u r b a n
VolumeOne
d e s i g n
a s s o c i a t e s
EverydaySquares
Table of Contents Introduction: Creating Urban Catalysts The Everyday Toolkit Everyday Livelihood Espresso A Mano Farmers @ Firehouse Frick Park Market Urban Gardener Girasole Make Your Mark Village Park at Point Park University The Porch at Schenley Plaza Round Corner Cantina Tazza D’Oro Resources
The evolution of Everyday Squares spans time, cultures, and continents. Though the context may change they are, and always have been, the outcome and noble enabler of a great civilization. As part of this legacy, we dedicate this manual to the City of Pittsburgh, her neighborhoods, and the urban lessons she teaches all of us as designers, town-builders, and citizens. Copyright Urban Design Associates 2012 www.UrbanDesignAssociates.com
EverydaySquares
Introduction: Creating Urban Catalysts Memorable neighborhoods, towns, and cities are composed of specific types of places that share a unique ability to spark and continuously energize their communities. These places, or Everyday Squares, are the necessary counterbalance to large, formal, public spaces and are home to our daily lives. The craft of making authentic places for people has been entrusted to the small businesses, risk takers, and tinkerers that, amidst much adversity, preserve and celebrate neighborly living. These entrepreneurs and the intimate
“...the craft of making authentic places for people has been entrusted to the small businesses, risk takers, and tinkerers...” public spaces they curate are the keepers of a town-building language that has been largely overlooked in an age of big plans, silver bullet development initiatives, over leveraging, and exclusionary zoning. With the weaknesses of that age now exposed, we
look to these innovators for inspiration that informs how we regenerate our neighborhoods, districts, and towns. Understanding Everyday Squares naturally begins in a place such as Pittsburgh, a city that found its historical strength and its recent renaissance in its neighborhoods, which depend on “third places” like small taverns, coffee houses, and other service shops. These everyday uses catalyze neighborhood vibrancy throughout the city. With a team of researchers from Urban Design Associates, we interviewed Everyday Square founders, measured key urban dimensions, and documented the interplay between the place and its context, including how it is used and the role it plays in bringing people together. Everyday Squares are not unique to Pittsburgh. Hamlets, villages, towns, and cities all over the world feature their own versions of Everyday Squares that contribute to the economy of a place. This manual is intended to be a living tool that can be used and added to over time by designers, developers, business owners, and policy makers.
EverydaySquares
Key Characteristics of Everyday Squares »» Small, implement-able in early phases of development with limited initial investment »» Creates the “seed” energy to leverage future investments, on- and off-site »» Stimulating and active at multiple times of the day and week »» Works at the scale of the village, neighborhood, town, and city »» Fosters planned or spontaneous interactions between new and old friends
The Everyday Toolkit
This manual methodically walks through the essential criteria, dimensions, and life that Everyday Squares bring to town and neighborhood building. The information is culled from interviews with owners and operators, measuring, and drawing. It is structured to be a useful and intuitive benchmarking and design tool.
pioneer
last missing piece
timing
$
$$$$$
startup capital small
large
size
Hierarchy of Undertaking Everyday Squares exist across a broad spectrum and are achieved through varying Incremental Regeneration degrees of timing, investment, and scale. The Everyday Squares stand to teach us living lesresulting typologies vary from redevelopment sons about the nuanced development of lasting, of underutilized sites, to adaptive reuse, to memorable places. Few of the examples within new construction. The hierarchy of squares this document exist in a vacuum and have quanare organized along three tracks: tifiable impacts on their surroundings. Timing: While all Everyday Squares are part of neighborhood vibrancy, not all come on-line early. Some are first adopters and pioneers where others are better suited to be developed in later phases. Startup Capital: Often the greatest creativity emerges out of the tightest of budgets and building spawns an authentic, practical, and often active use before everyday square magical place. As the undertaking grows in everyday square scope, the creation of the square requires active use catalyzed in - part by everyday square greater debt or equity capitalization. Size: Everyday Squares range from small, urban acupuncture to sizeable undertakings that require property acquisition, partners, and greater levels of coordination. EverydaySquares
Urban Dimensions A common mis-step in attempting to implement vibrant, resilient places is over-extending the scope and scale of what is realistically achievable or required. The urban dimensions of Everyday Squares offer important guidance on how to position, size, and choreograph places such that they not only provide a neighborhood’s “third place” but sustain the requisite multiplier effect on the neighborhood. Such an orientation allows the success of the enterprise to compound the success of the neighborhood and permits the neighborhood to compound the viability of the enterprise.
Everyday Livelihood
EverydaySquares
Espresso A Mano
Coffee shop Becomes a Public Space timing
startup capital
size
location
Lawrenceville, Pittsburgh current use
Coffee Shop space
Interior, Sidewalk area
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1,320 s.f. / Access: Private – 25%, Public – 75%
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10 hours, 7 days per week, for a total of 6 hours of peak occupancy.
Open
Early birds , college students , and freelancers occupy the majority of the spaces
Source: Matt Gadis and www.espressoamano.com
EverydaySquares
ESPRESSO A MANO
business opened after
Existing buildings
Business existed before
Espresso A Mano is located in the heart of Lawrenceville, an eclectic neighborhood of Pittsburgh. Owner Matt Gabis said he wanted to provide a sociable gathering space — the third place away from home and work — for locals to congregate and socialize. This opportunity was fulfilled with very little funding.
Espresso a Mano Espresso A Mano is an espresso bar that provides high quality espresso and coffee beverages as well as pastry in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. The italian term “a mano” means “by hand”. In Italian tradition, the hand is one of the four components to craft a delicious espresso. The choice of brands used to craft the beverages range from fair trade, direct trade, and organic coffees from the best fine roasters.
Private access [space] semi - public interior space sidewalk
16'
60'
Service Counter
15'
Primary Entrance
22'
Secondary Entrance Private Space Servicing
15'
Lounge/leisure Zone
EverydaySquares
8'
Espresso a Mano
The floor plan offers an open environment with seating arrangements flanking the perimeter of the interior spaces.
Semi-Public Space Vacant Adjacent Lot
Zone 2: On-street parking creates a buffer zone for outdoor dinning that affords social interaction and people watching.
Sidewalk
zone 1: Streetside buffer zone zone 2: sidewalk/pl a za zone 3: general interior spaces
Zone 3: The general open zone creates a open floor plan populated with portable tables and chairs for other personal and social interaction.
Zone 4: leisure spaces Zone 5: private spaces CIRCUL ATION
Service Counter
Zone 4: Semi-private inner interior and somewhat intimate zones located to the rear of the public area. Local art displayed on wall celebrating local art talent. EverydaySquares
Farmers @ Firehouse
Empty Lot Becomes a Farmers Market timing
startup capital
size
location
Strip District, Pittsburgh current use
Market, Event Space, Parking Lot space
Vacant Lot area
5,500 s.f. / 100% site utilization
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farmers @ firehouse
0 dollars to rent the space to the market.
Property owner charges
Parking
1 project manager to be hired. There are as many as 20 vendors on market day. Recently, Farmers @ Firehouse was voted the number 1 farmers market in the City.
F@F
This has allowed
Existing buildings 1 in = 200 ft
Farmers @ Firehouse transforms a parking lot into a bustling farmers market and event space with innovative programming.
Source: farmersatfirehouse.com
EverydaySquares
weekday
Farmers @ Firehouse
market day
Key Information Zoning
Urban Industrial
Parking
Market Day: On-Street Weekday: On- and Off-Street
Cost Per Square Foot
$0
Scale of Adjacent Buildings
2.5 stories / 1 story
Penn Ave Right-of-Way
55 feet
Penn Ave SW
11 feet
Alley Right-of-Way
15 feet
Alley SW
n/a
100' 10'
55'
18'
19'
EverydaySquares
18'
weekday
Farmers @ Firehouse
market day
The conversion of the lot adjacent to the Firehouse from a parking lot to a farmers market creates a much richer, safer environment for people which helps to extend the energy and activity of the Strip District eastward into an area largely dominated by surface parking. The circulation diagrams shows both the reduction in conflict points and blank space experienced on foot. The nodes diagram further emphasizes this point by showing how the area transforms from a single use with little interest to those not parked there, to a place with many uses in a small amount of space. The photos below best demonstrate this transformation of a space from nearly devoid of human interest and comfort to a place that engages the senses, provides for safety and comfort, and performs an important urban function for the neighborhood as a place to buy and sell healthy food.-
Pedestrian circul ation traffic circul ation
Thumbnail photos courtesy of Farmers @ Firehouse.
nodes
EverydaySquares
Frick Park Market
Market Becomes Community Gathering Space timing
startup capital
size
location
Point Breeze, Pittsburgh current use
Deli/Market space
Setback/Sidewalk area
Lot: 3,900 s.f. / Interior: 750 s.f. / Sidewalk: 650 s.f.
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14 categories of offerings from convenience items to prepared meals 68 families with invoice tabs dating to early years of the market 75 customers, on average, at the lunch hour
Frick Park Market has developed a complementary relationship with the community it occupies; it simultaneously stimulates the area and takes advantage of the dynamic neighborhood. “Friendly, Personal, Close to Home.”
EverydaySquares
Frick Park Market Frick Park Market makes the most of its limited space by layering uses on the site. The garage serves as storage for the market, the apartment upstairs is rented out, the sidewalk is used for additional seating, and a small kitchen was added to the back. Interior uses include food preparation, displaying groceries, and seating. Street Dimensions
Upstairs Apartment
Right-of-Way Width
62 feet
Cartway Width
38 feet
Travel Lanes
(2) 11 feet
Parking Lanes
(2) 8 feet
Sidewalk Width
14 feet
Planter Width
None
Median Width
None
Parking
On-Street; Metered
10'
Awning for Shade and Signage
35'
Sandwich Board Specials
14'
?'
Sidewalk paving private yard
EverydaySquares
18'
25'
Frick Park Market catchment area and primary routes
Ave n
ue
thru -traffic draw
Commuters, Greater Community, Ready Access (Both as a Destination or En Route)
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»» dinner meal plans; »» fresh artisan cheese and free-range eggs;
pedestrian draw
SL
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Frick Park Market’s dedication to providing a number of unique services and its proximity to a number of well-used spaces results in its use by a wide cross-section of people at all times of day. This array of services is also a reflection of a interest in building a strong relationship with the community. Some of these include:
Families, Stay-at-Home Parents sS
t re e
t
»» local products (La Prima coffee, Wood Street Bakery bread);
student draw
»» specialty item services; and
Before and After School Students
»» payment tabs.
frick park draw
Walkers, Joggers, Bikers
Meat Locker Groceries
Inside Seating Deli Counter Garage Storage
Small Kitchen Addition Garage for Storage
Apartment Access
sidewalk cafe zone shop area
Space for Public Use Extends Onto Sidewalk
Food Preparation Storage/back of house Displ ay
Sidewalk Seating
EverydaySquares
Urban Gardener
Empty Lot Becomes a Nursery timing
startup capital
size
location
Northside, Pittsburgh current use
Plant Nursery space
Open Lot area
Occupied Space: 16,500 s.f. / Additional Sloped Land: 11,000 s.f.
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0 dollars of debt throughout life of business 2,100 names on the mailing list 75 dollars /month for the initial rent
EverydaySquares
ve n u e rnia A
lace
Califo
Started on the site of an abandoned gas station by residents looking to improve their community, Urban Gardener brings life to the Northside neighborhood in countless ways. It attracts business, reactivates a previously unused space, and visually brightens the area.
inexpensive materials wood planks
wood lattice
Create open structures that are functional and define the space gravel
Delineates space and reduces rainwater runoff
milk crates
Defines space while preserving a sense of permeability netting
Provides shade while permitting visibility and air movement
Provide storage and support shelves for display tarps
Provide shade and cover, and enclose space from above
phased site build - out
Existing Structure
Added Trellis, Shed
Additional Expansion
Added Greenhouse
Urban Gardener The site has been progressively built up and defined using easily accessible materials. Using very few built structures, this is an economically viable solution for creating a functional and appealing space. Urban Gardener has expanded not only within its lot, but also within the greater community. They do so by offering a myriad of off-site services including: »» consultations, »» garden maintenance, »» side-by-side gardening, and »» public speaking. Off-site projects include: 1. flower garden, Riverview Park; 2. native rain garden, Allegheny County Courthouse; 3. butterfly garden, Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh; and 4. shade garden, Allegheny Commons.
1
3
4 2
EverydaySquares
Urban Gardener Street Dimensions Right-of-Way Width
57 feet
Cartway Width
33 inches
Travel Lanes
(2) 12 feet
Parking Lanes
(1) 9 feet
Sidewalk Width
12 feet
Planter Width
None
Median Width
None
Parking
On-Street; Free
10'
Trellises define spaces while providing visibility, in addition to housing and displaying plants.
100'
Service/Van Entrance Primary Entrance Remaining Wall of Gas Station Building
Storage Shed (10'x16')/Office
Pebbles, Paving Trellis
Corner Garden Outside Fence
EverydaySquares
120'
Van Parking
Girasole
Restaurant Becomes Neighborhood Hotspot timing
startup capital
size
location
Shadyside, Pittsburgh current use
Restaurant space
Interior/Exterior area
500 s.f.
Bel lefo nt S t re e
Co
t
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Infographic
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S ou th A iken n Ave ue
Just off Walnut Street, one of Pittsburgh’s premier commercial streets, Girasole sits tucked away in a small nook created by a generous setback and framed by adjacent infill buildings. Serving Shadyside and the larger Pittsburgh area, Girasole draws patrons from many age groups and walks of life with its classic Italian menu and intimate dining environment.
1 premier commercial shopping street around the corner 8 other small restaurants and shops within 40 feet 30 additional people accommodated at tables outside and on sidewalk Source: Patti Girasole
EverydaySquares
Girasole Constrained by its location, Girasole is only able to seat a limited number of patrons in its small, almost subterranean dining room. However, during warmer months it is able to nearly double its seating capacity with tables and chairs spilling out into its lowered entry courtyard and up the stairs onto the sidewalk. This not only increases business, but allows the vibrant life within the restaurant outside to contribute to activating the street above.
10'
35' 7" 12'
15'
EverydaySquares
Girasole Girasole is nestled among a tight cluster of five small restaurants and shops sitting at the end of a residential street in the central Pittsburgh neighborhood of Shadyside. Surrounding it are a quirky taco shop that also offers gelato, an affordable and completely vegan eatery, Eden, a New Orleans-themed restaurant, and a specialty gift shop. A short walk across the street are a grouping of four other businesses including a jewelry store, Starbucks, a small dentist's office, and Stack'd, a gourmet burger bar.
Le Mardis Gras
Chica Loca Taco
Girasole
Eden
Eureka Chocolate + Gifts Key Information
Shadyside Smiles /Stack’d
Starbucks
Amazing Yoga
EverydaySquares
Years of Operation Zoning Lot Size Parking
10 Local Neighborhood Commercial 1400 square feet On-street; Free
Users
Families, Couples, Middle-Age Professionals, Seniors
Building Footprint Sidewalk Seating Space
800 square feet 200 square feet
Make Your Mark
Forgotten Space Becomes Mid-Block Courtyard
timing
startup capital
size
location
Point Breeze, Pittsburgh current use
Coffee Shop, Gallery space
Courtyard, Sidewalk area
Lot: 1,892 s.f. / Sidewalk: 275 s.f. / Courtyard: 560 s.f.
Elysian
s Reynold
Street
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Street
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make your mark
Existing food/beverage
Existing building
1 of 4 Pittsburgh-area restaurants exclusively vegan /vegetarian 200 customers served daily 4 organized groups meet here : 2 church, 1 mothers, 1 walking
Make Your Mark Artspace & Coffeehouse offers a remarkable transition from urban to residential atmospheres. The gallery aspect of the space serves as a framework for dynamic urban street life and community interactive art.
Amy Siebert, Co-Owner of Make Your Mark. Website: www.happycow.net
EverydaySquares
Make Your Mark
A 6 ft Wooden Fence
4'
Planting Beds with Sculptural Art Upper Courtyard Seating: 12' x 12.5' Landscape Buffer
22'- 6"
Lower Courtyard Seating: 14' x 10.5'
5'
Stairs Up to Office Leased Retail Space
A Bath
Kitchen 86'
13' -6"
Sunken Seating: 17' x 10.5'
Coffee Bar 53'
4'
18'
B
Reynolds Street
12' -6"
22'
B
Section A
Section B
EverydaySquares
circulation
Make Your Mark
entry sequence
1
customer path
Key Information
2nd floor retail path visual street connection destination point
residential
Years in Operation
6.5
Hours of Operation
M-F: 7am—5pm SAT: 8am—5pm
Zoning
Local Neighborhood Commercial
Lot Size
22 ft W x 86 ft D
Parking
On-Street, Free
Primary Users
Families and Seniors
Coffee House Area
1,200 GSF
2
static
repose
5
the walls of make your mark
4
3
Archived Community Art
4
Public Notices
5
Gallery Art
Menu & Specials
Interactive Community Art
3
active
dynamic
urban
2
1
EverydaySquares
Framed Streetscape
Village Park at Point Park University
Parking Lot Becomes Downtown Campus Park timing
startup capital
size
location
Downtown, Pittsburgh current use
Semi-Public Square space
Corner Lot area
Bo
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Sm it h
f ie
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St r
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Firs t
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12,075 s.f. / 100% site utilization
4 design firms in the deign of the space. Total project cost was 6,600,000 dollars. This works out to 540 dollars per square foot. There were
Village Park
Source: http://tinyurl.com/c86vjrz
EverydaySquares
Village Park at Point Park University demonstrates how to create a pedestrian-scaled place in an inhospitable environment through relatively simple design interventions.
1 in = 200 ft
Wood Street
Village Park at Point Park University elements of the place
120'
Tower Element Waterfall 14'
Loggia
Boulevard of the Allies
Restaurant Plaza Space kit of parts
Plaza
Building and Circulation Elements Existing Lot and Buildings
12'
90'
12'
50'
10'
EverydaySquares
before park
after park
Village Park at Point Park University Circulation
The Village Park at Point Park University has created a safer, finer grain experience for people by removing possible conflicts with automobiles on the site. The scale has been lowered with the loggia and restaurant facade and the planting of trees. The final result is infusion of public space where there once was none. People circul ation
Public Space
Scale
cars
Key Information
EverydaySquares
Parking
On-Street
Zoning
Special District
Cost Per Square Foot
$547
Scale of Adjacent Buildings
8 stories
Boulevard Right-of-Way
80 feet
Boulevard Sidewalk
14 feet
Wood Street Right-of-Way
72 feet
Wood Street Sidewalk
12 feet
The Porch at Schenley Plaza Parking Lot Becomes Park Pavilion
timing
startup capital
size
location
Oakland, Pittsburgh current use
Restaurant/Wine Bar space
Interior/Exterior area
5,000 s.f.
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The Porch sits at the northwest corner of verdant Schenley Plaza and features a fantastic and diverse, seemingly upscale menu; a casual hip ambience; and an alluring contemporary architectural design grounded in the use of masonry materials, warm and earthy tones, and generous glazing, that in tandem with a great outdoor dining “porch”, facilitates an almost seamless connection to the adjacent park.
3 years to complete from concept to construction
60 seats accommodated on exterior “porch” 930 plates served during an average week Source: Josh, Manager
EverydaySquares
The Porch at Schenley
115' 5"
43' 8"
23' 4"
A conceptual project from Pennsylvaniabased, restaurant chain Eat ‘N Park, The Porch was built to LEED standards and is an environmentally conscious addition to Schenley Plaza. Inside and outside, the restaurant offers a variety of seating options, including bar seating, counter-height tables and chairs for larger parties, intimate booths, and low tables with plush stools that can be placed along the knee wall near the edge of the lawn.
Wood-Fired Oven Bar Outdoor Fireplace Entrance
Bar Wood-Fired Oven
Porch facing Emerald Lawn Porch facing the Cathedral Porch facing Emerald Lawn
Kitchen
Outdoor Fireplace
31' 3"
19' 5"
EverydaySquares
The Porch at Schenley
Sc
Victorian-style Carousel
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In the early 1900s Frederick Law Olmstead and others envisioned Schenley Plaza as a grand formal entrance to Schenley Park. As such, it was originally designed as a formal landscaped portal into the park. In 1949, with the central neighborhood of Oakland growing rapidly, the plaza fell victim to the increasing demand for more surface parking in the area and was designated for this purpose. The plaza functioned as a parking lot for over 50 years until 2004, when, after ten years of planning, work began to convert it back into part of the park as the threshold it was originally envisioned to be. The new design drew inspiration from New York City’s Bryant Park featuring fluid borders, lush gardens, a great lawn, event space, a carousel, food kiosks, moveable tables and chairs, and public restrooms. There are future plans for public art exhibitions, expanded activities, an on-site offering of books and periodicals, and carriage rides.
Food Kiosks
e
Event Tent
Plaza Sc
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The Emerald Lawn
ns
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Forbes Avenue Gardens
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Food Kiosks Key Information
2005
2007
2011
8 Months
Hours of Operation
Mon–Thu: 11am–11pm | Fri: 11–12am | Sat: 10–12am | Sun: 10am–10pm
Zoning
Park
Lot Size
8,500 Square Feet
Building Footprint
8,400 Square Feet
Parking
On-Street; Free
Users
Middle-age/Older Professionals, Seniors, Youth (Late Night)
2012
Images courtesy of Google
2004
Years of Operation
EverydaySquares
Round Corner Cantina
The Cantina Becomes a place to relax and unwind timing
startup capital
size
location
Lawrenceville, Pittsburgh current use
Bar/Restaurant space
Interior, Patio, Sidewalk area
2,458 s.f. / Access: Private – 27%, Public – 73%
t 38 hS
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th 37 St re et
250 customers served in a given day 10 hours of operation, 7 days per week 3 distinct group: college students, young professionals, and babyboomers Source: Derrick, Owner/Operator
EverydaySquares
Round corner cantina
business opened after
Existing building
Business existed before
Round Corner Cantina is a locally-owned mexican cuisine bar and dining establishment that offers an alternate kitchen to residents within proximity. Their aim was to provide tacos with radishes, homemade salsa, and all the other ingredients one would find at an authentic Mexican-style taco stand.
Round Corner Cantina
42'
50'
44'
8'
A
A Semi - public interior space Pl aza/sidewalk
15'
EverydaySquares
Round Corner Cantina publicly-accessible spaces
The entire street-level space is split into six (6) different rooms throughout the 2,458+ square feet property.
CIRCUL ATION WITHIN THE GENERAL spaces Distinct areas/ ROOMS Pl aza/sidewalk
On-street parking creates a buffer area for outdoor dinning that offers social interaction and people watching.
The main bar area ties together the inside and outside experience. Some use this space while waiting for a table at the adjacent restaurant.
The third room within the overall space is a more private, but unique one as it offers a social intimate environment for dinner and conversation.
This unique space is a tucked away one that can hold a small group of people or three groups of two. This area can be considered semi-private.
Image: http://tiny.cc/27t9jw
EverydaySquares
This is the largest space within the establishment, it has hightop tables and chairs arrayed perpendicular to the fencing bordering 38th Street.
The sixth room is more of a traditional mexican experience with conventional tables and chairs offering a semi-private setting.
Tazza D’Oro
Sidewalk Becomes a Public Plaza timing
startup capital
size
location
Highland Park, Pittsburgh current use
Coffee Shop space
Sidewalk area
Lot: 3,608 s.f. / Sidewalk: 410 s.f.
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1:8 pre-existing : catalyzed local food service businesses 15—20% local property value increase since Tazza D’Oro started in ‘99 15—60 riders each
2 weekly cycling events draw Amy Enrico, Owner of Tazza D’Oro. Allegheny County Assessment website: www2.county.allegheny.pa.us
EverydaySquares
mp
ton
St r
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tazza d’oro
business opened after
Existing building
Business existed before
Tazza D’Oro is the heartbeat of the Highland Park Neighborhood. It began as the only service in a completely residential zone and within 10 years generated enough buzz to revitalize a local business district and increase property values throughout the neighborhood.
Tazza D’Oro 6'
Key Information
31'
6ft Fence Fenced Courtyard (Unoccupied Space Due to Lack of Egress) 11'
9'
20'-4"
123'
Kitchen
Bath
Garden Trellis
Coffee Bar
Planter Bed 72'
Garden Seating Wood Plank Boardwalk
A
Entry Ramp Stairs Up to Leased Office Space Sidewalk Seating 14'
29'-4"
Highland Avenue
A
EverydaySquares
Years in Operation
13
Zoning
Residential, Required Variance
Existing Food/ Beverage Businesses
1 in 1999
Food/Beverage Businesses Catalyzed by Tazza D’Oro
8 as of 2012
Local Property Value Increase Since 1999
15—20%
Reinvention as Cyclist’s Haven
2010
Organized Cycling Programs
2 Weekly Rides, Expert and Intermediate
Tazza D’Oro
Office Gourmet Coffee Service
Active Streetscape
Garden
Tazza D’Oro was started as a venue for those with a passion for coffee. Rigorous barista training and stringent bean selection reaps cups of gold.
Want to get away from the busy Highland Avenue street life? Read the paper in the shady ivycovered side garden.
Local citizens and community leaders gather at Tazza to discuss issues that affect the Highland Park Neighborhood.
Cycling Rendezvous
Political Venue
Community Hall
Press conferences by officials from all levels of local government are held at Tazza for issues concerning Highland Park.
Photos courtesy of Urban Design Associates, www.tazzadoro.net, bike-pgh. org, plus.google.com, wendmag.com and popcitymedia.com
EverydaySquares
Highland Avenue
Programming Cycling Merchandise
Folks who work from home use Tazza as an office and conference room, meeting clients and contacts in a non-corporate atmosphere.
Quiet enough to coexist with its residential neighbors, Tazza generates traffic from dawn to dusk and enlivens the street.
Every week, 30–60 cyclists turn out for intermediate Team Decaf rides. Team Caffeine gathers 15–20 hard core riders for expert routes. Cycling gear is on sale at the coffee bar.
Resources »» Build a Better Block »» The Interventionist Toolkit »» Project for Public Spaces »» William H. Whyte’s Social Life of Small Urban Spaces »» Jane Jacob’s Death and Life of American Cities and Economy of Cities »» Ray Oldenburg’s The Great Good Place
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