pps managing great public spaces

Improving Streets Through Placemaking

What If We Built San FranciscoAround Places?

San FranciscoApril 23rd, 2009

• 48 U.S. States, 30 Countries

• 2000+ Communities

• 3 Million annual web visitors

• 35,000 people get our electronic newsletter (1000+ SFers)

34 years of Placemaking

Program Areas

Building Community Through TransportationCommunity AnchorsPublic Markets & Local Economies Great Places, Great Cities

If you plan for cars and traffic…you get more cars and traffic.

If you plan for people and places…you get more people and places.

PROJECT FOR PUBLIC SPACES

The best way to handle the problem of ‘undesirables’ is to make a

place attractive to everyone else. -- William H. Whyte

The Power of Ten

City/Town

Districts/Destinations

Place

The Power of Ten

Layering of uses and amenities to create synergy (Triangulation)

Place 10+ things to do

The Power of Ten

Districts/StreetsDestinations

10+ PlacesPlace

Place

Place

Place

Place

Place

Place

PlacePlace

Place

District

The Power of Ten

City/Town 10+ Great Destinations/Streets/Neighborhoods/Districts

Neighbor-hoodDestin

-ation

District

District

Destin-ation

Neighbor-hood

Destin-ation

Street

Street


Crisis driven, Politically initiated

Relies on professionals and “experts”

Expensive

Community is resistant

Static designs

Results in limited experience of place

Narrow Goals

Pro

ject

/ D

isci

plin

e D

riven

App

roac

h


• Empowers Communities• Attracts partners, money

& creative solutions• Professionals become

resources• Design supports uses• Solutions are flexible• Engagement and

commitment grow

Greater Kennedy Plaza Providence, RI

Biltmore Hotel

CityHall

Kennedy Plaza

BurnsidePark

•Placemaking process: Training and developing steering committee•Focus groups (youth, social services, Police, transit agency, BID, etc)•Public workshop with 130 attendees

Public Square Tuesday

•57 non-profit agencies have participated•5-15 agencies each week

“Thanks for doing this all summer. I think I am not alone in thinking it was a good way to spend time with people we don’t usually reach - and a great use of public space.”

Martha YagerAmerican Friends Service Committee

“Look at this –no one would have wanted to relax here last year – it’s

amazing!”Sister Ann Keefe

St. Michael’s Church

Rhythm and Soul Sunday

Featuring music by the AfroSonic Collective and resident drummers. 2-8pm.

Lunchtime and after-work performances

Community StageWednesdays and Thursdays

Market Bazaar Thursday

Farmers’ Market Friday

Sales were up by at least 20% from the previous year, due to moving the market to Kennedy plaza near the improvements.

“The programming here has made an immediate and positive impact, creating a safer atmosphere.”Sergeant George Smith

Providence Police Department

“Thanks to the hard work and vision of our community partners, this wonderful space is being transformed into a vibrant gathering place that offers something for everyone,” Mayor David N. CicillineCity of Providence

Campus Martius, Detroit

Campus Martius Vision: • Detroit's Gathering Place • The Crossroads of Downtown Detroit • Our Town Square • The City's Signature Landmark • A Catalyst for Revitalization • A Place Where the Community Celebrates

Major Partners:• City of Detroit • Detroit 300 Conservancy• Detroit DOT

“Campus Martius Park will be a place where residents, workers and visitors come together to relax, enjoy, play and celebrate Detroit.”


PRINCIPLES OF GREAT STREETS Attractions & Destinations

Identity & Image

Active & Connected Edge Uses

Amenities

Management: Central to the Solution

Seasonal Strategy

Diverse User Groups

Balances Modes

Blending of Uses and Modes

Protects Neighborhoods


Attractions & Destinations Street design should be responsive to

adjacent land uses, not a streetscape plan


Attractions & Destinations Clustered activity points of interest 10+ destinations – including food and

markets, local retail, art, play, education, health/recreation


Identity & Image Showcase local assets to create a distinct

sense of place Businesses, pedestrians and drivers raise their

behavior (conform, respect) to this vision


Active & Connected Edge Uses Activate the street with ground floor uses Pedestrians choose their path based on the

expectation of a social, commercial or aesthetic experience


Narrow cross sections slow traffic and allow the street to connect, rather than divide, both sides of the street

Trees and small setbacks improve pedestrian experience

Active & Connected Edge Uses


Amenities Public and private seating options Triangulate to support use – cluster sidewalk

elements like benches, waste baskets, planters, lampposts, cafes


Management - Central to the Solution Maintenance and security Programming – daily activity generators and

cultural, civic events


Flexibility Street design can respond to community use


Seasonal Strategies

Activate throughout the day, week and year


Draws Diverse User Groups No one group or use dominates (ethnicities, ages, interests,

economic means, etc.) Design for use


Traffic, Transit & the Pedestrian Range of transportation options

Complete street design (all appropriate modes are accommodated)


Traffic, Transit & the Pedestrian Walkable – there are places to go

Connected to adjacent areas


Protects Neighborhoods Clear transitions and changes in street character

between high and low function roadways

Diverse Funding Base

•Public support•Private sponsorship•Broad partnerships

Security -- City Funding

23%

Facility - Parks

Department6%

Event Rentals18%

Tenant Leases

24%

In Kind Donations

17%

Event Sponsorships

12%


New York City Street Renaissance

PROJECT FOR PUBLIC SPACESA funnel for downtown traffic...

Finn Square – Before

PROJECT FOR PUBLIC SPACES...can be a defining space for Tribeca.

Finn Square – After


Lt. Petrosino Square – Before


Lt. Petrosino Square – After


Astor Place

A void between two great neighborhoods…


Astor Place

…can support and showcase the best of NYC.


Allen Street

A divider for Chinatown…


Allen Street

…can become an economic generator and gathering place.


Car storage space…

Grand Street – Before


…can become the most valuable space in the neighborhood.

Grand Street – After


BroadwayCreating and

Connecting Great Destinations


Union Square

Madison Square

Herald Square

Times Square


Union Square

Madison Square

Herald Square

Times Square

Bryant Park

Rockefeller Center


Streets Renaissance Projects

Meat Packing District Initiative Grand Army Plaza Coalition, Brooklyn Times Square Alliance Myrtle Ave BID 9th Ave Streets Renaissance Columbus Ave BID Kellogg Food and Fitness Initiative


Columbus Avenue Perception

1.00 2.00 3.00 4.00

ATTRACTIVENESS

SAFETY FROM CRIME

CLEANLINESS

EASE OF CROSSING THESTREET:

STREET FURNISHINGS:

INFORMATION ANDWAYFINDING

SAFETY FROM TRAFFIC

LOADING AND UNLOADING:

PARKING

PLACES TO SIT OUTSIDE:

NEWS BOXES

Poor Fair Good Excellent

today

tomorrow


Gansevoort Plaza

An underutilized space in a changing district…


Plaza Experiment


Overview: Creating and Connecting Great Destinations

Columbus Circle Rockefeller Center Times Square Bryant Park Grand Central Terminal Port Authority Penn Station Herald & Greeley Squares


Survey

(Poor 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 Good)

• Urban energy & attractiveness

• Lacks seating & refreshment

• Smells like urine

• Safe from crime not traffic

• People enjoy destination retail

• Unclear public spaces & activities

• sociability - lowest scoring category


Current ConditionsTimes Square


Festival withno CrossoverTimes Square

Successful Places/Place Capital

Economic Development

Cultural Development

Tourism

Public Space Maintenance/Management

Transportation/Infrastructure

Planning

Restructuring Government for Placemaking


When you focus on a place, you do everything differently.

Good places breed healthy activity. People attract people attract people. It takes many disciplines and skills to

create a place. 80 Percent of the success of a place is due

to Management. It takes a community to create a place. Amenities that make a place comfortable

are critical. You can’t know what you are going to end

up with.

pps managing great public spaces

Business

public spaces amenities

public spaces crisis

place attractive

public workshop

public spaces identity

vibrant gathering place

synergy triangulation

great use of public