LAUNCH LORAIN Charrette. Lorain Avenue/South of Lorain Neighborhood

Transcription

1 LAUNCH LORAIN Charrette Lorain Avenue/South of Lorain Neighborhood

2 LAUNCH LORAIN Charrette Lorain Avenue/South of Lorain Neighborhood The Launch Lorain Charrette was made possible with the generous support of Neighborhood Progress Incoporated, Councilmen Matt Zone and Joe Cimperman, and the support of all Ohio City stakeholders. Ohio CITY, Inc Market Avenue, Suite A, Cleveland, OH (216) NEIGHBORHOOD PROGRESS 1956 West 25th St., Suite 200, Cleveland, OH (216) Prepared by The Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative 1309 Euclid Ave., Suite 200, Cleveland OH, (216) January 2012

3 CONTENTS 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 What is a charrette? Project overview Community input sessions EXISTING CONDITIONS 2.1 Development context Infrastructure Land use Public realm and green space LAUNCH LORAIN 3.1 Overall vision Public infrastructure Real estate development Green space connections Wayfinding and identity NEXT STEPS 4.1 Suggested action steps and implementation timeframes APPENDIX 5.1 Illustrative plan of redevelopment opportunities...26

4 W. 25th ST FULTON AVE West Side Market Carnegie West/ Novak Park St. Ignatius LORAIN AVE Urban Community School W. 44th ST W. 41st ST Greenwood Park I-90 EXISTING CONDITIONS LAUNCH LORAIN focus area: Lorain Avenue from West 20th Street to West 52nd Street, South to I-90

5 1 introduction 1.1 WHAT IS A CHARRETTE? A charrette is a brief, intense planning exercise intended to solicit input from a broad cross-section of neighborhood residents and stakeholders, and generate a wide range of ideas for a neighborhood some which may be implemented in the short-term and others that will require further study and a longer timeline. The Launch Lorain charrette, focusing on Lorain Avenue and the neighborhood south of Lorain, took place November 9-11, PROJECT OVERVIEW Ohio City Inc. initiated the charrette process as a first step in developing a shared vision for Lorain Avenue as Ohio City s Main Street. The goals of Launch Lorain are to: establish a general vision for Lorain Avenue, rather than specific redevelopment plans for individual sites; create better connections to adjacent residential areas along Lorain Avenue; reinforce private investments that are occurring in the corridor; and identify new opportunities for development and urban amenities along Lorain Avenue and in the area south of Lorain. Feedback cards from charrette participants Kent State University s Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative (CUDC) facilitated the community design charrette for Lorain Avenue and SoLo with a focus on transportation, retail development, housing, green space/ recreation, multi-modal connections, and safety. The process focused on Multiple public review sessions occurred during the charrette, providing opportunities for feedback throughout the design process Introduction 1

6 institutional assets in the neighborhood, in order to leverage the major investments Providence House, Urban Community School, Saint Ignatius, the City of Cleveland, and the Cleveland Metropolitan School District will be making along or near the corridor. The charrette is the first step toward establishing a clear and compelling vision for the future of the neighborhood, developed with the participation of residents, business owners, and other stakeholders. SoLo Studio (exterior) 3204 Lorain Avenue 1.3 COMMUNITY INPUT SESSIONS Community input during the Launch Lorain charrette included: Two community meetings Over 200 stakeholders participated in the charrette process at various locations in the neighborhood Night walk through neighborhood to discuss issues and opportunities with residents Idea Station (interior) at SoLo Studio SoLo Studio - storefront work space, event space, and display area at 3204 Lorain Avenue Student design workshops at Urban Community School and Saint Ignatius, created and led by local designer, Larissa Itomlenskis Launch Lorain stakeholder meetings Karen Small, Flying Fig Public Partners (City, County, RTA, CMSD, GCRTA) Father Murphy, Saint Ignatius John Corlett, MetroHealth Creative Companies Social Services Agencies Affordable Housing Providers Urban Community School Storefront Businesses Developers Friends of Ohio City parks 2 LAUNCH LORAIN Charrette

7 2 EXISTING CONDITIONS 2.1 DEVELOPMENT CONTEXT In recent years, Ohio City has attracted considerable new investment, ranging from residential development and housing rehabilitation to a host of new businesses, primarily concentrated in the Market District area along West 25th Street. Lorain Avenue has also seen significant investment, primarily from the major institutional anchors, Saint Ignatius High School and the Urban Community School. 2.2 INFRASTRUCTURE At the eastern end of the corridor, $6 million in improvements are planned for the Lorain-Carnegie Bridge, primarily intended to improve the pedestrian and bicyclist experience and to reinforce the connection between Ohio City and Downtown Cleveland. Several streets were also indicated as being in very Cross section of planned cyclist improvements to Lorain-Carnegie Bridge Source: Ohio Department of Transportation poor condition, due to excessive potholes. With funding from the Cleveland Foundation and the Transportation for Livable Communities Initiative, the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority is looking at improvements to or reconstruction of the West 25th Street transit station in order to better support higher density, transit-oriented development at the intersection of Lorain Avenue and West 25th Street. Current pedestrian approach to West 25th RTA Station from Lorain Avenue Existing Conditions 3

8 DUKE AVE. RAPIDTRANSIT BRIDGE AVE. TURN AVE. BAILEY AVE. S. MARGINAL RD. WOODBINE AVE. APPLE AVE. ORCHARD AVE. ORCHARDAVE. N. MARGINAL RD. WOODBINE AVE. BAILEY AVE. RAPIDTRANSIT W. 41 ST. W. 41 ST. BURTON CT. BROUGH CT. FREAS AVE. W. 38 ST. MABELCT. DEXTER PL. CIR. BAILEY AVE. W. 29 ST. MONROE CEMETERY FRANKLIN AVE. CT. W. 32 ST. W. 28 ST. W. 33 PL. RIVERBED ST. W. 30 ST. BARBER AVE. GEHRING ST. ABBEY AVE. FREEMANAVE. BREVIERAVE. MOORE AVE. QUEENAVE. W. 20 ST. AUBURNAVE. BARBER AVE. POTTER CT. POTTER CT. SMITH CT. WILLEY AVE. W. 19 ST. W. 19 ST. ABBEY AVE. LAMOILLE CT. BARBER AVE. TILLMANAVE. Legend Vacant land (on Lorain Ave.) Vacant land Used car lot W. 49 ST. W. 48 ST. W. 45 ST. CLINTON AVE. DETR0IT AVE. CLINTON AVE. W. 32 ST. W. 31 ST. FRANKLIN VESTRY AVE. BRIDGE AVE. W. 19 ST. W. 50 ST. CLINTON AVE. FRANKLIN BLVD. JAY AVE. W. 28 ST. W. 24 ST. LORAIN CARNEGIE HOPEMEMORIAL BRIDGE FRANKLIN BLVD. TERRETTAVE. W. 38 ST. W. 30 ST. W. 25 ST. W. 24 PL. MARKET AVE. W. 52 ST. W. 47 ST. W. 44 ST. FULTON RD. BRIDGE AVE. CARROLLCT. W. 26 ST. FRANKLIN BLVD. W. 44 ST. RANDALL RD. FULTON RD. BRIDGE AVE. W. 30 ST. CARROLLCT. W. 28 ST. W. 26 ST. MC LEAN JOHNAVE. W. 25 ST. W. 52 ST. W. 50 ST. W. 48 ST. W. 47 ST. W. 45 ST. WHITMAN AVE. JOHN AVE. RANDALL RD. WHITMAN AVE. WHITMAN CT. BRIDGE AVE. W. 38 ST. CARROLLAVE. W. 32 ST. LORAINAVE. CHATHAM AVE. W. 26 ST. COLUMBUS RD. W. 20 ST. W. 19 ST. FULTON PL. KEENE CT. WILLEY AVE. W. 44 ST. W. 25 ST. TRAIN AVE. FULTON CT. W. 30 ST. MONROE AV E. W. 47 ST. CHATHAM AVE. W. 32 ST. W. 28 ST. TRAIN AVE. LORAINAVE. W. 33 ST. YORK AVE. W. 48 ST. W. 45 ST. HORACE CT. W. 30 ST. W. 50 ST. LORAINAVE. APPLE AVE. W. 42 ST. JAPAN ST. FULTON RD. MONROE AV E. FILLMORE AVE. W. 20 ST. SWIFTAVE. W. 52 ST. W. 47 ST. W. 45 ST. W. 44 ST. W. 48 ST. W. 53 ST. W. 50 ST. W. 38 ST. W. 37 ST. W. 28 ST. W. 27 ST. N. MARGINAL RD. TRAIN AVE. W. 38 ST. COLUMBUS RD. W. 19 ST. 9 Vacant lots LORAIN and AVENUE used car / South lots of represent LORAIN plan future development opportunities Vacant Land & Used Car Lots Feet X 4 LAUNCH LORAIN Charrette

9 Used car lot along Lorain Avenue New retail uses are finding a home on Lorain Avenue 2.3 LAND USE Used car lots are a predominant land use, with concentrations of car lots at the western end of the corridor. Some of these used car lots are legally operating businesses, while others lack city approval and are in violation of city codes. With the leadership of Councilmen Joe Cimperman and Matt Zone and assistance from the City of Cleveland Planning Department, a Pedestrian Retail Overlay zone has been passed for Lorain Avenue. This overlay zoning district is intended to protect and reinforce pedestrianoriented mixed use districts in the city. The Pedestrian Retail Overlay (PRO) requires that new buildings be set back no further than five feet from a street right-of-way. It also requires that parking spaces be located at the rear of buildings, where feasible. Most importantly, while the PRO district permits those uses allowed in the underlying Local or General Retail district, it specifically prohibits certain uses that detract from the pedestrian-oriented character of the district. These uses include automobile sales lots, gas stations, car washes, and restaurant drive-thrus, whose driveways intersect with a pedestrian retail street and inhibit the flow of pedestrian traffic. Through the PRO designation, existing used car lots along Lorain Avenue will be acquired and redeveloped as market demand permits. Demand for retail space on West 25th Street in the Market District remains high and there are few vacant storefronts to accommodate new businesses. Some entrepreneurs have begun to discover Lorain Avenue and several long-time retail businesses like Fridrich Bicycles remain, but there are many vacant storefronts, scattered vacant lots, and underutilized properties along the street. In a PRO district, a variety of retail and high-density residential uses are preferred over automobile-oriented uses like used car lots. Existing Conditions 5

10 2.4 Public realm and green space Due to the narrow right-of-way along Lorain Avenue, street trees are sparse. The trees that do exist along the corridor struggle to survive, for the most part, because they lack adequate tree pits and irrigation. The north/south streets that intersect with Lorain Avenue support a more healthy tree canopy. Typical street tree condition along Lorain Avenue There are scattered open lots along Lorain Avenue that offer some green space. Gather Round Farm, on Lorain Avenue between West 38th Street and West 41st Street is a large green area that contributes to the local food economy. There are also several parks in the vicinity of Lorain Avenue, including Novak Park, Fairview Park, and Greenwood Park, and historic Monroe Street and Willet cemeteries. A master plan for improvements to Greenwood Park is currently being prepared by ParkWorks in partnership with Councilman Matt Zone and with input from the block club. Gather Round Farm, Lorain Avenue frontage Solar panels on the green roof of the Cleveland Environmental Center at the northeast corner of Lorain Avenue and Fulton Road 6 LAUNCH LORAIN Charrette

11 W 44 ST W 41 ST W 20 ST FULTON AVE W 52 ST LORAIN AVE Existing parks and green spaces Existing Conditions 7

12 Public Infrastructure Green Space Connections Real Estate Development Wayfinding, Marketing & Identity 8 LAUNCH LORAIN Charrette

13 3 LAUNCH LORAIN Recent sidewalk repairs near Lorain and Fulton Avenues (north side) 3.1 Overall Vision Councilman Joe Cimperman of Ward 3 describes the overall vision for Launch Lorain as follows: The Lorain Avenue charrette will launch the momentum of the Ohio City Market District west on to Lorain Avenue though projects such as revitalizing storefronts, activating public green space, engaging businesses and long standing institutions like Saint Ignatius High School. Lorain Avenue has always been Ohio City s main street and through this initiative the Ohio City community has a chance to grow a thriving corridor. Ideas from the charrette have been collected into the four categories of Public Infrastructure; Real Estate Development; Green Space Connections; and Wayfinding and Identity. 3.2 PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE Throughout the charrette process, residents and business owners expressed concerns about the conditions of streets, curbs, and sidewalks throughout the neighborhood, particularly along Lorain Avenue where many sidewalks are uneven and cracked, and along the heavily travelled north/south arterials such as West 41st Street and West 44th Street. The condition of Lorain Court and other alleyways in the area south of Lorain Avenue is also a concern and the lack of adequate lighting in the alleys leads to safety issues. Sidewalks Sidewalk maintenance is the responsibility of private property owners. Generally speaking, sidewalks are in the best condition in locations where there are viable businesses, stable housing stock, and responsible property owners. Enforcement of sidewalk maintenance standards throughout the neighborhood needs to be more rigorous and consistent. Promoting new investment and development in vacant and underutilized properties will also lead to the improvement of sidewalk conditions and the overall pedestrian experience in the neighborhood. Dangerously uneven pavement near Lorain and Fulton Avenues (south side) Street conditions In order to support existing and new development, and to help more people discover the potential of Lorain Avenue, basic street repairs and maintenance needs to occur. Potholes need to be addressed, particularly on north/south streets such as West 41st and West 44th Streets. Curbs are damaged or nearly nonexistent in some stretches of Lorain Avenue. Summary of Ideas 9

14 Traffic Calming Traffic speeds on Lorain Avenue, particularly at rush hour, are detrimental to the pedestrian experience. Also, drive-by traffic offers little benefit to existing businesses during peak periods because cars are moving to fast to notice existing businesses and on-street parking is banned during the morning and evening rush hour. This problem can be addressed in the short-term by eliminating parking bans during rush hours, making on-street parking on Lorain Avenue available at all times. A longer-term strategy is to construct bulb-outs at key intersections, creating a place for vegetation in the streetscape and shortening the crosswalk distance for pedestrians. The addition of dedicated bike lane or sharrows would also provide traffic calming benefits, but a traffic study is needed to determine the feasibility of this option. Existing (below) and Improved (above) illustrated sections of Lorain Avenue indicating pedestrian bumpouts, dedicated bike lanes and on street parking. 10 LAUNCH LORAIN Charrette

15 Key intersections that could accommodate bump-outs include: Lorain / West 25th (Gateway) Lorain / West 26th (Pedestrian crossing) Lorain / West 28th (Traffic calming, general improvements) Lorain / West 30th (Pedestrian crossing) Lorain / West 32nd (Pedestrian crossing, general improvements) Lorain / Fulton (Pedestrian crossing, reconfiguration) Lorain / West 41st (Pedestrian crossing, traffic calming & gateway) Lorain / West 44th (Traffic calming & gateway) Lorain / West 48th (Pedestrian crossing) Pedestrian bumpout incorporating native plantings to absorb stormwater runoff Concept for pedestrian enhancements and bike lanes at the intersection of W. 26th Street and Lorain Avenue Summary of Ideas 11

16 An additional change which could calm traffic is the conversion of particular one-way streets to two-way streets. Residents were especially interested in turning West 41st and West 41st Streets into two-way traffic in order to slow cars entering and exiting the I-90 highway ramps. The graphic belows illustrates a possible enhanced transit waiting area for Bus Rapid Transit on the south side of Lorain Avenue adjacent to the Saint Ignatius Breen Center parking lot. Two current bus stops on either end of the Breen Center parking lot could be consolidated into one mid-block bus stop with a recessed lane for loading and unloading. The recessed pull-over area should accommodate the full length of an articulated RTA bus, in order to allow bike and car traffic to continue while bus passengers are loading. RTA Investment along Lorain Avenue The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority is an important aspect of the Lorain Corridor. Forty percent of the City of Cleveland s population lives along the Lorain Corridor as it weaves through six City wards and even more neighborhoods. With institutional anchors like Fairview Hospital and Lutheran Hospital, Urban Community School and Saint Ignatius High School, and a significant RTA presence with high ridership and three rapid transit stops, Lorain Avenue is a prime 12 LAUNCH LORAIN Charrette

17 location for a significant west side investment along a dense and frequently ridden corridor. Specific projects to be considered include: Lorain Avenue Bus Rapid Transit including major improvements to transit waiting environments and targeting specific intersections for development Red Line TOD at West 25th New Red Line stop at Fulton Road as well as potential for major TOD on adjacent sites Transit Waiting Environment improvements including corner bump-outs and mid-block consolidations 0.5 mile 10 min. A new Red Line station at Fulton Road would be less than 0.5 mile from Lorain and Clark Avenues, providing many area residents with rapid transit access within a 10 minute walk. W 52 ST LORAIN AVE Concept for future transit oriented redevelopment at Lorain Avenue and West 25th Street Summary of Ideas 13

18 3.3 REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT Development priorities for the Launch Lorain initiative include: Business attraction Developer attraction Blight elimination; improve safety and perception of safety Entrepreneurship support Reinforcement of existing nodes Marketing initiatives Creation of a Lorain Avenue Special Improvement District (SID) Strategies for accomplishing these priorities include: Leverage institutional investment Coordinate Storefront Renovation Program funding Leverage CMSD investment adjacent to Lorain Avenue Explore consolidation of Fire and Police facilities Attract RTA investment in transit corridor Focus retail attraction on neighborhood services as listed below Secure funding for streetscape enhancements Increase housing density In terms of business attraction, charrette participants identified the following business types as desirable for the community: Pharmacy Business center (Fax, Copy and Print) Hardware store Garden center Health foods store Art supply and craft store Small outlet mall (Shoes and clothing) Cookware store Spa and wellness center Healthcare facility Recreation Center (Fitness, tennis, basketball, bowling, climbing gym, batting cages, kids activities, winter activities) Community center (Theatre, movies, art, and outreach) Development areas and opportunities: During the charrette process, the following development areas and opportunities were discussed; key intersections are described in more detail on the following pages: Intersection of Lorain Avenue and Fulton Road Saint Ignatius Campus Master Plan from West 28th to West 32nd Streets Retail wrapped parking structure along Lorain Avenue parking garage Reclamation and redevelopment of used car lots and vacant lots Intersection of Lorain Avenue and West 41st Street Intersection of Lorain Avenue and West 32nd Street North side of Lorain Avenue between West 32nd and West 41st Streets for retail, office, and residential development Market District Development along Lorain Avenue from the Lorain-Carnegie Bridge to West 25th Street Urban Community School Campus Master plan around Lorain Avenue and West 48th Street 14 LAUNCH LORAIN Charrette

19 W 38 ST 1 New infill housing FULTON AVE LORAIN AVE Existing art studio New public plaza New mixed-use development Existing environmental center 6 New Police/fire station 4 N Concept for redevelopment at the intersection of Lorain Avenue and Fulton Avenue creating a more continuous urban street edge and mixed-use activity Reconfiguring the intersection of Lorain Avenue & Fulton Road so that Fulton meets Lorain at a right angle, rather than diagonally, will simplify the intersection, create an opportunity for green space enhancements, and improved the pedestrian environment. Development concepts shown in this plan include: Northwest corner: A comprehensive redevelopment plan for this corner should be completed that includes, but is not limited to, the existing redeveloped art studio building and parking lot, future redeveloped neighboring property at 3700 Lorain Avenue, future redevelopment of Fridrich Bicycle building to include renovated residential apartments, additional ground floor retail tenants in underutilized storefronts, future land use and siting of residential development of available land bounded by the existing art studio, West 38th Street, Fulton Court, and Fridrich Bicycle, and a parking strategy and siting for redeveloped properties. Included in this redevelopment should be the potential repurposing of under-utilized City of Cleveland park next to Fulton Court and West 38th Street. Northeast corner: Existing Adam Lewis Environmental Center Southwest corner: A proposed mixed-use development with permanent supportive apartments and 2,500 square feet of retail built up to the street wall is not moving forward, but the southwest corner of the intersection should be developed as a mixeduse facility including housing and storefront retail with parking hidden in the back. Southeast corner: Potential relocation of Unique Thrift store to accommodate shared Police/Fire Station. If the Police/Fire facility were a multi-story structure, it might be possible to retain some retail presence on the site; the existing gas station on the corner could be retained, although a more effective development configuration could be achieved if the gas station is relocated. Infrastructure improvements near the intersection include improved transit-waiting environments, traffic calming, streetscaping, and a proposed new RTA RedLine station 0.3 miles south on Fulton Avenue, enhancing the market potential of this development concept. Summary of Ideas 15

20 W 41 ST Old Fashion Hot Dogs Rehab and storefront renovation recommended for the building The Cleveland Auction Company The Rag Refinery Palookaville Chili Owned by Mike McBride, the building containing The Rag Refinery and Palookaville Chili is a wonderful example of what has been and can still be done to improve the street through tenanting. 1 7 LORAIN AVE Fridrich Bicycle building The D.H. Ellison Co. The building restoration and improvement of the surrounding environment is a wonderful precedent for a private property s ability to greatly improve the public realm and enhance the neighborhood s identity. 6 9 W 38 ST 7 Proposed agrarian residential development 8 Public Space and entry to Gather Round Farm 9 Expanded Gather Round Farm IMPROVED INTERSECTION AND AGRICULTURE-CENTRIC DEVELOPMENT Gather Round Farm (above) could anchor a future agriculture-centric development project. As a short-term strategy, the Lorain Avenue facing front edge of the farm could be redesigned to encourage public use and provide a green spot in a segment of Lorain Avenue where vegetation is currently very limited. This public edge would be outside of Gather Round s front gate, providing the public with views of the farm but not open access. The Bodnar funeral home building, immediately adjacent to the farm, is currently for sale and could provide an opportunity for future residential development that supports and benefits from the farm. An urban agrarian development model uses food production as the focal point of a new mixed use residential development in which a small commercial or non-profit farm served an amenity to attract prospective residents to adjacent development. Residents support the farm by purchasing a share of the food grown and the farm, and the farm supports the residents by providing access to locally grown food. The development s success would be supported by the conversion of West 41st Street from a one-way street to a two-way street. 16 LAUNCH LORAIN Charrette

21 W. 30th ST W. 32nd ST 5 4 LORAIN AVE 6 View of children s playground adjacent to Leo s House on W. 32nd Street Repurposing of the building s ground floor, owned by Ohio City Incorporated. Retail storefront improvements include Ohio City Writers and other potential new tenants. 2 Possible Fire Station relocation from the northeast intersection of West 32nd Street and Lorain Ave. The site could be a viable site for possible future campus expansion of Saint Ignatius. W. 32nd & LORAIN AVE. INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENT AND EXPANSION PLANS FOR PROVIDENCE HOUSE This expansion diagram is based on information discussed during the service providers stakeholder meeting Improvements to the intersection for pedestrians, including curb bumpouts, enhanced crosswalks, and sidewalk planters. West Side Catholic Center Mid-block Transit Waiting Environment (TWE) including covered bus shelter and recessed lane for loading and unloading articulated buses. Enhanced bus waiting area could consolidate two current stops into one midblock location. Breen Center for the Performing Arts - Saint Ignatius High School Existing Providence House buiding Exisiting Leo s House building Potential exists for new tenants to join Ohio City Writers along retail storefronts at the intersection of Lorain Ave. and W. 32nd Street Proposed Providence House crisis nursery expansion Potential future expansion for Providence House Summary of Ideas 17

22 W. 41st ST LORAIN AVE W. 32nd ST. W. 29th ST. SAINT IGNATIUS HIGH SCHOOL The future of Saint Ignatius High School is important to Ohio City and Lorain Avenue. As the main property owner immediately west of the Market District, their campus interaction with Lorain Avenue is critical to making a transition into the neighborhood. As President of Saint Ignatius, Father William Murphy, S.J. served on the Launch Lorain steering committee and stated during one of the community meetings his vision of Lorain Avenue transforming from a latently charming street to a blatantly charming street, with a more vibrant Lorain Avenue as the centerpiece of their campus. Campus development should be done in collaboration with other stakeholders including Ohio City Incorporated and seek to have a strong street presence that could include Lorain Avenue fronting buildings, decreased surface parking along Lorain Avenue, and a coordinated streetscape plan with all of Lorain Avenue. W. 25th ST New Paul Dunbar School LORAIN AVE New Orchard School of Science Residents south of Lorain Ave. will soon welcome two new CMSD school buildings to the neighborhood. Designs for the Paul Dunbar School on W. 28th Street and the Orchard School of Science on Bailey Ave. have been approved and construction is planned to start in (images: Ralph Tyler Companies) MONROE AVE 18 LAUNCH LORAIN Charrette

23 3.4 GREEN SPACE CONNECTIONS Charrette participants expressed support for improved connectivity between green spaces, which would enliven existing underutilized green spaces, encourage active lifestyles, improve neighborhood health and increase safety by adding more eyes on the street. Safe and identifiable connections would help leverage the significant investments already made in local public spaces, such as Market Square Park and Greenwood Park. Proposed interventions include: Improved pedestrian and bike paths Improve alleys to make them safer and more attractive neighborhood connectors Activate neighborhood green spaces through programming Renovated parks and dog park Bike repair stations Existing and future green spaces can be linked through streetscape enhancements, pedestrian improvements, and signage that delineate three green loops through the neighborhood as shown below. FULTON RD LORAIN AVE Summary of Ideas 19

24 11 WHEAT CT CLINTON AVE VINE CT WOODBINE AVE ORCHARD 10 BAILEY CLINTON AVE w31 PL ST w32 ST BURTON SIAM AVE 3 MABEL CT KEIFER WACO CT VESTRY OHIO CITY FARM JAY AVE 12 8 MONROE FRANKLIN RROLL AVE VE 2 8 JAY AVE '-6" 1'-10" INFORMATION INFORMATION DETROIT AV 4'-2 1/2" 3'-4 1/2" W50 ST W50 ST FRANKLIN BLVD W48 ST W48 ST W47 ST W45 ST W45 ST W44 ST JOHN AVE w38 ST w32 ST FRANKLIN BLVD JOHN CT WHITMAN AVE FULTON CT WHITMAN CT BRIDGE AVE RANDALL RD W40 PL W41 ST W42 ST w38 ST W38 ST w29 ST BRIDGE AVE CARROLL AVE w34 ST FULTON RD w32 ST w32 ST w33 PL w33 ST w28 ST HANCOCK CT FULTON RD CARROLL CT LORAIN AVE w30 ST w31 ST w25 st CARROLL AVE MARKET AVE CHATHAM AVE w29 ST w26 ST w28 ST w22 ST w23 PL w24 ST w30 ST GEHRING w25 ST COLUMBUS RD 2'-0" 3'-5" 2'-0" w26 ST GEHRING w23 PL w24 ST 2'-0" 1'-6" 3'-10" 4'-0" FRONT NEW POLE/ NEIGHBORHOOD MAP BACK ALT EXISTING POLE/ STREET VIEW MAP 3.5 WAYFINDING and IDENTITY Hanging planter baskets and projecting building signage would create visual connections from West 25th Street and enhance the appeal of Lorain Avenue, establishing a unique identity for the corridor. Hanging baskets provide a feasible opportunity for injecting natural elements into the corridor, as street tree planting poses a significant challenge due to narrow sidewalk widths and the negative impact of obscuring retail signage. New signage and storefront renovation assistance for private businesses along Lorain Avenue should be a high priority in order to improve the aesthetics and reinforce the street s distinctive identity. The graphic above shows wayfinding signage concepts for West 25th Street, designed by Studio Graphique, to brand the neighborhood and direct visitors to nearby attractions. Consistent signage for Lorain Avenue, or a variation on the West 25th Street signage program, would help tie the neighborhood together and encourage visitors and businesses to turn the corner from West 25th Street onto Lorain Avenue. Directional signage could highlight parks and other destinations just off the Lorain Avenue corridor, including Fairview Park, Novak Park, Greenwood Park, and the historic cemeteries. 20 LAUNCH LORAIN Charrette

25 FULTON RD PENN COURT FULTON COURT LORAIN COURT LORAIN AVE Examples of decorative, low-cost lighting for alleys Alleyways in the neighborhood, such as Lorain Court, Hancock Court, and Penn Court should be celebrated as a unique and defining characteristic of the neighborhood. Currently, the alleys are perceived as being unsafe at night. Additional lighting will encourage residents to use the alleys for crossing the neighborhood and increased usage can help to improve safety. Temporary installations, short-term events, and pop up programming can be used to highlight these features in the neighborhood. Summary of Ideas 21

26 The Scrap Com water tower could be a neighborhood identity feature, given its visual prominence, but its deteriorated appearance is not a neighborhood asset. Options include: Remove entirely and sell/recycle as scrap metal Paint and attach wind turbines, based on model designed and implemented by Dr. Majid Rashidi at Cleveland State University (below, right) Use as the basis for a public art project, perhaps to etch or perforate the structure and illuminate internally, as in the example in Prague suggested by Cleveland Public Art (below, left) 22 LAUNCH LORAIN Charrette

27 4 NEXT STEPS Public Infrastructure 6 Months 12 Months 24 Months 60 Months 1. Meet with Cleveland Public Service Department to determine when Bailey Avenue, West 41st Street, West 44th Street, and Lorain Court will be repaved. These four streets were identified as most in need of repair. 2. Meet with Cleveland Commissioner of Engineering and Construction to discuss whether rush hour parking restrictions for Lorain Avenue can be eliminated. 3. Meet with Cleveland Commissioner of Engineering and Construction to discuss whether West 41st Street and West 44th Street can be converted into two-way streets when they are repaved. 4. Implement pop-up traffic calming to show the community benefits from allowing rush hour parking and better pedestrian experiences. 5. Meet with GCRTA to explore the feasibility of a new transit station between the West 25th and W 65th Red Line Stations and the possibility of Bus Rapid Transit for Lorain Avenue. 6. Identify locations for bike racks. 7. Pursue Transportation for Livable Communities (or other) funding to develop plans for streetscape improvements, bulb-outs at key intersections, enhanced crosswalks and new crosswalks at intersections where they are missing, mid-block transit waiting environments, streetscape improvements, intersection improvements, and Bus Rapid Transit possibilities for Lorain Avenue, and a potential new transit station. 8. Coordinate streetscape planning efforts with Saint Ignatius High School. Saint Ignatius streetscape standards, as they are developed, can be adapted and implemented elsewhere in the Lorain Avenue corridor for a cohesive neighborhood appearance. 9. Design Transit Waiting Environments for priority locations, including: Lorain Avenue between W 32nd and Saint Ignatius East bound Fire station at W 32nd and Lorain - West bound REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT 6 Months 12 Months 24 Months 60 Months 1. Priority development sites and strategies 2. Collaborate with and determine leveragin opportunities to build off of institutional investment 3. Vacant lot conversion prioritization and strategies 4. Used car lot prioritization and strategies 5. Fire and Police advocacy 6. Business and investor attraction 7. Entrepreneurship support 8. Marketing initiatives 9. Explore Lorain Avenue Special Improvement District Summary of Ideas 23

28 6 Months 18 Months GREEN SPACE CONNECTIONS 1. Pursue funding from Ohio Arts Council or other sources for Pop Up programming in the alleys; work with neighbors to identify installations and events. 2. Alley improvements, especially lighting 3. Develop signage program and identity markers for green loop connections. 12 Months 24 Months WAYFINDING and IDENTITY 1. Implement plants/planters/baskets program for lining Lorain Avenue building façades. 2. Develop streetscape guidelines for streetscape elements (trees, trash cans, seating, hanging baskets) 24 LAUNCH LORAIN Charrette

29 Summary of Ideas 25

30 W. 48TH ST. W. 47TH ST. W. 44TH ST. W. 41ST ST. W. 38TH ST. REDEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES Urban Community School Expansion Vacant lot Cleveland City Dept. of Public Health New Orchard School of Science Gather Round Farm expansion and New Agrarian Residential Development New infill housing New retail and supportive housing mixed-use development New Police/fire station New RTA Red Line Rapid Station 10 Providence House expansion 11 Saint Ignatius campus expansion 12 New Paul Dunbar School 6 FULTON RD. 7 3 LORAIN AVE LAUNCH LORAIN Charrette

31 LORAIN AVE. 11 W. 25TH ST W. 29TH ST. 12 W. 32ND ST. W. 33RD ST. FULTON RD. 9 N Summary of Ideas 27

32 LAUNCH LORAIN Charrette Lorain Avenue/South of Lorain Neighborhood