REINTEGRATING: Independence Avenue Urban Vision Study | Part 4

227

productive infill

245

kit of parts

249

edible Streetscape

253

lykins walkthrough

265

east gateway

293

sheffield plaza

301

transit hub

focus areas

productive infill Urban sprawl in the 1980s has led to an increase in vacant lots throughout cities of the United States. A recent study estimated that fifteen percent of Kansas City’s land is vacant. This includes different types of vacancy, from undisturbed open space to abandoned and contaminated brown fields. Over time vacant lots accumulate into a no man’s land, creating a serious problem for surrounding areas and the city overall. The voids in the urban fabric created by vacant lots leave no possibility for the city to come together as a habitable environment.

Although there is no immediate demand for development, these lots are of great potential in their vacant state. If viewed in a progressive manner, these lots offer the opportunity to urbanize the Northeast into a meaningful environment and improve the quality of life. Converting vacant lots into urban agriculture will help weave the urban fabric back together to form a more cohesive city. This Productive Infill will also serve as a source of betterment, creating job opportunities, providing fresh produce, and increasing positive density - helping the neighborhoods thrive and sustaining Independence Avenue. The Productive Infill strategy can be better understood by the following;

227

What are the current issues?

current ISSUES?

How can productive help?

HOW can weinfill HELP ?

WHO can we H

residents of neighborhoods Lykins, Independence, Forgotten Homes, Paseo We

fragmented neighborhoods

schools

unemployment crime

churches St. Johns Anglican Church, Covenant Memorial Baptist Church, Holy Cross, St.

“food desert”

business owners Pho 97, Sabor Centro Americano, Tacocina, Texas Toms, Cosentino

high prices for low quality food emphasis on exercise

community organizations Mattie Rhodes, Della Lamb Community Services, Don

Salvation Army, Cherith Brooks, Grace United, Bessie’s ,

vacant parcels low density vandalizing graffiti

228

Whittier Elementary, East High School, Attucks Elementary, Garfield Elementary,

Focus Areas

VACANT LAND

WATER RETENTION

URBAN AGRICULTURE

DENSIFY RESIDENTIAL

ACTIVATE COMMERCIAL

Who can productive infill help?

WHO can we HELP?

can we HELP?

BAN AGRICULTURE

residents of neighborhoods Lykins, Independence, Forgotten Homes, Paseo West, Pendelton Heights, Scarrit, Indian Mound, Sheffield schools

Whittier Elementary, East High School, Attucks Elementary, Garfield Elementary, Gladstone Elementary, KC University of Medicine and Bio

churches St. Johns Anglican Church, Covenant Memorial Baptist Church, Holy Cross, St. Anthony, Bales Baptist Church, Our Lady of Peace business owners Pho 97, Sabor Centro Americano, Tacocina, Texas Toms, Cosentinos Apple Market, Snyders Supermarket, Little Burma Grocery community organizations Mattie Rhodes, Della Lamb Community Services, Don Bosco Center, Al-Kahf Islamic Center, Northeast Community Center, Salvation Army, Cherith Brooks, Grace United, Bessie’s House, ,

DENSIFY RESIDENTIAL

ACTIVATE COMMERCIAL

HOWHow much much of lykins path is PRODUCTIVE land is productive? LANDSCAPE?

WHAT

ORCHARD

URBAN AGRICULTURE

productive infill

CTIVE LANDSCAPE?

HowWHAT much can can we be grow?produced?

HOW MUCH?

HOW many urban agriculture jobs can we C

ORCHARD

URBAN AGRICULTURE

13 ACRES OF URBAN AGRICULTURE PROVIDE 180 “TYPICAL” GARDEN PLANTERS

POUNDS PER HARVEST

How many bejobs generated?

HOW many jobs urban could agriculture can we CREATE?

MUCH?

13 ACRES OF URBAN AGRICULTURE PROVIDE POUNDS PER HARVEST

230

Focus Areas

104

JOBS TO LYKINS PATH

Can runoff used CAN can webe collect andfor useirrigation? water to IRRIGATE?

REMAINING ANNUALLY

NEEDED TO IRRIGATE LYKINS WEEKLY

ABLE TO BE COLLECTED

HOW do

Whatcan can learn model? CITY? HOW the KC northeast be afrom model this for KANSAS

HOW can

There are

RESIDENTIAL VACANT LOTS

in Kansas City.

This is equivalent to nearly

In 2010 out of

KANSAS CITY WORKERS,

of combined STORMWATER and WASTEWATER overflow into Kansas City Rivers and Streams

only

while used

A

ESTABLISHED HARD AND SOFT

STRONGER sense of COMMUNITY is

for a neighborhood and

In 2010 roughly of Jackson County was classified as a

Out of the 83,000 people http://www.petedulin.com/index.php/2011/05/05/kansas-citys-food-deserts/ http://www.kansascity.com/2012/02/15/3430160/land-bank-proposed-to-help-kc.html http://marc.org/transportation/pdf/Peer_Cities_Report_lowres.pdf http://www.360architects.com/Press_Releases/2011_Releases/18Broadway%20Acclaimed%20for%20Design%20Approach.pdf

THROUGH

people have low access to supermarket or grocery store produce

PRINCIPLES REFERENCED FROM “CPTED-” CRIME PREVENTION THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN

productive infill

The area between Independence Avenue and 12th Street is a single-family residential neighborhood which is becoming increasingly fragmented due to abandonment and neglect. The vision plan proposes four north-south walkable productive infill paths for this area. Lykins Path is one of these catalytic paths which was ZONING developed in detail to serve as a model for all Business other paths.

Residential

Zoning

Industrial

The design for Lykins Path was derived through a system of layers. Examining parcel data, including zoning, land use, ownership, and existing uses, offered a greater understanding into the acquisition and development LAND USE of each parcel. Many parcels in the Northeast Vacant are currently owned by the Landbank and can Park be adopted, rented, or bought depending on Single Family Living the development proposed for the site.Multi Family Living Commercial Paved Parking Churches

Land Use

Industrial

OWNERSHIP Non Private Private

Ownership PARCEL SIZES 0 - 6,000 SF

6,001 - 25,000 SF parcel path discovery 25,001 - 100,000 SF vacant PARCELS 100,001 - 200,000+ SF VACANT BUILDINGS highlighted street

232

Focus Areas PARCEL PATH DISCOVERY KCDC 2012 - 2013

Pedestrian Networks

5.15.2013

Space

Walking Path

Urban Agriculture

Water System

Askew Avenue

Askew Avenue

Spruce Avenue

Jackson Avenue

Ken sing ton Avenue

Myrtle Avenue

E 9TH STREET

LYKINS SQUARE

Cleveland Avenue

Monroe Avenue

Spruce Avenue

Jackson Avenue

Ken sing ton Avenue

Norton Avenue

Myrtle Avenue Cleveland Avenue

Monroe Avenue

E 9TH STREET

LYKINS SQUARE

Norton Avenue

INDEPENDENCE AVENUE

INDEPENDENCE AVENUE

12TH STREET

12TH STREET

12TH STREET PARK

12TH STREET PARK

WALKING PATH Walking Path System KCDC 2012 - 2013

SPACE DEFINITION

primary path secondary path PARKING LOTS Parking lot PRIMARY PATH 5.15.2013

Pedestrian Network

PRIMARY SECONDARY TERTIARY PRIMARY SPACES

Space Definition

SECONDARY PATH AREAS OF REST TRANSIT STOP

KCDC 2012 - 2013

Pedestrian Network

SECONDARY SPACES TERTIARY SPACES

5.15.2013

greenhouse

AGRICULTURE AGRICULTURE

OVERHANG

AGRICULTURE

AGRICULTURE

AGRICULTURE

Lykins Path Section

KCDC 2012 - 2013

5.15.2013

Productive Infill

234

WHAT are the current ISSUES? unemployment

HOW can we HELP?

Focus Areas

fragmented neighborhoods

crime

WHO can we HELP? residents of neighborhoods schools churches

“food desert” high prices for low quality food emphasis on exercise

business owners community organizations

REUSE

Lykins, Independence, Forgotten Homes, Paseo West, Pendelton Heights, Scarrit, Indian Mound, Sheffield

Whittier Elementary, East High School, Attucks Elementary, Garfield Elementary, Gladstone Elementary, KC University of Medicine and Bio St. Johns Anglican Church, Covenant Memorial Baptist Church, Holy Cross, St. Anthony, Bales Baptist Church, Our Lady of Peace

OF VACANT LOTS

MORE

EYES ON THE STREET

INCREASED USE OF

PUBLIC TRANSIT

Mattie Rhodes, Della Lamb Community Services, Don Bosco Center, Al-Kahf Islamic Center,

SUSTAINABLE WATER MANAGEMENT

DESIGN

Pho 97, Sabor Centro Americano, Tacocina, Texas Toms, Cosentinos Apple Market, Snyders Supermarket, Little Burma Grocery

SUSTAINABLE

FOR NEW PUBLIC TRANSIT

OVERHANG

Askew Avenue

Aside from urban agriculture, a main feature of the Lykins Path is to provide a pedestrian connection from 12th Street to Independence Avenue. The path is intended to be a unique experiential walk, featuring several areas for residents to sit and relax. The path connects all of the urban gardens to one another, as well as to the residents of the neighborhood. Points of entry for both pedestrian and vehicular traffic along the path are paired with surrounding public transportation hubs. Vehicles can be left in designated parking areas, giving residents the option to use the adjacent public transportation or to walk along the path. A bike path along Jefferson features several bike stops, strategically placed to interact with the path.

INDEPENDENCE AVENUE

2

2

1

Norton Avenue

Myrtle Avenue

1

2

G

G

5

4

Spruce Avenue

Jackson Avenue

4

Ken sing ton Avenue

G

LYKINS SQUARE

Cleveland Avenue

E 9TH STREET

Monroe Avenue

3

3

5 6

6

EXISTING BUILDINGS 7

12TH STREET

16

7

8

10

17

18

15

9

G

11

12

13

1 2 3 4

CROP STORAGE RESIDENTIAL - APARTMENT YOUTH LEADERSHIP AND RECREATION ARTS AND CULTURE EXHIBITION SPACE

9

OFFICE BLDG

2

TRANSIT STOP

G 9

14

G

12TH STREET PARK 8

EXISTING VS PROPOSED EXISTING BUILDING PROPOSED BUILDING

Existing vs. Proposed Buildings KCDC 2012 - 2013

Pedestrian Network

AGRICULTURE

The spaces along the path are broken down into three categories: primary, secondary and tertiary spaces. Primary spaces include community gardens where public interaction is encouraged. Secondary spaces are semi-public areas which may share plots that are utilized by the community but many will be reserved for commercial use. Tertiary spaces are the most intimate and completely private to the residents. All of the produce grown in tertiary gardens is for the private plot owners or the shared residential complex.

Together, these three types of spaces work to create movement from each of the flanking commercial corridors through the path. Support buildings for farming are located strategically to foster community development and effective crop management.

While the distribution of pedestrian amenities along the path is based on walkable distances, the distribution of agricultural facilities is based on residential and mixed-use buildings. A system was established to determine which existing buildings could be reused and which are a potential danger and need to be removed. Not only is the reuse of buildings more sustainable, it helps maintain the existing character of the area, a quality that was important to Northeast community members.

The fresh produce generated through productive infill will serve as a food source for the local residents and participants of the gardens. Research shows that food travels an average of 1,400 miles from farm to table. Urban agriculture can reduce the number of miles to three for Northeast residents.

Extra produce can be processed, packed, and distributed to other parts of the city, serving as additional income for the Northeast residents.

5.15.2013

AGRICULTURE

WHY isWHY local distribution is local distribution BETTER? BETTER?

ORCHARD

ORCHARD

productive infill

E 9TH STREET

236 Focus Areas

12TH STREET

12TH STREET PARK

LYKINS SQUARE Ken sing ton Avenue

Spruce Avenue

Jackson Avenue

Cleveland Avenue

Monroe Avenue

Norton Avenue

Myrtle Avenue

INDEPENDENCE AVENUE

12TH S

INDEPENDENCE AVENUE

1346

people fed

Norton Avenue

Myrtle Avenue

2069 43

jobs created

people fed

1346 people fed

41

jobs created

37

jobs created

2400

13

jobs created

740

people fed

36

jobs created

819

people fed

36

jobs created

200

people fed

4

jobs created

855

people fed

342

15

jobs created

585

people fed

people fed

10

5

jobs created

655

people fed

jobs created

5

jobs created

12TH STREET STREET

2400 people fed

2248 people fed

38

jobs created

740

1915

15

54

people fed

people fed

12TH STREET PARK

18

jobs created

Ken sing ton Avenue

jobs created

Jackson Avenue

E 9TH STREET

18

LYKINS SQUARE

people fed

Spruce Avenue

740

Cleveland Avenue

Monroe Avenue

people fed

INDEP

The Northeast is part of Kansas City’s combined sewer system, which collects rainwater runoff, domestic sewage, and industrial wastewater all in the same pipe. This aging infrastructure is currently overburdened and is very costly to maintain and to replace. The current infrastructure system may be aided by enhancing the natural systems of the area; the green spaces and topography. Hydrology and watershed analysis of the Northeast revealed a great potential to use vacant parcels in lowlying areas for the collection and infiltration of stormwater runoff, alleviating the amount that is routed into the sewer system and improving the quality of life for area residents.

Best Management Practices (BMPs) are the most efficient strategies available to address water control and water quality problems caused by impervious surfaces from land development. Retention ponds and local bioswales will filter water in decentralized areas.

Gardens, pervious pavement, and tree trenches will be used for infiltration along the paths.

Retention basins will temporarily store stormwater runoff and remove pollutants through gravitational settling, biological uptake, and decomposition. Gravity pipes and pressure pipes systems will then distribute this water to crops for irrigation during the dry season.

E 9TH S

12TH S

238

12TH STREET PARK

LYKINS SQUARE

STREET

productive infill

Ken sing ton Avenue

Spruce Avenue

Jackson Avenue

Cleveland Avenue

STREET Monroe Avenue

Norton Avenue

Myrtle Avenue

PENDENCE AVENUE

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240

Focus Areas

Urban agriculture addresses issues of social and cultural needs simultaneously, by engaging elements of ecological processes with infrastructure.

productive infill

PHASE 3 PHASE 3PHAS PHASE 1 PHASE 1PHASE 1 PHASE 2 PHASE 2PHASE 2 Renovation of Renovation Buildings of Existing Infrastructure Development DevelopmentDevelopment Urban Agriculture Implementation Agriculture Agriculture Implementation PHASE PHASE 3 Existing 3PHASE PHAS PHASE 3Renovati PHASE PHASE 1 Infrastructure PHASE 1 1Infrastructure PHASE 1 PHASE PHASE 2 Urban PHASE 2 PHASE 2Urban PHASE 1Implementation 2 2

Renovation Renovation of Existing ofUrban Existing Buildings Renovati Building Renovation of Existing Infrastructure Infrastructure Development Infrastructure Development Infrastructure DevelopmentDevelopment Urban Agriculture Urban Agriculture Urban Implementation Infrastructure Agriculture Implementation UrbanImplementation Agriculture Development Implementation Agricultur TIME LINE

TIME LINE TIME LINE

TIME LINE TIME LINE TIME LINE 2015 TIME LINE 2015 2015 2015

2015

2015 2015

TIME LINE 2020 2020 2020

2020

2020

2025

2025

20202015

2020

2025 2025

20252020

The implementation of the Productive Infill paths is designed to occur in five phases over twenty years. Gradual transformation will allow residents to becomeDESCRIPTION accustomed to,DESCRIPTION and take ownership of, their community. Phase one establishes the boundaries of the path through the DESCRIPTION creation of four primary entrances. Land for this phase will be purchased from the LandBank and funding generated through grants, loans, This focuses creating This phases by renovating focuses onexisting creating This phases structures jobs focuses by renovating to on creat ex This second phase focuses This providing second jobs phase and focuses making Thisonbold second providing moves phase jobs onfocuses and making on providing bold moves jobs phases on and making boldon moves on jobs Thisand first phase focuses on establishing This first phase the four focuses primary This entrances first phase of the focuses thefour primary on establishing entrances the offour the primary entrances of on the donations, community based shares inon a establishing parent company.

The second phase focuses onactual providing jobs and making bold the moves to further DESCRIPTION DESCRIPTION DESCRIPTION DESCRIPTION DESCRIPTION transform them into other purposes transformsuch themasinto better other housing, transform purposes new them such busiinto as other betterpu h the12th ground to further thetheground topath. further Theestablish strategy the ground the is toactual establish to further path. establish The strategy actual is to establish path. The strategy is to establish path, from Independence Avenue path, from and from Independence 12th Street. path, Avenue These fromand areas Independence from are12th Street.

Avenue These and areas from are Street.

Theseestablish areas are nesses, new gardens, agirucltural nesses, buildings, new agirucltural and morenesses, support community new buildings, agirucltural build-and more supp urban agriculture residential urban gardens, agriculture commercial for residential urban gardens, agriculture gardens, and comcommercial for residential gardens, gardens, and commercial comandsupport comestablishvaluable the physical Itboundaries will for establish urban agriculture for gardens, commercial gardens, and community gardens and provide for not only path. laying the valuable notforonly thelaying path, valuable but the they boundaries for will notalso only forlaying the path, the residential but boundaries they will for also the path, butfor they will also This phases focuses This phases on creating focuses This jobs phases on creating by renovating focuses jobs on by existing creating This renovating phases structures jobs existing focuses by renovating to structures on creat ex This second phase This second focuses phase on This providing focuses second jobs on phase providing and focuses making This jobs on bold second and providing moves making phase jobs on bold focuses and moves making on on providing bold moves jobs on and making bold moves on This second phase focuses on providing jobs ings.

Furthermore, jobs can ings. be generating Furthermore, by jobs maintaining ings. can be Furthermore, these generating new jobs by main can munity gardens and provide munity over a gardens hundred and jobs provide for munity the community. over gardens a hundred and To jobs provide for the over community. a hundred jobs To for the community.

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Land for this phase either forfirst short test thethe success of the path. transform them transform other them purposes transform into other such them purposes asinto better other such housing, transform purposes asestablish better new them such housing, busiinto asthese other better new pu bu h the ground the further ground establish to further the theground establish actual the The actual establish strategy the path. the is The to actual strategy establish toparcels, further path. establish to The establish strategy thefive actual iseither to establish path.

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Because parcels structures. willthe require Because construction structures. parcels work, will Because the require land construc par obtain thesetoparcels, the land obtain could these eithertopath. parcels, befurther purchased the land obtain orground could five these year either leases beispurchased land could or year be leases purchased orinto five year leases

path, Independence path, from Independence Avenue path, from and Avenue Independence 12th and Street. from path, Avenue These 12th from Street. and areas Independence are 12thareas Street.

Avenue are These and areas from 12th are Street. areas are path, from Independence Avenue and from 12th Street. These areas are these from parcels, the areas would these need parcels, to from be purchased the areas would from these the parcels, need LandBank. to from be theThese purchased areas would from need the toLandBank. be purchased fromThese the LandBank. nesses, new nesses, agirucltural new agirucltural nesses, buildings, new support agirucltural and morenesses, support community and new more buildings, agirucltural buildcommunity and more supp bu urban agriculture urban for agriculture residential urban for gardens, residential agriculture gardens, for residential urban gardens, commercial agriculture gardens, and comfor and comgardens, gardens, commercial comgardens, and comurban agriculture for residential gardens, com would need to be purchased would from need the LandBank.The to bebuildings, purchased would funding from need for the to this be LandBank.Th purchased could be established to will test the could success be established ofcommercial the path. to test The could the money be success established forgardens, these ofcommercial theresidential topath. testfor The the money for of these the path.

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Because structures.

Because parcels structures. these will require parcels Because construction will these require structures. parcels construction work, will Because the require landwork, these construc par la obtain these parcels, obtain these thecommunity land parcels, obtain couldthe these either landparcels, be could purchased either the land obtain be orpurchased could fivethese year either parcels, leases orbe five purchased year land leases could or five either yeargrants, be leases or fivethese year leases obtain these parcels, the land could either beby pu loans, public and private grants, donations, loans, public and and by grants, community private loans, donations, based public and andthe pri donations, and private shares donations, in a parent and community company. private donations, shares in and a the parent community company. shares in purchased aLandBank. parent company. these parcels,these the areas parcels, would the these need areas parcels, towould be purchased the need areas to be would from these purchased the parcels, need LandBank. tofrom be thepurchased the areas LandBank. would from need thetoLandBank. beprivate purchased from the LandBank. these parcels, the areas would need to be purchased from the company. company. company. would need would to be purchased need to would be from purchased need the LandBank.The to from be purchased the would LandBank.The funding from need for the to this be funding LandBank.Th purchased for be established couldgrants, betoestablished test the could success tobeThe test established of thethe success path. to test The could of the the money be path. success established for The these of money thetobe path. test forgenerated these The the success money for of these the path.

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The funding The for this funding first phase forThe thiscould funding first phase befor generated this could firstbefrom The phase generated funding grants, couldfrom for loans, bethis generated grants, first phase loans, fromcould grants, becould loans, generated from loans, funding for this first phase could from grants, phase could phase be generated could be from phase generated profits could from be generated profits the first phase from phase from the could profits and first be from phase from generated the and firs fro fr leases or purchases leases or could purchases be leases obtained could or purchases through be obtained grants, could through leases loans, be obtained or grants, public purchases through loans, and could public grants, be and obtained loans, public through and grants, loans, public and leases or purchases could be obtained throug public and private publicdonations, and private public and donations, byand community private and by donations, based community public shares and and based by inprivate acommunity parent shares donations, inbased a parent and shares by community in a parent based shares in a parent public and private donations, and by community based shares in a parent loans, grants, publicloans, and private public grants,donations, and loans, private public and donations, and bygrants, community private and loans, donations, by based community public and andinby bas pri private donations, privateand donations, community private andshares community donations, in a parent and shares community company. private in a parent donations, shares company. inand a parent community company. sharesgrants, in a parent company. private donations, and community shares a company. company. company. company. company. shares in a parent sharescompany. in a parent shares company. in a parent company. shares in a parent company.

242

Focus Areas

PHASEPHASE 5 5 PHASE 5 HASEPHASE 3 3 PHASE 3 PHASEPHASE 4 4 PHASE 4 Lykins Path Lykins Completed Path5Completed Lykins Path5Completed novation of Renovation Existing Buildings of Construction Construction New Building Construction New Building ntation Renovation PHASE 5 PHASE HASE PHASE 31Existingof 3Buildings PHASE 3 Existing Buildings PHASE 42ofPHASE 4of New Building PHASEPHASE 3PHASE PHASE 4PH 4ofPHASE PHASE PHASEPHASE 1 2

Lykins Path Lykins Completed Path Completed Lykins Path Completed Construction Re novation of Existing ofBuildings Renovation Existing Buildings of Existing Buildings Construction ofInfrastructure New Building Renovation of Existing Buildings of Construction ofConstruction New Buildingof New Building nfrastructure ntation Renovation Development Urban Agriculture Implementation Development Urban Agriculture Implementation

2025

2025

2025

TIME LINE 2030

2015 2025

2025

2025

2020 2030

2030

2030

2035

2035

2035

2015 2030

2030

2025 2035

2020 2035

2035

2030

Phase three focuses on job creation through the renovation and maintenance of existing structures. The fourth phase focuses on the creation of new structures for housing, businesses, agricultural support, and community functions. Due to the construction on the parcels, the land for these phases will need to be purchased from the LandBank. At this point, funding will be provided through profits ses his onon phases creatingfocuses jobs byon renovating creating This phases jobs existing byfocuses renovating structures on creating to existing structures jobs by renovating to This phases existing focuses structures tocreating Thisonphases focuses jobs by onbuilding creating This phases new jobsstructures by focuses building on thatnew creating structures jobs bythat building The completed new structures Lykins The Path completed that aims toLykins contribute PathThe aims to food completed to security contribute Lykins and to food food Path security aims to and contribute food to food security and food generated in the earlier phases.

During all phases, the safety Productive Infill master plan should be available continuously reviewed to ensure it is DESCRIPTION ansform other purposes them into such other as purposes transform better housing, such themas new intobetter other busi-housing, purposes new such busias include better housing, new busi-businesses, ablish residences, include new residences,new newagricultural businesses, include residences, support new agricultural buildings, new businesses, support buildings, new agricultural in support two ways: buildings, safety first,init two increases ways: the first,amount itsafety increases ofin food twotheways: amount first, toofitfood increases available the toamount of food available to ltural esses,support new agirucltural buildings, support and nesses, more buildings, new community agirucltural and buildmoresupport community buildings, build-and community buildcomandmore new community and buildings. new community In addition, buildings. jobsand can In new be addition, further community jobs created can buildings. by be further In addition, created by jobs people can living further in cities, created people andbyliving second, in cities, itthe allows and fresh second, people vegetables, living it allows in cities, fruits, freshand and vegetables, second, fruits, it allows and freshprocess vegetables, aims fruits, and meeting the changes needs of the community.

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productive infill

productive infill: kit of parts A kit of parts was developed to provide the Productive Infill paths with pedestrian amenities while also acting to unify the entire Northeast. This kit acts as a tool for urbanization, providing a standardized set of physical elements that establish a formal code. These module elements work together as a cohesive system to invite interaction and enhance the pedestrian experience. They are strategically placed along the paths to complement their specific location and function.

Seating elements feature storage, ideal for the array of gardening tools needed to maintain the urban agriculture and edible streetscape. Overhead elements fit together to create a porous canopy with various colored panels. This canopy also incorporates photovoltaic panels and lighting to distinguish points of rest and provide an additional feel of safety along the walking paths. The fences featured in the kit of parts are designed to secure the private gardens while also allowing a small amount of permeability. To address the current issue of graffiti throughout the Northeast, the boards are slanted to minimize the amount of tag-able space.

The modular nature also allows for sections of the fencing to be easily replaced.

The bench component can be manipulated to serve as both seating and bike storage. It has the ability to pivot up and down to accommodate the particular need of each area. Benches can be clustered and grouped to form a various seating formations.

244

245

Fencing

Fencing

The fences were designed to secure the private gardens while also allowing a small amout of permiability. In an effort to address the current issue of the areas graffiti problem, the boards are slanted to minimize the amount of tagging space.

Seating

The fences were designed to secure the private gardens while also allowing a small amout of permiability. In an effort to address the current issue of the areas graffiti problem, the boards are slanted to minimize the amount of tagging space.

Vandalism-Preventitive Fence

246

Focus Areas

The bench is a co manipulated to se storage. The benc down to accomod particular area. Be grouped to form a

Flexible Seating

orage component is a bles as a storage nter. The bottom o hold larger tools e top is equipt with er tools and seed

Configurable Shelter

Completed Arrangement

The main agricultural storage component is a large credenza that doubles as a storage space and a The entire system together in a way that counter for selling the path’s produce. The bottom portion can be opened to hold largerfits tools and equipinvites interaction and creates an overall ment while the top is equipped with drawers for smaller tools and seed storage.

cohesive picture.

kit of parts

productive infill: edible streetscape By rethinking the idea of the street, edible streetscape along the Productive Infill paths will transform the environment into one that nurtures life rather than just acting as a passage. These are an integral part of the overall infill concept and key to promoting local food awareness as well as enhancing the pedestrian experience. The three primary elements of the edible streetscapes are bioswales, fruit-bearing trees, and bike lanes. Street surfaces made of permeable pavement will provide responsible water management for stormwater runoff. Bioswales will collect and filter this water so it can be redistributed throughout the pedestrian network to support the urban agriculture. Native and fruit-bearing plants will be planted within the bioswales to create the “edible� street. Bike lanes and pedestrian-friendly walkways will provide a new means of transportation for residents of the Northeast as well as a source of recreation. Spaces for public interaction and cultural exchange will be created along the paths using existing and proposed green space.

248

249

street condition 1 Street Condition 1 blvd, van brunt blvd benton (Benton Boulevard, Van Brunt Boulevard)

ape

sign

ndly travel and implemented seating are the create the “Edible� Streetscape. The design of s throughout the Northeast and provide space ent is used along the street surface to provide considerable amount of excess water. This Network to support its urban agriculture.

esign

an Network

250

Focus Areas

05.15.2013

street condition 2 Street Condition 2

chestnut ave,Avenue, prospect ave,Avenue, 12th st (Chestnut Prospect 12th Street)

street condition 3 Street Condition 3

askew ave, cleveland ave (Askew Avenue, Cleveland Avenue)

Street Condition 4 (The Paseo)

street condition 4 the paseo blvd

Existing street section

proposed street section

proposed streetscape

The proposed streetscape design consists of edible trees, bike lanes, pedestrian walkways, lighting and bioswales.

edible streetscape

productive infill: path walkthrough The Productive Infill master plan proposes four north-south connections from 12th Street to Independence Avenue. The Lykins Path is a typical design prototype; encompassing recreation, green house growing, crop distribution, and water management systems. Instead of building permanent structures that require substantial amount of funding and planning, urban agriculture allows immediate utilization of land to maximize benefits for Northeast residents, the environment, and the local economy. These agricultural sites will not only promote economic development but also support social and cultural exchange, strengthening community ties and awareness. In the future when the demand becomes present, the Productive Infill lots can be replaced by buildings or other development.

lykins

252

1

e

d A 12th and Monroe b 12th and Cleveland C 12th and Myrtle D 10th and Norton E Lykins Park F Lykins Park

a

b

c

f

253

12th Street and Cleveland highlights the renovation of an existing building, transforming it into a new commercial building. The adjacent public space can be transformed into a market for selling produce or used for agricultural storage for the gardens nearby gardens.

254

Focus Areas

path walkthrough

256

Focus Areas

The existing building at 12th Street and Myrtle will be converted into a community kitchen.

This kitchen will focus on healthy eating practices, offering courses and classes to encourage residents to grow locally. The adjacent garden will be used for demonstrations and community functions.

path walkthrough

Working together with the Urban Farm Guys, the current school at 10th Street and Norton will be transformed into a center for arts and design. Shelters and fencing from the kit of parts will be implemented, allowing for easy adaptability for farmer’s markets, music festivals, and art exhibits.

258

Focus Areas

path walkthrough

12th street will be activated with the infill of residential buildings along the street. Emphasis on public transit and ease of commute to downtown and Independence Avenue will increase the activation of 12th Street.

260

Focus Areas

Lykins Park will undergo a beautification process to become a retention pond that will alleviate some of the pressure on Kansas City’s overburdened-combined sewer system. The space lends itself to positive activities and encourages interaction with residents.

path walkthrough

Lykins Park will also be the home to three large greenhouses. These will allow for year-round growing for the new residential housing at the edge of the site, as well as the existing surrounding community.

262

Focus Areas

path walkthrough

east gateway The scale of deterioration brought on by shrinking manufacturing industry and subsequent decentralization of urban residential areas distinguishes the East Gateway from other sections of Independence Avenue. Boundaries of the site, from Hardesty Avenue to Highway 435, contain heavy and light industrial zones adjacent to rail lines, commercial businesses along the avenue proper, and single and multi-family housing north and south of Independence Avenue. Historically, this area has been defined by the extensive network of industrial manufacturing businesses and the considerable number of jobs they provided for the area’s residents. What is now left of the formerly active industrial tract is a neighborhood with both large and small scale urban waste-scapes. For these industrial zones, serious issues of soil, ground water and building contamination present major challenges in finding opportunities to redevelop and redesign the urban landscape.

It is the same industrial heritage posing these challenges that also provides latent opportunity in public transit, ecological infrastructure, and a model of urban development capitalizing and supporting both. Rail lines laid for industrial use are seeing a different future as the corridors for regional commuter transit. Relatively immense voids of underutilized industrial landscape overlaying a former tributary

265

of the Blue River make possible the restoration of a natural landscape, serving sustainable water management at a regional scale. The urban renewal strategy devised takes these opportunities as a framework for design establishing a new typology of urbanism which captures gradually accumulated value in the natural landscape and projected alternative transportation plans. Beyond the opportunities embedded in the physical conditions of the East Gateway, there are responsibilities to the comprehensive vision plan for Independence Avenue that also influence design of this focus area. Conceptually, the East Gateway plays a significant role as a terminus of the avenue, an endpoint of Kansas City, completing and connecting the Kessler system, and a major node of commercial activity. The constituting elements of the East Gateway take advantage of the opportunities in the urban landscape and would contribute to the comprehensive urban scheme for Independence Avenue.

A constructed wetland would restore water management function to the Gooseneck Creek tributary between Wilson Avenue and Winner Road, and the restored landscape would spur environmentally sustainable development. A multimodal transit hub that serves bus, streetcar and commuter rail at Ewing Avenue would create an interface between the Northeast and the region; an access point connecting businesses and residents of Independence Avenue with patrons and employment across Kansas City. The green loop concept would be integrated into the neighborhood as a local recreation loop along Van Brunt Boulevard and Hardesty Avenue which connects the soccer park at 9th street and Budd Park to Kessler Park. A marketplace and underpass plaza would reconnect the Sheffield neighborhood to Indian Mound and the Northeast at Topping Avenue, continuing pedestrian activity on Independence Avenue beyond the KC Terminal Railway.

266

Focus Areas

This hybrid urbanism – part ecological infrastructure, part regional transit – is a model for neighborhood renewal that can be manipulated for post-industrial residential landscapes in other areas of Kansas City, and other cities altogether.

east gateway

Blue River Greenway

268

Focus Areas

Regional Commuter Rail Transit Routes When considering physical area and scope of time, the East Gateway is the largest scale focus area. It assumes the other three focus areas as a premise for its own design propositions. Based on the TOD idea of urban redevelopment, regional transit is a significant element of the East Gateway node. The design is based on ongoing, mid-term, and long-term transportation plans for the local and regional scale. The East Gateway framework is defined by the Rock Island Corridor Commuter Rail plan, part of a much larger network of public transit. Improving mobility of residents encourages economic growth and commercial development by connecting consumers with businesses and potential employees with employment. At the East Gateway, Independence Avenue and Rock Island Commuter Rail converge, creating a strong sense of place and terminus of the city.

east gateway

image credit: Missouri Valley Special Collections, Kansas City Public Library, Kansas City, Missouri

Postcard C. 1906, Blue River and Independence Avenue Before massive industrialization, the Blue River and its tributaries were preserved as natural landscapes for recreational enjoyment. Historical analysis shows the impact of industrialization and residential expansion in the Northeast, particularly looking at the Gooseneck Creek tributary. In a matter of forty years, the tributary was replaced by railroads, streets, and buildings. Today, the same land has been developed as a light industrial zone, and the creek replaced by a combined sewer line. A primary component of the East Gateway is the restoration of this swatch as natural landscape, to function as a constructed wetland in collecting and filtering local runoff and to influence the form and environmental consciousness of urban strategies throughout. The East Gateway provides the impetus to rethink urban development as devoid of the need for building construction. With the diminishing need for industrial land use, the land would be much better served as infrastructural landscape and a land reserve.

270

Focus Areas

Sheffield 1894 KCDC 2012 - 2013

East Gateway, Proposals

Sheffield 1907 KCDC 2012 - 2013

East Gateway, Proposals

Sheffield 1914 KCDC 2012 - 2013

East Gateway, Proposals

Sheffield 1922 KCDC 2012 - 2013

East Gateway, Proposals

Sheffield 1894

Sheffield 1907

Sheffield 1914

Sheffield 1922

east gateway

Zoning and Building Use commercial, non-office commercial, office light industrial parking lots heavy industrial railroad utilities single-family residential multi-family residential vacant, residential vacant, non-residential church public safety

272

Focus Areas

methyltertiarybutylether

arsenic

chlorinated solvents

polychlornatedbihenyls

lead

contaminants by land use

Potential Contaminants and Known Phyto-Remediating Plants

Contaminants in the industrial zones must be removed to restore the landscape to a natural condition. Zoning and building use are examined to identify potential toxins and then correlated with their known phyto-remediating plants.

east gateway

REMEDIATION PROCESS MAP

Remediation STrategies Plan photoremediation developable land green space site excavation key sites

After extensive investigation into the possibility for phytoremediation, it became clear that the level of contamination and the timeline of framework projects would not allow enough time for successful mitigation of toxins using only strategies of phytoremediation. Where planned development is far enough out and contaminant levels are comparatively low, phytoremediation is used. Where planned development is more immediate and contaminant levels are comparatively high, strategies of excavation will be used.

Developable land, existing green space, and phytoremediation and excavation areas were identified to study the possible phasing implementation of the creek restoration concept.

Land is acquired piecemeal as buildings become more expensive to maintain than to demolish, with the exception of key businesses along Independence Avenue. Once land is clear and soil cleaned, a tiered wetland is constructed to collect and filter runoff from the surrounding Indian Mound and Sheffield neighborhoods before entering the Blue River.

The completed Gooseneck Greenway features elevated walking paths, making the natural landscape recreationally accessible yet requiring minimal maintenance. Shelters along the paths frame views across the wetland, a habitat for native plants, birds, and other wildlife.

As powerfully as any architectural artifact, the Gooseneck Greenway connects its inhabitants with the origins of the city.

274

Focus Areas

Gooseneck Greenway Walking Path

east gateway

initial Master Form A major design priority for the East Gateway is the establishment of an identifiable node of appropriate scale for its urban presence. A masterform is created to ascertain the totality of the urban void. Subsequent subtractions of existing community institutions, major roads, and hydrology paths begin to integrate the masterform with the neighborhood. Upon incorporation of the Gooseneck Greenway landscape restoration strategy, the master form is nearly entirely dissolved with the exception of its defining edge along Winner Road. The remaining form has substantial urban presence and meshes with the surrounding residential and commercial building fabric.

276

Focus Areas

initial Plan and Concept Model

te Plan, 1:3,000

DC 2012 - 2013

East Gateway, Design Documentation

12.11.2012

east gateway

LOCAL PUBLIC PARK RECREATION

REGIONAL GREENWAY RECREATION REGIONAL COMMUTER TRANSIT LOCAL RESIDENT TRANSIT

CONNECTING INDUSTRIAL

Local/Regional Interface Concept

Conditions Parti KCDC 2012 - 2013

East Gateway, Schematic Mapping

12.11.2012

A basic concept of the East Gateway as an interface for local and regional recreation and transit networks remained consistent between the initial master form design and the hybrid urbanism design. Within the East Gateway, the local recreation loop from the soccer park to Kessler Park is connected by the Gooseneck Greenway to the Blue River Greenway, the regional recreation network. The streetcar along Independence Avenue and IndeBus from Independence, Missouri terminate at the commuter rail lines, linking local transit and regional transit. These intersections of local and regional elements establish the East Gateway as an inherent end point to the Avenue and terminus of the city.

east gateway

VAN BRUNT BLVD

280

Focus Areas

9TH AND HARDESTY

INDEPENDENCE aVE

WILSON AVE

AINAGE AINAGE INAGE

he road existing pting the drainage he road existing road existing ystem as drainage a whole. pting the ng the drainage ystem as a whole. tem as a whole.

COMPROMISED SITE DRAINAGE

Roads that underpass the Kansas City Terminal Railway, experience frequent flooding during rain events, making them impassable in most cases. Runoff from impervious surfaces of the industrial development between Wilson Avenue and Winner Road causes water to back up at Van Brunt Boulevard, 9th Street, Hardesty Avenue, Independence Avenue and Wilson Avenue. The lowest points of the Gooseneck Greenway are elongated and relocated adjacent to the railway, with roads passing over the collection points. Bioswales divert runoff around roads and into the greenway, resolving basic issues of infrastructure-restricted connectivity at a local scale.

LOODING LOODING OODING

e to fl ooding in nce is in one e toAvenue fl ooding o fl ooding in avy altering nce storms.

Avenue By is one is one � Avenue can occur South avy storms.

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Elongate/relocate Low Points

ontinuous ter runoff. ontinuous tinuous edestrians ter runoff. runoff. edestrians estrians

ELIMINATE UNDERPASS FLOODING

Buffer Schematic Development Buffer SchematicDevelopment Development uffer Schematic East Gateway, Master Planning EastGateway, Gateway,Master MasterPlanning Planning East

03.27.2013 03.27.2013 03.27.2013

east gateway

COMMERCIAL RESIDENTIAL

COMMERCIAL

INDUSTRIAL COMMERCIAL

INDUSTRIAL

Residential

Residential

Commercial

Commercial

Industrial

Industrial

Conventional Building Placement Within Parcel

Edgefill Concept Building Placement

INDUSTRIAL

282

Focus Areas

In the most conventional instances of infill development, buildings are placed according to setbacks specified for the zoning classification of that particular parcel. This practice leads to a disconnected, often irregular urban fabric, which uses land inefficiently. However, when a majority of the land of an area is used for natural landscape such as the Gooseneck Greenway, urban development strategies must be much more efficient. The edgefill concept disregards setbacks, and looks at the land as a whole, pushing building development to the edges of the available space and reserving the rest for natural landscape. Maximization of natural landscape within the fabric of the city will begin to offset the immense presence of industrial landscape. By pushing buildings towards the street, edgefill also defines the street edge, creating a stronger urban presence and space.

east gateway

East Gateway Masterplan

PHASE Phasing of the East Gateway takes into consideration remediation strategies and their associated timelines, the acquisition of land based on building maintenance costs compared to cost of demolition, the timeline of Kansas City’s commuter transit plans, and the timeline of the Blue River Greenway project. Catalytic interventions are made first, while interventions immediately on Independence Avenue are a secondary priority.

Most elements of the project are of a scale requring implementation spanning multiple phases, which are determined based only on the completion point of a constituting element rather than beginning and completion concurrently.

1

2

3

4

5

286

Focus Areas

6

INDEPENDENCE INTERVENTION

WILSON AVE PLAZA/ INDEPENDENCE INFILL

TRANSIT HUB

B

4

GREENWAY NORTH

5

URBAN EDGE NORTH/ GREENWAY SOUTH

6

OVERALL

6

5

East Gateway, Master Planning

Phased Implementation KCDC 2012 - 2013

East Gateway, Master Planning

ation

Master Planning

East Gateway, Master Planning

Phased Implementation KCDC 2012 - 2013

04.07.2013

East Gateway, Master Planning

Phased Implementation KCDC 2012 - 2013

OVERALL

Phased Implem

Phased Implementation KCDC 2012 - 2013

OVERALL

OVERALL

KCDC 2012 - 2013

OVERALL

6

URBAN EDGE SOUTH

04.07.2013

04.07.2013

04.07.2013

East G

tree buffer wetland urban park edgefill

CONCEPTUAL LAYERS To aid in organization of such a large space, and determine where access is possible and maintenance required, the swath between Wilson Avenue and Winner Road is conceived of in layers, each with a distinct degree of accessibility and self-maintenance. The tree buffer acts as a sound and visual barrier to the rail way, is accessible for train service only, and is self maintaining. The constructed wetland has flood level stormwater capacity, is not acessible, and is self maintaining. The urban park is hybrid plaza, park, and parking space that is accessible to pedestrians, and requires minimal maintenance. The edgefill layer is a prototyical concept for block form development proposing compact footprints at the perimeter of a space to maximize natural infrastructure performance in the remaining green. The edgefill is occupied, and requires building ands streetscape maintenance.

TREE BUFFER CONSTRUCTED WETLAND URBAN PARK EDGE FILL

Conceptual Layers 1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

WATER MANAGEMENT Historically the site of Gooseneck Creek, a live tributary of the Blue River, this underutilized industrial land still has inherent topographical capacity to serve as natural water infrastructure. Due to combined sewer systems in place in this watershed, the area can only deal with local surface runoff, but that burden alone removed from the sewer system reduces the challenge facing Kansas City in its restructuring.

This hybrid model - part natural, part engineered, part surface, part subsurface - can be considered prototypical for the opportunities in needed reform, making use of existing infrastrucutre while establishing landscape that adds value to the community through recreation and education.

GREENWAY RETENTION BED WETLAND FILTRATION OVERFLOW ZONE

Constructed Wetland Filtration Sequence

Four layers compose the design of the Gooseneck Greenway: a tree buffer, constructed wetland, urban park space, and the edgefill development. The tree buffer provides an acoustic and visual barrier between the wetland and the railway, the constructed wetland collects and filters local runoff, the urban park negotiates the transition between natural and built landscape, and the edgefill development defines the commercial node to the east and south of Winner Road. Within the constructed wetland, there are ten stages of filtration, which remove common contaminants of runoff generally resulting from automobile use and litter.

288

Focus Areas

WATER FLOW PATH

4 GREENWAY SO

1 EAST 1 EAST INDEPENDENCE INDEPENDENCE AVEAVE CORE CORE 2 SHEFFIELD 2 SHEFFIELD PLAZA PLAZA

2 REINFORCE 2 REINFORCE INDEPENDENCE INDEPENDENCE AVEAVE 3 TRANSIT 3 TRANSIT HUBHUB

Y OUTH SOUTH 5 GREEN 5 GREEN INDUSTRIAL INDUSTRIAL ON WINNER ON WINNER

4 GREENWAY 4 GREENWAY NORTH NORTH 5 URBAN 5 URBAN EDGE EDGE ON WINNER ON WINNER 6 RESIDENTIAL 6 RESIDENTIAL INFILL INFILL

east gateway

SHEFFIELD SHEFFIELD FAMILY FAMILY LIFELIFE CE

BIKE TRANSIT CIRCULATION The East Gateway captures the opportunity of converging local and regional transit systems, as well as converging recreation systems.

Resulting is a node informed and activated by pedestrian and public transportation. Public transit along Winner and Independence forms a loop around high-density housing, the center of the loop crossed with pedestrian-focused streets. Bike and walking paths in the greenway allow pedestrian connectivity safe from vehicle traffic.

COMMUTER RAIL STREETCAR BUS ROUTE BIKE PATHS WALKING PATHS TRANSIT STOP

Local and Regional Transit Circulation

public green space active streetfront pedestrian network regional connection URBAN NODE To make a meaningful place of the East Gateway, it ultimately must serve as a healthy urban node in the network of Kansas City.

Winner and Independence are active commercial streets, interconnected by a walkable residential center. Residents of Sheffield have access to goods and services as well as housing options, all within walking distance of regional transit.

COMMERCIAL STREETFRONT PUBLIC GREEN SPACE PEDESTRIAN NETWORK

Establishing an Urban Node

The East Gateway is a significant node, with design considerations uniting the commercial activity of the Avenue and residential needs of the neighborhoods. Emphasizing the connection to the transit network increases its catalytic power for development. Commercial street fronts are enhanced along Independence Avenue and Winner Road to create a commercial loop along the bus routes. Residential development supports the commercial activity and institutional uses support the residential.

Pedestrian oriented streets and public green space support the livability of the node, while the commuter rail supports its accessibility.

290

Focus Areas

COMMUTER RAIL

E CENTER BIKE SHARE HQ LOCAL HARVEST GROCER GREENWAY EDUCATION CENTER ALDI BAHAI FAITH CENTER TRAINING CENTER TRANSIT HUB

east gateway

east gateway: sheffield plaza Currently, Sheffield Plaza is an urban no man’s land: non existence of meaningful urban space, the violent presence of rail and road infrastructure, and no place for human beings. Safe pedestrian travel is difficult as neighborhoods are divided by the Kansas City Terminal Railway, which also deters commercial activity on the corridor east of the railway. A restrictive underpass disconnects Sheffield from the Northeast, leaving the terminus of Kansas City dissolved and undefined.

The Sheffield Plaza plan converts this chaos into an urban form and place that reconciles the madness and creates an inhabitable environment. Improving the underpass reconnects and reactivates the Sheffield neighborhood, renews commerce on Independence Avenue east of the railway, and at a regional scale allows a meaningful endpoint of the city to be established.

Sheffield Plaza features a marketplace and underpass plaza which connect neighborhoods and increase commercial activity. The current Price Chopper parking lot is transformed into an outdoor market for the sale of harvest from the Productive Infill gardens. Wilson Ave from Topping Avenue to South White Avenue is removed and the land beneath terraced to allow navigation from marketplace to street level, forming the underpass plaza. Passage below the railway is widened to allow pedestrians, bikes, and wheelchairs to travel from Indian Mound to Sheffield. The former void in commercial activity along the avenue is bridged by public space. This underpass also connects the recreation loop to the Gooseneck Greenway, serving as the interface between local and regional recreation networks.

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Road Alterations

Buildings Removed

Programming

Water Management

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Focus Areas

sheffield plaza

Sheffield Plaza from the Amtrak Passing Above Bioswale water management strategies are incorporated into the terraces of the underpass plaza. This terracing is best viewed from the tracks above, a view seen by people riding the Amtrak into and out of Kansas City. Runoff gathered from the parking lot to the north and the impervious surfaces of the plaza itself are gathered and directed below the railway to the Gooseneck Greenway. A major bioswale serves as a vegetated barrier between the vehicle traffic of Independence Avenue and the pedestrian traffic of the underpass plaza.

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Focus Areas

Sheffield Plaza Greenway Center

east gateway: transit hub Kansas City, like most contemporary cities, suffers from an indefinite boundary, an endless enmeshing of urban fabric and suburban sprawl. Fortunately, Kansas City has a history of topographical definition which provides distinction to the Northeast, and an opportunity to provide distinction to the east should the Blue River Greenway project be executed to its fullest potential. Restoring the Blue River valley to a natural landscape provides a valuable boundary between Kansas City and Independence, and reinforces topographical definition of the city. The termini of Independence Avenue streetcar, IndeBus service and intersection with the Rock Island Commuter Rail line converge at this critical city edge, also visible in the zoning of the city, where residential and heavy industrial meet along the eastern bluff of the Northeast. The multi-modal transit hub at Ewing Avenue and Independence Avenue is an architectural demarcation of the confluence of the topographical, transportation, and zoning dimensions of the city’s edge.

The transit hub plays a major role in the development of the Northeast and the strengthening of the commercial activity along Independence Avenue in addition to conceptual significance as the endpoint of Kansas City. As much as the hub is an endpoint, it is also a beginning, and access point from commuter rail and Highways 435 and 24. This could be the first impression of the city for thousands daily, an interface between private and public modes of transit, regional to municipal. In the comprehensive scheme of Independence Avenue, the transit hub reciprocates the West Gateway as the commercial node of the avenue anchoring

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activity and development from the eastern most point westward.

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INDEPENDENCE AVE STREETCAR WEST 19,100 Commuters from Independence MO, Raytown and Lee’s Summit to CBD, Crown Center, Plaza, Inner Core North

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bus service streetcar commuter rail Municipal transit Independence Avenue streetcar from downtown westward and IndeBus bus service from Independence, MO eastward both terminate at the transit hub. The regional transit Rock Island Commuter Rail line from Lee’s Summit and Raytown passes through the transit hub before reaching the Main Street streetcar terminus in Rivermarket. The convergence of these transit modes and the adjacency of the transit hub to Highway 435 positions the hub to be an impetus for major commercial activity, and complementary sustainable development. Circulation of the local transit modes at the hub is organized to create a strong pedestrian-oriented node of activity. Bus routes along commercial streets encircle pedestrian-only blocks with commercial at street level and residential above. The transit hub is not only a hub for transportation, but a unique mixed-use district functioning as a destination and transitorily for people passing through.

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INDEPENDENCE AVE STREETCAR EAST 1900 Commuters from CBD, Crown Center, Plaza, Inner Core North to Independence MO

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rock island commuter corridor transfer

Route Schedules and Potential RiderShip

rock island commuter corridor south

the needs of commuters traveling from the metro area to the central business district. The existing underpass serves as a connection pathway between the various types and works to create a zone networks.

PROGRAMMING The existing conditions of this site as an industrial zone allow for the opportunity to explore the building’s relationship with the existing context. The ARMCO bridge has served as a way to develop connections between the various modes of transportation and allow for functions to be separated along a pedestrian axis.

PROGRAMMING The existing conditions of this site as an industrial zone allow for the opportunity to explore the building’s relationship with the existing context. The ARMCO bridge has served as a way to develop connections between the various modes of transportation and allow for functions to be separated along a pedestrian axis.

TRANSIT PATHWAYS The transit hub combines multi-modal functions within the transit hub to address the needs of commuters traveling from the metro area to the central business district. The existing underpass serves as a connection pathway between the various types and works to create a zone networks.

TRANSIT PATHWAYS The transit hub combines multi-modal ROADWAY MODIFICATIONS functions within the transit hub to address the needs of commuters traveling from improve functions of the streetcar the metro area toTothe central the business district. The existing serves and underpass bus networks improvements in the as a connection streets pathway are between the proposed to increase the various types and works to create a zone networks.

existing widths. In addition, one street has been removed to accommodate the transit plaza as a pedestrian only zone.

ROADWAY MODIFICATIONS

Transit Circulation

To improve the functions of the streetcar and bus networks improvements in the streets are proposed to increase the existing widths. In addition, one street has been removed to accommodate the transit plaza as a pedestrian only zone.

PROGRAMMING The existing conditions of this site as an industrial zone allow for the opportunity to explore the building’s relationship with the existing context. The ARMCO bridge has served as a way to develop connections between the various modes of transportation and allow for functions PROGRAMMING to be separated along a pedestrian axis.

The existing conditions of this site as an industrial zone allow for the opportunity to explore the building’s relationship with the existing context. The ARMCO bridge has served as a way to develop connections between the various modes of transportation and allow for functions to be separated along a pedestrian axis.

INDUSTRIAL WASTELAND

Programming

A large scale site remediation is required for the removal and demolition of several industrial sites and warehouses that have deteriorated beyond the extent of being salvageable. This process will coincide with future plans for redeveloping the nearby section of the Blue River Greenway to a natural landscape for recreation.

INDUSTRIAL WASTELAND A large scale site remediation is required for the removal and demolition of several industrial sites and warehouses that have deteriorated beyond the extent of being salvageable. This process will coincide with future plans for redeveloping the nearby section of MODIFICATIONS the Blue River Greenway to a ROADWAY natural landscape for recreation.

To improve the functions of the streetcar ROADWAY MODIFICATIONS and bus networks improvements in the streets are proposed to increase the To improve the functions of the streetcar existing widths. In addition, one street and bus networks improvements in the has been removedthe to accommodate the streets are proposed to increase plazaone as street a pedestrian only zone. existing widths.transit In addition, has been removed to accommodate the transit plaza as a pedestrian only zone.

Buildings Removed

FLOOD PLAIN

100 YEAR FLOOD LINE

FLOOD PLAIN

INDUSTRIAL WASTELAND

500 YEAR FLOOD LINE

100 YEAR FLOOD LINE

A large scale site remediation is required for the removalINDUSTRIAL and demolition WASTELAND of several industrial sites and warehouses that have A large remediation is required deteriorated beyond thescale extentsite of being salvageable. This will coincide 500 YEAR FLOOD forprocess the removal andwith demolition of several future plans forindustrial redeveloping theand nearby sites warehouses that have section of the Blue River Greenway to a deteriorated beyond the extent of being natural landscape for recreation.

Floodplains

salvageable. This process will coincide with future plans for redeveloping the nearby section of the Blue River Greenway to a natural landscape for recreation.

LINE

transit hub bus terminal

Transittransit Hub Bushub Terminal plaza

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endnotes

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acknowledgements

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Appendix

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endnotes 1. Shortridge, James R. Kansas City and How It Grew, 1822-2011. Lawrence: University of Kansas, 2012. Print.

2. Shortridge, James R. Kansas City and How It Grew, 1822-2011. Lawrence: University of Kansas, 2012. Print.

3. Missouri. City of Kansas City. Water Services Department. Overflow Control Plan. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Print.

4. Fratta, Nick. “Junkspace Kansas City.” Thesis. University of Kansas, 2012.

Print.

5. Bronson, Theron. “Quilt and the Stitch.” Thesis. Kansas State University, 2013.

Print.

General References Berger, Alan. Drosscape: Wasting Land in Urban America. New York: Princeton Architectural, 2006. Print.

Frisch, Michael, Scott Walters, and Jacob Wagner, eds. A Revitalization Strategy for Independence Avenue. 01 Aug. 2011. Plan. Kansas City, Missouri.

Independence Avenue Business District Market Study. Brookline: FinePoint Associates LLC, 2008. PDF.

Missouri. City of Kansas City. City Planning and Development. FOCUS Kansas City Plan. Ed. Vicki Noteis. N.p.: n.p., 1994. Print.

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Appendix

Missouri. City of Kansas City. City Planning and Development. Greater Downtown Area Plan. Kansas City: n.p., 2010. Print.

Missouri. City of Kansas City. City Planning and Development. Greater Downtown Area Plan Data Book. Kansas City: n.p., 2010. Print.

Missouri. City of Kansas City. City Planning and Development. Truman Plaza Area Plan. Kansas City: n.p., 2012. Print.

Missouri. City of Kansas City. City Planning and Development. Truman Plaza Area Plan Databook. Kansas City: n.p., 2012. Print.

Montgomery, Rick, and Shirl Kasper. Kansas City: An American Story. Kansas City, MO: Kansas City Star, 1999. Print.

United States. Department of Transportation. Smart Moves Regional Transit Vision. N.p.: n.p., 2008. Print.

Waldheim, Charles. The Landscape Urbanism Reader. New York: Princeton Architectural, 2006. Print.

endnotes

acknowledgements The Kansas City Design Center would like to thank all individuals and institutions who were involved with our project this year and made this publication a success. We owe each of them a debt of gratitude for their contributions and encouragement.

First and foremost we would like thank the William T. Kemper Foundation and Hall Family Foundation. Our success in building public interest in and understanding of urban design issues would be impossible without their generous support.

Our deepest gratitude is extended to the stakeholders and sponsoring institutions; without their trust and involvement, this project would not have been possible.

The following individuals and institutions must be recognized for their support and endorsement: Northeast Alliance Together (NEAT); the City of Kansas City, Missouri’s City Planning and Development, including Director Bob Langenkamp, and City Planners Kellie Johnston, Emilio Useche, and Olofu Agbaji; the City of Kansas City, Missouri’s Office of the City Manager, including City Manager Troy Schulte, and Assistant to the City Manager Kerrie Tyndall; Kansas City, Missouri Community Development; the Housing Authority of Kansas City; the Kansas City Museum; the Kansas City Public Library- Northeast Branch; Katie Greer; Mattie Rhodes; and the Northeast Chamber of Commerce, including Bobbi Baker and Rebecca Koop.

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Appendix

A great debt is owed to the Downtown Council, AIA Kansas City, Mid-America Regional Council, University of Missouri-Kansas City, and the Kansas City Public Library, for their academic and professional support throughout this project.

Our gratitude is extended to the KCDC Board of Directors, who represent our collaborating academic institutions, as well as the local civic and professional communities.

The collection of research, analysis, and design proposals expressed in this publication are the collective thinking between faculty and students, various critics and professionals, and stakeholders of the Northeast. The critical advice and views of our reviewers provided in-depth knowledge and interpretations that guided our ideas. Special thanks to Genevieve Baudoin, Blake Belanger, Jason Brody, Michael Gibson, Bruce Johnson, Matt Kleinmann, Heidi Pollmann, Doug Stockman, and Jacob Wagner for their interest and participation as reviewers.

Finally, the studio would like to thank Vladimir Krstic, whose selfless dedication to urban design and this program are unyielding. Without his dedication and guidance, this project and publication would not have been possible.

acknowledgements

students BLAKE ARCHER Architecture | Kansas State University

AMANDA BARKER Interior Architecture | Kansas State University

NICK BAUMGARTEN Architecture | University of Kansas

THERON BRONSON Architecture | Kansas State University

THOMAS CHAMBERS Architecture | University of Kansas

CELESTE CLAYTON Architecture | University of Kansas

NICK FRATTA Architecture | University of Kansas

CHRIS GILLAM Architecture | University of Kansas

KAYLA HALES Architecture | Kansas State University

KURT HEINEN Architecture | Kansas State University

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Appendix

DANNY KLIEWER Architecture | Kansas State University

CHLOE LEWIS Interior Architecture | Kansas State University

VANESSA LIU Architecture | Kansas State University

CARISSA LOEHR Interior Architecture | Kansas State University

RYAN MC CABE Architecture | University of Kansas

KEITH MOORE JR Architecture | University of Kansas

JEREMY NELSON Architecture | University of Kansas

JJ NICOLAS Architecture | Kansas State University

ERIC WENCEL Planning | Kansas State University

DREW YARNELL Interior Architecture | Kansas State University

students

Independence Avenue Urban Vision Study