United Durham An investigation into the infrastrucural integration of local food, open space, and transit systems.
Will Serge Fall 2014 Virginia Tech Landscape Architecture
Intro..................................................4 Concept ............................................8 Design.............................................17
Serge 4
A glance at the character and aesthetic of
Durham North Carolina
A city with agricultural roots in tobacco, Durham is the quintessential southern American rail town. Durham experienced a boom in urban growth post-civil war due to the combination of high quality tobacco product and a regional rail connection that allowed for access. The city retains many of its original structures from the 1890’s, which feature ornate brickwork in the American Revival sytle. Recently, Durham has been experiencing an era of economic prosperity, which has led to a Downtown Revitalization. Serge 5
The local food scene in Durham is blossoming into a cultural and community hub for the city. A bi-weekly farmers market supplies city residents with fresh produce and hand made crafts. A battalion of food trucks eagerly disperse throughout the city to feed urbanites during lunch time. An analysis of food store locale and service area reveals that many of the stores are located along the highway, and few of them are within a ten minute walk of downtown. By integrating a series of community gardens, urban farms, and opening another community market, more reliance can be placed on local food production to feed residents. Serge 6
The majority of city commuters rely on the highway to move throughout the city of Durham. The city fabric typically follows the traditional N.S.E.W grid, though a large part of the downtown core is aligned with a slanted rail-oriented grid. Downtown Durham is surrounded by a 5 lane automobile moat refered to as The Loop. Though the loop was developed as a means to solve traffic issues of the time, it has aided in isolating the core of downtown from the rest of the city. Highway overpasses add to the perception of a disconnected city and limit the ability for pedestrians to safely traverse the city. Serge 7
Concept: A reconsideration of urban form and fabric with specific focus on infrastructural integration of transit, open space, and local food systems. Multimodal Transit
Strategic Open Space
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Goals and Objectives
Localized Food System
TO ESTABLISH A UNIFIED CITY OF DURHAM By redefining/clarifying downtown’s sense of place By connecting existing open space andimportant cultural nodes into a network of greenway trails and parks. By reconsidering zoning and planning for suitable future land use By creating community spaces that encourage interaction between cultures TO FOSTER A MORE SUSTAINABLE DURHAM By increasing livability in Downtown Increase density by repurposing existing structures and infilling on empty sites Providing opportunities for basic services to thrive
Repurposed Open Space
Investing in urban agriculture, a food network and more efficient farming practices Improving public transit and walkability through the implementation of GreenStreets and Green ways.
Strategies Redirect The Loop Reduce impervious surfaces. Harvest rainwater Improvie air quality Decrease reliance on vehicles Shade impervious surfaces Educate the Public Residential food production Precious open space
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Triangle Transit Masterplan Regional Rail service will create new anchors for the Triangle area, connecting the region’s principle centers of activity with the heart of existing communities. The improved Transit Plan is centered on the proposed light rail from Chapel Hill to Durham. An additional line will be developed from Durham to Raleigh, with a third rail line completeing the Triangle from Raleigh to Chapel Hill. Bus Routes have been re-adapted from their original routes to access more residential areas. The routes circulate through downtown in a radial fashion, and stops are concentrated near Light Rail stations. By redrawing the bus lines, a higher volume of commuters can utilize the Light Rail.
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Raleigh
REGIONAL RAIL SERVICE WILL DURHAM CREATE NEW ANCHORS FOR THE TRIANGLE AREA, CONNECTING THE REGION’S PRINCIPAL CENTERS OF ACTIVITY WITH THE HEART OF EXISTING COMMUNITIES
CHAPEL HILL
KEY LIGHT RAIL STATION (PLANNED) LIGHT RAIL STATION (PROPOSED) BUS ROUTE - REGULAR SERVICE BUS ROUTE - EXPEDITED SERVICE LIGHT RAIL (PLANNED) LIGHT RAIL - RALEIGH CONNECTOR LIGHT RAIL - CHAPEL HILL CONNECTOR
RALEIGH
HIGHWAY
SCALE 1” = 800’0”
0’0”
800’0”
1600’0”
24000’0”
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DURHAM MASTERPLAN
Durham Masterplan DURHAM MASTERPLAN
GOALS, OB STRATEGIE
TO ESTABLISH DURHAM By redefining of place TO ESTABLISH A UNIFIED CITY OF By connectin DURHAM important cu By redefining/clarifying downtown's sense of place greenway tra By connecting existing open space and By reconside important cultural nodes into a network of suitable futur greenway trails and parks. By creating c By reconsidering zoning and planning for encourage in suitable future land use
GOALS, OBJECTIVES AND STRATEGIES
By creating community spaces that encourage interaction between cultures
TO FOSTER A DURHAM TO FOSTER A MORE SUSTAINABLE By increasing DURHAM Increase d By increasing livability in Downtown structures Increase density by repurposing existing Providing o structures and infilling on empty sites services to Providing opportunities for basic services to thrive Investing in Investing in urban agriculture, a food network an network and more efficient farming practices practices Improving Improving public transit and walkability through th through the implementation of Green Streets an Streets and Green ways. By establishin By establishing sound storm water management practices managemen Reduce impervious surfaces. Reduce im Harvest Rainwater Harvest Ra Education Education By improving air quality By improving Decreased reliance on vehicles Decreased Shade impervious surfaces Plant more trees Shade imp Educate the Public Plant more Educate th KEY
KEY
URBAN FARM
URB FARMER’S MARKET
FARM
COMMUNITY GARDEN
COM
DUKE UNIVERSITY
DOWNTOWN
DUK
PROPOSED PARK
DO
EXISTING PARK
PRO
EX
PROPOSED PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE
LIGHT RAIL STATION
PRO
PRIMARY ROUTES SECONDARY ROUTES
LIG
TERTIARY ROUTES GREEN STREETS AMERICAN TOBACCO TRAIL PROPOSED GREEN WAY LIGHT RAIL TRACK
SCALE 1” = 800’0”
0’0”
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800’0”
1600’0”
24000’0”
UNITED D
A RECONSIDERATION SPECIFIC FOCUS ON KEY TRANSIT, OPEN SPAC
Downtown Masterplan DUKE EAST CAMPUS
MOREHEAD HILL
TRINITY PARK
BRIGHTLEAF
MEDIU RESIDE
CITY BOUNDARY
AMERICAN STRATEGIC OPEN SPACE TOBACCO NEIGHBORHOOD BOUNDARIES (PROPOSED) CAMPUS
CENTERAL PARK
LOW D RESIDE
DUKE EAST CAMPUS
FOOD D
HISTORICAL DISTRICTS
PROPO
MIXED USED COMMERCIAL DISTRICT
EXISTIN
HIGH DENSITY RESIDENTIAL
CITY GA
KEY
BURCH AVE
CITY BOUNDARY
MEDIUM DENSITY RESIDENTIAL
NEIGHBORHOOD BOUNDARIES (PROPOSED)
LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL
PROPOSED
LIGHT RAIL S DUKE EAST CAMPUS
AMERICAN TOBACCO CAMPUS
MOREHEAD HILL
CITY CENTER
HISTORICAL DISTRICTS
FRANKLIN VILLAGE GOLDENBELT
MIXED USED COMMERCIAL DISTRICT
HIGH DENSITY RESIDENTIAL
FOOD DISTRICT
MULTIMODAL TRANSIT PROPOSED PARK
EXISTING PARK
CITY GATEWAY
KEY CITY BOUNDARY
MEDIUM DENSITY RESIDENTIAL
NEIGHBORHOOD BOUNDARIES (PROPOSED)
LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL
PROPOSED PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE
LIGHT RAIL STATION DUKE EAST CAMPUS
EDGEMONT
FOOD DISTRICT PRIMARY ROUTES
HISTORICAL DISTRICTS
PROPOSED PARK
MIXED USED COMMERCIAL DISTRICT
EXISTING PARK
GREEN STREETS
LOCALIZED FOOD SYSTEMS AMERICAN TOBACCO TRAIL PROPOSED GREEN WAY
FAYETTVILLE PARK
HIGH DENSITY RESIDENTIAL
CITY GATEWAY
LIGHT RAIL TRACK
Alston Avenue
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KEY CITY BOUNDARY
MEDIUM DENSITY
PROPOSED PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE
REPURPOSED OPEN SPACE
The site on Church Street was chosen for numerous reasons. As it exists now, the majority of the site is covered in impervious surfaces: the Loop meanders aimlessly through this corner of downtown while two surface parking lots lay vacant a majority of the time. This site is surrounded by several important civic structures, including the Court House, Cityhall, Parks & Rec, the Library, and the Fire Department. The lack of density and site orientation in this area lends itself to food production, so introducing apartments to increase downtown livability is a desired possibility. Serge 14
Initial Sketch
Refinement
Considering the Traffic Circle
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Site Design #1 Edits and Corrections
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The design compliments Church Street and adds to the vibrance of the block. A traffic circle mitigates the traffic issues brought upon by the Loop while also adding motion and order to the site. High density apartment buildings align with the existing governmental building to formalize the structural order of the site. A bosque of trees creates a shaded civic plaza that contrasts with the remainder of the open space. Kitchen gardens spread from the apartments into the community garden, blurring the line between garden and plaza. The roundabout remains highly visible to both driver and pedestrian, and a central monument solidifies this area as the civic center of downtown.
Site Masterplan
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Housing and Kitchen Garden
Civic Plaza
Garden and Bus Stop
Inside the Roundabout
Integrated Livability Serge 18
The Garden Edge
Fluid Circulation