Bridge Square Dec. 9 2013 open house presentation

City of NorthfieldCommunity Workshop/ Public Open House #2

December 9th, 2013

Concepts for a Future Bridge Square

Marcia A Klopf

Agenda1 Introductions

2 Planning Process and Schedule

3 Urban Design Analysis

4 Previous Planning

5Design Precedents

6Visioning

7 Next Steps

Introductions1

IntroductionsProject Team• John Slack, ASLA Stantec• Griff Wigley Wigley & Associates• Marcia A Klopf Project Intern/ St. Olaf

City Staff Contact• Joe Stapf, Northfield City Engineer

IntroductionsMayor’s Streetscape Task Force (MSTF)• Hayes Scriven• Ross Currier• Dan Bergeson• Robert Will• Steve Edwins

Special thanks to Northfield Historical Society for providing all of the historic images you will see in this presentation.

See Stakeholders Webpage athttp://northfieldcitizenengagement.org/bridgesquare/stakeholders/

The Planning Process2and Schedule

Planning ProcessPublic Input• Transparent process to engage all stakeholders in

a meaningful dialogue about the future of Bridge Square

• Use public face-to-face meetings and online tools to both inform the community and learn their needs, desires, ideas, and feedback. Online tools will include:

• Blog site, discussion threads• Online straw polls• Live web conferences• Ongoing updates via Twitter, Facebook,

text messages, email and local media websites

NorthfieldCitizenEngagement.org/bridgesquare

Planning ProcessDesign Process• Understand the history of Bridge Square and the

role it plays in the community• Define design precedents to see how other well

known/loved spaces function • Engage in a civic discussion on the future of

Bridge Square• Provide recommendations for the future design

and programming of Bridge Square

Planning Schedule

Tonight’s Meeting

Meeting PurposeGoals and Objectives for this meeting

• Comprehensive understanding of “forces” that affect Bridge Square

• Review public plazas/square case studies to see how other spaces relate to Bridge Square

• Discuss positive and negative attributes about Bridge Square

• Develop a “Vision” for the future of Bridge Square• Generate and discuss ideas for the redesign of

Bridge Square

Urban Design Analysis3

Urban Design AnalysisContext• Roadway

Classification• Gateway

Intersections• ADT’s• Parks/ Open

Spaces• Multi-modal

Routes• Historic

Commercial District

• Public/ Civic Land Uses

• Public Parking• 5 Min. Walk

Urban Design AnalysisSite Parameters• Built Form• Edges• “Hardscape”• “Softscape”• Canopy

Urban Design AnalysisSite Parameters• Pedestrian

circulation/ access

• Views• Infrastructure

Urban Design AnalysisGeometries• Bridge

Square boundary is .96 acres

• “Green” area .34 Acres

4th Street

- 30’ roadway

- 8’ parking lane and (2) 11’ drive lanes

- (6) Parking StallsWater Street

- 23’ roadway

- (3) Parking Stalls

“No Name” Street

- 23’ roadway

- 8’ parking lane and 15’ drive lanes

- (8) Parking Stalls

150’

90’

Urban Design AnalysisExisting Infrastructure• (25)Trees• Flower Pots• Benches• Lighting• Fountain• Civil War Monument• Popcorn Wagon

Urban Design AnalysisPedestrian Circulation• Primary and

secondary connections

• Crossings• Pedestrian/ bike/

vehicular conflicts

Urban Design AnalysisSpatial Orientation• General

guidelines for human spatial orientation

• 2’ - 4’ for Personal Space

• 4’-12’ for Social Space

Seating for show mobile event approx. 75

Standing room only gathering approx. 95 peopleEntire plaza space approx. 275 people

Tents in square approx. 32

Historic Context• Period of Significance

• NPS Historic Register identifies a timeframe of 1850-1924

• NPS Historic Preservation Nomination Form identifies 1870s – 1970’s

• 1992 Historic Context No. 1 "Industrial and Agricultural" context listing identifies a time period of 1855-1945

• HPC designated critical components of the design that should be preserved:• Protect the Open Space and flexibility,• Respect the historic Edges of the

square • Preserve the Circulation and access to

Bridge Square

NPS Rehabilitation StandardsFrom the Dept. of the Interior National Park Service's Secretary of the Interior'sStandards and Guidelines for Preserving Cultural Landscapes

The governing STANDARDS include these: (6 of 8 total)

1. A property will be used as it was historically, or be given a new use that maximizes the retention of distinctive materials, features, spaces and relationships.2. The historic character of a property will be retained and preserved.3. Each property will be recognized as a physical record of its time, place and use.4. Changes to a property that have acquired historic significance in their own right will be retained and preserved.5. Distinctive materials, features, finishes, and construction techniques or examples of craftsmanship that characterize a property will be preserved.6. The existing condition of historic features will be evaluated to determine the appropriate level of intervention needed.

NPS Rehabilitation StandardsAn Approach of Preservation of an Historic Cultural Landscape includes these GUIDLINES:

1. Identify, Retain, and Preserve Historic Materials and Features.

2. Stabilize and Protect Deteriorating Historic Features and Materials as a Preliminary Measure.

3. Maintain Historic Features and Materials.

4. Repair Historic Features and Materials.

5. Limited Replacement in Kind of Extensively Deteriorated Portions of Historic Features.

NPS Rehabilitation StandardsThese are applied to the specifics of the property's Character Defining Features by consideration of:

1. Topography

2. Vegetation and/or open space

3. Circulation

4. Water features

5. Structures, Furnishings, and Objects

6. Considerations for Accessibility, Environment, and Energy Conservation

Bridge Square Maintenance/ OperationsNorthfield Public Work Staff• The mowing of Bridge Square is contracted

• Weekly cost for mowing is $53.44 a week & an average once a week. • Average 20 to 24 wks.• Equates to Yearly $ $1,068.80 to $1,282,56

• Some years the City will do annual grass seeding just to insure the grass stays green

• No current sprinkler system on Bridge Square• $250.00/ per year

• Yearly mulching of the trees & Shrubs• $500.00 to $750.00 per year

• Maintenance of the Fountain yearly costs (Yearly startup & shutdown, Weekly cleaning, Soaping, Paint.)

• $1,500.00 to $2,000.00 per year• Flower planters ($950.00 Spring planting, Winter $ 500.00 per year)• Yearly estimated 200 to 300 staff labor hours a year and approx.

$5,500 in costs.• Which might include snow removal, weekly cleaning & maintenance.

Bridge Square Maintenance/ OperationsNorthfield Garden Club• Coordination of future plantings with City and on-going

maintenance• Additional soil and improved lawn areas• Need irrigation system• Need more seating• Discussions about programmed uses which may not “fit” within

Bridge Square• Fountain repair and maintenance• Flowers are critical to design and should remain

Programmed events happen in Bridge Square each year.

Annual Events• 3rd Saturday in May-

Northfield Garden Club Event

• End of May/Early June- St. Olaf College Events

• Mid June- Taste of Northfield

• Early July- Milltown Cycles Event

• Mid July- New Prague Band performance

• Late July- Northfield Chamber all day event

• Thursdays in the Summer-Community Band nights

• Fridays in the Summer-Riverwalk/Market Fair

• Early September- Defeat of Jesse James Days

• Sept. 21- Day of Peace• Early October: St.

Dominics Event

Community Uses of Bridge Square

Special Events• July 2011: Laura Baker

Event• August 2011: Outlaw Run• August 2012: Medin• New in early August 2013:

Vintage Band Festival• New in late August 2013:

ArtsCulture night• Art Swirl• Books and Stars• 4th of July

Other Events• Public Gatherings• Break dancing• Fundraising• Coffee/ Lunch• People Watching• Public Vigils• Picnics• Fishing• Garden Club events

Previous Planning4

1916 Plan

Highlights• “Auto-centric” design

provides enhanced circulation for automobiles

• Formalized landscape treatments create “showpiece”

• Limited pedestrian access and use of the space

1966 Plan

Highlights• Design shows

what the Downtown and Bridge Square might look like in 1985

• Mixed-use office building along the river

• Urban plaza• Limited access to

the River• No relationship to

historic context and edges

1999 Plan

Highlights• Multiple options

defined• Central Axis to

River• Ties two parcels

together• Fountain at front

entry• Central circular

plaza for informal staging

• Informal lawn creates seating area

• Arbor structure serves as backdrop to River

Northfield Roundtable Framework 2012

Northfield Roundtable Framework 2012

Highlights• "Healthy Edges": The healthy edges should create the

best communication possible between Bridge Square and the businesses that border it.

• Traffic: Streets that run along Bridge Square and whether it would be a good idea to eliminate one of those to expand the Square. Traffic and parking are important design focuses for the project.

• Pedestrian: This brings to mind the importance of human scale, as well as places to stay and sit throughout the Square that will really draw people in to use it more.

• Greening: Green spaces in more of a pattern. Landscaping can be used to bring attention to a place and make it feel more inviting.

Design Precedents5

Rice Park, St. Paul

Facts• Urban context

surrounded by historic buildings; Saint Paul Hotel, the Landmark Center, Ordway, and the Downtown Library

• Design is all about the “EDGES”

• Approx. 1.8 acres in size

Rice Park, St. Paul

Facts• Park has a fountain,

a bandstand, and character sculptures from the Peanuts cartoons and a man-made ice rink during the winter months

Rice Park, St. Paul

Facts• Allows for rental of

space with electricity provided

• Multiple planned events throughout year including Monday Music in the Parks, and Winter Carnival

• Due to the site’s rich culture and historical significance, Rice Park has been honored as a “Great Place in America” by the APA in 2011

Rice Park, St. Paul

Ganesvoort Plaza, NYC

Facts• Existing space located

between four streets• “Taming of an urban

space” in the meatpacking district

• Over 150 years of “high” activity in this space

• Context sensitive solution must respect the district’s historic fabric, pedestrian generating destinations and working character.

• Approx. .12 acre in size


Facts• Design focused on

pedestrian improvements on equal ground with vehicle traffic

• Not much flexibility, as it is in a fixed space

• Plaza does have the possibility of changing its function through what objects are placed in the plaza and support temporary events


Facts• Provides needed traffic

calming


Facts• text• text

Peace Plaza, Rochester

Facts• Located in the heart of

downtown between two major hotels and adjacent to Mayo

• Approx. 1.09 acres in size (Peace Plaza .41 Ac., and First Street Plaza .64 Ac.)


Facts• The plaza functions as

the heart of a revitalized downtown district; cohesive gathering space

• A seasonal, all weather programming strategy; emphasizing a lively mix of downtown businesses; lighten and brighten the area; using street exhibits, displays, lighting, murals and shopfronts


Facts• Numerous events

throughout the year: summer market, noontime entertainment (music and theater performances), fall fashion show

• Summer Saturday night Movie on the Plaza; Corvettes on the Plaza;

• Programming for the Plaza almost every day

University Circle Plaza, Cleveland

Facts• Gateway to the

University Circle District of Cleveland, Ohio

• Vibrant and active social space for students, campus visitors, and patrons of the adjacent restaurants.

• Approx. .2 acres in size


FactsFacts• The design raises the

plaza above the surrounding sidewalks to create an informal stage and extensive seating edges, framed by a linear light feature that meanders through the existing tree canopy.


Facts• text• text

Mears Park, St. Paul

Facts• Located in historic

Lower Town• Originally known as

Baptist Hill in 1851 then donated to the City as a park and land was leveled

• Designed as a “calm oasis surrounded by the excitement of the big city”

• Approx. 3.1 acres


Facts• A place for

entertainment, living and hanging out

• Park hosts numerous events including: Music in Mears, Twin Cities Jazz Festival, and Concrete and Grass Music Festival

• Rental events can accommodate 200 guests


Facts• Covered band shell

and meandering stream running diagonally through the park

• Native trees and planting with a variety of seating options

• Volunteers know as the Friends of Mears Park maintain the gardens


Facts• ….

Visioning6What makes a great “Public Place”

• The place is accessible and has linkages;• People are engaged in activities there;• The space is comfortable and has a good image;• It is sociable: one where people meet each other

and take people when they come to visit.

Visioning Exercise (75 minutes)

• At your table identify the opportunities and problems/weaknesses of Bridge Square (25 minutes)

• “Dotmocracy” (5 minutes)

• Identify your Vision for Bridge Square (45 minutes)

• Part One: Document goals, strategies and benefits• Part Two: Draw site features and improvements to physical

space

Homework

• “PLACE” Game Sheet

Next Steps7Schedule• Live web conference (repeat of this open house):

December 11th, 7pm

• “PLACE” Game Sheet• Online Straw Poll• Ongoing blog updates and discussions• Community Workshop #3: Late January/early February

2014

• Provide comments, or additional insights at...NorthfieldCitizenEngagement.org/bridgesquare

Questions?

Bridge Square Dec. 9 2013 open house presentation

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Transcript of Bridge Square Dec. 9 2013 open house presentation