Attending a Town Hall meeting and conversing with the residents of Apache Junction generated insight to the city’s unique qualities. While it is perceived to have a “lack of identity” these conversations resulted in discovering the city’s identity being tied to the very land that surrounds it. With its proximity to the Superstition Mountains, Apache Junction is known as a gateway to the natural desert. Currently the city is surrounded a mile border of open desert, belonging to the state of Arizona, but as Apache Junction continues to grow this land will become developed. In order to preserve the city’s connection to the untamed desert development of the downtown core will integrate green spaces such as preserved natural washes and forested storm drainage. Along with weaving the natural desert throughout the downtown this space will incorporate housing and resources for varying incomes, institutional facilities including a charter school and post office as well as shops and restaurants to promote walkability.
Creating Identity Commercial Residential Open Space
44% 35% 14% 4% 10%
Commercial Residential Green Space Institutional Roadways
Institutional
Commercial
Landuse Roadways
Residen6al
Green Space
Ins6tu6onal
Roadways
9% 4%
41%
13%
Landuse Allocation
33%
500 ft
N. Ironwood Drive
Proposed structures added to the downtown corridor, shown highlighted on the figure ground map, consists mostly of commercial use, with the intention of retail, restaurants and office space concentrated east of Ironwood while business west of Ironwood will cater to auto and construction related industries, which are the main businesses currently found in the corridor.
Apache Trail
S. Ironwood Drive
Figure Ground
Incorporating the Desert
Air Temperature
The incorporation of a forested drainage system will have multiple benefits for the community. First it will help mitigate floodwaters of the 100-year flood zone that runs along the northern side of Apache Trail. The plants incorporated into these areas will be adept to tolerate drought as well as high volumes of water. Also, the trees will decrease the urban heat island created through the presence of extensive asphalt and high temperatures of NW winds. Lastly, it will create and identifiable feature for individuals entering the city from the west, through Mesa.
80-90 degrees 70-79 degrees 60-69 degrees 50-59 degrees
1 mile
1 mile
Apache Trail Exsiting Street Scape
Median 26’
Traffic Right-of-Way 36’
Sidewalk 4’
Three lanes with a speed limit of 40mph
BikeLane 3’
BikeLane 3’
Sidewalk 4’
Traffic Right-of-Way 36’
Apache Trail Proposed Street Scape
Planted with native plants to create a habitat for urban wildlife
LDE 590: Fall 2017 Core Landscape Architecture Studio I
Sidewalk 5’
Median 26’
BikeLane 5’
Two lanes with a speed limit of 25 mph east of Ironwood and 35 west of Ironwood
Traffic Right-of-Way 24’
Parking 8’
Parking 8’
BikeLane 5’
Separated from road by a 6” curb for safety
Drainage 4’
Sidewalk 10’
Traffic Right-of-Way 24’
Student: Sarah Gaughan Instructor: K. Brooks and K. Kellogg