2013 LA8201 DUWAMISH_Executive Summary, SEATTLE WA

duwamish LA 8201 Everywhere:Nowhere Graduate Studio University of Minnesota College of Design

executive summary

Located immediately south of downtown Seattle, the current land use policies and sociocul-

tural attitudes towards the Lower Duwamish Waterway in Seattle, WA reflect the predominate paradigm of post-war, suburban development in the second half of the twentieth century. The result is a homogenized “grey/brownfield” urban condition, stretching over 7 miles along the Duwamish River valley. While the valley held a significant role in the prosperity of Seattle and the commerce and security of our nation-particularly through port commerce and the military/ aviation industry- the present focus of the valley is changing.

Complex issues have emerged in the Duwamish, including aging municipal infrastructure, toxic contamination, salmon habitat loss, land use change and industrial vacancy. For example, a river some 15 miles in length is now a channelized, 7 -mile “waterway”; land uses have shifted from small scale subsistence farming to the generic corporate centers of large scale industry, transportation and port commerce. Meanwhile, energy, healthcare and infrastructure upkeep costs increase while water quality, livability and spatial connectivity have decreased; leaving a spatial network framework that is acutely placeless and economically untethered to future paradigmatic “massive change”. Further, the psychological disconnect inherent to placelessness has resulted in chronic and ubiquitous pollution and the river has been literally reshaped and redefined as a EPA Superfund “waterway”.

The patterns of urban development in the Duwamish are not synchronized with emerging paradigms, and in several instances, are counter to emerging trends. The impetus for change varies with each stakeholder and regardless if the drivers of change are ecological or economic, social or cultural, punitive or visionary...change is certain. The tremendous investment of resources, energy and capital to date, along with complex, pressing issues call for retooling and retrofitting the Duwamish Valley so as to position its people, its economy and its ecology in a manner that is adaptive to a resilient future.

The future of the Duwamish Valley is in flux. This work proposes that experimentation and speculation can generate new identities for dwelling and settlement that exhibit sustainable spatial, infrastructure, and temporal responsiveness. These are not predictable, template, historicist-driven models (i.e. the New Urbanism project), but are idiosyncratic, hybrid models that express context and retrofit- for future resiliency and prosperity- the existing investment in the valley with its municipal resources, commerce, and cultural patterns of place.

In response, the following visions speculate on transformative planning and design strategies to retrofit the existing valley into a quality, healthy environment for dwelling, re-inhabitation, re-habitation and re-investment. Each proposal embodies paradigmatic change through the selective re-organization of portions of the valley into a meaningful place for live, work and play that is environmentally, economically and socially sustainable.

INTRODUCTION: Everywherenowhere_Duwamish

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Participants

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5 CONTEXT AND OPPORTUNITIES

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design PROPOSALS

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With a slow economic recovery, Americans are struggling to survive. Citizens are participating in collaborative consumption, sharing resources and relying on social network as a way to maintain a life style. In addition to sharing resources like washing machines and cars, people consider land and property to be a shared resource. Waste is up-cycled, materials are reused or re-purposed, Places are used more efficiently.

In the Valley, Intentional communities are the preferred neighborhood type; where the idea of public has been redefined. These communities are popping up adjacent to natural and cultural assets. Community cohesion is a matter of pride. An Informal economy emerges as a way to handle the collapse of global trade. Time banking becomes a way for people to contribute to their communities and receive something in return. Bartering between communities is a common practice. The traditional economy still exists, but has been stifled significantly. Citizens are starting to focus their energy on supporting the each other by non-monetary means. The formal, more tradition economy, has concentrated the types of Industries in which people work outside the community to government and manufacturing. Every other service, once provided by the formal economy, is now provided by the informal economy in each community. With the reduction of the formal economy, the tax base has been severely decreased, resulting in a limited role of government that incentivize bottom-up initiatives and self-governance.

This proposal displays what one of the nodes might feel like.

COLLABORATIVE COMMUNITY: A POST-CAPITALISTIC VISION FOR THE DUWAMISH VALLEY

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The Duwamish river is on the brink of a transformation: from a polluted industrial waterway to a cleaner, restored river. With this project, we’ve asked: how can the return of the duwamish river to a healthy state catalyze change?

RIVER//TOWN: REUNITING GEORGETOWN WITH THE DUWAMISH Change would occur as major paradigms of use, settlement, and awareness in the valley begin to shift, and as the river’s potential is realized. When the river is perceived not as a gray industrial wasteland but instead as a unique and valuable resource for all, the opportunities and benefits - cultural, economic, social, environmental, and beyond - could be enormous for the community of Georgetown was once on the banks of the Duwamish.

With the river’s channelization and industrial takeover,Georgetown was cut off from the river and its identity as a river town. as paradigms shift and make way. This project aims to reunite Georgetown with the water, securing a connection that will sustain both the community and the Duwamish river into a healthy future.

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georgetown's once proud riverine past is welcomed back most importantly through the inlet, an extension of an existing barge slip that will project northward into the neighborhood. at the river's entrance, a marina will welcome watercrafts to enjoy georgetown's new riverfront. alongside the inlet, a large promenade captures the heart and feel of a seaside port town, complete with large gathering spaces to allow for many public gatherings and events.

the river

river+town located along the shores of the duwamish river, the river docks provide both a leisurely and adventurous experience. consisting of piers and trails, residents and visitors can interact with the river and tidal habitat conditions at various levels and places - an intent to create a meaningful and long-lasting relationship between georgetown, it's residents, and the river.

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we approached our site planning through the lenses of economy, ecology, and culture. what could we do to use the clean-up of the duwamish river as a catalyst to promote improvement for georgetown in all three areas? by physically bringing the river into the community, and the community up next to the river, we could use renewed water access at multiple scales as a framework for development and programming. our primary goals were: / to develop a viable intermingled community that could provide expanded housing as well as encourage healthy economic growth and opportunity / to provide georgetown residents with a network of diverse green or open public space, both of which they are currently severely lacking. / to encourage a return of river consciousness through creating opportunities for interactions with water and the unique environment of the duwamish river.

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waterfront space small watercraft activity large watercraft activity

we approached our site lenses of economy, ecol could we do to use the cl river as a catalyst to p georgetown in all three bringing the river into t community up next to t renewed water access a framework for developm

our primary goals were:

/ to develop a viable i that could provide expa as encourage healthy opportunity / to provide georgeto network of diverse gree both of which they ar lacking. / to encourage a return through creating opport with water and the uniq shopping, eating, evening entertainment duwamish open space, farmer's market, boatriver. watching observation/fishing pier, stage marina, sailing, kayak + canoe rental walking, fishing, wildlife watching

program

green network tidal habitat green street street trees

wate

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stormwater treatment

tides

runoff catchment + filtration

currently, the duwamish valley lacks green stormwater infrastructure, which could help immensely in improving water quality of runoff from industrial sites before it reaches the river. with the superfund cleanup comes great responsibility to keep the river clean afterwards. though we are phasing out industrial use in this specific area and predict that automobiles and other sources of anthropogenic pollutants will improve in the coming decades, treating stormwater upstream remains important. a network of vegetated swales, runnels, and infiltration beds will filter and slow the stormwater's course before it ultimately reaches the duwamish river or groundwater.

the ribbon

low tide high tide future high tide the duwamish river, like most rivers, conveys fresh water downstream. but as it is becomes an estuary, it also experiences the tidal fluctuations of elliott bay and puget sound. as the tide rises and falls throughout the day, season, and year, it make for an everchanging experience along the water's edge. our river edge and intertidal habitat area within the canal inlet highlight the full range of tidal conditions, from -4 to +13, while the ribbon only contains water at mid-tide and above, at +10. we've designed georgetown's expansion to be resilient in the face of climate change and rising sea levels, able to remain above high tide with a sea level rise of 2 feet (a medium projection).

river+town

vegetated runnel

water overflow from green roof

green roof

water interaction situated in the heart of river+town, the ribbon is an integral piece of the new urban fabric of georgetown. this vegetated slice can hold high tidal water every day in addition to cleaning stormwater from the surrounding blocks. it will be surrounded by exciting and interactive spaces that will provide shelter as well as promise economic activity with small shops and cafes. the ribbon presents an opportunity for people to interact with water on a smaller scale.

waterfront space small watercraft activity large watercraft activity

returning the river to georgetown, and georgetown to the river, comes down to creating meaningful spaces for people to interact with water on an everyday basis, whether by land near the water's edge, or by boat on the water itself, as well as including a community marina and large boat docks, we've created areas to interact with water at multiple scales by foot or by watercraft: the expansive river's edge, the structured canal inlet, and the more intimate ribbon. in the following pages, we'll jump into these spaces.

runoff collects in permeable pavers

silva cells

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tidal flow

infiltration trench

vegetated channel (5-8' deep)

excess runoff enters runnel system and exits into infiltration trench

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BEHOLD_Duwamish Valley Magnets Over the next 50 years of large scale investment, forgotten and marginalized communities stand to gain a great deal from improvements to water quality, riparian/estuary habitat creation, and civic infrastructure changes if proper planning for the direction of those investments can be ensured.

THE future vision of the BEHOLD_magnets project seeks to re-invest these communities in the life of the river, creating homes, opportunities for work and trade, and a vital healthy ecosystem for all. The industrial history and importance of the valley as a means of production cannot be discounted for the future, and as such this vision seeks to maintain and promote any current industrial lands which actively produce goods. However, great swaths of land exist throughout the valley wherein obsolete vehicles, trailers, and ‘movement devices’ lie derelict and forgotten, slowly rusting and leaching themselves away into the Duwamish.

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SOUTH PARK: SPATIAL POLITY and IDENTITY The vision proposed for the Duwamish Valley consists of treating these communities as assets and potential for investment while maintaining the unique characteristics of each local. The first phase involves identifying the cultural hubs in each community and focusing on investing in public space and green infrastructure assets. These cultural hubs become the impetus for further development and investment in the areas.

The second phase is the growth that occurs in response to the success of the investment in public infrastructure. This development will seek to improve commerce and existing residential areas into mixed-use areas that make use of existing buildings so as to maintain the character of each place. Investment in green streets occurs during this phase which brightens up the areas of commerce and creates additional public space and connections to the cultural hub.

The third phase for the vision plan includes making connections to all of the proposed cultural hubs and green street districts. This will strengthen the presence of residential use in the valley while not requiring that industrial uses not occur. The strategy for connection could be green corridors, additional bridges between South Park and Georgetown, improved public transportation between these locations and the downtown area, and bike and pedestrian connections.

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The Duwamish River Valley will continue to thrive as a productive corridor. Instead of an industrial nightmare and toxic environment, however, the valley will be healthy, sustainable and resilient. This new landscape will grow from the adaptation of existing infrastructure. Adaptive reuse, dense infill development and vegetated “greenfill� will leave no square foot of land unproductive. Urban agriculture, rooftop agriculture and salmon farms can produce enough food for 25% of the population in a site like this. Solar, wind, and tidal energy can provide over 100% of the 1 MW required for these dwellings by 2012 standards. Green roofs and stormwater street plantings can absorb and filter every drop of rain that falls, preventing any sediment or particles from flowing into the river. The new urban forest is capable of sequestering almost 12,000 tons of carbon dioxide each year, 100% of estimated total emissions per capita by 2012 standards.

By 2060, with new standards for high density and energy efficiency, this landscape will produce more energy than it requires and absorb more carbon dioxide than it emits.

TRANSITION: DUWAMISH GROWING INTO A NEW PRODUCTIVE LANDSCAPE

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PLANNING FOR A SEA CHANGE IN a coastal setting where there is an imminent threat of sea level rise we are faced with issues of how we move forward. Many coast lines will be changed radically and we must deal with the issues that arise out of this shifting geography. Projecting forward we see that sea levels are on the rise and unless something is done the Duwamish River Valley will cease to exist as we know it. Within a century these low lying costal areas will be infiltrated with water and either we will lose them to the sea or we will have to adapt to the changing conditions. Only if we understand and welcome the water can we learn to work with these changing conditions.

With climate change becoming an ever growing issue, Rising sea levels and larger scale storms will begin to play a much larger role in how landscapes are designed. With the Duwamish river valley sitting at around sea level it

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will be one of the first landscapes to feel the affects of these changing conditions. With this in mind the redevelopment efforts within the valley proceed with a focus on water management and an effort to create neighborhoods which are resilient to changing sea levels and flood conditions. By shifting areas away from fixed land based housing towards floating homes it provides for these developing issues and makes changes within the area much more fluid. Besides solving for these developing issues it also provides a means of creating much more dynamic housing conditions where people might come and go as they please with little impact on the landscape.

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