercise 40 S550–66.

• King, W.C., J.S. Brach, S. Belle, R. Killingsworth, M.

• Sallis, J.F. H.R. Bowles, A. Bauman, B.E. Ainsworth, F.C.

Fenton, and A.M. Kriska. 2003. “The Relationship between

Bull, C.L. Craig, M. Sjostrom, I. De Bourdeaudhuij, J. Lefevre,

Convenience of Destinations and Walking Levels in Older

V. Matsudo, S. Matsudo, D.J. Macfarlane, L.F. Gomex, S.

Women.” American Journal of Health Promotion 18: 74–82.

Inoue, N. Murase, V. Volbekiene, G. McLean, H. Carr, L.K.

• Kligerman, M., J.F. Sallis, S. Ryan, L.D. Frank, and P.R.

Heggebo, H. Tomten, and P. Bergman. 2009. “Neighborhood

Nader. 2007. “Association of Neighborhood Design and

Environments and Physical Activity among Adults in 11

Recreation Environment Variables with Physical Activity and

Countries.” American Journal of Preventative Medicine 36:

Body Mass Index in Adolescents.” American Journal of Health

484–90.

Promotion 21:274–77. • Kuo et al. 1998. “Fertile Ground for Community: Inner-City

• Tester, J.M., G.W. Rutherford, Z. Walk, and M.W. Rutherford. 2004. “A Matched Case-Control Stydy Evaluating the

Neighborhood Common Spaces.” American Journal of

Effectiveness of Speed Humps in Reducing Child Pedestrian

Community Psychology 26(6): 823-51.

Injuries.” American Journal of Public Health 94 (4): 646–50.

• Marcus, C. C. 1997. House as a Mirror of Self: Exploring the Deeper Meaning of Home. Newburyport, MA: Conari Press. • Rybczynski, W. 1987. Home: A Short History of an Idea.

• US DHHS 2008. Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. United States Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. Health.gov/paguidelines/guidelines.

New York: Penguin. US EPA (US Environmental Protection Agency). 2010. • Retting, R.A., S.A. Ferguson, and A.T. McCartt. 2003. “A Review of Evidence-Based Traffic Engineering Measures Designed to Reduce Pedesrian-Motor Vehicle Crashes.” American Journal of Public Health 93 (9): 1456–63. • Reynolds, K.D., J.Wolch, J. Byrne, C. Chou, G. Feng, S. Weaver, and M. Jerrett. 2007. “Trail Characteristics as Correlates of Urban Trail Use.” Health Promotion 21: 335–45.

citations

255

LINDEN STUDIO 2015 | CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY