Playhouse District “Parklets, Plus” Pilot Program€¦ · ‐ Support wider Parklets (17’...
Transcript of Playhouse District “Parklets, Plus” Pilot Program€¦ · ‐ Support wider Parklets (17’...
Playhouse District “Parklets, Plus” Pilot Program
An Enhanced Pedestrian Experience Transforms Our Neighborhood!• Redefines Colorado Boulevard (former highway) as an amenity‐rich street• Creates a pedestrian‐friendly streetscape environment that enhances the District’s economy• Sets the stage for an activated District core that functions as an arts and entertainment hub and
creates an improved setting for outdoor dining and special community events
April 17, 2013
Playhouse District “Parklets Plus” Pilot (cont’d)
Imagine The Activity This Will Bring to the Playhouse District• Shaded café space for al fresco dining • Public Art• Gardens• Musical performance space• Exercise and activity space• Bike racks• Informal “living room feel” for curling up with a good book• Social space where you will gather with your friends and colleagues to discuss
the latest art show, theatrical presentation, or independent film!
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Playhouse District “Parklets Plus” Pilot (cont’d)
Building a Distinctive Sense of Place That Celebrates Our Niche
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The Heart of the Playhouse DistrictColorado Blvd. between Hudson and Oakland
Playhouse District “Parklets Plus” Pilot (cont’d)
We Want to Incorporate “Best Practices” to Help Ensure Success• Cluster our parklets to create critical mass in the Heart of the District• Slow traffic, remove two traffic lanes
and add corner “bulb‐outs” to shorten crosswalks for pedestrians
• Study a package of improvements to ensure that we move carefully
‐ Avoid heavy impacts or unintended consequences to transportation system
‐ Protect pedestrians and increase parking through solutions such as “Reverse Angle Parking”
4Images from Colorado Boulevard Parklet Study completed by CD&A for the City of Pasadena - 2012
Playhouse District “Parklets Plus” Pilot (cont’d)
Why the Playhouse District? Surrounding uses (culture, commerce
and community) that attract people High number of residents, plus
employees and students Lack of public space in the neighborhood A committed community steward
(Playhouse District Association)
What Will We Accomplish? Bring more pedestrians and bicyclists
to Colorado Boulevard Provide merchants with new ways to
interact with the community and attract new customers
Slow traffic to create a safer, more civilized Colorado Boulevard
Increase total parking spaces Ensure flexible implementation that
supports the Rose Parade Quality design in keeping with our
culture of creativity and sophistication
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Playhouse District Parklets Pilot (cont’d)
Current Status• PDA Parklets Committee Active Since Q3‐2012
‐ Planning‐ Benchmarking‐ Initiative Leadership
• PDA Board Endorsement (Jan‐2013)‐ Support wider Parklets (17’ deep with angled parking
versus only 7’ deep with parallel parking)‐ Explore Reverse Angle Parking on Colorado Blvd.
• Multiple Field Trips and Research‐ Parklets
Downtown Los Angeles Long Beach San Francisco, Oakland, etc.
‐ Comparable road modification projects City of Livermore Monrovia Temple City
• Community Outreach Underway Now
Next Steps?• We are looking for “preliminary indications of interest”
‐ Business Owners and Property Owners‐ Office Workers and Residents
• We will take this interest to City Council‐ Initially, we are approaching the Economic Development and Technology Committee (EDTech) for guidance‐ Based on EDTech’s direction, we will continue community outreach
Can we count on your support?
6For more information, please contact Greg Gunther [[email protected]]