5th Street is the humanizing of downtown by establishing flexible spaces that allow for bike and pedestrian comfort while showcasing the beauty of the desert through sustainable practices. Heavily focused on vehicular traffic, the existing 5th Street provides minimal comfort and safety for humans and the ecological community that exists in the downtown Tempe area. Through the introduction of seamless pedestrian/bike circulation, cohesive and functional streetscapes, versatile spaces to gather, desert native species, and a modern aesthetic, 5Th street refocuses to accommodate the comfort of pedestrians, bikers, and the ecological community before vehicular traffic.
humanizing downtown
Cristal Castro. Gunwoo Kim. LDE 462.
Existing.
Icon Key.
Vehicular traffic
Bike Lanes
Green spaces
Pedestrain friendly sidewalk
Dog friendly area
5th Street
Analysis.
Tempe Town Lake Access
broadway rd.
southern ave.
southern ave.
southern ave.
baseline rd.
baseline rd.
baseline rd.
guadalupe rd.
guadalupe rd.
guadalupe rd.
elliot rd.
elliot rd.
elliot rd.
warner rd.
warner rd.
warner rd.
ray rd.
ray rd.
ray rd.
chandler blvd.
chandler blvd.
chandler blvd.
Pixilated Parking
dobson rd.
dobson rd.
broadway rd.
price rd.
apache blvd.
broadway rd.
mcclintock dr.
apache blvd.
priest dr.
university dr.
apache blvd.
price rd.
rio salado pkwy.
university dr.
dobson rd.
price rd.
mcclintock dr.
mill ave.
Site Plan.
rural rd.
priest dr.
To Arizona State University
rio salado pkwy.
university dr.
mcclintock dr.
Farmer Avenue.
rio salado pkwy.
mill ave.
College Avenue.
mckellips Rd.
rural rd.
Mill Avenue.
mckellips Rd.
priest dr.
Ash Avenue.
mckellips Rd.
mill ave.
A-Mountian
Gathering/Event spaces
Part of the process was focusing on comfortable linkages for pedestrians and bikers. This included the narrowing of existing roads and the elimination of on street parking to promote walkability. In doing so, wider sidewalks and bike lanes were implemented. Not forgetting stormwater runoff and the ecological community, sidewalks and bike lanes are structurally engineered to “float” above ground. This strategy allows for maximum width of sidewalks and bike lanes while allowing trees to mature to maximum potential. Due to the elimination of compacted soil underneath, trees are given unlimited space for root growth. Road and sidewalk runoff also flows into planters before being directed to drainage system.
rural rd.
To Tempe Town Lake
Process.
Hiking trailhead
Downtown Core Transportation Hub
Gathering Plaza
s.01
s.02 5th Street
5th Street
College Avenue.
Mill Avenue.
Ash Avenue.
Farmer Avenue.
Complete Street
Pixilated Parking Dog Park 20’
80’ 40’
Phasing.
240’ 160’
400’
N
PHASE 1 + 2
PHASE 3
PHASE 4
PHASE 5
Phase 1 + 2 has been clustered into one for it focuses on the development of all the widening of sidewalks, bike lanes, and creating the planter spaces for all the trees to be planted in phase 3. Phase 1 entails all sidewalks and bike lanes from College Ave to Mill Avenue. Phase 2 continues and completes the development from Mill Avenue to Farmer Avenue.
Phase 3 is the installment of all native tree species along sidewalks and bike lanes to allow time for trees to mature into full growth. City Hall Trees and turf area to be installed as well as Farmer Avenue Dog Park and Green Corridor towards Tempe Town Lake. Existing parking lots are transformed into parking spaces highly vegetated planters.
Phase 4 completes the project installment by adding all plaza spaces. By incorporating efficient circulation first, plaza spaces at the end are equipped with all necessary tools in order to be successful in downtown. Aside from plaza spaces, median retention basins are also installed along with supporting native vegetation.
Phase 5 allows for all trees and vegetation to mature over time. Phase 5 also entails the responsible and appropriate maintenance not only for streets, bike lanes, and plazas, but trees and vegetation as well. Maintenance oversight is part of the phasing over time to ensure native species can thrive fully in an urban setting without being hindered of growth.
CURRENT CONDITIONS.
2 YEARS.
5+ YEARS.
Vehicular traffic dominates the site of 5th street, leaving a harsh bike + pedestrian environment. Pedestrian/bike safety + importance becomes the second focus as ecological processes + vegetation are of least concern.
Vehicular traffic becomes less important as pedestrian and bike lanes are improved and widened. New tree and vegetation species are introduced, allowing the ecological community to flourish.
Less vehicular traffic allows for more bike + pedestrian activity as well as for the ecological community to grow and establish a micro habitat, linking back to larger ecological communities in surrounding area.
Sections.
Componants. Green Space.
s.01.
Green spaces consist of elevated sidewalks creating tree planters with maximum root growth with access to storm water runoff, City Hall turf area, residential dog park, tree allee path towards Tempe Town Lake, retention basin medians, and pixilated parking areas.
sidewalk
tree planter
bike lane
road
road median retention basin
bike lane
tree planter
dog park + retention basin
sidewalk 2.5’
10’ 20’
5’
N
Pedestrain Realm. The pedestrian realm consists of all sidewalks as well as shared plaza spaces that can be closed off during festivals, concerts, or large events. All include lighting for comfort and safet y. Several connections are made to surrounding area for easy and comfortable access.
s.02.
Bike Realm. 12’
5’
8’
12’
12’
8’
5’
12’
sidewalk
tree planter
bike lane
road
road
bike lane
tree planter
sidewalk
14’ median retention basin
2.5’
10’ 5’
LDE 462: Spring 2016 Landscape Architecture IV
20’
N
Designated bike lanes are elevated to sidewalk level and adjacent to tree planters for maximum safety from vehicular traffic and access to shade. All bike lanes are a maximum of 8 feet wide for comfortable two way traffic or side by side riding.
Student: Cristal Castro Instructor: Gunwoo Kim