RiverFIRST site design and analysis-book

1 Plymouth Knot Bridge 2 Reclaimed Hall Island 3 Swimming Barge 4 Scouring Channel/Kayak Put-in 5 Riparian Wetland 6 Canoe/Kayak Center 7 Residential /Mixed use Development 8 Graco 9 Graco riverfront trail easement 10 Floating Biohaven Island 11 Arts District Performance Green/Stage 12 PlaygroundScherer Park Existing Site S C H E R ER PARKDEMONSTRATION PROJECT DESCRIPTIONLocated along the only Minneapolis urban river bend with South/West solar exposure, the newScherer Park restores Halls Island and introduces the public to the core idea of the River as a living,dynamic ecosystem. The new park is designed so the River produces its own dynamic riparianlandscape of sand bars, streams and shallows according to winter melts, patterns of sedimentdeposition and river flows.The Scherer Park river beach channel offers direct public access to the River for kayaking, canoeing,floating rafts and ice skating. The park is organized in high- and low-water zones, with a playful setof large undulating wooden ‘deck chairs’ recalling the site’s logging history and providing places forrelaxation and sunning. Seasonal fluctuation of the Mississippi’s water level transforms the parkbeach as the wood decks are revealed and hidden depending on the time of year. The park alsoserves as an ecological storm demonstration with a storm water treatment stream that makes itsway from the park entry down to the River flanked by riparian vegetation. Meadow plantings occurin the center of the site and lawns and grasses make up the upper edge.Hall Island provides a docking point to support a swimming barge in summer and a skating rink inwinter. Hall Island contains both hard and soft edges creating a riparian forest condition on the softedges with upland species toward the center of the Island.As a demonstration site for RIVERFIRST, market rate housing, a community art center and

10 9 31 2 11 8 12 4 5 9 7 6 8 0–5 year plan Scherer Park, 5 year plan, Aerial View

combined boathouse and rental facilities for kayaks, canoes and bicycles define the edges of thepark, bringing people, safety and activity to the park corridor. The new housing comprises 200units of market rate dwellings which overlook the River and the park and enjoy spectacular views.Structured parking for residents buffers the Graco Building, with retail elements and restaurantsmaking use of Minneapolis park-grown organic produce and locally-sourced food.The community art center will provide an opportunity for working adults, youth and retirees toaccess studio space and develop their skills. Working artists from the area will gain an opportunityto network, teach, and exhibit at the Center, allowing the park system to link to the creative energyof the Northeast Minneapolis Arts District and the Broadway River District on the North side.Park Program/Amenities:• Storm water treatment bio-remediation creek• Public Sun Deck and Urban Deck ‘Chairs’ of reclaimed wood• Gravel Beach• Swimming Barge with changing station, public amenities• Riverside Skating area possible in winter• Pedestrian/Bike Paths• Wood Bridge from Scherer Park to Hall Island• Kayak/sport rental facilities• Kayak launch from Halls Island• Community Art Center, Art Classrooms & Gallery• Work/Live art studio spaces• Residential Housing• Retail, Restaurants• Parking FacilityUsers: the community, including artists, the elderly, people from adjacent residential neighborhoods,outdoor water sport enthusiasts, summer camp youth, and science teachers/studentsGENERALIZED AREA FOR DEVELOPMENT (figures of merit):12.5 acres (including buildings, park and island, not including river channel) 1 Broadway Knot Bridge 2 Residential/Hotel Development 3 Cultural/Arts Institution (Bell Museum) 4 Storm Water Daylight Streams 5 Riverfront courtyard residential 6 Increased urban density/parcel development 7 Graco green roof and photovoltaic installation

2 3 4 1 7 56 20 year plan Scherer Park, 5 year plan, River View

SITE SELECTION: PRIORITY CRITERIACommunity BenefitsHealth/Recreation (Unique River Beach Shore):Scherer Park offers the only place in the Minneapolis and Twin Cities area where the public hasdirect access to living river shore beach ecology. The south-facing exposure makes this a uniquecivic place of national importance on the River. Educational and recreational potentials of directenjoyment and engagement with the River are crucial to implement a public change of culture aboutthe role of the River. A broad cross-section of the public can benefit from this urban launch pointincluding schools, nature organizations and youth programs.Sustainable Transportation/Public Access:The new Scherer Park is in a strategic location which links to existing park trails from the south andserves as the central public launching point and trailhead for all to explore the new RIVERFIRSTtrails by kayak, foot, bicycle, or skis. Plymouth Bridge, with the proposed Knot Bridge, will facilitatesustainable pedestrian and Nice Ride access as well as East-West linkage between the North andNortheast neighborhoods.Municipal Need:Improve tax base and generate revenue stream for National Parks ServiceCreate a model for new public/private development for other Park’s sitesMitigate against flooding on this River bend through use of natural absorptive surfacesRemediate municipal storm water flows and run off, improve river healthTie Knot Bridge implementation with planned improvements to Plymouth BridgeTiming/Land Acquisition:• Parks owns the land, and has funds to help with remediation• No site acquisition requiredDemonstration Potentials:Scherer Park and the Plymouth Knot Bridge demonstrate the full set of RIVERFIRST design conceptsand intentions: health/recreation as a major new trailhead and watercraft launch point; economicdevelopment potential to increase the tax base and strengthen regional economic identity based ona new approach to the ecology of the UMR, sustainable transportation and water.Critical Path Indicators – incentives and obstacles to funding and development• Parks owns land, has funding for environmental remediation• Proposed residential development would generate significantly property tax base than current commercial facilities• Unique municipal public launching point and trailhead for RIVERFIRST watercraft and trails• Hydrology/sediment modeling needs to be done for Hall Island restoration• Work with the Army Corps of Engineers – address potential obstacles with cut/fill along river and potential use of dredge fill. Since Hall Island already exists, it has been “aggregated” and infilled with land and so the consequences of returning it to a channel need to be studied and approved by Army Corps• Quantify/evaluate commercial, residential and retail potentials• Financial site prospectus and ROI needed for potential developers

Green Street, Denmark Sea Salt Eatery Metamorphosis 1: Waitangi Park, NZ Jose Ulloa Davet + Delphine DingMOD 05 Living Hotel: Bo01, Malmö, Sweden Villa Macklin: Huttunen–Lipasti– Bo01, Malmö, SwedenEnrica Mosciaro Pakkanen Architects Scherer Park, 5 year plan, View from the Boat

1 Farview Park 2 27th Ave Walk Street and Remediation Stream 3 26th Ave Bike Path extension 4 Pacific Street Bike By-pass (Pedestrian Trail if Industries will not allow riverfront easement) 5 Lowry Bridge pedestrian and bike access including retention pond and Exhibit Center 6 Lowry Bridge bike and pedestrian sidewalk 7 Temporary elevated pedestrian walkway 8 Marina and boat builders workshop facility 9 Aggregate Industries barge landing 10 Centerpoint Energy 11 La Farge 12 BN/SF Bridge 13 Riparian forest and reconfigured landscape for storm water 14 Daylighted storm water streamsFarview Land Bridge Connector Existing Site FARVIEW LAND BRIDGEDEMONSTRATION PROJECT DESCRIPTIONThe Farview Land Bridge Connector will reconnect the City’s topographic high point with the River,and allow the natural topography to extend across I-94 to provide Northside neighborhoods withpublic access to the River and to the proposed River City Innovation district. Using the naturalland slope, Farview Park and Land Bridge channel storm water collected from the Farview Parkhill to a retention pond. The water then travels down along the new overpass bridge, continuingalong the 27th Avenue N right-of-way, which is reclaimed as a public green street with storm waterremediation creek, new plantings and previous street treatments.The Farview Land Bridge, featuring a green space to meet the needs of Northside neighborhoods,is the centerpiece for the new River City Innovation District that draws on Minneapolis’ expertise ininnovative materials, medical, scientific and smart technologies. A zone of four to six story officeand light industrial buildings, such as the successful new Coloplast Corporate Headquarters, areproposed in the 20 Year RIVERFIRST Master Plan vision.In the 0-5 Year Plan, a sustainable Eco Business Park, the first in Minneapolis, will provide a coretest bed and starting point for the transformation of this area. Eco-Park Business owners mighthave City incentives to improve their proprieties with green roofs, day lighting, energy efficientbusiness practices and renewable solar power. The 26th Avenue N bike trail initiative forms animportant first axis to the River in the 0-5 Year Plan. In the 5 Year Plan, 26th Avenue N is extendeddown from Farview Park to touch the River with a new public fishing pier. The 26th Avenue N Bike

1 2 3 4 5 11 10 9 914 13 8 8 7 12 6 0–5 year plan Farview Land Bridge Connector, 5 year plan, Aerial View

trail connects Theodore Wirth Park with the River as well as existing park trails and bike paths,providing sustainable access to Downtown jobs and amenities for Northside bikers.In cooperation with Northside community leaders and organizations, RIVERFIRST park farmingoffers a new model for local, sustainable urban food production that celebrates diverse culturesand culinary traditions while building local communities. The Urban Boat Builders Organization,a possible user, makes adaptive reuse of municipal boat launch facilities and will offer vocationaltraining in traditional crafts and rapid prototyping. Trail connections via the Broadway and LowryKnot Bridge designs expand access with new trail loops connecting the North East neighborhoods.Park Program/Amenities:• Program and anticipated users:• Urban Boat Builders adaptive reuse of existing warehouse• Expansion/adaptive reuse of existing municipal motor boat put-in (DPW owned)• Community Gardens• Storm water and run off remediation creek• Urban agriculture: hoop houses, orchard, crops• Industrial fabrication shops• Rapid prototyping and craft facilities, classrooms and gallery• Major bicycle hub: repair shop• Re-cycling wall along Pacific Street• Live/work studio space• Café, restaurant• Eco-Business Park• Fishing pierGENERALIZED AREA FOR DEVELOPMENT (figures of merit):Farview Overpass:Approx. 300,000 SF7.5 acresEco-Business Area:Approx. 670,000 SF15.5 acresFarm Areaa:Approx. 290,000 SF (full two blocks between 26th and 28th including Hardware)6.5 acresVocational Center (Urban Boat Builders):11,000 sft (New Addition – 3 floors)20,000 sft (total, with existing building)0.5 acres of outdoor boat building, boat ramp and public deckLowry Knot Bridge and Retention Basin Node:15,000 SF Retail25,000 SF Studio/Living1.5 acres (including buildings, not including remediating channel way to River)

1 Farview Park 2 Farview Land Bridge over I-94 with urban farms 1 3 Existing industrial buildings adopt energy conservation and renewable energy standards such as natural daylight, vegetative roofs and photovoltaics 4 Pacific Street becomes West River Parkway between the BN/SF and Lowry Bridges 5 River Research Institute Development 6 Public waterfront landing/plaza using former Amercian Iron & Steel 7 Mixed use residential development and water- 2 front park 8 Public marina and boat building facility 9 Public Landing10 BN/SF Bridge Restaurant/Café garden and bike way11 Former La Farge industrial buildings reclaimed as part of the river front park 3 4 11 5 7 9 8 8 6 10 9 20 year plan Farview Land Bridge Connector, 5 year plan, Park View

SITE SELECTION: PRIORITY CRITERIACommunity BenefitsPublic Access/Sustainable Transportation:The Farview Connector provides a much needed direct, generous topographic link to the River thatenables underserved Northside residents to have multiple points of access to the Minneapolis Parkssystem and the Riverfront. The 26th Avenue N bike trail provides, for the first time, a sustainablerecreational and commuter bike way from the Theodore Wirth Park to the River and Downtown.Health/Recreation:The Farview Connector design initiative enables parkland to become productive, multi-taskingto provide a source for sustainable food, health education and good nutrition for the Northsideneighborhoods. A diverse range of school, church and community programs can become involved.Municipal Need:• Improve tax base with Eco-Park and Lowry Commercial Node, without displacing existing businesses• Generate revenue stream for National Park Service with orchards and sustainable foods• Knot Bridge implementation may be dovetailed with ongoing construction of Lowry Bridg• Comprehensive storm water cleaning and management of Farview design is a needed municipal improvement and can be funded via state/federal grants• City initiative Sustainable Minneapolis (2010) calls for urban agriculture developmentTiming/Land Acquisition:• The I-94 overpass will generate new land for development• The design extends 26th Avenue N to the River, via the City owned right of way to the River• The design uses former City-owned street right-of-way on 27th Avenue N as a storm water green street• Design proposes acquisition of the under utilized, vacant land adjacent to William’s Hardware• Design proposes relocation of existing city owned maintenance facility on 28th Avenue N. and Pacific Street or transformation to electric vehicle charging• City DPW owns land on 28th Avenue N and Pacific Street along the River, proposed for Urban Boat Builders program or equivalent boat related industry• A raised pedestrian bridge is proposed for access over existing barge operations• Pacific Street serves as a Bike lane bypass to the Lowry Bridge nodeThe County owns the Lowry retention basin parcel, with a proposed commercial node to increaseland value and public amenities. The County’s water retention pond is retained and improved in thedesign with RIVERFIRST storm water treatment principles.

Green Roof (Before & After) Green Roof (Before & After) Seneca Freeway Park, Seattle, WA Cobble Unit PavingEagle Street Rooftop Farm, NYC Newton Street Farms NYC Farview Land Bridge Connector, 5 year plan, View from the Boat

Demonstration Potentials:The Farview Connector sector clearly demonstrates all key concepts of the RIVERFIRST proposal:re-joining urban water and river flows, community access and community health through sustainableagriculture on multi-tasking parklands, and public access to the Riverfront, economic developmentand sustainable transportation and bike trail loops.Critical Path Indicators – incentives and obstacles to funding and development:• Job creation• Hands-on job training in traditional and high tech fabrication• Connection to North Minneapolis neighborhoods• Bridging over I-94, the Duluth precedent has increased land value and River access• 26th Avenue N bicycle connection• Eco Business Park will generate more in property taxes than current facilities• Timetable critical for change orders on Lowry Bridge node, as it is now under construction• DPW owned land/boat ramp needs to be re-located or co-share new facility• Street right of way approvals required from City for 26th and 27th Avenue improvements• One key derelict land parcel (Pacific Street and 27th Avenue N) needs to be acquired• Gas station needs to be acquired or relocated

Storm water stream Terraced landscape Parc VilleneuveBo01, Malmö, Sweden Bo01, Malmö, Sweden Copenhagen Harbour Bath: BIG ArchitectWarehouse transformation, Basel: ZMIK MN Highway Overpass park provides River acess, Duluth

Green Port Existing Site W E T L ANDS/GREEN PORTDEMONSTRATION PROJECT DESCRIPTIONAs a demonstration site for RIVERFIRST, the Port Wetland is an ecologically progressive stormwater treatment park. Located between 33rd Avenue N and the existing port cold storage building,the Port Wetlands recover a large alluvial area that was infilled between 1930 and 1960 andcovered by the asphalt of the existing Port. In advance of the RIVERFIRST 20 year vision, whenRiverfront park and associated urban development replaces the 20th century Industrial River Portand barges, the 0-5 Year Plan calls for 1) the immediate consolidation of the Port onto 12 acresof its existing facilities and 2) the recovery of the Wetlands and its establishment as a nationallysignificant resource on the Upper Mississippi River as a sanctuary for birds, native plants andemergent and aquatic species.The Port Wetland offers a new ‘soft’ model for a municipal eco-infrastructure that is also a placefor leisure, community and recreational activities and close daily contacts with nature. Instead of‘hard’ expenditures of trenching, laying in water pipes, and using walls and concrete to containflooding anticipated from heavier rain events (climate warming) the Wetlands uses native plantsthat naturally absorb hold and clean water. Runoff is collected from the west and directed towardthe Port Wetland where it is treated through terraced wetlands as it makes its way to the River.Diverse plant communities ranging from riparian, upland forest and meadow (passive recreation)occur along the length of the Wetlands water treatment park. Pedestrian and bicycle trails movethrough and around the park. Sediment catchers form habitat islands that can be accessed bycanoe or kayak.

7 10 9 8 6 11 5 4 1 3 2 1 GAF Factory 2 Pedestrian/Bike trail 0-5 year plan 3 Wetland habitat remediates storm water as it flows from North neighborhoods into the Mississippi River 4 Existing Cold Storage Building shared between the MPRB and the consolidated Upper Harbor Terminal 5 Pedestrian and Bike trails are elevated where necessary to allow ongoing use of the site 6 The UHT is consolidated into half its current area making it more efficient and sustainable 7 Soo Line RR Track 8 City of Minneapolis-owned property used to negotiate a parcel across from Wetland development 9 Corporate headquarters site or residential with Wetland views10 Pedestrian Bridge from North Minneapolis (Perkins Hill) to the riverfront as part of the park11 Storm water remediation Farview Land Bridge Connector, 5 year plan, Aerial View

The Port Wetland is multi-functional in terms of ecological, social and educational impact. It acceptsdredge spoils and stockpiled land under remediation. It continues the trail network along the Westside, providing River access to the North neighborhoods. The Port Wetland also provides the StAnthony Falls Laboratory with a highly desired site for sedimentary and hydrological research aswell as growing algae-based power cells.The consolidated Port can retain its existing infrastructure, including barge docks, cold storageand other equipment. If the City elects to keep the Port it should become a more efficient GreenPort with on-shore power and electric vehicle (and boat) charging capability. The new Wetlandcreates immediate value increases for the City-owned adjacent land. The Green Port area is well-served logistically for competitive businesses operations by two rail lines providing access to Portof Seattle, and I-94. The Green Port area vision in the 20 Year Plan is to build smart green techcorporate headquarters and residential development. Program and anticipated user:• Mississippi River bio-filtration wetland• Storm water wetlands• Meadow (passive recreation)• Outdoor classroom/amphitheater (alongside existing port cold storage facility)• Cold Storage building green roof/terrace/day-lighting• Pedestrian/Bike Path, Recreation Lawn, and Kayak course• Habitat Islands• High value development parcel for City where natural hill topography increases land value• Increased tax base potential through development parcel• Increased job density in consolidated Port and Clean Tech development• Mississippi River/Saint Anthony Falls Lab partnering potentials for research lab• New bridge connection to North Minneapolis Perkins Hill neighborhood• Pick-Your-Own orchards can provide revenues for City, equaling those of PortUsers: North and Northeast neighborhoods, community, visitors to Minneapolis National parks,tourists seeking experience of wetlands on the Upper Mississippi River, corporate employees in thearea, outdoor water sport enthusiasts, summer camp youth, science teachers/students.GENERALIZED AREA FOR DEVELOPMENT (figures of merit):New Wetlands after 5 yrs (excluding existing cold storage building):Approx. 1,160,000 SF26 acresConsolidated Port:Approx. 981,000 SF, not including terraces and sectional potentials22.5 acresHigh Value Initial Development Parcel for City:8.75 acresBuilding 1: 81,000 SFBuilding 2: 66,375 SFFuture Development Area for City (excluding new Riverfront parkland):Approx. 20 acres of land would be directly adjacent the new park in the 20 Year Plan,not including sectional potentials for added real estate

5 11 10 1 12 9 11 8 2 5 6 4 3 7 1 Native Forest along I-94 2 Green Economy Job Training/Entrepreneur Center 20 year plan 3 River Research Institute 4 Bioremediation wetland 5 Extension of West River Parkway toward Webber Parkway 6 Former Cold Storage Building exhibit/conference center 7 Xcel Energy energy-harvesting solar panel field 8 Riverfront Park 9 Floating biohaven island10 Camden Knot Bridge11 Corporate headquarters with possible residential12 Organic farming (orchards) Farview Land Bridge Connector, 5 year plan, River View

SITE SELECTION: PRIORITY CRITERIACommunity BenefitsPublic Access/Sustainable Transportation:The Port is accessed via the existing world class mobility logistics of rail lines, river and highway.A new pedestrian bridge connects Perkins Hill to the Port, providing easy access to the Wetlandsand the Green Port district. New park trails, elevated in specific over the barge operations dock,provide continuous public access along the River, linking at Camden Bridge to the Northeast andthe Grand Rounds.Health/Recreation:The Wetlands, by eliminating open flows of untreated storm water, will increase the River’s health(and community health) by reducing suspended nitrates which remove oxygen form the water andseverely limit natural bio-diversity. A healthy River is key to the successful, long term regionalidentity of the Twin City area, and its economic development. Recreational walking, biking, classroomactivities, and kayaking will be enhanced by this great Northside natural resource.Municipal Need:The current deforested and hard surface landscape of 24 acres is low lying and highly susceptibleto flooding. Storm water treatment and management is a well known problem, the remedy for whichcan come in part from federal and state provided grants. The Wetlands provides ‘valuable eco-services’ which can be quantified over a 20 year period in relation to costs and impacts of hardmitigation infrastructure.Timing/Land Acquisition:The near term implementation strategy allows the City to benefit from the early sale or lease ofits land to Parks. The City still can benefit from the Port in the near term, as it halves it size anddoubles its job density. A land swap between MinnDOT and City owned parcels would allow theCity to benefit from increased value provided by the new Wetland.Demonstration Potentials:The Port/Wetlands offers Minneapolis a new national model that can demonstrate how a dynamicnatural resource can co-exist in an urban area. The key RIVERFIRST systems of water remediation,river and community health, sustainable transportation and green economy are all addressed in thispriority site.Critical Path Indicators – incentives and obstacles to funding and development:• Connection to Northside neighborhoods• Incentive to work with St. Anthony Falls Lab ecology research and observation project• Incentive to work with science/school curricula• Work with the Army Corp of Engineers• Potential obstacles with cut and fill along river and potential use of dredge fill• Hydrology/sediment modeling• High tension power lines and towers/ROW• Railroad spur ROW• Creating value through land swap so all parties can act

Centenary Riverside, Rotherham UK Restored wetland, SeoulUrban wetland, Shanghai Urban Wetland, Dupont, Maryland Farview Land Bridge Connector, 5 year plan, View from the Boat

East Side Riverfront Existing Site EAST SIDE RIVERFRONT PAR KThe Northeast neighborhood meets the Mississippi in a long and varied strip of land between Marshall Streetand the River that has served primarily as an edge or “backside” rather than a civic amenity overlookinga dramatic natural resource. Land uses alternate between major industrial installations such as the ExcelPlant, concrete and lumber yards, print shops, empty warehouses, popular local restaurants like PsychoSuzy’s and The Sample Room, small public parks, and single family houses.While the form of the River edge varies, the land typically extends as a flat plane to a steep 20 to 30’ bankdown to the water. Awareness of and access to the River is not a generally a highlight. RIVERFIRSTproposes to systematically modify the landform to create broader points of access through new storm water“ravines” and dramatic overlooks. The ravines and the overlooks complement each other by cutting into theland to create a gentle, terraced route to the water while raising the overlooks higher than surrounding levelsto create a prominence. Circulation at the River will be along a series of loops atop the bank and overlooks,returning to Marshall Street at the ravines. The beginning installments of this strategy can begin in theexisting parks, such as Gluek Park (illustrated here), where redesign of the open space can improve optionsfor neighborhood amenities like The Sample Room and Psycho Suzy’s.The initial phase of work along the east side will concentrate on resources already owned by Parks andcreating demonstrations of RIVERFIRST principles. Going forward, RIVERFIRST proposes a great civicpark that is based on the character of what exists – retaining and building on many of the unique businessesand features, while incrementally acquiring more incompatible and underused properties. The gradualtransformation will reverse the perception of this area from a “back” to a “front” by altering ownershipproportions – from 30% park-public/70% private to 70% park-public/30% private.The Northeast neighborhoods as well as the greater community will benefit from a park of this scale to take

7 6 1 2 3 5 41 New demonstration ravine on MPRB property, including storm water daylighted stream 0-5 year plan2 Psycho Suzy’s existing dining deck and dock3 Storm water is diverted through a new Riperian Ravine within Glueck Park. The Sample Room’s parking is relocated to allow for a dining terrace that adjoins the park4 New demonstration storm water ravine5 Edgewater park is regraded to create both ravine and observation point6 MWMO Headquarters7 Marshall Terrace and bioremediation ravine

advantage of the overlooks and bluff topography of the east side. Places for public, communal events, aswell as day to day family usage are provided. The transformation of this area is based specifically on theunique features, gritty artistic character, and social landmarks known already to the community. The parkwill create a better organizational sense of the neighborhood, improve property values, and solidify theresidential fabric adjacent. For the first time all Northeast residents will have the opportunity to access theRiver edge safely within ADA guidelines.Park Program/Amenities:• Remodeled Marshall Street with tree allee, separated pedestrian and bike paths, storm water interception and filtration• Storm water ravines “daylighting” current pipe outfalls, biofiltration terraces which slow down and clean polluted run-off, create new habitat, and allow ADA access to the River edge and public dock• Consistent new river edge native planting and forestation – both public and private lands• Raised overlooks edged by parapet stone walls for seating, picnicking• Conversion of Marshall Street block to a pioneering residential re-habilitation project• Conversion of existing apartment block at Marshall Terrace to gallery/studio structure and flanked by a sculpture park• Children’s Art Camp housed within gradually acquired single family houses• Commercial node at Lowry, expanding what exists• Bed and Breakfast uses at existing houses• Center for ecological advocacy in relocated existing houses• Expansion of current plans for Sheridan Park to a major Northeast neighborhood event and festival spaceUsers: Northeast and North neighborhoods, community, park visitors, cross country skiers, birdingenthusiasts, recreational biking and commuter bikingGENERALIZED AREA FOR DEVELOPMENT (figures of merit):Existing Parks: Marshall Terrace Park – 7.7 acres, Gluek Park – 3.1 acres, Edgewater Park – 3.0 acres,Sheridan Park – 4.8 acres (potentially)Sculpture Park: 4.8 acres, Gallery/Studios 18,900 SF in two floorsMarshall Terrace Residential Site: 3.6 acres, number of DUs needs analysisChildren’s Art Camp: 1.8 acre “campus” with 4 repurposed single family housesBed and Breakfast Hospitality: 1.5 acres with 4 repurposed single family housesRavine ecological areas: 3.6 acres of re-shaped landform for storm water projects

3 2 11 Observation terraces receive fill material from ravines excavated from proposed daylighted 20 year plan storm water streams2 Art Camp repurposes existing Marshall Street singe family houses3 Marshall Block facility is transformed into an exciting new residential clusterBicycle Path, Copenhagen, Denmark Birch Storm water Stream, Portland, ORWest 8 Mobius Garden for amphitheater area Overlook Framed Trail of Tears Overlook

SITE SELECTION: PRIORITY CRITERIACommunity BenefitsEcological Function:The northeast side creates a good deal of storm run-off containing road salts and other pollutants whichcurrently dumps into the Mississippi from large piped outfalls. RIVERFIRST alters this pattern by bringinga large portion of this water to the surface where it is naturally biofiltered within daylighted streams in theravines. The ravines will create the type of rich new riparian habitats for both flora and fauna that occur whenlarger amounts of water is can be detained and infiltrate the soil. Funding and grants for storm water projectsof this variety is available.Municipal Need:The current fragmented pieces of park along the east bluffs don’t add enough value to the Northeast tobe a significant factor in daily life or to justify their operations and maintenance. The proposed East BluffsPark aggregates these pieces into a visible, identifiable single system over time. The new park createsmore varied and remarkable experiences, based on natural dramatic topographic features unique to thisside of the River. Using as much of the existing architecture and features as possible and relying on thetransformation of landform, the need for large scale capital projects will be greatly reduced – more bang forthe public dollar and property value will increase along with tax base.Timing/Land Acquisition:MPRB owns three parks on the east side along with various smaller parcels. This is an opportunistic placeto start with remodeling efforts that maximize the varied character and the ecological function of the site,augmenting the public benefit of adjacent private businesses that lend themselves to the site. MarshallStreet needs immediate remodeling with trees, sidewalks and bike ways, possibly within current initiatives.The next step is to acquire strategic parcels that can transform entire sections to public park – i.e. MarshallStreet block, Siewek Lumber. Also smaller parcels with private houses can lend themselves to new, morepublic functions. Houses can also be moved to other locations allowing different ways to organize functions.Strengthen valuable publicly oriented businesses – commercial node at Lowry, Sample Room, Psycho Suzy’s.Incremental plan builds on the existing strengths of the area, generating improved community support.Demonstration Potential:The East Side Riverfront demonstrates the RIVERFIRST principles of bringing the water to the River ina natural and clean state, enlarging habitat, creating equal access to the River’s edge, and getting themost value possible from existing park facilities. This is done without extensive new infrastructure or largescale public expenditures – much of the work can done via friendly private development or a community ofvolunteers.Critical Path Indicators – incentives and obstacles to funding and development:• Storm water health – key public issue• Solidifying the Northeast neighborhood in terms of value and social life• Maximizing the presence and life of the River• Some key parcels are already for sale – landowners believe change is coming• Seed money for renovation of public parks and revision of Sheridan design needed• Marshall Street block redesign will require fast work with current project and creative traffic work to achieve more working area• Incremental acquisitions allow for more metered flow of funds as available but must keep eye to public’s perception of real change

Ravine Cross SectionDown lower bluff stairs, Seattle, WA Bluff stairs, Seattle, WA Bluff stairs, Seattle, WA

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RiverFIRST site design and analysis-book

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RiverFIRST site design and analysis-book Document Transcript