Universities & Medical District Physical Evolution of the District The physical character of the District has been altered significantly over the past 0 years, as the following series of aerial photographs demonstrates. Expansion occurred from west to east, with the emergence of multiple institutions in the District evident in 97. Overhead utilities crossed the District from east to west in 90, and underground utilities were evident north to south in 97. 90 The first physical changes to the District focused on road improvements. Lake Otis Parkway Campbell Airstrip Road Tudor Road Bragaw Street clearing 90 Institutional and natural resource use followed. Alaska Methodist University Wendler Junior High Lake Otis Elementary Gravel extraction Goose Lake Park 8 97 The expansion of existing uses and the addition of new uses coincided with improvements to the circulation system. 0 9 7 Alaska Methodist University Expansion Alaska Psychiatric Institute McLaughlin Youth Center Providence Hospital Gravel extraction (University Lake) Residential between 0th and Tudor 7 Providence Drive 8 Northern Lights Boulevard 9 Drive 0 Utilities easements
F r a m e w o r k 978 P l a n The continued growth of the District s institutions was complemented with the development of the adjacent residential neighborhoods. M a s t e r Anchorage Community College University of Alaska Anchorage King Career Center College Gate Subdivision Gravel extraction (University Lake) 988 The 98 Goose Lake Plan anticipated the expansion of the District s institutions, the relocation of Chester Creek, and the extension of Bragaw Street. Alaska Pacific University Expansion Providence Alaska Medical Center Expansion University of Alaska Anchorage Expansion Tudor Centre Redevelopment Chester Creek Relocation Bragaw Street Extension 998 As the District s institutions continue to expand, additions to the open space network help to preserve the natural environment. Alaska Native Medical Center Providence Alaska Medical Center Expansion University of Alaska Anchorage Expansion KAKM/KSKA Public Broadcasting University Lake Park 7
U n i v e r s i t i e s & M e d i c a l D i s t r i c t Past Planning in the District 98 Goose Lake Plan The general plan for Anchorage dated 9 devoted several pages to the District as it might appear in 980. The only major planning effort focused on the District in the past culminated in the 98 Goose Lake Plan, which was subsequently adopted as a component of the city s Comprehensive Plan. The Goose Lake Plan was adopted in 98 as the planning framework for all rezoning, master planning, site planning and development projects in the District. The adoption of the Plan specified an intent among the institutions to work together to achieve the Plan objectives and implied a concurrence on the part of the individual institutions to establish policies and plans consistent with the Plan. The adoption included provisions to review the plan every five years, revise the plan every ten years, and require review and approval of proposed amendments by the Municipal Planning and Zoning Commission, prior to approval by the Municipal Assembly. The Plan s controlling element, the Development Suitability Map, incorporated projected land use development and an environmental analysis to identify areas suited for development and areas unsuited for development. The projected land use development, which was based on information from the Municipality and each institution, identified five alternatives that ranged from a no-build scenario to high-level growth through the year 000. The environmental analysis evaluated surficial geology, topography, streams, floodplains, wetlands and vegetation. Specific recommendations in the 98 Plan included: Environment a classification of wetlands in the District; and the preservation of Chester Creek and the relocation of its south fork. Transportation encouragement of a reduction in drive-alone vehicles and increased transit use; reclassification of Drive to a two-lane residential collector street from minor arterial with the intention of reducing through trips; development of a local access road from the intersection of Bragaw Street and Northern Lights Boulevard; improvements to the District s major ingress and egress points; establishment of an internal transit circulation system coordinated with the development of peripheral shared parking structures; and formal adoption of proposed trail corridors. Management Strategies encouragement of land exchanges to create a more logical, functional relationship with land uses; coordination of parking requirements and management; and elimination of the alternative site selection process for municipal and state facilities in excess of,000 square feet. Public Facilities and Services confinement of new electrical transmission lines, and the relocation of existing lines, to the perimeter of the Goose Lake area; and requirement for institutional expansion to be coordinated with the Anchorage Water and Wastewater Utility. Evaluation of changes since 98 The Plan s identification of areas unsuitable for development has been successful in protecting those natural reserves. The redevelopment of Tudor Centre and the establishment of University Lake has also been consistent with the intent of the plan. Other recommendations of the 98 Plan have been less complete in their successful implementation. Although transit has improved significantly, the use of drive-alone automobiles in and through the District has increased dramatically. The internal circulation system in the District remains disjointed, with no complete local circulation network. Property ownership patterns have changed little, forcing a continuation of sometimes illogical development patterns. The municipal trail links lack formal recognition and utility lines still cross central open space. 8
F r a m e w o r k M a s t e r P l a n 98 Goose Lake Plan KEY UNSUITABLE FOR DEVELOPMENT OPEN / UNDEVELOPED SPACE INSTITUTIONAL COMMERCIAL RESIDENTIAL RESOURCE EXTRACTION MAJOR TRAIL CORRIDOR LOCAL CIRCULATION MOA REGIONAL CIRCULATION NORTHERN LIGHTS BOULEVARD GOOSE LAKE CORNELL COURT ASD ACC MOSQUITO LAKE APU COLLEGE GATE PROVIDENCE DRIVE PAMC MYC E. OTH AVE TRUST API BEHM LAKE (UNIVERSITY LAKE) E. ND AVE GRAVEL EXTRACTION north ROAD LAKE OTIS LAUREL FOLKER WRIGHT PIPER DALE FLORINA BRAGAW STREET BONIFACE D i s t r i c t D e v e l o p m e n t - 0 0 0 KEY OPEN / UNDEVELOPED SPACE INSTITUTIONAL COMMERCIAL RESIDENTIAL EXISTING TRAIL APU SKI TRAIL LOCAL CIRCULATION MOA REGIONAL CIRCULATION NORTHERN LIGHTS BOULEVARD GOOSE LAKE CORNELL COURT ASD COLLEGE GATE MOSQUITO LAKE APU PROVIDENCE DRIVE MYC API PAMC E. OTH AVE TRUST UNIVERSITY LAKE MOA E. ND AVE ANMC north ROAD LAKE OTIS LAUREL FOLKER WRIGHT PIPER DALE FLORINA BRAGAW STREET BONIFACE 9
U n i v e r s i t i e s & M e d i c a l D i s t r i c t Campus Institutions ANMC Entry API PAMC Entry 0 APU Campus MYC Main Quad The Alaska Native Medical Center (ANMC) relocated from downtown to the District in 997. Its mission is to provide quality health care to the Alaska Native community. The ANMC has developed a Master Plan to reflect a composite vision of ANMC, Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium and Southcentral Foundation. Alaska Pacific University (APU) was founded in 99 as Alaska Methodist University. APU s mission is to promote the fullest development of its students through liberal arts and professional programs while emphasizing individual attention to students, the development of leadership abilities, and the nurturing of spiritual and moral values consistent with its Christian heritage while respecting the religious convictions of all. The current enrollment is approximately 700 students. APU has prepared a Master Plan for its properties which identifies eight categories of land use.. Academic core. Maintenance. Housing. Future academic housing development. Recreation. Endowment lands 7. Long term endowment lands 8. Natural buffer Alaska Psychiatric Institute (API) was built in 9 with the mission to provide an appropriate array of quality inpatient services for the treatment of Alaskans with psychiatric disorders who meet admission criteria. The building was constructed for general medical care and has been adapted in piecemeal fashion to meet the increasingly sophisticated needs of API. Today, the building is widely considered to be functionally obsolete and is being replaced with an entirely new facility. The new building will occupy a site to the west of the old one and will be accessed via the existing driveway from Providence Drive. The old facility is to be disposed of by the State, which owns the building and will be responsible for its future. The Anchorage School District (ASD) operates the King Career Center, Wendler Middle School, and Lake Otis Elementary School. The Lake Otis building has been renovated, the other buildings are being renovated, and the ASD is currently evaluating future planning and development issues. The McLaughlin Youth Center (MYC) was established in 98 with the mission to hold juvenile offenders accountable for their behaviors, promote the safety and restoration of victims and communities, and assist offenders and their families in developing skills to prevent crime. The MYC is in the process of renovating its facilities.
Site Characteristics F r a m e w o r k M a s t e r P l a n Key (previous page and next pages) # Land Use Development Illustrations # Natural Environment and Trails Illustrations # Circulation Illustrations 8 0 8 7 8 0 9 7 0 9 7 9 Providence Alaska Medical Center (PAMC) relocated to the District in 9. The mission of the Sisters of Providence Health System is to continue the healing ministry of Jesus in the world of today, with special concern for those who are poor and vulnerable. PAMC is limited in its ability to expand its building complex by the size of its property. The existing site and growth planned for the next years put the medical center close to the maximum ground coverage allowed by the Anchorage zoning ordinances. The hospital has already moved many support services off campus. In order to expand its facilities in the District, PAMC must seek variances, acquire more land or redevelop existing buildings. PAMC has developed a Master Plan for its facilities. The University of Alaska Anchorage () began in the District as Anchorage Community College in 98. Its mission is "to participate in the development, dissemination, and application of knowledge through high-quality instruction, research, and service to the public. Enrollment at has grown steadily in recent years to its current,800, and university facilities have expanded accordingly. However, although the university owns a lot of land in the area, ownership patterns have forced a growth pattern that is inconsistent with academic and community needs of the campus. The University of Alaska Anchorage needs space for logical growth of its campus in order to keep pace with increasing enrollment, for new facilities to maintain its competitive edge, and for new programs. The developed a Draft Master Plan in 99, which was adopted by the Board of Regents but has not been submitted for review by the Municipality of Anchorage. An updated master plan is currently being prepared. Several other institutions are also located within the campus area. These include the Alaska Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, Alaska Public Telecommunications Inc., and the U.S. Geological Survey Offices.