CNU CHARTER AWARDS 2018 ARGYLE SHARED STREET FACT SHEET

Transcription

1 CNU CHARTER AWARDS 2018 ARGYLE SHARED STREET FACT SHEET Submission Category: I. The Region: Metropolis, City and Town X II. Neighborhood, District and Corridor III. Block, Street and Building Best of title: Best Community-Oriented Street Location: Chicago, Illinois Project Characteristics: Check all those that apply to your entry: X Public policy program Temporary installation Regional/town plan X Transit-oriented development X Incorporates universal design principles X Infill/previously developed sites Incorporates and meets AIA2030 Challenge Greenfield/previously undeveloped site X Placemaking plan (exclusively public space, civic buildings, or infrastructure) Includes affordable/subsidized /social housing if so, how much? Qualifies for LEED-ND certification if so, which level? Qualifies for other LEED certification if so, list here Has your plan been adopted or your project broken ground? X Adopted X Broken Ground Neither If neither, why? What percentage has been built/implemented? 100% Estimated date of completion, if applicable: November 2016 Land Area (in acres): 2.3 acres Project Cost (optional): $4,500,000 Civic Uses (indicate type and size): Public streetscape, community gathering and events Parks/Open Space (indicate type and size): N/A Number of Residential Units: N/A Residential Unit Types: N/A Retail, Office, Industrial Square Footage: N/A Transect zone(s) (optional): N/A Page 1

2 This project creates an area that is more walkable, more sustainable and has a greater sense of place for the community. Whether you are walking, biking, driving or using public transit, we want all modes of transportation to be safe to use and accessible for all Chicagoans. City of Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel Page 2

3 ARGYLE SHARED STREET PROJECT DESCRIPTION Located in Chicago s Uptown neighborhood, Argyle Shared Street is a shared-use, pedestrian-prioritizing streetscape that celebrates green infrastructure, placemaking, accessibility, economic development, and encourages a sense of community for the Uptown s diverse residents, businesses, and institutions. Historically, Uptown was a booming hub for entertainment in Chicago. After the Great Depression, many famous entertainment venues were shuttered, and poverty and blight took over. As one of a few affordable neighborhoods in Chicago, it began to attract immigrants from around the world. Throughout the last several decades, Uptown has become known for its Asian influence and large collective of Vietnamese shops and restaurants. Beginning in 2013, alongside community-wide initiatives to reinvigorate Uptown while keeping it affordable, the City of Chicago initiated the replacement of Argyle Street for a three-block area between Broadway and Sheridan Road. Through the design process it became clear that due to the scale, context, and enthusiasm of the community, Argyle would be an excellent candidate for a shared street that provided a venue for community gathering and events while prioritizing the needs of pedestrians, bicyclists, and public transit users and accommodating vehicular use. Through an in-depth public input process that engaged stakeholders, it was confirmed that a shared street would address multiple community needs simultaneously by supporting the growth of local businesses, encouraging multimodal transportation, and providing opportunities to expand on local community programming, notably the popular Argyle Night Market farmers market and special events, such as the Chinese New Year festivities the community is known for. The final design was based on Shared Street principles established as part of the project. The design inverts the traditional street hierarchy to prioritize pedestrians rather than vehicles. The street creates a plaza-like feel by raising the street and eliminating raised curbs, making it universally accessible. Bump-outs, narrower vehicle lanes, and the use of chicanes help users to utilize the street safely, not only by slowing down traffic, but by encouraging eye contact between users negotiating passage. Contrasting colored pavers delineate pedestrian-only areas and detectable warning pavers separate parking lanes. Infiltration planters showcases native plants and widened pedestrian areas provide flexible space for sidewalk cafés, retail, and events. Placemaking elements, such as a vertical Argyle identifier and custom Argyle Uptown bike racks contribute to community identity. The street features a number of sustainable elements, including energy efficient streetlights, permeable unit pavers, and raingarden infiltration planters that are designed to soak up rainwater. Argyle is one of four pilot projects in which a research team is monitoring the performance of green infrastructure through high tech sensors that deliver real-time data about the effectiveness of the system. This data will provide valuable insights to help inform the design of green infrastructure in Chicago and throughout the country. cars public transit bicycles pedestrians traditional street hierarchy pedestrians bicycles public transit cars shared street hierarchy The first shared street in the City of Chicago, Argyle is an innovative, flexible, and sustainable streetscape that demonstrates that streetscapes are not just infrastructure that take us from one place to another, but can encourage placemaking and community. In September 2017, the City conducted a survey of Night Market visitors; 74% of respondents agreed that the shared street improvements enhanced the market experience, with 96% of respondents noting they would return. When asked what they liked best about the shared street, common responses revolved around the way the street embraces diversity and culture, the pedestrian-oriented design, and the increased sense of community. The $4.5 million project led to a new role for the Special Service Area (SSA) for the corridor, which funds expanded services and programs for local business owners, such as increased maintenance and stewardship. The expanded role helped bridge historic disparities between residents and business owners to work toward a common vision for a new community amenity that serves all of Uptown. Argyle Shared Street is a vivid example of community-oriented, multi-modal streetscape development that prioritizes safety, is easily accessible, creates a sense of place, and lays the foundation for neighborhood economic development. Page 3

4 CONTEXT PLAN Lake Michigan Chicago Transit Authority Red Line CTA Red Line Argyle Station Lake Shore Drive Argyle Shared Street 5m inu Margate Park Fieldhouse 10 Cemetery te wa lk e ut in m k l wa Aerial view showing the context of Argyle Shared Street within the surrounding community. Downtown (8 miles) not to scale Page 4

5 AREA PLAN Residential Bus Stop NORTH BROADWAY (TWO WAY) Chicago Transit Authority Elevated Train Station Argyle Shared Street Residential NORTH WINTHROP AVENUE (ONE WAY) Retail and Mixed-Use Residential NORTH KENMORE AVENUE (ONE WAY) not to scale Page 5

6 ARGYLE SHARED STREET RESPONSE TO CHARTER PRINCIPLES Argyle Shared street embodies a number of the principles of The Charter, most notably through the emphasis on creating shared streets and public spaces, which was at the heart of the project (Principle 19). Through the incorporation of Shared Streets principles that encourage safe spaces for all modes of transportation pedestrian, bicycle, public transit, and vehicular as well as the flexible, multi-purpose physical design, Argyle Shared Street reinforces The Charter s goals of accessibility, openness, and safety (Principle 21). By eliminating curbs and raising the street, the entire site is universally accessibly, eliminating accessibility issues that many adjacent retailers encountered in the past. Although the project prioritizes the pedestrian experience, it does not neglect the needs and safety of vehicular traffic (Principle 22). The plaza-like feel of Argyle Shared Street creates shared spaces for vehicles, pedestrians, and bicycles to coexist, and delineates dedicated parking areas alongside pedestrian spaces. The Argyle Shared Street project was an infill project, redeveloping an existing streetscape within an existing retail and commercial corridor. The design of the streetscape and other design elements help reinforce community identity as a reflection of the unique culture of the Uptown community (Principle 25). Special design elements include contrasting banded unit pavers, branded Argyle Uptown bike racks, colorful columns, and a custom vertical Argyle identifier that ties to the Asia on Argyle sign connected to the adjacent public transit stop. The colors seen throughout the streetscape elements tie to Vietnamese culture, where orange represents energy, green represents calmness and new beginnings, red is a celebratory color which represents good luck and deters evil spirits, and yellow is a traditional color for prosperity. The contrasting patterns are derived from the Vietnamese lotus rice wrap, Banh Ba Trang. Through the increased role of the Special Service Area (SSA) and the collective participation in the design process to develop custom community elements, the project has helped build an enhanced sense of community within the Uptown neighborhood, and provides a venue for gathering and events. The SSA also creates a formalized system for business owers to collectively maintain and invest in the future development of the corridor (Principle 10). Sustainability was a key element in the design of Argyle Shared Street. The design team took advantage of the native sandy coast subgrade existing on site and was able to limit the amount of excavation and fill required for green infrastructure, such as the permeable pavers and infiltration planters (Principle 24). Hardy Illinois native grasses, perennials, and shrubs enhance infiltration capacity of the raingarden planters, create year-round interest, and contribute to the ecological health and biodiversity of the community. Referenced Charter Principles: Principle 10. The neighborhood, the district, and the corridor are the essential elements of development and redevelopment in the metropolis. They form identifiable areas that encourage citizens to take responsibility for their maintenance and evolution. Principle 19. A primary task of all urban architecture and landscape design is the physical definition of streets and public spaces as places of shared use. Principle 21. The revitalization of urban places depends on safety and security. The design of streets and buildings should reinforce safe environments, but not at the expense of accessibility and openness. Principle 22. In the contemporary metropolis, development must adequately accommodate automobiles. It should do so in ways that respect the pedestrian and the form of public space. Principle 24. Architecture and landscape design should grow from local climate, topography, history, and building practice. Principle 25. Civic buildings and public gathering places require important sites to reinforce community identity and the culture of democracy. They deserve distinctive form, because their role is different from that of other buildings and places that constitute the fabric of the city. Page 6

7 SITE PLAN N. WINTHROP AVE. BOLLARDS ALLEY TREE IN GRATE BIKE RACKS N. KENMORE AVE. ARGYLE STREET SHARED AREA PARKING LANE DETECTABLE WARNING PEDESTRIAN ONLY AREA INFILTRATION PLANTER DRIVEWAY Site plan illustrating design elements within the central block of Argyle Shared Street, from North Winthrop Avenue to North Kenwood Avenue. not to scale The Argyle Shared Street project is the result of an extensive community engagement process involving local merchants and residents of the community. We have already seen broader use of the street as a gathering place and the new streetscape is spurring local businesses to spruce up their storefronts. Chicago 4th Ward Alderman Harry Osterman Page 7

8 ARGYLE SHARED STREET LESSONS LEARNED There are many neighborhoods in the city, including some in my ward that could benefit from the use of shared streets. I look forward to seeing the street evolve and learning from this pilot so we can create similar spaces in other communities. City of Chicago 46th Ward Alderman James Cappleman The way that the street is designed is very Asian. It wraps around you and welcomes you. Yman Vien, community resident and cofounder of local organization The Chinese Mutual Aid Society Although Argyle Shared Street has been well received by Chicagoans, the Uptown community, and business owners, the project was an important learning tool for city officials and design professionals in the importance of planning for the public learning curve of new technologies. Collectively, the design team and city continually adapted new ways to educate the public based on how users responded to the space, creating pedagogical and interpretive tools throughout design, construction, and post-construction. After the project was completed, many users were unsure of the boundaries for cars, pedestrians, and bicycles due to the lack of standard street curbs. An explanatory diagram depicting the routes for cars to drive and park, and a video demonstrating how users should use the streetscape were created to aid in the use and understanding of the space. One additional lesson learned is in the role community organizations can play in helping businesses utilize new public amenities. Since the opening of the streetscape, with the help of the Special Service Area (SSA) that aids in the management and stewardship of the streetscape, the community has stepped up and engaged the opportunities provided to them in regard to the extended pedestrian areas for outdoor retail and café seating. Since completion, a storefront rebate program has been initiated, café applications have been submitted, and businesses have started to extend their hours. Maintenance has increased and the corridor has seen an increased investment from retail owners. As a neighborhood with a history of crime, businesses were initially slow to fully engage the streetscape, but with the leadership of the SSA and local officials, business owners continue to contribute to the activation and use of public space along this diverse corridor. Since its completion, the City of Chicago s second Shared Street, Prairie Avenue at McCormick Square, has been completed using Argyle as a model, and the lessons learned to guide the development. Page 8

9 The partnership created on this project helps all of us to better understand how working together we can resolve problems with integrated solutions. Incorporating the green technologies that we see here benefits our residents today, and provides a model for future sustainable collaborations. Chicago Department of Water Management Commissioner Barrett B. Murphy Page 9

10 (Left) Argyle Street circa 2013, pre-existing conditions looking West from North Winthrop toward the CTA station. (Bottom) Argyle Street circa July 2017, looking West toward the CTA station. Bump-outs, narrower vehicle lanes, and the use of chicanes help all users to utilize the street safely, not only by slowing down traffic, but by encouraging eye contact between users negotiating passage. Page 10

11 As the first Shared Street in the City of Chicago, the establishment of the Shared Street guidelines helped the design team accomplish a design approach that ensured all users pedestrians, bicyclists, public transit users, and cars are accommodated safely and comfortably. Bollards and contrasting pavers help define pedestrian-only areas from shared spaces. Looking East from North Broadway toward the Chicago Transit Authority elevated train stop. Page 11

12 Custom design elements and placemaking amenities, such as this vertical Argyle identifier as well as custom designed Argyle Uptown bike racks delineate the Argyle Shared Street corridor as a unique district with the Uptown community. Page 12

13 Argyle Shared Street features a number of sustainable elements, including energy efficient streetlights, as well as permeable pavers and raingarden infiltration planters that are designed to soak up rainwater. Argyle is also one of four pilot projects in which a research team is monitoring the performance of green infrastructure through sensors in the raingardens that deliver real-time data. Page 13

14 Argyle Shared Street also hosts the weekly Argyle Night Market throughout July and August, a farmers market and street festival where visitors come to enjoy fresh food, local vendors, and multi-cultural entertainment in a vibrant setting. Page 14