Streetscape Case Studies
Broadway Streetscape Improvement Project
Prepared for: Melendrez Design Partners
Prepared by: IBI Group March 5, 2009
STREETSCAPE CASE STUDIES
i Introduction
City of Los Angeles adopted a vision of revitalizing historic Broadway corridor between
2nd street and Olympic Boulevard as a cultural and commercial center while retaining
physical characteristics that made Broadway distinctive and moves forward to improve
Broadway streetscape, an initial step for reviving Broadway corridor.
This report is summarizing the best practices of the streetscape improvement activities
completed in the cities comparable to the City of Los Angeles to provide references
for Broadway Streetscape Improvement project. The first part of this report presents
sample streetscape improvement projects/programs in other cities that address the
challenges that Broadway confronts, such as preserving historic characteristics,
revitalizing downtown core, and promoting transit and pedestrian uses. This will provide
holistic view of streetscape in creating urban environment.
Following the case study, more streetscape design photographs are presented to
provide additional examples of high quality streetscape design. Design elements are
crafted to address specific issues within a unique physical context.
Contents
STREETSCAPE IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS
1 HIGH QUALITY PUBLIC REALM
Melbourne, Australia
2 RESHAPING PUBLIC SPACES FOR ALL USERS
New York, New York
3 TRANSIT/PEDESTRIAN ORIENTED STREETSCAPE
Pearl District - Portland, Oregon
4 STREET WITH A THEME
Avenue of The Arts (South Broad Street) - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
5 REDEFINED CHARACTER
Loft District (Washington Avenue) - Saint Louis, Missouri
6 REVIVED MAIN STREET
Barracks Row (8th Street SE) - Washington, D.C.
7 BRINGING BACK AN ABANDONED STREET
Washington Street - Boston, Massachusetts
8 CAST IRON FACADE
West Main District - Louisville, Kentucky
STREETSCAPE DESIGN ELEMENTS
A PEDESTRIAN SPACE
B SAFETY
C CHARACTER
D MULTI-MODAL ACCESSIBILITY
E SUSTAINABILITY
BEST PRACTICES
ARTIFACTS FROM BROADWAY
STREETSCAPE CASE STUDIES
Streetscape Improvement Projects
1 High Quality Public Realm
Melbourne, Australia
In mid to late 1980’s, City of Melbourne adopted a strategic plan to restore vibrant
downtown core and have pursued a strong city improvement agenda. The combination
of many strategic moves transformed once car dominant, mono-functional streets into
high connectivity, multi modal streets with wider sidewalk, exclusive transit ways, and
extensive bicycle links. The results are staggering. Livable downtown environment
attracted over 30,000 residential units, 1,500 new restaurants, cafes, and bars,
numerous supermarkets, and 400 sidewalk cafes in just 15 years.
Collins - Before
Collins - After
Degraves - Before
Degraves - After
Streetscape Improvement Projects
High Quality Public Realm
Swanston - Before
Swanston - After
Sitting tree Bike lane
Streetcar
1
STREETSCAPE CASE STUDIES
Streetscape Improvement Projects
2 Reshaping Public Spaces For All Users
New York, New York
In 2007, New York City launched a long term plan called PlaNYC to redefine public
spaces in New York City by implementing greener transportation network and safer
public spaces throughout the City. One of the notable projects completed under the
PlaNYC is the “Broadway Boulevard” project that narrowed a seven block section of
Broadway between 42nd Street and 35th street from four lanes to two lanes for an
esplanade, which turned the space to bike lanes and a pedestrian walkway with tables,
chairs, umbrellas, and planters. The project was completed in August, 2008. Despite
narrowed traffic lanes, NYDOT has predicted that the change will actually ease traffic as
drivers eschew that tighter stretch of Broadway for the avenues.
Public open space is considered as one of the vital components of livable communities,
contributing to health and well-being of residents. NYCDOT launched a Public Plaza
program as a part of PlaNYC and completed the Madison Square, one of 33 planned
public plazas, in the middle of Madison Avenue. This 41,000 square feet of public
space not only offers the space and seating that people desperately need, but also
serves as a very effective traffic calming device. The spaces have already filled with
pedestrians, tourists, people-watchers, area workers and residents.
9th Avenue Complete Street project is another good example of New York City’s
on-going efforts to create a safe and comfortable street for all users. This project,
completed in summer of 2008, includes the first urban on-street parking-protected and
signal-protected bicycle facility in the US. The street plan incorporates several user-
friendly design features such as shortened pedestrian crossings, raised pedestrian
refuge islands, turn bays, and signage, and the bike lane is separated from vehicles
by eight feet for added safety. With the success of the project, the City is planning to
extend the complete street eight more blocks to the North.
9TH Street - Before
9TH Street - After
Streetscape Improvement Projects
Reshaping Public Spaces For All Users
Madison Square - Before
Madison Square - After
Broadway Boulevard
2
STREETSCAPE CASE STUDIES
3 Transit/Pedestrian Oriented Streetscape
Pearl District - Portland, Oregon
Pearl district is located in downtown Portland between central business district and
Willamette River. Through 1980’s, the area became a decaying industrial area with
abandoned rail yards and under-utilized warehouse. Since early 1990’s, the city
of Portland has adopted several redevelopment plans for the area (River District
Development Plan-1994, Pearl District Development Plan-2001) and the Pearl District
has undergone significant renovation. The streetscape improvements were designed
to reflect and promote district’s historic characteristics as well as planned streetcar
system that would serve the district connecting to major downtown destinations and to
regional light rail system. Now, the Pearl District became Portland’s premium transit and
pedestrian friendly neighborhood with more than 12,500 residents, 21,000 jobs, and
numerous restaurants and retail shops.
Integrate streetcar into streetscape Integrate streetcar into streetscape
Integrate streetcar into streetscape Pedestrian passage
Streetscape Improvement Projects
Transit/Pedestrian Oriented Streetscape
Pedestrian passage Curb extension
Curb extension Opensape/Park/Street trees
Opensape/Park/Street trees
3
STREETSCAPE CASE STUDIES
4 Street with a Theme
Avenue of The Arts (South Broad Street) - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
As one of the earliest planned streets in the US, South Broad Street, which lies south
of the Philadelphia City Hall was a residential, commercial, and financial center during
the 19th century. However, South Broadway has declined significantly from 1950’s
through 1980’s due to new developments along Market Street and other nearby areas.
In 1993, the Avenue of the Arts, Inc. (AAI), an independent non-profit organization was
formed to transform the South Broadway between the City Hall to Washington Avenue,
into an arts and entertainment center of the City. Major transformation began in 1996
replacing street lights, improving sidewalk paving, installing new planters, bus shelters,
and decorative subway entrances to create vibrant and attractive place to live, work,
shop, and play. Since then, the eight block district has been reinvigorated and became
home to 23 arts organizations, three major art institutions, three large hotels, more than
20 high-end retailers, over 30 restaurants, and 1,450 residential units converted from
vacant office buildings or newly constructed.
South Broad Street 2
South Broad Street 1
South Broad Street 3 South Broad Street 4
Streetscape Improvement Projects
Street with a Theme
South Broad Street 5 South Broad Street 6
South Broad Street 7
South Broad Street 8
4
STREETSCAPE CASE STUDIES
5 Redefined Character
Loft District (Washington Avenue) - Saint Louis, Missouri
Similar to many major cities in the U.S., Washington Avenue area in downtown Saint
Louis, known as “Garment District” declined through 1980’s due to urban sprawl and
declination in domestic garment production. In December 1999, the City adopted
a Washington Avenue Loft District Streetscape design concepts and transformed
a marginally active industrial area into a thriving arts-oriented and regional retail
destination. Expanded public spaces were created for outdoor cafes, seating, display
of public art and street performances, and to stimulate potential linkages to adjacent
destinations, attractions, and districts. Site furnishings, lighting, landscape and street
greenery, sidewalk paving patterns, and building-related elements all combine to create
a unique ambiance for this revitalized urban area.
Loft District - Before
Loft District 1
Loft District 2 Loft District 3
Streetscape Improvement Projects
Redefined Character
Loft District 4
Loft District 5
Loft District 6
5
STREETSCAPE CASE STUDIES
6 Revived Main Street
Barracks Row (8th Street SE) - Washington, D.C.
Barracks Row refers to 8th street between Pennsylvania Avenue and M Street within
historic district of Washington, D.C. As the first commercial center of the City with
low-rise commercial and residential buildings, the Barracks Row had declined since the
end of WWII due to the cease of production of ammunition and proliferation of shopping
malls during 1970’s. In an effort to rejuvenate the area, the Barracks Row Business
Alliance was formed in early 1990’s and developed a strategic plan in 1999. One of the
main components of the strategic plan is a large scale physical design component and
the 8.5 million dollar streetscape improvement project was completed in 2003. The
results are highly successful. Since 1999, there have been 51 facades restored; 43
new businesses have opened including business expansion through 12 new outdoor
cafes; an addition of 198 new jobs have created, 3 new traditional buildings have been
constructed.
Barracks Row - Before
Barracks Row 1
Barracks Row 2 Barracks Row 3
Streetscape Improvement Projects
Revived Main Street
Barracks Row 4
Barracks Row 5
Barracks Row 6
6
STREETSCAPE CASE STUDIES
7 Bringing Back an Abandoned Street
Washington Street - Boston, Massachusetts
Washington Street streetscape improvement project started in 2002 and transformed
once a noisy, vacant street with an elevated rail track to a new residential, cultural,
and commercial center of Boston’s South End. Even though the elevated rail track
was removed in 1989, the street was left abandoned until 1995. The City of Boston
adopted major redevelopment vision and plan and launched a $54 million dollar
streetscape improvement project in 2002. The streetscape improvement project
included landscaping, installation of 18-fot brick sidewalks, granite curbing and
crosswalk, lighting, and sheltered canopies that serve stations for the new Silver Line
Bus Rapid Transit. By 2007, 63 new shops and 1,750 new and renovated housing
units have been developed on this 1.4 mile segment of Washington Street between
Interstate 90 and Melnea Cass Boulevard.
Washington Street 1
Washington Street 2 Washington Street 3
Streetscape Improvement Projects
Bringing Back an Abandoned Street
Washington Street 4
Washington Street 6
Washington Street 7
7
STREETSCAPE CASE STUDIES
8 Cast Iron Facade
West Main District - Louisville, Kentucky
The West Main District is bounded by 2nd Street on the east, 9th Street on the west,
Market Street on the south, and Ohio River on the north. The West Main Street, the
main corridor of the District, is the first street in Louisville in late 18th century and the
buildings of this area have the second largest collection of cast-iron facades behind
New York’s SoHo district. Despite its cultural heritage, the West Main District had
been disinvested after the Second World War as river-based commerce declined and
businesses moved to the suburbs.
Through 1970’s and 1980’s, several efforts had been made to address downtown’s
deteriorating condition. However, it was 1990 when the revitalization of the West
Main District finally moved into high gear. The City adopted Louisville Downtown
Development Plan in 1990 and transformed the district to more pedestrian and transit
friendly area. Changes to the street included reducing West Main’s right-of-way so
sidewalks on each side could be widened five feet. Also design features used in
historic building facades, such as cast-iron tree guards, were incorporated into the
streetscape improvement to generate interest and attract visitors. In addition, a rubber
tired trolley bus stop at each block of the district to encourage transit use. These efforts
successfully transformed once abandoned downtown Louisville into vibrant commercial,
retail, residential, and entertainment district.
Washington Street 2 Washington Street 3
Streetscape Improvement Projects
Cast Iron Facade
Washington Street 4
Washington Street 6
Washington Street 7
8
STREETSCAPE CASE STUDIES Streetscape DESIGN ELEMENTS
Pedestrian Space
Streetscape DESIGN ELEMENTS
A Pedestrian Space
Plaza, streets, sidewalks, paseos, alleys, all public spaces bring people together and
bind communities.
Sidewalk/Curn Extension
Paseo/Alley/Pedestrian Plaza
Street Trees
Streetscape DESIGN ELEMENTS
Safety
B Safety
Street planning should relate to overall community planning and provide a safe and
pleasant environment for residents, pedestrian, and bicyclists while facilitating mobility of
all modes of transportation.
Crossings
Street Lighting/Pedestrian Scale Lighting
Buffer from Traffic (On-Street Parking/Rail)
STREETSCAPE CASE STUDIES Streetscape DESIGN ELEMENTS
Character
C Character
Well designed streetscape provide an identity that is unique to each site and place and
sets the framework for future development to ensure a cohesive signature that will stand
the test of time.
Gateways/Public Art/Identity Elements
Banners/Signs
Wayfinding/Kiosks
Streetscape DESIGN ELEMENTS
Multi-Modal Accessibility
D Multi-Modal Accessibility
There is a paradigm shift in the way we want to live our lives today. Transit-oriented
development, downtown living, being a part of a community that promotes walkability,
live-work environment are becoming more important than our dependence on the
automobile. More focus should be given to create streetscape that supports alternative
transportation modes.
Benches
Bike Racks
Transit Stations
Traveler Information Systems
STREETSCAPE CASE STUDIES Streetscape DESIGN ELEMENTS
Sustainablility
E Sustainability
Sustainable streetscape ensures that spaces are long-lasting and function as a part
of the greater ecosystem employing technologies that manage stormwater runoff and
reduce carbon footprint.
Low Impact Development
Solar Lighting/Parking Meter
BEST PRACTICES
BEST PRACTICES
As case studies show, cities that successfully revitalize the declining downtown core
find that particular attention to streetscape is necessary to create a great place to
live, work, and entertain. Cities included in the case studies realized the importance
of creating communities or neighborhoods with safe and pleasant streets for all types
of users that provide access to transit and different land uses. In all these cases, city
officials, business leaders, citizen representatives and other stakeholders all worked
together to employ design principles that helped create better places for present and
future residents.
Create Places for All Users
Streets are public space, and the design of the streetscape for all users is one of the determining factors in the
success of Downtown. The streetscape must create a good environment for people to visit and gather in order
to be the center of the community. Social and economic interactions are communal goals of a good streetscape
design. The sample projects presented in the case studies are successful in creating an attractive setting for
businesses and for the many diverse uses of Downtown. Multi-functional high quality public realm establishes a
visual image that is flexible, sustainable, distinct, appealing and comfortable.
- Ensure that streets are public spaces.
- Provide comfortable and sheltered conditions.
- Encourage outdoor activities with movable seating.
- Balance the needs of pedestrians, public transit, bicyclists, and vehicles.
Keep It Simple & Consistent
High quality streets are normally simple and consistent throughout the community, uncluttered and made of
attractive, long-lasting robust materials which allow a city to function effectively. Such streets provide a setting
for the fine buildings of a city, making it more attractive and memorable, and establishing a distinctive identity.
Streetscape design should normally provide a neutral backdrop, which complements the surrounding architecture,
and responds to the scale and proportion of the street. The design of high quality streets balances these functional
requirements with aesthetic quality. High quality streets are pleasurable to be in. Evidence from the cases show how
improving the quality of streets brings new visitors, and increases the sense of pride of local residents in their city.
- Establish consistency with color, materials, texture, scale of elements, proportion of components,
architectural style.
- Simplify the number and type of streetscape elements.
- Minimize superfluous street furniture and signage.
- Coordinate among different services such as drainage, access covers, and other utilities.
Allow Flexibility
Simple and consistent streetscape design starts with a flexible base palette keyed to each of the different street
types to help establish the hierarchy of streets and to provide a cohesive theme for the area.
- Create a flexible base palette that can be applied to different streets and districts.
- Relate the scale and intensity of elements to the scale and intensity of activity on the street.
- Promote informal seating, leaning and perching places.
- Make incidental spaces comfortable to linger by incorporating trees, seating, and artwork.
STREETSCAPE CASE STUDIES BEST PRACTICES
BEST PRACTICES
Reinforce The Character
A city’s history can be read through its streets. They are a reflection of a city’s growth, its status, its physical fabric
and its civic pride. Traditional streetscape elements, surfaces and laying patterns reinforce local character and can
inform new streetscape improvements. Retaining historic features help maintain a street’s individuality and create a
sense of place.
- Identify unique districts or places with their own streetscape approaches.
- Respect local design and details.
- Restore original paving where it survives.
Consider Maintenanace
The investment in streetscape should not be a short-term investment but should be viewed as providing a long-
term amenity to the community. The key to ensuring a safe, attractive streetscape is for those responsible for its
design and management to work together. Therefore, whenever possible, different elements of public furniture must
be combined to enhance overall convenience, security and appearance to facilitate maintenance, and to prevent
cluttering. The landscaping of activity sites should be aimed at creating low-maintenance or maintenance-free sites
to avoid the negative impacts of neglected gardens. Also, all unpaved or non-tarred surfaces must be appropriately
landscaped or be planted with low-maintenance ground covers.
- Streetscape should be viewed as a long-term investment.
- Consider maintenance costs when selecting streetscape features, especially for high-maintenance ones, such
as planters and interactive kiosks.
- Implement a continuous and coordinated maintenance plan.
Public & Private Partnerships
The formation of partnerships can help build consensus by bringing together groups with different viewpoints
to discuss common visions and solutions. Communities discussing alternative investment, land development
scenarios, outreach to developers, financial institutions, and real estate professionals is critical. Forming
partnerships across geographic boundaries is instrumental in discussing regional issues and solutions. Partnerships
among non-profit organizations, community groups, environmental organizations, and the representatives of
the development community also can help broaden the range and depth of issues considered in streetscape
improvement planning. Community development organizations, for example, can identify needs such as access to
affordable housing or catalytic investment to spur economic revitalization. Environmental groups can help identify
key environmental concerns and mitigation approaches before a project has reached the design stage. Finally,
partnerships can help integrate the needs of business and industry with transportation and community concerns -
facilitating goods movement, access to jobs, and economic development.
- Stakeholder involvement in the streetscape design development is critical to its success and expansion.
- Create a public and private partnership, especially with non-traditional partners, such as non-profit organization,
community groups, and environmental organizations.
- From a political standpoint, public and private partners carry substantial clout and provide dependability and
flexibility that both parties can rely on.
ARTIFACTS FROM BROADWAY
ARTIFACTS FROM BROADWAY
STREETSCAPE CASE STUDIES
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