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ESSEX STREET PEDESTRIAN MALL STUDY MEETING 4 APRIL 2, 2011 - CopyDesigning the Future Pedestrian MallApril 12, 2011 Welcome – Mayor Kimberley DriscollBackground for tonight’s discussion The Big PictureTonight is the last of four meetings Objectives for Tonight• Summarize meetings 1, 2, and 3- Meeting 1: Your initial input on Essex Street- Meeting 2: ‘Great Places’ and Essex Street observations- Meeting 3: Managing, connecting and designing a better street• Present Design Recommendations and Next steps for Street Management- Strategies and specific design interventions that will add to the vibrancy of Essex Street for any level of sharing (from pedestrian/delivery vehicles only to a fully shared condition)- How much and when should Essex Street be shared? How will sharing be managed? Agenda for Tonight6:30Welcome, background, objectives, agenda and ground rules for tonight6:40Summary of Meetings 1, 2, and 37:00Design and Shared Street Management Recommendations7:30Feedback7:50Next steps8:00Adjourn Ground Rules for Tonight•Be brief — no speeches — give others a chance to speak — time is not on our side•Stay on Topic— avoid side trips •Respect others’ contributions – no debates•Speak in turn — raise your hand to attract a microphone — we want to hear from everyone who wants to say something Historic Essex Street Then and now. . . Your input on Essex StreetWhat you thought was good about Essex Street Your input on Essex StreetWhat you thought could make Essex Street better Your input on Essex StreetFlexibility as a recommended tool for a better street What makes a great urban place? How does a great urban place work? Walkable, active (day and night), extroverted, flexible for public eventsPiazza del Campo, Sienna, ItalyCampo di Fiori, Rome, ItalyCopenhagen, Denmark Pedestrian Mall ComparisonHow do we compare to successful pedestrian malls?Successful North American Pedestrian Malls:Church Street (Burlington, VT), Main Street (Charlottesville, VA), 3rdStreet Promenade (Santa Monica, CA), Pearl Street (Boulder, CO)Success Factors Include:‘Critical mass’ (surrounding population density and institutional presence); A high degree of connectedness and openness to surrounding urban fabric; Low regional competition for urban public leisure space; Ground level retail occupancy and engagement with outdoor mall culture How does Essex Street compare?Compared to ‘successful’ North American pedestrian malls, Essex Street suffers from a high degree of regional competition (75 mile radius) How does Essex Street compare?Essex Street is a single, uninterrupted block with poor urban connectivity –over 900 feet long with no cross streets or vehicular intersections Essex Street ObservationsPeak event season is between July and October with very little activity between November and June How would a more flexible Essex street feel? Shared Street, Active Urban Space: New Road, Brighton, England Current ConditionIn spite of the varying event calendar, Essex Street’s use patterns are the same all year round: Shared between pedestrians and tourist/delivery/emergency vehicles Shared Street Option 1‘Maximum Pedestrian’How flexible should Essex Street become? Shared Street Option 2‘Maximum Sharing’How flexible should Essex Street become? Shared Street Option 3‘Daily Sharing’How flexible should Essex Street become? Shared Street Option 4‘Weekly Sharing’How flexible should Essex Street become? Shared Street Option 5‘Seasonal Sharing’How flexible should Essex Street become? Shared Street Option 6‘Seasonal Pedestrian’How flexible should Essex Street become? Time management options Opportunities for urban connectivityHow could a shared Essex Street work within Salem’s urban fabric? Design tools for managing Essex StreetWhat elements will make the street better for any level of sharing? Goal:encouraging, managing and enhancing diverse activity on a unique street Your Feedback from Meeting 3 Next Steps for Shared Street Management andDesign Recommendations Your Comments (from meeting 3) Design Decisions and Street Management Two very different sets of decisions Shared Street –RecommendationSelect a management scenario that willincrease activity during the quiet months and enhance pedestrian safety and enjoyment year-round Shared Street –Next StepsSort out how much and whensharing should occur on the Essex Street Mall and determine how the sharing is managed. Shared Street –Next Steps1. Collect additional data- Conduct a further investigation into use patterns, generate a pedestrian movement survey2. Select a preferred sharing option3. Test the preferred option– test degrees of sharing during controlled test periods4. Commit to a management scenario–Explore management options and decide upon the best entity to manage the mall moving forward Strategies and specific designinterventions that will add to the vibrancy of the Essex Street Mall for any level of sharing–from a pedestrian-only (with managed deliveries) to a fully-shared conditionDesign Recommendations Managed Shared Street - Scenario 1Tree/parking on south side of street / Linear paving Managed Shared Street - Scenario 2Tree/parking on north side of street / Perpendicular paving Your Comments (from meeting 3) A design for peak event seasonStrategies to frame visitor activities, to manage events and vendors A Plan for Essex StreetEssex Street study areaEssex StreetEast lndia SquareArmory ParkDerby SquareC entral Street A Plan for Essex StreetA better street: Open to a range of activities, seasons and connections A Plan for Essex StreetRight of Way and programmed ‘eddies’ for any level of sharing: with or without vehicles, during festival days, early summer, quiet winter months Your Comments (from meeting 3) Active Space zones for performances, events and play Active Space (in detail) Rest Space zones ideal for pause and observation Rest Space (in detail)Capitalizing on unrealized opportunities for connection and pause –a local route through Cervoni Way, the well traveled path to Derby Square Your Comments (from meeting 3) Public Art Opportunity: Zone for active play, events and public leisure Public Art for Play and Public Leisure Public Art Opportunity: Engage underutilized vertical surfaces as backdrops for activity Vertical Public Art Your Comments (from meeting 3) Public Art Opportunity: Engage urban connections, enhance safety, rest space and the character that already exists along Essex Street Finer GrainPublic Art Public Art Opportunity: Gateways to Essex Street Public Art as Gateway A design for peak event seasonStrategies to frame visitor activities, to manage events and vendors Your Comments (from meeting 3) A design for the quieter monthsStrategies to enhance activity and safety all year round A design for increased activity – day and nightStrategies to enhance activity and safety all year round What happens next?Mapping out the design process: Once funding is in place, design and construction can begin Shared Street –Next Steps1. Collect additional data- Conduct a further investigation into use patterns, generate a pedestrian movement survey2. Select a preferred sharing option3. Test the preferred option– test degrees of sharing during controlled test periods4. Commit to a management scenario–Explore management options and decide upon the best entity to manage the mall moving forward What happens next?Mapping out the design process: Once funding is in place, design development can begin Ground Rules for Tonight•Be brief — no speeches — give others a chance to speak — time is not on our side•Stay on Topic— avoid side trips •Respect others’ contributions – no debates•Speak in turn — raise your hand to attract a microphone — we want to hear from everyone who wants to say something Closing Comments –Mayor Driscoll