Visualizing BRT-ODA Study in Transit-Supportive Development

Design, Density and Dimension

Agenda

Project Overview MARTINA HAGGERTY, PRINCIPAL PLANNER, CITY OF PROVIDENCE

Design & Dimension: Urban Design Principles & Best PracticesDAVID GAMBLE, PRINCIPAL, GAMBLE ASSOCIATES

3D Modeling MethodologyPAUL COTE, GIS SPECIALIST, HARVARD SCHOOL OF DESIGN

Interactive 3D Modeling DemonstrationPAUL COTE, GIS SPECIALIST, HARVARD SCHOOL OF DESIGN

Take Home PointsEMILY KISH, PRINCIPAL PLANNER, CITY OF PROVIDENCE

Q+A

Project Overview

MARTINA HAGGERTY, PRINCIPAL PLANNER, CITY OF PROVIDENCE

• Two phase project initiated by City of Providence in cooperation with RIPTA

• Funded by OSHC Community Challenge Planning Grant

• Phase I: TOD planning, creative placemaking strategies, transit improvements for five highest use transit corridors in Providence

• Phase II: Complete rewrite of the Providence Zoning Ordinance

“the project”

Encourage development that supports transit

TOD: Mixed-use area designed to maximize access to, encourage use of

public transit (~¼ mile radius around transit stop)

Transit-Oriented

DevelopmentDevelopment-

Oriented TransitMake transit attractive, convenient

Make transit investments that encourage development

Ensure that transit investments are made in right places

Improve transit

Downtown Pawtucket

Downtown Providence

Rapid Bus Route (R-Line)• Frequent service• Fast service (spacing, TSP,

jump lanes, curb extensions, TVMs)

• Improved shelters & amenities

Key Bus Routes (“rapid ready”)• Plans completed, budgeted• Encourage development to

increase ridership• Awaiting implementation $$

Where is redevelopment potential?

Look at land vacant by tax code

In depth analysis of potentially “underutilized land”

What is highest and best use?

Does current development further or hinder community vision?

Identify vacant and underutilized land

• Redevelopment opportunities

• Areas that can foster catalytic change for entire corridor, centers of activity

• Previous plans - Where were community hubs and gateways previously identified? Are these still the best locations?

Identify “community hubs”

• Creative development strategies

• Identify temporary uses, other ways to activate, mitigate, create place (Public art, community gardens, pop up concerts)

Credit: Wall Street Journal (Oakland Cemetery, Atlanta)

Credit: Sean Capone Art + Video (Shoji Museum, Japan)

Credit: Lisa Murch, Mural Arts Program (Philadellphia)

Develop short-term approach

• Where are “opportunity sites” within each hub?

• Create long-term build out scenarios for potentially redevelopable land at each community hub location

Develop long-term approach

Existing Conditions Analysis (in house)

What is current housing density?

Employment density?

Is it transit-supportive?

Work with community to

refine, affirm their vision

What is max. build out under current

zoning regulations?

Design and Dimension: Urban Design Principles and Best Practices

DAVID GAMBLE, PRINCIPAL, GAMBLE ASSOCIATES

1. Connectivity Enhance connections to existing open spaces or parks that can link isolated places together.

Trinity Square

2. Blocks

Aggregate adjoining parcels into larger development parcels andSubdivide exceptionally large parcels with new streets, public plazas

Columbus Square

Leverage existing rivers or waterwaysto reinforce sense of place

3. Natural Systems

Upper Manton

4. PlacemakingFoster a stronger a sense of

place with open space, plazas, easements in relationship to existing assets.

Chalkstone Avenue

5. Placemaking

Foster a stronger sense of place at the confluence of street grids

BROAD STREET

PUBLIC STREET

Public Street

6. Density

Encourage greater density and height adjacent to landscape setbacks, open spaces

Upper North Main

Lower Manton

7. Gateways

Identify existing architectural and historical community assets

Integrate assets into transit hubs

EXISTING

LOWER MANTON

8. Parking

Reduce surface parking (limits dev. potential, thwarts ability to link places together)

Use shared parking as tool to reduce parking on individual sites, promote active pedestrian environment

Balance residential and commercial uses for efficient sharing between daytime, nighttime uses

Buffer existing parking lots , break up with planting islands, bio-swales

Chalkstone Avenue

9. Streetscape

Extend streetscape and public realm enhancements into the neighborhoods with street trees, improved sidewalks

Lower North Main

3D Modeling Methodology

PAUL COTE, GIS SPECIALIST, HARVARD SCHOOL OF DESIGN

Connecting Planners and Designers

Planners Designers

3D GIS

Tax Assessor data per parcel.

Translated to 3D Sketchup Model.

Tabulated for opportunity Sites.

Existing Condition Model

Zoning Buildout Model

Dimensional Regulations

Site Geometry

Transit Oriented Build-OutIdentify opportunity sites.

Specify development targets.

Design

Numerical Summary / Comparison

Introducing the Buildout Calculator

• 3D GIS Plugin for Sketchup• Allows Designer to experiment with

schemes in 3D.• Calculates build consequences in terms of

Gross Floor Area and Parking Capacity• Freely Downloadable from

www.pbcgis.com/buildout_calculator

Model a Site

Create Polygon for Site

Apply Materials for Parking and Default Site Background

Select All, Right-Click And choose “Create Site Group”

Model a Site

Build-Out CalculatorSite Object

Expose Dynamic Components toolbar. View>Toolbars…

Model a Building

Model building parts as simple extrusions.

Apply materials to indicate use.

Select All, Right-Click And choose “Create Building Group”

Gridded materials Indicate stories.

Choose roof material.

Fill in attributes for usage by stories.

Gross Stories and GFA updated automatically.

Expose Dynamic Components toolbar. Expose attributes for building.

Update Building Attributes

Create Scheme

Add more buildings.

Select buildings and site

Right-click and choose:Create Scheme Group.

Name Scheme and editDefault parking requirements if necessary.

Create Scheme

Tabulate Schemes

Create another scheme

Use the sketchup Outliner window toSelect and manage scheme groups

A table will appear.

Right-click and choose:“Tabulate Schemes”

Examine & Export Schemes Table

Save report as an HTML file.

Open table in excel.

Integration with Google Earth

Integration of Data from ArcGIS

Download the Build-Out Calculator Plugin!

www.pbcgis.com/buildout_calculator

Take Home Points

EMILY KISH, PRINCIPAL PLANNER, CITY OF PROVIDENCE

Begin with Placemaking

• Understand existing character

• Identify, uncover, connect to unique assets

– Ex: Atlantic Mills dominates Lower Manton hub, rehabilitation should be priority

– Ex: Woonasquatucket River at Upper Manton provides potential for restoration and connection to industrial past

• Reveal intrinsic identity of each area, build cohesive urban design framework

Forge Public/Private Partnerships

• Coordinate with anchor institutions that have long-term stake to align goals, get buy in

• Provide grant opportunities to encourage involvement, help achieve goals

Implement the Vision

• Phase II: New zoning ordinance will implement City’s goals for smart growth, sustainable, cultural, equitable, and transit‐oriented development

• New TOD Districts for community hubs– Increased density, use mix, affordability mix

– Eliminate parking minimum

– Introduce design standards

– Create parking maximums?

– Introduce minimum density requirements?

Q+A