ORCHARD STREET CORRIDOR OVERVIEW PRECEDENTS VISION STATEMENT
PROGRAM FRAMEWORK
The Bench area of Boise, ID is to become an gateway, both physically and from a life sense. It welcomes all on their way to Boise’s city center by providing not only physical landmarks and destinations but also by providing a place for individuals, families & businesses to build a foundation. The plan puts priority on celebrating universal communities that bring together newly arriving individuals of diverse backgrounds and those whose roots are firmly planted in Idaho soil. Over the long term, the goal is to create 24hour neighborhoods, where street activity allows one to feel safe at all times, across the entire spectrum of age, ability, and experience. Specific goals for the area include improving multi-modal connectivity, reinvigorating retail, commercial, and mixed use areas to draw people in, creating 3rd spaces to reinforce the social fabric of the community, and reinforcing education as an important part of life in the bench by creating opportunities for intellectual stimulation in everyday life.”
• FACADE FACELIFT
• 3RD SPACE CREATION
• ADAPTIVE REUSE
• RESIDENTIAL OPTIONS
Create a more welcoming street front that enables strolling throughout the corridor Find an new use for old neglected buildings to revitalize the area
• ROAD DIET
Improve traffic flow by creating center turn lanes and eliminating the second lane to make room for Pedestrians & Cyclists
Facilitate a strong community fabric by creating spaces for chance meeting and community interaction Fill a gap in the residential market by creating medium density housing options within the neighborhood
ADAPTIVE RE-USE Adapting older usable space for a new pertinent service will add vitality and a creative vibe to the neighborhood
• LEAN ZONE
Relaxing restrictive regulations to accommodate atypical redevelopment can spur a surge of grassroot investment
EDUCATION CENTER/MUSEUM/LIBRARY A community learning center based around local interests and needs. Can include community gardens and other educational exhibits
EDUCATIONAL SIGNAGE Placed throughout the community on a variety of topics, from native plants & animals to local history
ROAD DIET By including a center turn lane and separated bike paths we should alleviate congestion and improve flow, despite eliminating a lane each way
STREETSCAPE IMPROVEMENTS Plantings, lighting, seating & street trees will add to pedestrian comfort and improve the aesthetics of the corridors
GENUS LOCI By developing a local style and native plant palette you can establish a strong sense of place that is unique to your community & region
NIGHT MARKETS By programming public space with nighttime events you strengthen the social fabric and increase safety for everyone
FOOD TRUCKS Nothing brings life to a street faster than food, this also creates an opportunity for chance meetings and impromptu neighborhood bonding
INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL By celebrating the international flavor of the area, you can draw in people from all over the region and turn your multi-cultural vibe into a huge asset
HUMAN SCALE In keeping everything on a walkable, human scale you are encouraging people to get our of their cars and walk, spending more time & money in the area
PUBLIC ART & STREET FURNITURE Function & Art come together to create a playful, functional space that act as landmarks within the community
SEPARATED BIKE LANES Including physically separated bike lanes where appropriate encourages bikers of all ages and skill levels to take advantage of this amenity
SMALL URBAN SPACES By using the negative spaces between buildings to create small plazas and seating areas, you can encourage vibrant street life
COMMUNITY GARDENS Urban agriculture can allow community gardens to be integrated into streetscape plantings
ACCESSIBLE WATER FEATURES Allowing people to interact with water creates an instant gathering place, especially with Boise’s hot & arid climate.
• NODE CREATION
Using the power of 10, create hubs of • PHASED/INCREMENTAL activity and density featuring higher GROWTH density housing in mixed use centers at By planning in phases we can major intersections encourage organic, sustainable growth that will prevent the area from being • GREENBELT GATEWAY & plagued by lopsided development that would ultimately lead to another era of RECREATION CORRIDOR neglect and abandonment Improve Bikeability from downtown & BSU to recreational trails south of Boise via Orchard St separated bike lanes
• GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE
Restore hydrology by creating permeable pavements and bioswales that clean and recharge groundwater
“A PLACE TO START”
PARTI DIAGRAMS CONCEPT DIAGRAM
TO GARDEN CITY
ZONE OF INFLUENCE RESIDENTIAL GREENBELT GATEWAY
INDUSTRIAL LIGHT INDUSTRIAL
FARMER’S MARKET
INSTITUTIONAL
MIXED USE
TO DOWNTOWN BOISE
ETHNIC FOOD
NEIGHBORHOOD NODE
EMERALD ST.
The northern bench is dominated by a psychological void created by industrial areas, Orchard and Franklin circle the edge of this void. An opportunity is present to create an environment which surrounds light industrial with an embrace of retail and residential uses. As a gateway to the city of Boise circulation of multiple modes is of great importance. Connection to Downtown, Garden City, Boise State, and the Airport should be strengthened.
LIBERTY PARK
IMPROVE PEDESTRIAN SPACE
NEW GREEN SPACE
NEIGHBORHOOD NODES
LARGE
CO-WORKING SPACE Shared office space for the rising generation of telecommuters who find working at home to distracting
MORRIS HILL CEMETERY
NODE W/ HOTEL
TRANSITIONAL DENSITY HOUSING
GREENBELT CONNECTION GREENBELT EXTENSION LEAN ZONE & ADAPTIVE REUSE CONCENTRATION
Focus primary nodes of activity around the intersections of Orchard and Emerald and Orchard and Franklin. Establish secondary nodes around the Boise international market, as a gateway to the greenbelt, and around the hospital. Create tertiary neighborhood nodes in the neighborhoods to the east and the west of the corridor to interweave activity throughout the Central Bench. Activate the edge of green spaces, particularly the greenbelt. Create strong pedestrian and bike linkages across major barrier including the interstate highways.
KATHRYN ALBERTSON PARK
RETAIL & SERVICES
CITY SCALE
PROJECT SCALE
LIVE/WORK LOFTS Unique spaces where you can live above your work space. Great for attracting young ambitious talent who want to save money while starting up their business
OFFICE SPACE
TRANSITIONAL DENSITY HOUSING
T
TO COMMUNTER COMMUNITIES
LEGEND
ROAD DIET
MAKER SPACE/ LIGHT INDUSTRIAL INCUBATOR
FRANKLIN ST.
MEDIUM
NODE
INT’L MARKET
PARK OR GREEN SPACE
MAKER SPACE Space for craftsmen to have a workshop full of tools and material. This will encourage a population of creative entrepreneurs
MORRIS HILL PARK
MEDIUM
NODE
IMPROVE NEW PEDESTRIAN FRANKLIN SPACE PARK
CANAL OR RIVER
ORCHARD ST.
At a regional level, our themes are channeling, funneling, and gateway, as shown in this parti diagram. In a semi-abstract way, this diagram shows how the Central Bench area, and specifically the Orchard Street Corridor becomes both a funnel, channeling peoples and energies from the outlying commuter cities of Nampa, Caldwell, and Meridian, and a gateway into the downtown Boise area. Thus, Orchard street becomes an important landmark and gateway on one’s way into the city as well as a destination in and of itself. Through the development of our concepts and designs, this characteristic of the Central Bench area will be enhanced and strengthened.
CURTIS ST.
REGIONAL SCALE
TO BOISE STATE
NODE W/ CLINIC
PEDESTRIAN OR BIKE CONNECTION
TO AIRPORT
GREENBELT LINKAGE
EXISTING GREENBELT
ORCHARD STREET
BOISE JAMES HANSEN
JOHN LOCKE
JOHAN VAN ZEBEN
HAILEY WALL
UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY
- FALL 2015 -
PROF CAROLINE LAVOIE
TANYA RICE
a vision for the future URBAN THEORY, SYSTEMS & DESIGN