Prescott, AZ Research Presentation

Sixth Street District Redevelopment Ecosa Summer 2010

Presentation Layout•Project Overview

•EconomicoEconomic OverviewoMixed-use developments oTourism Opportunities

•SocialoPublic SpacesoTransportationoHousingoCommunity Integration

•EcologicaloIntroduction to Prescott (History and Ecology)oRainwater HarvestingoEarthworksoLandscapingoRiparian RestorationoFood Systems

Project Overview: 6th Street

District

•Objective: Redesign the current industrial zone into an extension of downtown through the implementation of a mixed-use development

•Goals:oEconomicoSocialoEcological

Economic

•Current Economics of Prescott, AZ

•Business and Economic components of mixed

developments

•Opportunities and Strategies for the district. 

Economic OverviewEstimated median household

income in 2008: $42,457

(it was $35,446 in 2000)

Prescott: $42,457

Arizona: $50,958

 

Estimated per capita income in 2008: $28,759

Estimated median house or condo value in 2008: $325,573

(it was $148,600 in 2000)

Prescott: $325,573

Arizona: $229,200

The

Housing

Bubble

“Unaffordable

housing is a new

problem in

Arizona.”

The Challenge:

In 1999, median-

income families in

most

Arizona cities could

spend 25 percent of

their incomes and pay

it off in11 to 13 years.

Today it would take 20

to 33 years.

July 1, 2009 Population estimate of 43,573 

a 28% increase since the 2000 Census.

Household By Income Data

                                                  2008 estimate 2000 census

Over $250,000                            1.62%              1.86% ↓

$150,000 to $249,999                  2.50%               0.98% ↑

$100,000 to $149,999                  8.25%               5.16% ↑

$75,000 to $99,999                      9.42%               7.30% ↑

$50,000 to $74,999                     18.39%             16.48% ↑

$35,000 to $49,999                     18.74%             18.92% ↓

$25,000 to $34,999                     14.03%             16.14% ↓

$15,000 to $24,999                     13.97%             16.45% ↓

Under $14,999                            13.08%            16.71% ↓

Overall Revenue Increase for the City by

Household (Income) Equals

Increased Sales Tax Revenue and Funding

from Utilities, Tourism & Recreation

Population by age (2008)

5 to 9 years 5.17%

10 to 14 years 5.43%    ↑

15 to 19 years 5.85%    ↑

20 to 24 years 7.89%    ↑

25 to 34 years 4.91%    ↓

45 to 54 years 12.30% ↑

55 to 59 years 6.39%    ↓

60 to 64 years 6.19%    ↓

65 to 74 years 11.65%  ↑

75 + years 10.02%    ↓

Median Household Income: $35,446 Arizona: $40,558

Labor Force Data 

The labor force has

grown from 33,938

(2000) to ($43280 (2008)

 

An Increase of 9,342

people (almost 22%)

 

Civilian Labor Force has

grown  by 23%

or  4363 workers

 # of Unemployed people

has increased by 46% or

436 workers

Unemployment Rate has

grown 5.0%

The number of jobs

available does not

meet the current

demand for jobs

Labor & Migration

IndicatorsThese employers supply 37%

of Prescott's Jobs (including Prescott College)

 

Population Restaurants/Bars

Building Permits

Taxable Sales

Transient Occupancy

Existing  Assets

oAccommodations (rooms)                           1.800

oCampgrounds (Private)           3oHouses of Worship               74oCity Playgrounds                   6oCity Parks                           10oYMCA                                   1oPublic Golf Courses               4oLibraries                                5oMovie Theaters (screens)      24oOpera House                         1oNational Forest Campgrounds 7oZoo                                       1oRestaurants                         98oShopping Malls                      2oShopping Centers                  6oTheatrical Companies             3oArt Organizations                   2oMuseums                              3

Encourage retention of tourists with high disposable incomes

Create access to future investors

Create opportunities for revenue diversification

Create potential for an increased number of jobs Create a natural inflow of tourists and job seekers into the space  Increase taxable revenue potential Long term potential to alleviatetraffic congestion & increase revenue streams from young & active homeowners and consumers 

Mitigate Risk for investors for their ROI.

The objective would be to keep money IN

the City of Prescott by creating more

community connectivity.

  25 to 34 years 4.91%    ↓ 45 to 54 years 12.30% ↑

 Anatomy of a Young Urban ProfessionalExplaining a Crucial Gap

The top cities Washington D.C.SeattleNYCPortlandAustinSan FranciscoAtlantaBoston LAMinneapolisPhiladelphia

Economics of Mixed-Developments

A  mixed use development is a complex investment, some believe its a more resilient investment because it diversifies risk, another theory is that it is more risky because of uncertainty.•most mixed use development's

success is relient upon a strong local economy

• if the local economy isnt that strong, the success is dependent upon a focus on ecotourism or high income attractors (housing, shopping, etc)

Business Component of Mixed- Developments

A walkable community is dependent upon supplying the primary needs of its citizens.  The following businesses are examples of places you might need nearby:

•affordable, healthy grocery stores

• trendy restaurants (ie. the Raven)

•coffee shops•convenience stores•community centers•health care•beauty parlors•museums, culture centers•hardware stores • transportation centers (ie. bike

shops, car shops, etc)

Eco Tourism Opportunities for Prescott's Outdoor Enthusiasts

 

•Rock Climbing •Mountain Biking •Adventure Tours/ Hiking Trails•Arts, Culture & History•Canyoneering •Daily/ Weekend Getaways (i.e.

Eco Hostels, Eco Lodges or Bed & Breakfasts)

•Eco Adventures (i.e.  hiking/ trekking, birdwatching, wildlife viewing tours)

•Food & Wine•Learning Vacations •Paddling•Resorts Spas & Retreats

Precedence for Economic Revitalization Strategies

SOCIAL

•Public Spaces

•Transportation

•Housing

Public Space

Bringing people into the Picture

Why Create Public Space?

•Support Local Economies

•Attract Business Investments

•Attract Tourism

•Provide Cultural Opportunities

•Reduce Crime

•Improve Pedestrian Safety

•Increase Use of Public Transit

•Improve Public Health

•Improve the Environment

Rethinking Public Space

•The 4 Keys to a

Successful Public Space

oAccess and Linkages

oComfort and Image

oUses and Activities

oSociability

-Project for Public Spaces

Place MakingThe power of 10:

“A great destination has at least 10 places within it,

each with 10 things to do.”

Existing Public Space: Granite

Creek Park

Utilized Public Space

Existing Public Space: Shopping,

Streets, Parking Lots

Unused Public Space

Observation

•Space around park is not welcoming  and

does not lead one into the park; the park is

not presented as an asset.

•Not much pedestrian habitat, mainly built

for automobiles.

Gathering on the Waterfront: Reno,

Nevada•Encourages river

recreation, free community

events and use of outdoor

space.

•Flexibility makes it work: oA variety of events are

held here for the public

and the park itself is a

natural aesthetic

connection to the

environment in a little

city.

Public Market: Pike Place, Seattle,

WA•Small shops,

restaurants,

commercial areas.

•Community effort is

what makes it a

success: oRun by

constituency

membership that

handles Market’s

services to low

income residents in

area.

Street as Corridors:

Kungsportsavenyn Göteborg,

Sweden•Neighborhood shops, a trolley

corridor, bike lanes, parking

drop-off areas, mid-sidewalk

display cases, bike racks,

benches, plantings, sidewalk

paving, street trees, public art.

•Flexibility makes it a success: oEvery two blocks the

functions of the space

change, providing a variation

of things in one space.

Rethinking Intersections: Portland,

Oregon•Community Art.

•Encourages dual pedestrian

and vehicle space.

•Strengthens community

•Community Initiation of the

Project makes it work:oProject was brought about

by residents of the area,

who were seeking a closer

community of people; a

place where they could

meet their neighbors.

Community Involvement

•What do people like and not like about the

place? What is their vision?

•Creates a sense of ownership and pride

in the place

•Identify partners for the place-

making process.

•Asset mapping. Documenting and

identifying connections between assets.

Transportation

Transportation

Walkable Streets

•Many European cities were designed with

walkable streets.

Many American cities are designed around traffic

Multi use streetsMulti use streets can serve to slow car traffic and encourage pedestrian traffic

Community PathwaysNetworks of pathways and trails away from roads

PrecedentsTeton county Wyoming uses community pathways to connect neighboring towns, making pedestrian traffic safer and helping to reduce daily commuter car traffic.

Small Scale Transit

Built EnvironmentHistory, Ethics, Precedents

History of Prescott Architecture

•1880s-simple architecture •Late 1890s to early 1900s--beginning of the "Victorian

Melange" style architecture •1910 to 1930s-- Bungalow style residential buildings

   Source: http://www.cityofprescott.net/history/historic.php

History of Prescott Planning

•Grid-patterned plan•Block at center for

courthouse•East side of plaza set

aside for higher class homes

•Creek banks and low irregular terraces into mountains left for poorer residents

Current Housing at a Glance•Mix of historic

Victorians, apartment complexes, and newer single-family homes 

 

Spotlight on 6th Street District •Mostly businesses that sell

industrial/building materials. Most are single story buildings made of corrugated metal

 •Personal service businesses

 •Public service buildings

 •Lower middle-class neighborhood

with single story homes 

Ethics to consider in redevelopment•Those moved against

their will can suffer from:

oloss of land assets

oloss of jobs

omarginalization

oloss of access to common property

odisruption of social networks

Source: Drydyk, Jay. Ethical Dilemmas of Development-Induced Displacement.  Georgetown Journal of International Affairs, 2007.

Development without Displacement

•Ensure low-income residents participate in planning process

•Intentional planning and policy-making with meaningful community engagement

•Maintaining affordability essential to reduce sprawl

Case Study: Civano, AZEcologically-sensitive neighborhood development

Overview•attract businesses engaged in solar power and other

renewable resource fields.  •reduce auto use and air pollution •to create a more livable area with a cooler microclimate •to encourage social interaction and allow for

conservation of large natural areas for wildlife •to allow residents to shop, work, and play near home,

reducing auto dependence

Community Development

Civano

Preserving the Ecosystem 

Sustainable Building

Economic Development

Case Study: Charter Quay, UK

Multi-use Plaza

•used to be derelict industrial site

•riverside development, high-density, mixed-use accommodation

•completely pedestrian-centered

•created new jobs and housing

•modern architectural style with traditional building materials

 •preserve, enhance, and showcase

nature of river

Sources: http://www.cabe.org.uk/case-studies/charter-quayhttp://www.berkeleygroup.co.uk/index.cfm?articleid=307

Case Study: Spike Island, UK

Cultural Center

•former factory transformed into community art space

•70 studios, exhibition gallery, cafe, business space, facilities for art students

•focus on contact and networking

•some public funding, most turnover from rent 

•balance between maintaining contact and security

Source: http://www.cabe.org.uk/case-studies/spike-island

ECOLOGICAL

•Introduction to Prescott (History and Ecology)

•Rainwater harvesting

•Earthworks

•Landscaping

•Watershed Restoration

•Food Systems

Prescott, Arizona

History and Ecology

Yavapai People History•From San Francisco Peaks to Granite

Mountain•hunting and gathering

•Mobile season home: 'whas'--brush huts

•More permanent home: 'whambunias'--dome-shaped thatched houses reinforced with mud plaster and covered with skins

•Search for gold was catalyst for bad relations between tribe/anglos

•Forced into reservation (1873)

History of Land Use•Gold, Silver and Copper mining

•Ranching and herding

•6th street history:oRailroad DepotoMechanics LotsoTimber Lotsoevidence of chinese gardens

Ecology•Elevation: 5,368 feet

•Average Annual Precipitation: 12’’/yr

•Climate zone: 6a (can reach a low of -10 degrees fahrenheit)

•Ponderosa Pine/Juniper-Scrub Live Oak Transition Zone

•Ecological Themes—SurvivaloPatterns in form:

small leaves waxy, resin leaves CAM, C4 spiny, woody barks huge root systems rapid growth spurts short growing seasons small fruit

WATER

“Don’t pray for rain, if you can’t take care

of what you get”—R.E. Dixon (1937)

The Water Crisis•Our Current Situation

oWe are depleting our aquifers and rivers Comparable to our current

economic crisis: spending more than we have, going into debt

o We are in a water crisis!  “The crisis of our diminishing water resources is just as severe (if less obviously immediate) as any wartime crisis we have ever faced. Our survival is just as much at stake as it was at the time of Pearl Harbor, or the Argonne, or Gettysburg, or Saratoga” –Jim Wright, US Representative, The Water Famine, 1966

Why is Rainwater so Important? 

•Rainwater is our primary source of freshwater in the hydrologic system, it replenishes our aquifers and creeks

•We currently drain it away from our cities with the use of hardscapes, creating:oFloodingoErosionoSoil Degradation

BENEFITS OF RAIN:•naturally pure•natural fertilzer• lowest salt content• its FREE!

Our Current Landscape: The Wasteful

Path to Scarcity• In order to infiltrate rainwater,

we must change the way we shape the land--this can be achieved through earthworks

A landscape on the wasteful path to scarcity. Rain, runoff, and topsoil are quickly drained off the landscape to the street where the sediment-laden water contributes to downstream flooding and contamination. The landscape is dependent upon municipal/well water irrigation and imported fertilizers.

Earthworks:The Path to Abundance

A landscape on the stewardship path to

abundance. Rain, runoff, leaf drop, and topsoil

are harvested and utilized within the landscape

contributing to flood control and enhanced water

quality. The system is self-irrigating with rain and

self-fertilizing with harvested organic matter.

The same site with earthworks implemented

Bioswales

Planters that absorb flash flood run-off, filter and clean it, and then gradually infiltrate the water back into the water table.  Provides:•Shade and lower temperatures for the

street•Reduces the amount of water the city

drainage has to work with

Bioswales for parking lots

Bioswales for traffic calming

Hardscape only where absolutely necessary

Riparian Restoration:A Design Component

Precedents

What is the hook for incorporating riparian

restoration and what are the potential

beneficial outcomes?

What can we learn from the following

precedents? (i.e. approaches, values,

ethics)

Control Erosion and Reduce Flood Damage

Who/Where: The Urban Creeks Council in San Francisco California

What they did:

• innovative bank

stabilization projects 

• innovative channel

design to increase

flood capacities

•culvert removal

 correct storm-water

management

problems

•expanded flood plain

by acquiring land

along river. 

http://www.urbancreeks.org/UCC%20Photos/

TILDEN~1.JPG

Enhance the Neighborhood and Recreate a

Sense of CommunityWho/Where: Friends of

the LA River

What they did:

Incorporated the following

into their master plan:

•Create a Continuous

River Greenway

•Connect

Neighborhoods to the

River

•Enhance River

Identity

• Incorporate Public Art

http://

www.theriverproject.org

/valleyheart.html

Attract Tourism and Revitalize Downtown

Economy Who/Where: Paseo Del Rio

Association in San Antonio

Texas

What they did:

•The river was turned into a

main feature of the

downtown. 

•Shops, Restaurants, and

Hotels face the river.

•Huge Success.

•80% of population see it as a

benefit to the city.

•96% see it as a tourist

attraction.

Preserve History and CulturesWho/Where: Friends of Deer Creek, Nevada City, CA

What they did:

 Collaborated with the Tsi-Akim Maidu Tribe on projects including the Deer Creek

Restoration Plan, the Deer Creek Tribute Trail and Restoration Project, and on many

local festivals and ceremonies.

(http://www.friendsofdeercreek.org/)

Other Benefits

•Reclaim Ecological Values (City of Berkley California)•Restore Water Quality (Lake Tahoe, California)•Create Trails and Greenways (Raleigh, North Carolina)•Create Jobs, Job Training (Snohomish County, WA)•Create Educational Opportunities (Snohomish County, WA)

(http://www.friendsofdeercreek.org/)

Riparian Revitalization and Restoration in Prescott

Values:

•Natural open spaces.

•Neighborhood scenic areas that provide

places where we can connect to creeks,

forests, etc.

•The historic, economic, and cultural

benefits that open spaces offer

communities.

•Trails that provide recreation,

transportation, and connection to the

greater community and environment

 Mission to promote,

protect and celebrate

the ecological integrity

of riparian systems

and associated

wetlands in the central

Arizona watersheds

through conservation,

restoration and

education.

Current/Past Projects in Prescott

•Watson Woods Riparian Restoration Project (expanding riparian

corridor to improve processes of functions)

•CreekWatch Network (Creek Observation Guide, Creek

Identification Signs, CreekWatch Groups)

•Watershed Monitoring (water quality)

•Greenways (The Greenways Committee includes Prescott

Alternative Transportation, Prescott Creeks Preservation

Association, the local Audubon chapter, City of Prescott, and

other organizations- Goal=3.5 miles of Greenway Trails)

•Community Outreach (Creekside Almanac Newsletter,

Fundraising, Events, Creek Cleanup)

Food Systems:

•Growing 

•Harvesting 

•Processing

•Packaging 

•Transporting 

•Marketing 

•Consuming 

•Disposing 

What is a food system?

Characteristics of Modern Industrial Food System: 

•High fossil fuel input

•Relies heavily on technology and machinery

•Monocrops/Mass Production

•High use of chemicals (over 5 billion pounds of pesticides used globally

annually)

•Linear system produces mass amounts of pollution

•Food travels great distances (average american meal travels about 1500 miles)

What is an alternative to this unsustainable food

system?

Local + Community + Organic + Polycultures = Sustainable Food Systems

The 4 Main Strands of Sustainable Food Systems:

Food Security: Addresses food

access within a

community

context, especially

for low-income

households.

Proximity: 

Food grown

as close to

community

as possible.

Self-Reliance: Community

provides for its own

needs

Sustainability: 

Ecological and

regenerative

farming/gardening

practices.

Community Food

Current System

 

Community Gardens

•Community farms and gardens help bring communities together and provide nutritious food.

Farmers markets •Farmers markets and open air vendors provide

community access to locally grown food.

Restaurants and CafésRestaurants and cafes can work with community farmers to offer locally harvested food to consumers.

Farm to School

•Farm to School brings healthy food

from local farms to school children

nationwide. The program teaches

students about the path from farm

to fork, and instills healthy eating

habits that can last a lifetime

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) • Enjoy Fresh,

Healthy, Safe and

Locally-Grown

Produce Every

Week.

• Invest in the

Success of

Environmentally-

Conscious Farmers.

• Support the Local

Economy.

• Greatly Reduce the

Wastes Produced in

Transportation and

Packaging.

•A food system

approach

where

consumers

buy a share

directly from

farmer,

generally for

weekly pick-

ups. There is

no “middle

man.”

Organizations

 the Community Food Security Coalition and Community Food Connections, Two organizations dedicated to building strong, sustainable, local and regional food systems that ensure acces to affordable, nutricious and culturally appropriate food.

ConclusionsTogether:•an ecological multi-use development •sustainable food system •thriving riparian environment•flexible public spaces•efficient transportation system •regenerative economic opportunities

can create an ecologically mindful, economically resilient, and community-driven district.