Joshua Gothard

COASTAL + COMMUNITY REMEDIATION

COASTAL + COMMUNITY REMEDIATION : FINAL REVIEW - JOSHUA GOTHARD - MAY 15, 2018

Our inherent connection to the ocean has instilled an everlasting desire to occupy it’s edge.

Vulnerability rises as natural protection systems disappear and populations spread into flood prone regions.

By utilizing a hybrid coastal language of both soft and hard infrastructure a continuous line of protection can be implemented along varying coastlines while at the same time enabling the character of each community to be preserved and enhancing the passage between land and sea.

COASTAL + COMMUNITY REMEDIATION : FINAL REVIEW - JOSHUA GOTHARD - MAY 15, 2018

EDGE Our inherent connection to the ocean has instilled an everlasting desire to occupy the edge between land and sea.

Vulnerability rises as our natural protection systems disappear and populations spread into flood prone regions. This vulnerability of occupying the edge can be mitigated through an integration of resilient natural systems and building upon an architecture developed over centuries for coastal and maritime living.

By utilizing this hybrid coastal language of both soft and hard infrastructure a continuous line of protection can be implemented along varying coastlines while at the same time enabling the character of each community to be preserved and enhancing the passage between land and sea.

In developing a case study for a broader coastal system, a historic and complex site was chosen to test the range of shoreline conditions this hybrid coastal language would have to account for. This historic site, located on the Island of Martha’s Vineyard, is situated on Vineyard Haven Harbor. Today the harbor serves as the primary lifeline supporting the island’s population, which swells from 18,000 to 150,000 in the summer months, with everything from food and fuel to traditional boat building and marine preservation agencies. Settled in 1671, and once at the center of the whaling and shipping industry, Vineyard Haven has a deep commercial history embracing its waterfront. Expansion over the centuries has led to the majority of the commercial and industrial district to spread into a flood prone area. This very district is at the same time keeping the town alive and smothering it by cutting off public access to its own waterfront. By focusing on the edge between land and sea these issues of vulnerability and waterfront access may be addressed simultaneously.

HISTORIC PRECEDENT This vulnerable waterfront expansion is not unlike many other coastal cities and towns along the Eastern Seaboard and throughout the world, but today, as we are faced with sea level rise and an increasing frequency of powerful storms our treatment of the edge between land and sea must be re-imagined. Remediation of our coastlines must take into consideration not only an increase of resiliency but enhancement of the passage between land and sea. Public access to our coastlines should be a right for all.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has the oldest program of its kind in the nation to protect the publics right to the waterfront, but in many cases it is not widely known or adhered to. Chapter 91 of Massachusetts General Law is the “primary tool for protection and promotion of public use of its tidelands and other waterways” and dates back to the earliest days of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, most notably in the Colonial Ordinances of 1641-1647.

The Colonial Ordinances codified the “Public Trust Doctrine,” a legal principle that dates back nearly 2000 years, which holds that the air, the sea and the shore belong not to any one person, but rather to the public at large. Preserving pedestrian access along the water’s edge for fishing, fowling and navigation and, in return for permission to develop non-water dependent projects on Commonwealth tidelands, and provide facilities to enhance public use and enjoyment of the water.

More than ever, in fast growing regions of the state, such as Cape Cod and the Islands, the presence of a program like Chapter 91 is important, especially because in these coastal areas, Chapter 91 regulations serve to protect traditional maritime industries, such as fishing, shipping and boat building, from displacement by commercial or residential development.

HABITABLE BUFFER In Vineyard Haven, the complexity of the waterfront program is far greater than the coastal topography. The vital infrastructure based along the harbor lays below and between two peninsulas where the center of two historic towns have been settled on high ground. By implementing a continuous line of protection bridging the gap between this high ground, the harbor’s waterfront can be protected while at the same time allowing public continuity along the water’s edge.

This new public realm occupying the waterfront weaves through existing program and injects additional public, commercial and municipal program into voids in-between.

Access along the waterfront is provided by an elevated public realm connecting historic structures raised out of the flood zone while direct access and continuity of view to the water is provided below at grade. This vertical separation allows for continuous public circulation and water view above while existing commercial waterfront industry operate below. Currently, the density of the commercial waterfront has pushed the public realm back to the street where it is forced to occupy minimal sidewalks with even more minimal water views with little or no access given to reach the edge.

EDGE CONDITIONS + BENEFIT TO COMMUNITY & COMMERCE Approaching Vineyard Haven Harbor by sea, as the majority of the Island’s population passes though this harbor by ferry, you will notice a drastic contrast between the East and West shores of the waterfront. The Eastern side of the harbor is made up of the historic town, with its Main Street and residential neighborhood settled on high ground and a soft shoreline of small dunes, beach grass and a sandy water’s edge. This soft shoreline continues West and is broken at an increasing rate by wooden piers and marine railways until it is completely overtaken by a stone bulkhead making up the Western industrial side of the harbor.

In order to implement a protective buffer along a waterfront with such varying physical and programmatic conditions a gradual transition from hard to soft measures is required.

The Western industrial section of the harbor resides primarily behind an existing sea wall and will now gradually transition to an operable sea wall in areas where direct access to the water is required. This gradual transition continues to the commercial section of the harbor where the sea wall will be partially concealed below dune infill allowing for continuity of view and waterfront access either over the dunes or though flood doors integrated into new building construction. This continuous buffer then gradually merges with the existing dunes and high ground of the historic residential settlement on the Eastern shore allowing for unimpeded views and direct access to the water.

PROJECT PHASE + RESILIENCY METHODS Although the nature of the harbor is drastically different on either side, there must be continuity along its waterfront in order to increase the town’s resiliency and water access. The way in which this proposal is phased allows for immediate protection of the waterfront by strategic elevation of historic structures and implementation of the operable sea wall and flood doors. The sea wall is then backfilled in areas to create public over-wall access and punctured at grade with flood doors allowing for continuity of view and for existing waterfront industries to function.

The elevated historic structures are then stitched together by means of a raised boardwalk which weaves between the dense waterfront, injecting additional public, commercial and municipal program into voids in-between. This new public realm allows access along the waterfront while direct water access is provided below at grade. Vertical separation of theses two paths is critical for allowing continuous public circulation and water view above while the existing waterfront industry may operate below.

PRESERVATION OF CHARACTER Re-imagining this historic towns waterfront is crucial to the preservation of the town as a whole, both physically and economically. By integrating steps to elevate, protect and reconnect the community to its waterfront the continuous buffer may become almost invisible, allowing for the preservation of the towns character and the enhancement of “public use and enjoyment of the water.” Remediation of a historic community and its coastline must protect the very ethics allowing it to thrive, “which holds that the air, the sea and the shore belong not to any one person, but rather to the public at large.”

Finally, the aptly named Beach Road, the last barrier between the town and it’s waterfront, is converted to a single lane with street parking. This reduction of high speed vehicular traffic is possible by the re-routing of inter-town traffic around a new periphery road, allowing for both sides of Beach Road to form a waterfront village district. This new district can be formed by infill of existing parking lots, which have been consolidated and relocated below the boardwalk, with new pedestrian side streets, commercial units and residential development. This new waterfront village district is integral to supply housing to an island suffering a major housing shortage and at the same time create a habitable working waterfront that remains inhabited year round.

COASTAL + COMMUNITY REMEDIATION : FINAL REVIEW - JOSHUA GOTHARD - MAY 15, 2018

CASE STUDY SITE VINEYARD HAVEN HARBOR, MARTHA’S VINEYARD, MA

COASTAL TYPOLOGIES BARRIER BEACHES + SHORE LINES + MAJOR HARBORS

COASTAL + COMMUNITY REMEDIATION : FINAL REVIEW - JOSHUA GOTHARD - MAY 15, 2018

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HISTORIC SETTLEMENT TOWN ESTABLISHED 1671 - MAP CIRCA 1847

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COASTAL + COMMUNITY REMEDIATION : FINAL REVIEW - JOSHUA GOTHARD - MAY 15, 2018

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COASTAL + COMMUNITY REMEDIATION : FINAL REVIEW - JOSHUA GOTHARD - MAY 15, 2018

OUTER HARBOR

INNER HARBOR

EXISTING PROGRAM LOCATIONS VINEYARD HAVEN, MA

HARBOR MASTER safety and first aid

HARBOR MANAGEMENT

dockage and mooring reservation, harbor shuttle and event planning

BOATER FACILITY laundromat, showers, lockers, and mail center

OUTER HARBOR

VISITORS CENTER island and harbor community information available. internet and phone access

INNER HARBOR HARBOR PROVISIONS branch of local grocer with harbor delivery available

DOCKSIDE DINING waterside seating and event space attract patrons from both land and sea

MARINE HARDWARE full service marine supply

CONSOLIDATE PROGRAM RELOCATE PROGRAM TO ACTIVATE EDGE + MAXIMIZE ACCESS

and shipyard

COASTAL + COMMUNITY REMEDIATION : FINAL REVIEW - JOSHUA GOTHARD - MAY 15, 2018

HARBOR MASTER safety and first aid

EXISTING CONTEXT VIEWS MINIMAL WATER VIEWS ALONG BEACH ROAD

EXISTING CONTEXT VIEWS MINIMAL WATER VIEWS ALONG BEACH ROAD

COASTAL + COMMUNITY REMEDIATION : FINAL REVIEW - JOSHUA GOTHARD - MAY 15, 2018

EXISTING CONTEXT VIEWS MINIMAL WATER VIEWS ALONG BEACH ROAD

EXISTING CONTEXT VIEWS MINIMAL WATER VIEWS ALONG BEACH ROAD

COASTAL + COMMUNITY REMEDIATION : FINAL REVIEW - JOSHUA GOTHARD - MAY 15, 2018

EXISTING CONTEXT VIEWS MINIMAL WATER VIEWS ALONG BEACH ROAD

EXISTING CONTEXT VIEWS MINIMAL WATER VIEWS ALONG BEACH ROAD

COASTAL + COMMUNITY REMEDIATION : FINAL REVIEW - JOSHUA GOTHARD - MAY 15, 2018

EXISTING CONTEXT VIEWS MINIMAL WATER VIEWS ALONG BEACH ROAD

EXISTING CONTEXT VIEWS MINIMAL WATER VIEWS ALONG BEACH ROAD

COASTAL + COMMUNITY REMEDIATION : FINAL REVIEW - JOSHUA GOTHARD - MAY 15, 2018

DENSIFY • CONSOLIDATE • ELEVATE

Joshua Gothard Thesis Preparation FA17

Tuesday, November 21, 2017

Waterfront Program PUBLIC - Town Owned + Operated - Public Space

• Green space occupying the “Dune Network” reclaims many under-developed lots allowing for public

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access to the waterfront.

Swimming Area

• Visitors Center + Transit Hub • Providing Island + Harbor community information, internet and phone access.

• Bus Stop • Emergency Shelter Maratime Facility • Providing services to local and transient boaters such as laundromat, showers, lockers, and mail center.

Exterior covered skiff and kayak storage area.

Classrooms for maritime education and licensing courses.

• • Housing • Affordable + Market Rate rentals available only to year round residents to activate waterfront on a constant basis.

COMMERCIAL - Town Owned + Leased - Marine Hardware

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• Full service marine supply and shipyard.

Provisions • A branch of a local grocer with harbor delivery available.

Waterfront Restaurant • Waterside seating and event space to attract visitors from land and sea.

Art’s District • A year round studio culture to activate waterfront on a constant basis.

MUNICIPAL - Town Owned + Operated - Harbor Master

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• Enforcement, Safety + First Aid Harbor Management • Dockage + mooring reservation, harbor shuttle and event planning.

1 COASTAL + COMMUNITY REMEDIATION : FINAL REVIEW - JOSHUA GOTHARD - MAY 15, 2018

EXISTING SECTION DENSITY LIMITED ACCESS TO HISTORIC WATERFRONT DUE TO DENSE COMMERCIAL BARRIERS

ELEVATE EXISTING DENSITY ELEVATE HISTORIC WATERFRONT + SINK DENSE COMMERCIAL BARRIERS

PROPOSED SECTION DENSITY MAXIMIZE ACCESS TO HISTORIC WATERFRONT BY CONSOLIDATING COMMERCIAL PROGRAM WITH-IN ELEVATED PUBLIC REALM

PROPOSED SECTION DENSITY MAXIMIZE ACCESS TO HISTORIC WATERFRONT BY CONSOLIDATING COMMERCIAL PROGRAM WITH-IN ELEVATED PUBLIC REALM

VINEYARD HAVEN HARBOR

FERRY LANDING

MARITIME CENT

LAGOON MARSH

PROPOSED SITE PLAN SCALE = 1” : 120’

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VILLAGE DENSIFICATION

INFILL OF EXISTING PARKING LOTS, CONSOLIDATED AND RELOCATED BELOW THE BOARDWALK, WITH NEW PEDESTRIAN SIDE STREETS, COMMERCIAL UNITS AND RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT

RAISE EXISTING

STRATEGIC ELEVATION OF HISTORIC STRUCTURES WITH NEW PROGRAM INFILL BELOW

ELEVATED BOARDWALK

THIS NEW PUBLIC REALM OCCUPIES THE WATERFRONT WEAVING THROUGH EXISTING PROGRAM AND INJECTING ADDITIONAL PUBLIC, COMMERCIAL AND MUNICIPAL PROGRAM INTO VOIDS IN-BETWEEN.

DUNE INFILL

AREAS OF SOFT DUNE INFILL ALLOW PUBLIC SPACES TO DRAPE OVER THE PROTECTIVE BUFFER

SEA WALL

CONTINUOUS LINE OF HARD INFRASTRUCTURE BOTH FIXED AND OPERABLE

PHASING STRATEGY PHASE OF WATERFRONT BUFFER + BOARDWALK + INFILL DEVELOPMENT

EMBEDDED

CONTINUITY OF PUBLIC SPACE ABOVE EMBEDDED SEA WALL

RETAIN + SURROUND

SURROUND EXISTING STRUCTURE WITH FIXED SEA WALL AND DUNE

SEA WALL CONDITIONS PROGRAMMATIC VARIATION IN THE SECTION OF OPERABLE + FIXED SEA WALLS

DUNE CAPTURE

GROYNE CATCHMENT WALL INTERGRATED WITH SEA WALL

OPERABLE

PUBLIC CONNECTIVITY UNDER BOARDWALK VIA OPERABLE FLOOD

MERGE

FIXED SEA WALL WITH STAIR

FIXED

CAFE OVER SEMI-COVERED PARKING - SEA WALL FIXED

RESIDENTIAL RESIDENTIAL

PUBLIC EDGE

HISTORIC MAIN STREET

COMMERCIAL COMMERCIAL

INDUSTRIAL

EXISTING WATERFRONT ACCESS + PUBLIC LACK OF WATERFRONT ACCESS & PUBLIC SPACE

NEW PERIPHERY ROAD COMMERCIAL INFILL

RESIDENTIAL INFILL SIDE STREETS

SIDE STREETS

PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT + PUBLIC SPACE DENSIFICATION OF WATERFRONT & ADDITIONAL ACCESS + SIDE STREETS

PUBLIC EDGE

ELEVATED BOARDWALK

ELEVATE

CONSOLIDATE

DENSIFY • CONSOLIDATE • ELEVATE MAXIMIZE ACCESS TO HISTORIC WATERFRONT BY CONSOLIDATING COMMERCIAL PROGRAM + PROVIDING CONTINUITY OF VIEW

RETAIN + ELEVATE

TIMBER FRAME

DECK + COLUMN

STRIP FOOTING/ GRADE BEAM

EXISTING BUILDINGS

FLOOD PROOF DOOR

ELEVATED + AT GRADE

GRADE SLAB

GRADE SLAB + SHALLOW FOUNDATION

RETAINING WALL

PILES + PILING CAP

FRICTION PILES

DENSIFY • CONSOLIDATE • ELEVATE MAXIMIZE ACCESS TO HISTORIC WATERFRONT BY CONSOLIDATING COMMERCIAL PROGRAM + PROVIDING CONTINUITY OF VIEW COASTAL + COMMUNITY REMEDIATION : FINAL REVIEW - JOSHUA GOTHARD - MAY 15, 2018

PASSAGE BY LAND + SEA

COASTAL + COMMUNITY REMEDIATION : FINAL REVIEW - JOSHUA GOTHARD - MAY 15, 2018

ARRIVAL BY SEA PROVIDING CONTINUOUS WATERFRONT ACCESS WHILE AT THE SAME TIME ENABLING THE CHARACTER OF THE COMMUNITY TO BE PRESERVED

COASTAL + COMMUNITY REMEDIATION : FINAL REVIEW - JOSHUA GOTHARD - MAY 15, 2018

WATERFRONT CONTINUITY EASTERN VIEW THROUGH ELEVATED PEDESTRIAN CORRIDOR

WATERFRONT CONTINUITY MAXIMIZE ACCESS TO HISTORIC WATERFRONT BY CONSOLIDATING COMMERCIAL PROGRAM + PROVIDING CONTINUITY OF VIEW AND PASSAGE COASTAL + COMMUNITY REMEDIATION : FINAL REVIEW - JOSHUA GOTHARD - MAY 15, 2018

BEACH ROAD VIEW NORTH EAST VIEW OVER EMBEDDED SEA WALL

VIEW THROUGH FLOOD DOOR PROVIDING MULTIPLE ACCESS POINTS FOR PASSAGE BETWEEN LAND + SEA WHILE AT THE SAME TIME IMPLEMENTING A CONTINUOUS LINE OF PROTECTION. COASTAL + COMMUNITY REMEDIATION : FINAL REVIEW - JOSHUA GOTHARD - MAY 15, 2018

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1. HARBOR MGMT + LOUNGE 2. RESTAURANT 3. W/C + SHOWER

4. LAUNDRY 5. COMMERCIAL 6. RESIDENTIAL

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4. MGMT OFFICE 5. STORAGE 6. EXISTING PROGRAM

100 YR FLOOD 500 YR FLOOD

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1. PUBLIC DOCK 2. RESTAURANT 3. PUBLIC BEACH 4. KITCHEN

5. FLOOD DOOR 6. PUBLIC W/C 7. SHOWER+LOCKER 8. MAIL CENTER

9. LAUNDRY 10. EXIST. PROGRAM

100 YR FLOOD 500 YR FLOOD

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BB - MARITIME CENTER SECTION SCALE = 1/16” = 1’-0”

1. TICKETING + WAITING 2. WELCOME CENTER 3. LOADING + WAITING

4. MAINTENANCE 5. STAFF SHOWER + LOCKER 6. ADMINISTRATION

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100 YR FLOOD

1. WET LOCKER 2. ADMINISTRATION 3. STAFF W/C + LOCKER 4. MAINTENANCE 5. LOADING DOCK

6. STORAGE 7. VEHICLE RAMP 8. NEW DEVELOPMENT 9. EXISTING

100 YR FLOOD

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6. PUBLIC W/C 7. LOADING 8. NEW DEVELOPMENT 9. EXISTING 10. VIEW DECK

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1. DROP OFF + PICK UP 2. QUEUE 3. TICKETING 4. WAITING AREA 5. WELCOME CENTER

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02 - FERRY LANDING GROUND LEVEL SCALE = 1/16” = 1’-0”

500 YR FLOOD