Improving Streets Through Placemaking What If We Built San Francisco Around Places? San Francisco April 23rd, 2009

48 U.S. States, 30 Countries 2000+ Communities 3 Million annual web visitors 35,000 people get our electronic newsletter (1000+ SFers) 34 years of Placemaking

48 U.S. States, 30 Countries

2000+ Communities

3 Million annual web visitors

35,000 people get our electronic newsletter (1000+ SFers)

Program Areas Building Community Through Transportation Community Anchors Public Markets & Local Economies Great Places, Great Cities

If you plan for cars and traffic… you get more cars and traffic.

If you plan for people and places… you get more people and places.

The best way to handle the problem of ‘undesirables’ is to make a place attractive to everyone else. -- W illiam H. Whyte

The Power of Ten City/Town Districts/ Destinations Place

The Power of Ten Layering of uses and amenities to create synergy (Triangulation) Place 10+ things to do

Layering of uses and amenities to create synergy (Triangulation)

The Power of Ten Districts/Streets Destinations 10+ Places Place Place Place Place Place Place Place Place Place Place

The Power of Ten District City/Town 10+ Great Destinations/ Streets/Neighborhoods /Districts Neighbor -hood Destin -ation District District Destin -ation Neighbor -hood Destin -ation Street Street

Crisis driven, Politically initiated Relies on professionals and “experts” Expensive Community is resistant Static designs Results in limited experience of place Narrow Goals Project / Discipline Driven Approach

Empowers Communities Attracts partners, money & creative solutions Professionals become resources Design supports uses Solutions are flexible Engagement and commitment grow

Empowers Communities

Attracts partners, money & creative solutions

Professionals become resources

Design supports uses

Solutions are flexible

Engagement and commitment grow

Greater Kennedy Plaza Providence, RI Biltmore Hotel City Hall Kennedy Plaza Burnside Park

Placemaking process: Training and developing steering committee Focus groups (youth, social services, Police, transit agency, BID, etc) Public workshop with 130 attendees

Placemaking process: Training and developing steering committee

Focus groups (youth, social services, Police, transit agency, BID, etc)

Public workshop with 130 attendees

Public Square Tuesday • 57 non-profit agencies have participated • 5-15 agencies each week “ Thanks for doing this all summer. I think I am not alone in thinking it was a good way to spend time with people we don’t usually reach - and a great use of public space.” Martha Yager American Friends Service Committee “ Look at this –no one would have wanted to relax here last year – it’s amazing!” Sister Ann Keefe St. Michael’s Church Rhythm and Soul Sunday Featuring music by the AfroSonic Collective and resident drummers. 2-8pm.

“ Thanks for doing this all summer. I think I am not alone in thinking it was a good way to spend time with people we don’t usually reach - and a great use of public space.”

Martha Yager

American Friends Service Committee

“ Look at this –no one would have wanted to relax here last year – it’s amazing!”

Sister Ann Keefe

St. Michael’s Church

Lunchtime and after-work performances Community Stage Wednesdays and Thursdays

Market Bazaar Thursday Farmers’ Market Friday Sales were up by at least 20% from the previous year, due to moving the market to Kennedy plaza near the improvements.

“ The programming here has made an immediate and positive impact, creating a safer atmosphere.” Sergeant George Smith Providence Police Department “ Thanks to the hard work and vision of our community partners, this wonderful space is being transformed into a vibrant gathering place that offers something for everyone,” Mayor David N. Cicilline City of Providence

“ The programming here has made an immediate and positive impact, creating a safer atmosphere.”

Sergeant George Smith

Providence Police Department

Campus Martius, Detroit

Campus Martius Vision: Detroit's Gathering Place The Crossroads of Downtown Detroit Our Town Square The City's Signature Landmark A Catalyst for Revitalization A Place Where the Community Celebrates Major Partners: City of Detroit Detroit 300 Conservancy Detroit DOT “ Campus Martius Park will be a place where residents, workers and visitors come together to relax, enjoy, play and celebrate Detroit.”

Campus Martius Vision:

Detroit's Gathering Place

The Crossroads of Downtown Detroit

Our Town Square

The City's Signature Landmark

A Catalyst for Revitalization

A Place Where the Community Celebrates

Major Partners:

City of Detroit

Detroit 300 Conservancy

Detroit DOT

“ Campus Martius Park will be a place where residents, workers and visitors come together to relax, enjoy, play and celebrate Detroit.”

PRINCIPLES OF GREAT STREETS Attractions & Destinations Identity & Image Active & Connected Edge Uses Amenities Management: Central to the Solution Seasonal Strategy Diverse User Groups Balances Modes Blending of Uses and Modes Protects Neighborhoods

Attractions & Destinations

Identity & Image

Active & Connected Edge Uses

Amenities

Management: Central to the Solution

Seasonal Strategy

Diverse User Groups

Balances Modes

Blending of Uses and Modes

Protects Neighborhoods

Attractions & Destinations Street design should be responsive to adjacent land uses, not a streetscape plan

Street design should be responsive to adjacent land uses, not a streetscape plan

Attractions & Destinations Clustered activity points of interest 10+ destinations – including food and markets, local retail, art, play, education, health/recreation

Clustered activity points of interest

10+ destinations – including food and markets, local retail, art, play, education, health/recreation

Identity & Image Showcase local assets to create a distinct sense of place Businesses, pedestrians and drivers raise their behavior (conform, respect) to this vision

Showcase local assets to create a distinct sense of place

Businesses, pedestrians and drivers raise their behavior (conform, respect) to this vision

Active & Connected Edge Uses Activate the street with ground floor uses Pedestrians choose their path based on the expectation of a social, commercial or aesthetic experience

Activate the street with ground floor uses

Pedestrians choose their path based on the expectation of a social, commercial or aesthetic experience

Narrow cross sections slow traffic and allow the street to connect, rather than divide, both sides of the street Trees and small setbacks improve pedestrian experience Active & Connected Edge Uses

Narrow cross sections slow traffic and allow the street to connect, rather than divide, both sides of the street

Trees and small setbacks improve pedestrian experience

Amenities Public and private seating options Triangulate to support use – cluster sidewalk elements like benches, waste baskets, planters, lampposts, cafes

Public and private seating options

Triangulate to support use – cluster sidewalk elements like benches, waste baskets, planters, lampposts, cafes

Management - Central to the Solution Maintenance and security Programming – daily activity generators and cultural, civic events

Maintenance and security

Programming – daily activity generators and cultural, civic events

Flexibility Street design can respond to community use

Street design can respond to community use

Activate throughout the day, week and year Seasonal Strategies

Activate throughout the day, week and year

Draws Diverse User Groups No one group or use dominates (ethnicities, ages, interests, economic means, etc.) Design for use

No one group or use dominates (ethnicities, ages, interests, economic means, etc.)

Design for use

Traffic, Transit & the Pedestrian Range of transportation options Complete street design (all appropriate modes are accommodated)

Range of transportation options

Complete street design (all appropriate modes are accommodated)

Traffic, Transit & the Pedestrian Walkable – there are places to go Connected to adjacent areas

Walkable – there are places to go

Connected to adjacent areas

Protects Neighborhoods Clear transitions and changes in street character between high and low function roadways

Clear transitions and changes in street character between high and low function roadways

Diverse Funding Base Public support Private sponsorship Broad partnerships

Public support

Private sponsorship

Broad partnerships

New York City Street Renaissance

A funnel for downtown traffic... Finn Square – Before

...can be a defining space for Tribeca. Finn Square – After

Lt. Petrosino Square – Before

Lt. Petrosino Square – After

Astor Place A void between two great neighborhoods…

Astor Place … can support and showcase the best of NYC.

Allen Street A divider for Chinatown…

Allen Street … can become an economic generator and gathering place.

Car storage space… Grand Street – Before

… can become the most valuable space in the neighborhood. Grand Street – After

Broadway Creating and Connecting Great Destinations

Union Square Madison Square Herald Square Times Square

Union Square Madison Square Herald Square Times Square Bryant Park Rockefeller Center

Streets Renaissance Projects Meat Packing District Initiative Grand Army Plaza Coalition, Brooklyn Times Square Alliance Myrtle Ave BID 9 th Ave Streets Renaissance Columbus Ave BID Kellogg Food and Fitness Initiative

Meat Packing District Initiative

Grand Army Plaza Coalition, Brooklyn

Times Square Alliance

Myrtle Ave BID

9 th Ave Streets Renaissance

Columbus Ave BID

Kellogg Food and Fitness Initiative

Columbus Avenue Perception Poor Fair Good Excellent today tomorrow

Gansevoort Plaza An underutilized space in a changing district…

Plaza Experiment

Overview: Creating and Connecting Great Destinations Columbus Circle Rockefeller Center Times Square Bryant Park Grand Central Terminal Port Authority Penn Station Herald & Greeley Squares

Columbus Circle

Rockefeller Center

Times Square

Bryant Park

Grand Central Terminal

Port Authority

Penn Station

Herald & Greeley Squares

Survey (Poor 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 Good) Urban energy & attractiveness Lacks seating & refreshment Smells like urine Safe from crime not traffic People enjoy destination retail Unclear public spaces & activities sociability - lowest scoring category

Urban energy & attractiveness

Lacks seating & refreshment

Smells like urine

Safe from crime not traffic

People enjoy destination retail

Unclear public spaces & activities

sociability - lowest scoring category

Current Conditions Times Square

Festival with no Crossover Times Square

Successful Places /Place Capital Economic Development Cultural Development Tourism Public Space Maintenance/ Management Transportation/ Infrastructure Planning Restructuring Government for Placemaking

When you focus on a place, you do everything differently. Good places breed healthy activity. People attract people attract people. It takes many disciplines and skills to create a place. 80 Percent of the success of a place is due to Management. It takes a community to create a place. Amenities that make a place comfortable are critical. You can’t know what you are going to end up with.

When you focus on a place, you do everything differently.

Good places breed healthy activity.

People attract people attract people.

It takes many disciplines and skills to create a place.

80 Percent of the success of a place is due to Management.

It takes a community to create a place.

Amenities that make a place comfortable are critical.

You can’t know what you are going to end up with.