IMPLEMENTING THE STRATEGY SHORT-TERM INTERVENTION TOOLKIT

- HABITAT PATCHES

Interaction is also part of the needs of this species in their habitat. This intervention allows them to have friendly conversations with people while waiting for their bus.

Triangulation

William Whyte uses the term “triangulation” to explain “that process by which some external stimulus provides a linkage between people and prompts strangers to talk to each other as though they were not.”1 Such features could be visual art works or interactive features, that require cooperation.

IMPLEMENTING THE STRATEGY SHORT-TERM INTERVENTION TOOLKIT:

- STEPPING STONES Shelter Along the street T3

In order to mend the habitat fragmentation on Aurora Avenue N. and to connect the habitat patches, there is a need for an in-between element. The idea is to encourage the species to keep moving forward by providing micro shelter that make them feel protected and keep moving forward.

HUMAN-SCALE LIGHTING

Provides visibility along the Avenue (micro shelters that lead to the intersections).

Illustrative Stories Along The Avenue

Provides a part of a story in image and text on each light pole to increase curiosity and encourage people to keep walking on the Avenue.

TOOLKIT APPLICATION ON SITE:

The following pages offer illustrative examples for short term design interventions for both habitat patches and stepping stones along Aurora Avenue North.

T1

Intersections

Space

Fun Pathways Of Aurora

Playful and bright crosswalks that will help pedestrians to identify intersections and guide themselves easily around the neighborhood.

TOOLKIT APPLICATION ON SITE:

T2

Bus Stops Nourishment

Maps Of Aurora

The following images were designed as artful maps of Aurora Avenue for bus stops that would provide different perspectives on existing conditions. This intervention is part of the triangulation effect in which an external stimulation provides a linkage between strangers and serves as catalyst for friendly conversations among the species. The habitat needs to provide nourishment for this species. The themes of these maps are intentional in raising questions about how the land along Aurora functions today, and who it serves.

The maps from this section are inspired by the maps in the book Everything Sings: Maps for a Narrative Atlas by Denis Wood.

Parking Lots

Aurora Avenue was meant mainly for cars and the parking lots are proof of it. There is approximately 10.56 acres of land being used as parking lots from N. 85th to N. 105th. This amount of area is the same as 7.9 professional football fields.

What does this mean to you?

Data Source: Google Maps

TOOLKIT APPLICATION ON SITE:

A long time ago, this might have been a great dense forest. Now the tree canopy is broken almost everywhere and there are some places that there are no trees at all, like here along Aurora Avenue N. Notice the blank space that the lack of trees have left on the area.

What do you think about the amount of blank space in this map?

Data Source: Google Maps

TOOLKIT APPLICATION ON SITE:

Bus Stops

Police Report

Besides the traffic being overwhelming in Aurora Avenue, here runs a river of crime. Police reports are very common in Aurora Avenue with notorious interest on the intersections. Here the two colors represent two different months in 2016. All over Aurora Avenue the most repeated crimes are 7, 17, and 27.

Why do you think there are so many police reports here?

Data Source: http://web6.seattle.gov/mnm/default.aspx?tabId=1

TOOLKIT APPLICATION ON SITE:

T2

Bus Stops Nourishment

Maps Of Aurora On Site

While it was not possible to install the artful maps within the Rapid Ride bus stops, temporary artwork is allowed on paving and utility poles under certain conditions. On May 30, 2016, the entire studio and other MLA students installed the “Parking Lots” and “Tree Canopy” artworks next to the bus stops along Aurora Avenue N. between N. 85th street and N. 105 Street, using stencils on the sidewalk with chalk and posting the artful graph on an adjacent utility pole.

TOOLKIT APPLICATION ON SITE:

Lights Of Aurora

Colorful pedestrian-scaled lights mounted on white painted light poles along Aurora Avenue to increase visibility and create a playful Avenue.

Stories Of Aurora

Small murals and images can be integral with the lighting, and tell stories about the history of Aurora Avenue N.

Aurora Avenue N. at N. 100th, 1964

Aurora Avenue N. at N. 100th 2008

Source for 2 images above: http://blog. seattlepi.com/thebigblog/2012/01/18/auroraavenue-north-now-and-then-part-1/#photo-42712

1 http://blog.seattlepi.com/thebigblog/2012/01/18/auroraavenue-north-now-and-thenpart-1/#photo-42712

Healing Licton Springs Revealing The Past Towards A Resilient Future

Jiaxi Guo

Licton Springs was once a commercial and recreational center for Native Americans. It used to be heavily forested, and filled with springs, bogs, and marshes. Small truck farms, dairies, and green houses prospered in this area. For both Native Americans and later European settlers, this area was treated as a healling center because of the springs. However, most of these are lost today. Meanwhile new opportunities are coming to this neighborhood, including three new schools which will open in 2017 and increasing population density. This design seeks to heal and revitalize the neighborhood by building a civic landscape resilient system, which merges Licton Springs’ history with future opportunities, to create a new educational, recreational, ecological and cultural center!

Historically, Licton Spring was one of several, which fed Green Lake. Today, it bypasses Green Lake in a culvert, and empties out at Lake Union

The city established Aurora-Licton Springs Neighborhood Plan, but not many changes have been seen.

1999

The city purchased the 6.3-acre property for use as a park.

1960

1893

1935

1915

1920

Pilling’s Pond has been the site of notable bird breeding feats, and has attracted people to see these birds.

1913

Genevieve

Source: Seattle Municipal Archives

AFTER 1870

1870

Before 1870

Native Americans (Duwamish Tribe)

Cedar, Doug-fir, Hemlock, Alder, and Willow trees abounded in the area along with ferns and salal. Every few years the Duwamish people set fires to hunt and to aid in cultivating wild plants.

Revealing the history

HEALING CENTER

Farms Forests

Recreational, Commercial Center

This site is located inside the scope of Residential Urban Village, and has experienced gentrification. However, the neighborhood lacks vitality, especially along the Aurora commercial strip.

Source: http://www.governing.com/gov-data/ seattle-gentrification-maps-demographic-data.html

The area along Aurora lacks green spaces and tree canopy.

This neighborhood is in need for walkable streets in order to build a network that can connect to different destinations.

Source: http://web6.seattle.gov/DPD/Maps/ dpdgis.aspx

Source: Seattle Department of Transportation

The neighborhood has a valuable Native American history and several remaining cultural spots, but lacks a clear community identity.

Courtesy Seattle Municipal Archives

Master Plan

This master plan proposes a multifunctional path, connecting across Aurora Avenue N., through a proposed redeveloped block, and through an redesigned alley to Licton Springs Park and south on a bioswale street to new schools and Pilling’s Pond.

Map Source: WAGDA, https://wagda.lib.washington.edu/data/geography/wa_cities/seattle/index.html

Civic Landscape System

In this new system, different single layers will overlay, connect and interact with each other to make this system resilient and healthy.

Precedents

Diverse precedents are selected to inspire the design, including nature play, ceremony space, plaza, and street design.

Play Learning Ecology

History&Culture

Snake Lake Park, Inspiration for Stream Play

Source: http://www.erinrockery. com/detailpage.asp?ID=16368&Category=water%20features&Photo=16368b

Ika Meditation Spot, Romania. Inspiration for Ceremony Space

Source: http://landarchs.com/howika-meditation-spot-is-changing-theway-people-experience-the-naturalworld/

Roombeek The Brook, Enschede, The Netherlands, Inspiration for Stream Play

Source: http://landarchs.com/ what-makes-roombek-the-brook-aremarkable-urban-street/

Ballard’s 14th Ave NW, Seattle, Inspiration for Parking to Park

Source: http://mayflyeng.com/ projects/14th

Five Rivers MetroParks, Dayton, OH, Inspiration for Nature Play

Source: Moore, Robin C. 2014. Nature Play & Learning Places. Creating and managing places where children engage with nature. Version 1.0. Natural Learning Initiative and National Wildlife Federation. p. 91.

Maps Source: WAGDA, https://wagda.lib.washington.edu/data/geography/wa_cities/seattle/index.html

Jamison Park in Portland’s Pearl District. Inspiration for Multi-functional Plaza

Source: https://www.djc.com/news/ re/12018237.html

Through building the civic landscape resilient system, this neighborhood would become a walkable neighborhood connected by greenways and diverse attractions. And it will bring back the Healing Center history, to be a new commercial, cultural, educational and ecological center. Short term strategies are shown as vignettes here, including “Temporary Farmers Market”, “Activate the Alley”, “Add Signage for Wetland Education”, and “Parking to Park for Temporary Event”. Long term strategies are presented on the following pages.

Multi-functional Plaza

The design uses P-Patches and green houses to recall the past farming history. Combining with the existing topography, the design also creates steps for seating, viewing, slides for play , and a splash area for kids’ activity. The interactive fountain collects the stormwater of the plaza, which can also be used as a performance space.

Multi-functional Plaza Section, looking west from central plaza

Woodlawn Ave North:

Daylight the historic stream by stormwater treatment

This street used to be the route of the historic Licton Springs Creek. The design daylights the stream by installing green storm water infrastructure. Not only does it create a nice connection between the school and the park for kids, but also it helps solve the flooding issue on Woodlawn Ave N.

Pond In Licton Springs Park

This proposed pond is a core node which connects the Aurora commercial area, Licton Springs Park and the new school. Instead of directly diverting the water to the underground pipe, the design reclaims the historic springs with a pond by making use of the water on site for habitat and educational activity. Native Americans used to drink or immerse in the spring for its healing functions.

Map Source: WAGDA, https://wagda.lib.washington. edu/data/geography/wa_cities/seattle/index.html

Community Networks

Wenying Gu

There are a lot of open spaces in the Licton Springs Neighborhood, but they are disconnected. My goal is to connect the existing bike trails, and nearby open spaces such as parks, p-patch gardens, and schools to the Licton Springs community through street redesign of Aurrora Avenue N., N. 100th Street, Stone Avenue N., Ashworth Avenue N., North 92nd Street, North 90th Street, and the alleys along Aurora Avenue N. This will create community networks through the connections among these redesigned streets. The community networks will make the community safer, more playful and environment-friendly, as well as enhance the community identity.

Context

N 102nd St Oak Lake School Pedestrian Bridge (past and current)

Images Source: http://seattle.curbed. com/2014/11/14/10023254/cornerspotted-102nd-and-aurora

Blue Star Memorial Highway

Markers on Aurora Ave

Image Source: http://www.waymarking. com/waymarks/WM1X26_Highway%20 _99_Aurora_Ave_Seattle_WA

Underused Spaces

History

In 1913, much of the road was paved with bricks. By 1928 all the bricks were replaced with concrete.

Source: http://www.liquisearch.com/licton_ springs_seattle/european_settlement

The Aurora-Licton Springs area was once heavily forested, and filled with numerous mineral springs, bogs, and marshes.

Nature

Northgate Pedestrian and Bicycle Bridge Project will connect people over I-5 to the Northgate Light Rail Station.

Source: SDOT. “Northgate Pedestrian and Bicycle Bridge”. http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/northgatepedbridge. htm

Only remaining spring in Licton Springs Park.

New schools are under construction on N 90th St.

Urban Development

OPEN SPACES

Schools

Seattle City Lights

Parks/P-Patches/Pilling’s Pond

Historical Places

Existing bike trails Proposed bike trail/Greenway

TRAFFIC VOLUMES

TOTAL TRAFFIC Through Intersection (Morning Peak Hour)

EXISTING 2013

PREDICTED 2017 After Schools open

Traffic Volume (vehicles) LOW HIGH

Urban Village

Map Source: WAGDA, https://wagda.lib.washington.edu/data/geography/wa_cities/seattle/index.html

DESIGN CONCEPT

* Data Source: “Transportation Technical Report for New Wilson-Pacific Elementary & Middle Schools”, March 5, 2014 Prepared by Heffron Transportation Inc. for Seattle Public Schools.

OPEN SPACES

- parks

- schools

- P-Patches

- shopping center

- ...

Map Source: WAGDA, https://wagda.lib.washington.edu/data/geography/wa_cities/seattle/index.html

STREETS

- greenways

- safe routes

- historical corridors

- water streets

- alleys

- ...

COMMUNITY NETWORKS