Mo’Plaza: A temporary plaza at the corner of Queen St & Morris St The Mo’Plaza initiative was initiated by Bill Campbell a local citizen who recognized an excess of underutilized roadway at the corner of Morris St and Queen St. The PDC has teamed up with Bill to pilot a pedestrian plaza in Fall 2014.
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Intersection of Morris St & Queen St, Halifax NS On July 14th 2014 the Planning & Design Centre (PDC) held a workshop/public engagement session with local residents from the Queen & Morris area. This was the second forum for community consultation to be held regarding the project. The first was a pop-up information tent placed on the site as part of the 100 in 1 Day initiative that took place on June 7th 2014. During this intial event passers-by were encouraged to fill out an online survey with suggestions for ammenities or changes they would like to see in the space. Results of this survey are summarized later in this document. During the July 14th workshop the following elements were highlighted for the plaza: Amenities: • Board-games interactive on table • Seating → to read Atlantic News publications • Shade (natural shade, trees), longer-term • Umbrellas → short-term • Bike racks • Charging stations → wi-fi zone • Meeting space → notice board Neighbourhood Identity: • Permanent element (entry into Schmidtville) gateway • Signage for the neighbourhood → markers • Seniors from Queen/South • Add more outdoor space for people without backyards etc. • Support local business
Programming: • Have local groups to maintain and program (chess club etc) • Projection → video to document the space • Allow for food trucks to program the space • Maybe start with passive use • Programming space for Atlantic News (important during pilot) • Augment library space • Music, afternoon / buskers • History → puzzle of the neighbourhood • Interative → kids Design Elements: • Landscaping → planter boxes • Buffer from traffic → visual cue • Colour and paint
“Our own small version of the Cogswell Interchange.” -- Workshop Participant
Survey Results What would you like to be able to do in Mo’ Plaza?
What kind of facilities would you like to have on Mo’ Plaza?
100%
100%
90%
90%
80%
80%
70%
70%
60%
60%
50%
50%
40%
40%
30%
30%
20%
20%
10% 0%
10% Sit & Relax
Talk to a friend
Read
Watch People
Eat
Enjoy a live performance
0%
Trees
Landscaping Space for Food truck Bicycle rack Separated sidewalk / or sidewalk waste street art vendor receptacles
As part of the June 7th, 2014 100 in 1 Day initiative organized by Bill Campbell, interested community members were asked to fill out an online survey asking two questions regarding the Mo’Plaza design. The first was “What would you like to be able to do in Mo’Plaza?” The top 6 desired activities were to sit and relax, talk to friends, read, watch people, eat, enjoy a live performance. Just over 90% of respondents indicated that being able to sit and relax in the space was most important. The second question was “What kind of facilities would you like to have on Mo’Plaza?” Trees, landscaping, space for sidewalk/street art, food truck or sidewalk vendor, bicycle rack, separated waste receptacle, were identified as the top 6 desired facilities. Trees and landscaping were noted as the most desired of all options with 80% of respondants indicating a desire to have these in the Mo’Plaza space.
Photos: July 12th Mo’Plaza Workshop
Priorities
The group identified the following key points as priorities for the initial design of the space : Interactive elements The desire to include interactive elements within the Mo’Plaza space was raised by several workshop attendees. A variety of details were suggested and ranged from an interactive puzzle installation themed around the history of the community, to boardgames, to child specific activities. There was a clear desire to try to complement the space being created by the library and the history of the Schmidtville area. Seating A need for additional seating in the neighbourhood was also highlighted several times by the working group. Specifically as a space to augment the services provided by Atlantic News, located on the adjacent corner and specifically for senior residents in the immediate vacinity to the Mo’Plaza area who are lacking in accessible outdoor social spaces. A variety of seating styles were suggested, ranging from movable chairs to more permanent bench seating. Regardless of design the need for shade was essential to all seating elements.
Buffer from traffic/visual cue Having a clear delineation between vehicle space and the pedestrian plaza area was a key concern. Suggestions visual cues as well as physical barriers were both expressed as reasonable solutions. The separation of space is important both as a safety tool as well as a way to distinguish the space as different from others around it. It was suggested that paint could be used to highlight the area meant for pedestrians. Physical barriers such as planters could be placed along the southern edge which is nearest to traffic, creating a stronger separation.
Identify the space as a gateway to Schmidtville/signage for the neighbourhood The corner of Morris St and Queen St is located within an important historical neighbourhood in Halifax known as Schmidtville. Schmidtville is one of Halifax’s most intact historic neighbourhoods. Bordered by Clyde, Morris, Brenton and Queen Streets, the three-block area has many houses dating back to the early 19th Century and has a distinct historic character and urban form. Using the space to better identify and provide a gateway into the neighbourhood was a priority for community members. This could be incorportated into the plaza design through signage or interactive/media elements.
Next Steps: • Contacting local councilor • Presentation to Urban Design Review Panel and Community Council • Hold additional community workshop focused on more detailed design