Suburban Train Station as Community Hub: Proposal for Carseldine Station
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Transcript of Suburban Train Station as Community Hub: Proposal for Carseldine Station
SUBURBAN TRAIN STATION AS COMMUNITY HUBLINDA CARROLI
Precinct Study: Carseldine Train Station
Contents
1. Introduction
2. Site Context
3. Planning Context
4. Subject Precinct
5. Site Analysis
6. Experience
7. Response
8. Conclusion
1. Introduction
The focus of this study is the Carseldine Train Station with some consideration of immediate surrounds. Located in Brisbane’s outer northern suburbs, 13 km from the CBD, the station is surrounded by low density housing and adjacent to a convenience centre and park. The Carseldine campus of Queensland University of Technology (QUT) is located on the opposite side of Beams Road.
2. Site Context
The aerial image following shows the subject site’s immediate suburban context (the station is indicated with a red marker), demonstrating the pattern of predominantly low density development, particularly housing development. An express bus service also terminates at the station and links to another transport node at Chermside, about 3km south. A northern bus corridor is currently in planning and this is proposed to link to the train station.
Site Context
3. Planning Context
Over the past three decades, this outer suburban area has experienced significant development, particularly low density residential subdivision. The university, originally a teachers’ college, has been operating here for approximately 30 years. In early 2009, QUT ceased classes at the campus and called for expressions of interest for alternate uses of the campus.
The subject area is included in the Urban Land Development Authority’s (ULDA) Fitzgibbon Urban Development Area (UDA). The South East Queensland Regional Plan prioritises transit oriented development with an emphasis on enhancing transport corridors. This is echoed in the Brisbane City Council’s Cityshape Plan.
3.1 ULDA
The ULDA was established to help make housing more
affordable and to deliver a range of housing options for the
changing needs of the community. The ULDA's role is to plan,
carry out and coordinate the development of land in selected
urban areas. The Fitzgibbon UDA covers 295 hectares of land in
the northern suburbs of Fitzgibbon, Carseldine, Bald Hills,
Taigum and Deagon. Due to the rarity of greenfield sites in close
proximity to transport networks in Brisbane, the Fitzgibbon UDA
is positioned for transformation into a modern residential suburb
developed on transit oriented principles, that includes bushland,
community infrastructure and significant open space. Source: http://www.ulda.qld.gov.au
3.2 TOD
With this focus on transit oriented development (TOD), as a
planning approach that integrates land use and transport, the
Carseldine Train Station is a strategic site for managing growth,
sustainability, densification, relocalisation and transitioning from
the carbon economy. It is centrally located in the Fitzgibbon
UDA.
The Department of Infrastructure and Planning describes transit
oriented development as developing a mix of uses –
housing, shops, offices and other facilities – around transport
hubs such as train stations and busway stations.Source: Transit Oriented Development, Department of Infrastructure and Planning. http://
www.dip.qld.gov.au/urban-planning/transit-oriented-development.html
4. Subject Precinct
In focusing on the train station and car park, this
study considers movement, built form and land
use. It is particularly attentive to local linkages
including those with neighbouring shops, park,
residences and streets. The image following also
shows a small amount of medium density
(townhouses) adjacent to the train station. This
study is particularly concerned with pedestrian and
community access and amenity.
Subject Precinct
4.1 Land Use
4.2 Built Form
Built Form
Built Form
Built Form
4.3 Movement
As an outer suburban location - the broader context of the subject
site - the area is designed for car use.
An express bus service terminates at the station and there are
several bus routes along Beams Road, which is a main road
Another bus stop is situated next to the convenience centre on
Balcara Avenue for a route to the Taigum Shopping Centre which is
approximately 1.5km east.
The train line connects between the Sunshine Coast and the
Brisbane CBD.
Local pathways run primarily along roads and streets, but the subject
site features several internal pathways that enhance connectivity.
Pedestrian Pathways
5. Site Analysis
Site Analysis
6. Experience
Different pedestrian pathways result in different
experiences. Most of the land in the subject area is
allocated for car parking and car use. This leaves the
pedestrian with few discrete pedestrian experiences
which are designed at human scale. Depending on the
route taken, pedestrians must negotiate the absence of
appropriately defined pathways, open spaces or spaces
filled with cars in order to pass through the site. At the
train station, pathways are cut off by parked cars.
6.1 Walkthrough A
First Row – L to RQUT side of Beams RoadConvenience CentreFootpath at Convenience CentreConvenience Centre
Second Row – L to RApproach to train stationProperty line Road environment Footpath outside train station
Walkthrough A
First Row – L to RCar park facing Beams RoadGreen spot in car parkDrop off pointBus station
Second Row – L to REntry ramp to train stationView across train stationTrain station platformTrain station (office)
6.2 Walkthrough B
Pathway from station car park to and throughconvenience centre (photographed on aSunday morning)
6.3 Miscellaneous
Train station environment – showingpathways, car park, linkages to park and street. All photographs (except last) taken on a Sunday morning.
6.4 Positive
Focus on transit Mix of uses and some densification near the train station Integration of bus and train travel Landscaped car parking and environment Linkages to and through neighbouring sites (housing
estates, shops and park) Covered walkways and bus stops at the station Provision of bicycle stands and storage Drop off and pick up point for commuters Some human scale attributes
6.5 Ambivalent
Mix of businesses in the convenience centre
6.6 Negative
Pedestrian environment is sparse and uninteresting Unsealed car parks Unattractive seating Street interface General design of the station including ramps and
pathways Height and density Not all buses on Beams Road stop at this point No sense of arrival Some linkages and pathways poorly defined
Negative
Affirms pattern of segregated low density development Limited and unattractive bicycle facilities and lockers Wide set backs from the road No community or public art (Queensland Rail runs an
‘art in train stations’ program) Segregation of uses and poor interfaces between uses Exposure to weather (increasingly hot and stormy) No apparent sustainability initiatives such as solar
panels, storm water harvesting, natural cooling etc
7. Response
The area would benefit from community involvement, masterplanning,
design for sustainability and ‘(sub)urban acupuncture’ to ameliorate
some of the negatives, enhance the positives, and introduce a more
comfortable experience and scale for users. The train station car park
is a possible infill development site that could result in enhanced
infrastructure as well as coherence and connectivity.
Until the Fitzgibbon masterplan is approved, the viability of the
convenience centre is unclear. Depending on the masterplan, it may
be a likely redevelopment site for uses that complement community
life, densification, mixed use and transit orientation. For this study, the
convenience centre is retained.
Response
Recommendations for change, arising from the analysis of
experience, follow. Many of the examples provided are not
specifically drawn from outer suburban developments.
Design and planning is intended to align to and introduce principles
of transit oriented development with a view to consolidating the area
and enhancing connectivity. This means the following positive
aspects of the area are retained and enhanced:
Multi-modal transit orientation
Landscaping and pedestrian amenity
Connectivity across property boundaries where appropriate
Mixed uses
8. Recommendations
The following recommendations are made:
Enhance public transit experience through train station design, amenity
and flexibility
Consolidate surrounding streetscape and create pedestrian friendly areas
away from the main road – potentially connecting to the park
Diversify business - development and design approaches that introduce
non-profit, social enterprise and social innovation clustering and/or
incubation
Co-locate mixed uses and/or integrate multipurpose facilities
Reconfigure and introduce continuous, more natural and water sensitive
landscaping including appropriate native shade and local character trees
and land art (more ...)
Recommendations
Improve cycling facilities and access Improve bus station facilities and access Infill development for coherence Introduce housing alternatives and diversity into the area surrounding the
subject site Placemaking - engage the community in precinct design, planning and
change Activate – introduce, connect to and interact with recreational and
community uses at the park side of the site Integrate parking management and solutions Designed street furniture and other elements Introduction of well designed, adapted, mobile and/or pre-fabricated
structures where/if appropriate Design for sustainability and climate
Recommendations
Enhance public transit experience through train station design, amenity and flexibility
Train StationAdamstown, Ireland
Train Station (proposal)Crestview, New South Wales
Recommendations
Consolidate surrounding streetscape and create pedestrian friendly areas away from the main road – potentially connecting to the park.
Seattle, Washington Eugene, Oregon
Recommendations
Diversify business - development and design approaches
that introduce co-working, non-profit, social enterprise
and social innovation clustering.*
Non-profit CorridorLittle Rock, Arkansas
Ross HouseMelbourne, Victoria
* Catalyst networks and space for local economic, social, cultural and environmental sustainability
Recommendations
Co-locate mixed uses and/or integrate multipurpose facilities
Vancouver, Canada
Northlakes Community CentreNorthlakes, Queensland
Recommendations
Reconfigure and introduce continuous, more natural and
water sensitive landscaping including appropriate native
shade and local character trees and land art.
WSUD Charles Sturt University, Victoria
WSUD in train station car parkDoncaster, Victoria
Land artWales, UK
Recommendations
Improve cycling facilities and access*
Covered bicycle rackPortland, Oregon
Indoor bicycle parkingNew York, New York
* A bicycle co-op/workshop might operate discretely from a space within a new complex
Recommendations
Improve bus station facilities and access*
Bus station designed to high safety and visibility standardsBrisbane, Queensland
Integrated bus and train transitplanned for Varsity Village Gold Coast, Queensland
* Northern corridor busway is currently in planning and will connect to Fitzgibbon.
Recommendations
Infill development for coherence
Ellard VillageRoswell, Georgia
Ripcurl - Rundle MallAdelaide, South Australia
Recommendations
Introduce housing alternatives and diversity into the area surrounding the subject site*
Density and housing diversity near transitSan Jose, California
Residences above local officesConcord, Massachusetts
* Beyond scope of this study and subject site. Included in the Fitzgibbon UDA Masterplan
Recommendations
Placemaking - engage the community in precinct design, planning and change
Above: Community art in train stations, Queensland RailRight: Train Stations as Creative Community Hubs, Victoria
Recommendations
Activate – introduce, connect to and interact with recreational and community uses at the park side of the site
Recommendations
Integrate parking management and solutions*
Above ground/underground parking – Clayton Lane, Denver, preserves street level shops and active frontages
Introduce parking fees to encouragelocal area walking and cycling.
* Potential off-site parking when land at QUT is released for development
Recommendations
Designed street furniture and other elements
Recommendations
Introduction of well designed, adapted, mobile and/or pre-fabricated structures where/if appropriate
Clockwise: • Prefabricated community art
centre in Greensburg, USA • Adapted shipping containers• Mobile library• Mobile coffee hutch
Recommendations
Design for sustainability and climate
Queensland’s first sustainablydesigned train station -planned for Varsity Village Gold Coast, Queensland
Proposal for Noosa Transit Hub Bark DesignNoosa, Queensland
8.1 Options
Options for the train station, given issues such as cost and ongoing
management, include:
1. Doing nothing despite the intensification of development, the imperative
of climate change and projected population increase in the area.
2. Making smaller scale cosmetic improvements that are intended to
enhance the pedestrian environment e.g. plantings, street furniture etc.
3. Introducing the ‘softer’ elements of these recommendations, such as
community and volunteer engagements, which are less costly and
result in capacity building.
4. Exploring other possibilities to meet construction needs e.g. adapted
shipping containers or pre-fabricated buildings for community uses.
5. Redevelop train station and/or parking space
Assessment of Options
Social Environment Cultural Economic
Do nothing Short term saving
Small scale cosmetic improvements
Limited benefit
Possible benefit
Limited benefit
Soft engagement
Possible benefit
Short term saving
Explore other possibilities
Possible benefit
Limited benefit
Possible benefit
Redevelop train station
Long term benefit
Assessment of Options
Redevelopment of the train station and/or car park is the best option, but may not be the most immediately affordable. It is proposed that if a multistorey car park is constructed then parts of the site and/or building are allocated for purposes that enhance the local area and develop the transit hub as a sustainable community resource. Given the extent of proposed development in the area, developer contributions could be directed to transit infrastructure and community benefit.
Preferred Option
A possible configuration for the site
9. Conclusion
This precinct study has identified the Carseldine Train Station
and surrounds as a strategically located site warranting
development in accordance with TOD and sustainability
principles. As the station is centrally located in an emerging
development area and emerging community, there is a need
to ensure accessibility and desirability of public transit. This
study proposes a range of initiatives to support that goal while
enhancing the station environment and its connection to the
community by enhancing mixed uses, designing for
sustainability and introducing community uses.