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What is Urban Design?
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Urban design makes places more walkable, sustainable and livable. Urban design is the key to making places that are successful socially, economically and environmentally... good to live in and attractive to visit. Urban design is the life between buildings. The art of creating places for people to live, work and play.
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Walkability Checklist
With leadership from the Urban Design Studio, in Summer 2007, the Citywide Planning Commission adopted the Walkability Checklist and directed that it be applied to all projects seeking discretionary approval, primarily Site Plan Review and Zone Change cases. Initially advanced by Councilmember Eric Garcetti, making our City more walkable is the natural outgrowth of a good climate, a desire to reduce carbon footprints, and create more opportunities within neighborhood districts for social contact and exchange.
Walkability has a long history in the City, first considered prominently by former Councilmember Michael Woo who introduced the original Pedestrian Bill of Rights.
The development of the initial Checklist required input by many stakeholders, lead by the City's Pedestrian Advisory Committee and including participation from several departments and agencies as well.
On August 23, 2007, the Citywide Planning Commission approved the Walkability Checklist. The final graphically complete Walkability Checklist was completed in November 2008.
Source: Urban Design Studio, City of Los Angeles Department of City Planning
With leadership from the Urban Design Studio, in Summer 2007, the Citywide Planning Commission adopted the Walkability Checklist and directed that it be applied to all projects seeking discretionary approval, primarily Site Plan Review and Zone Change cases. Initially advanced by Councilmember Eric Garcetti, making our City more walkable is the natural outgrowth of a good climate, a desire to reduce carbon footprints, and create more opportunities within neighborhood districts for social contact and exchange.
Walkability has a long history in the City, first considered prominently by former Councilmember Michael Woo who introduced the original Pedestrian Bill of Rights.
The development of the initial Checklist required input by many stakeholders, lead by the City's Pedestrian Advisory Committee and including participation from several departments and agencies as well.
On August 23, 2007, the Citywide Planning Commission approved the Walkability Checklist. The final graphically complete Walkability Checklist was completed in November 2008.
Source: Urban Design Studio, City of Los Angeles Department of City Planning
Imagine if every project applicant requesting permitting in Jacksonville had to make sure their plans incorporated the recommendations in this walkability checklist?
For sustainable urban design, the devil is in the details. Many of these details are routinely overlooked by those who believe revitalization comes in the form of mega developments and deep pockets. This graphic presentation by the Urban Design Studio within the Los Angeles Department of City Planning shows how creative design can change the look and feel of a sidewalk without major investment from the public or private sector.
When it comes to connectivity and urban revitalization, maybe it's time for Jacksonville to get the small and affordable things in place before making huge expenditures, such as spending $29 million on an isolated space like Metropolitan Park?
Article by Ennis Davis
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aaapolito
August 25, 2009, 07:31:06 AMI agree that this type of development should come before mega development; however, isn't the root of Jacksonville's Downtown problem a chicken/ egg issue? Specifically, what comes first, the development (i.e. restaurants and other businesses) or the people? Until this is solved, I do not see either the people or the business making the first move.
thelakelander
August 25, 2009, 08:03:36 AMThis issue is much larger than downtown revitalization.
The chicken and the egg should come at the same time. Development is already taking place all across town. We just aren't requiring it to be designed pedestrian scale.
Overstreet
August 25, 2009, 08:38:07 AMI think these are valid points. Especially the one about a clear straight path at restaurants that put out sidewalk seating. Many times they try to get too many tables in too little space. It either blocks pedestrian traffic or places diners near traffic.
Trees are nice but many in town sidewalks are actually over the basement of the adjacent building. The loads of planters, tree boxes, etc need to be reviewed by a strucutral engineer in those cases. You can't automatically assume a sidewalk is covering dirt.
Overstreet
August 25, 2009, 08:40:43 AMI think the canopies would look better if the three singles were a uniform single to continue the symmetry of the other windows.
buckethead
August 25, 2009, 09:08:00 AMThe burglar bars are a welcoming touch.
Captain Zissou
August 25, 2009, 10:11:32 AMOh! Are they finally moving the jail off the river???
tufsu1
August 25, 2009, 01:52:39 PMI think that the City is finally moving in this direction....the Planning Department hired a consultant (Zyscovich) in 2007 to do vision plans for several areas of the City and help update the comp. plan and zoning code.....the outcome is more encouragement for what they are calling "mobility-oriented development"
Fallen Buckeye
August 25, 2009, 06:57:52 PMIt would be nice to have sidewalks period in some parts of town. If I want to catch the bus home from work I'd have to walk along this narrow strip of grass that is between the culvert on one side and a little 2 lane road that sees lots of truck traffic on the other. Which explains why I drive to work instead. Seems to me that making the city more walkable would almost certainly boost public transit ridership.
Ocklawaha
August 25, 2009, 10:23:18 PMAgree, this could even become a death trap if there was no other perceived quick way out. Anyone who hasn't seen the history channel on the infamous Copacabana Fire, should at once look it up or read the account. Next, go take a look at the Landing, Riverwalk, East toward the Main Street Bridge. Due to an iron railing between the Landing and the river, there is barely room for 2 people to pass. When we have festivals where the courtyard is packed, one flame and people could literally be stomped to death. Where is the owner and our fire marshall on this?
OCKLAWAHA
JaxNative68
August 26, 2009, 04:19:58 PMLaVilla 2 is a horribly designed building! Why was it chosen as an image for this article?
Ocklawaha
August 26, 2009, 08:34:18 PMTrees are nice but many in town sidewalks are actually over the basement of the adjacent building. The loads of planters, tree boxes, etc need to be reviewed by a strucutral engineer in those cases. You can't automatically assume a sidewalk is covering dirt.
You are right Overstreet, as a kid the sidewalks were full of elevator hatches and gratings, perhaps some of the other old timers remember them. Our city is one of the great cities of the late 1800's and early 1900's with a maritime and railroad tradition... The subterranean city below our feet is full of tunnels, history, mystery and intrigue. Ever heard of being Shanghaied? or Railroaded? Watch out for those speak-easys with the trap doors!
BTW, Savannah, shares our dark underground history, only they have made it a point to record it, publish it and preserve what is left of it.
Port of Portland, OR
OCKLAWAHA
stjr
August 26, 2009, 11:51:35 PMGlad to see MJ feature sidewalks as I have discussed in a couple of MJ threads. Wider and more pedestrian friendly sidewalks are a necessary feature, IMHO, for the Jax of the future. Imagine streets with wide side walks, a street car line, bike lane and racks, and NO cars! Could it ever be in Jax? How long?