Summit Lake Workshop 2010 - Charrette Report

Summit Lake Workshop ReportA New Vision for the Summit Lake Neighborhood, Ohio

City of AKRoN 166 South High Street, Akron, OH 44308 Phone: (330) 375-2770

Prepared by

the ClevelANd URbAN desigN CollAboRAtive1309 Euclid Ave., Suite #200, Cleveland OH, 44115 Phone: (216) 357-3434

Supported by

the MAstRiANA eNdowMeNt/4M CoMpANy llC

the NoRtheRN ohio ChApteR of NAiopThe Commerical Real Estate Development Association

November 2010

Summit Lake Workshop ReportA New Vision for the Summit Lake Neighborhood, Ohio

1 iNtRodUCtioN 1.1 What is a charrette (aka workshop)?................................................4 1.2 Project history (How did this workshop come about?).... ................5 1.3 Workshop and public presentation schedule....................................5

2 site stUdy ANd eXistiNg CoNditioNs2.1 History ........................................................................................... 6 2.2 Location ......................................................................................... 72.3 Existing conditions..........................................................................8

3 sUMMit lAKe NeighboRhood desigN3.1 Overall vision ............................................................................... 10 3.2 Narrative vision.............................................................................113.3 Green space & connections .......................................................... 123.4 Education......................................................................................14 3.5 Development ................................................................................ 163.6 Identity ....................................................................................... 183.7 Short term strategies ..................................................................... 19

4 NeXt steps4.1 Outline of suggested steps in preparing a detailed plan..................19

5 AppeNdiX5.1 The charrette team.......................................................................205.2 Acknowledgments..........................................................................215.3 Design proposal map....................................................................22

CoNteNts

4 | Summit Lake Workshop

1.1 whAt is A ChARRette (AKA woRKshop)?The word “charrette” is the design profession’s equivalent of the more commonly used term “workshop”. Although the two terms are often used interchangeably, a charrette carries the additional meaning of participants generating the work, rather than a leader teaching the participants a technique. A charrette may be defined as follows:

CHARRETTE [SHuH-RET]: The word charrette refers to any accelerated collaborative session in which a group of designers and stakeholders draft a solution to a design problem. Such charrettes serve as a way of quickly generating a design solution while integrating the aptitudes and interests of a diverse group of people.

True to the definition of charrette, the Summit Lake Workshop was a quick design process undertaken over the course of a weekend (Oct. 16-18, 2010). Students and staff from Kent State university’s Cleveland urban Design Collaborative worked with residents of Akron’s Summit Lake neighborhood, local organizations and the City of Akron’s planning staff to develop recommendations, illustrative design proposals and overall vision for the neighborhood.

1. iNtRodUCtioN

CUDC student quickly renders a plan drawing

The charrette followed a cyclical Design Process: Research > Review > Create > Reflect > Repeat

Opportunities for feedback loops between the Create and Review steps were incorporated into the design process by scheduling multiple public review sessions throughout the charrette.

Gathering feedback from Summit Lake resident

Summit Lake, Ohio | 5

1.2 pRoJeCt histoRy (how did this woRKshop CoMe AboUt?) Kent State university’s Cleveland urban Design Collaborative (CuDC) annually engages in a design charrette during the fall semester involving both students and staff of the CuDC throughout the design process. The student roster for the Summit Lake charrette included not only Kent State university graduates in urban design, but also undergraduates in the Architectural Studies program and graduate students from Cleveland State university’s Masters in urban Planning, Design and Development (MuPDD) program. The interdisciplinary backgrounds of the students provided for a wide range of issues addressed and design proposals developed.

The neighborhood selected for the charrette changes year to year and correspondingly, so do the topics explored during the charrette. This year, the Summit Lake neighborhood was selected as the focus area through a series of communications with the City of Akron’s planning department. The neighborhood faces similar challenges in terms of depopulation and vacancy as some neighborhoods in Cleveland, but can also claim unique opportunities in terms of geographic location, development potential, social organizations and cultural history. The neighborhood is emerging as an area of interest for several planning efforts, yet has not articulated a shared vision, which made the area an important location for a community engagement process.

1.3 woRKshop ANd pUbliC pReseNtAtioN sChedUle

SATuRDAY, OCT. 16 10am - noon Community meeting #1Noon - 1:30pm Working lunch with stakeholders, residents and city officials1:30 - 7pm Student work session7 - 8pm Community review session #1

SuNDAY, OCT. 17 9am - 10pm Student and staff work session (CuDC in Cleveland)2 - 3:30pm Community review session #2 (Community Center in Summit Lake)

MONDAY, OCT. 18 9am - 10pm Student and staff work session (CuDC in Cleveland)

THuRSDAY, OCT. 217 - 8:30pm Community meeting #2 (OPEN M in Summit Lake)

Public review session on Saturday night

CUDC students discussing design strategies


2. site ANAlysis

2.1 histoRySummit Lake, located in southwest Akron, Ohio, used to be a large and well-known beach attraction. Many current residents remember Summit Lake Beach Park as a vibrant recreational destination, offering opportunities for picnicking, canoeing, swimming and rollerskating at the nearby rink. It opened as Akron’s “Million Dollar Playground” in 1917 and attracted 25,000 people a day. The lake provided a needed vacation destination for Akron’s industrial workers.

As development expanded, the canal entering Summit Lake became a discharge point for local business and industry. Although point source dumping into the canal has ceased, the years of discharge has resulted in the lake’s sediment becoming contaminated with PCBs (Polychlorinated Biphenyl) and PCHs (Planar Chlorinated Hydrocarbons). Currently, the lake is on the Ohio EPA’s “Do Not Swim” list.

Summit Lake, 1907


The Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail runs along the eastern banks of Summit Lake

View of northern banks of Summit Lake

2.2 loCAtioNSummit Lake is located less than a mile away from the university of Akron and Downtown Akron, but does not have a strong physical connection to either. The Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath runs through the neighborhood, holding the eastern bank of the lake. The neighborhood serves as a link along the Cuyahoga Valley National Park and the Erie Canal Towpath system, stretching from Lake Erie to New Philadelphia, Ohio.

Although the growth of local industries caused significant damage to the local environment, the decline of these same companies also had lasting negative effects on the neighborhood. Once called the “Rubber Capital of the World”, Akron experienced urban abandonment as a side effect of businesses moving south in the 1970’s and 1980’s. As rubber companies began to move out of Akron and residents moved to the suburbs (following a national trend), the population in Akron began to drop. Summit Lake’s population declined as well.

Summit Lake is now positioning itself for a rebirth. The tireless work of many community organizations and city officials has set the stage for progress. Despite many challenges, including vacancy, lack of school facilities and perception of crime, the neighborhood is trying to capitalize on recent investments, such as the remarkable floating towpath trail boardwalk, and preparing for a renewed period of planning and visioning.

Regional Context Map

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Summit Lake Workshop: Regional Map


2.3 eXistiNg CoNditioNsLeading up to the charrette, initial research on the Summit Lake neighborhood was conducted by students in the Community Development Process course taught by Kent State university adjunct faculty member Patti Choby. The students used the following organizing frameworks for their research:• Environment–Safety,NaturalResources,QualityofLife• Community–ConnectednessnotAlienation/Isolation• History–Perspectives,Policy,UnintendedConsequences• Sustainability–Makingchoicesforthelong-term• Place-making-NeighborhoodCharacteristics,Amenities• People–Relationships,Inclusion,notInequality• Poverty–alackofrelationships,power• LevelsofSocialOrganization–micro,meso,macro• SourcesofCapital(economic,social,human,cultural,environmental)• Anchor-basedDevelopment(school,transitnode,largeemployer,university)

The Watlao Siriwathanaram Buddhist Temple is one of many religious organizations located in the Summit Lake neighborhood

Summit Lake is located in the Enterprise Community Zone designated for Akron

Summit Lake falls within the areas funded by the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP), providing much needed financial support for property acquisition, new

housing development, rehabilitation of property and demolition of hazardous structures. The neighborhood is also in the borders of the Enterprise Community Zone for Akron (see map). Some of the many benefits of this designation include: new business startup support, resident job training and healthy lifestyle promotion.

Basic housing statistics for the Summit Lake neighborhood:• 1400totalstructures• 1025taxdelinquentorforeclosedparcels(structuresandland)• 15propertiescurrentlypendingdemolition• +35propertiesunderCityofAkronownership• 1outof7propertiesareboarded/substandard• 84%ofthepopulationislowincome• Over200homesarevacantorinsubstandardcondition

Several questions were asked throughout the charrette process:• WhoaretheresidentsofSummitLake?• Whodoyouidentifywithintheneighborhood?• Howdoyoudefinelocalneighborhoodboundaries?• Whatareyourcommunityassets?• Howdowemakephysicalandpeopleconnections?• Whatdoyouwanttoseeinyourneighborhood’sfuture?• Whatarethemostlikelyopportunitiestoday?

Summit Lake Community Center


Unmaintained sidewalk near Lincoln School

A few areas along the lake’s edge contain a great deal of plastic debris and garbage, creating an unhealthy environment for people and wildlife

Based on research conducted during the Community Development Process course and multiple public input sessions during the charrette, the following key issues were recognized and addressed by the design team: • Lackofneighborhoodidentity• Unstablesoilcompositionforbuildingconstructioninsomeareas• Vacant/abandonedlots• Declineofschoolenrollmentduetodepopulation• Lackofneighborhoodschoolfacilities• Lackofbusinessandneighborhoodretail(banks,gasstation,grocerystore)• Significantproblemsofdrugsandcrime• Perceptionofcrime• Poorlightingalongstreetsandtowpathtrail• Inadequatetransportationwithinthecommunityandtosurroundingareas• Notpedestrianfriendly,lackofcrosswalksandwellmaintainedsidewalks• Deterioratinghousingconditions• Environmentalhealthconcernssurroundingthelake

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Summit Lake Revitalization Community ChallengeParcel Classification

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Source: City of Akron and Summit County Auditors Office8/2010 MM

Property Foreclosure, 2002-2009

Tax Delinquent Parcels

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Owner Occupied Property

Parcel map generated by the City of Akron showing location of property foreclosures, city owned properties and owner occupied properties, as well as the boundaries of the Summit Lake Revitalization Area, which defined the main focus area for the charrette


3. sUMMit lAKe NeighboRhood desigN

3.1 oveRAll visioNThe vision for Summit Lake, which emerged during the workshop, is for a thriving, diverse neighborhood energized by a renewed identity that embraces the lake and promotes a sense of community among residents and visitors. While recognizing the lake’s current environmental challenges, a primary goal is to make the lake not only a visual landmark for the area, but also a functional ammenity for activities such as canoeing and sailing. Improvements within the neighborhood must also be made to increase the quality of life for current residents and attract new investment. Access to a quality education and a safe environment for students is a central design objective connecting multiple goals. The guiding philosophy of “transforming a liability into an asset” is expressed in the reutilization of vacant lots for productive purposes, such as neighborhood pathways, stormwater management and public spaces for neighbors to gather and build community.

Aerial rendering of proposed neighborhood vision


The charrette team aimed to develop proposals for the community that would not only address current issues, but also setup the community for continued growth and prosperity. In order to address these various goals, the charrette team members split up into five different working groups: green space, education, development, identity, and short term strategies. Since an enduring vision must recognize the everyday experience of neighborhood residents, a student team member wrote the following guiding narrative.

3.2 NARRAtive visioNKya, a thirty year old mother of four walks to the corner store for milk. She lives alone, so she brings along her youngest daughter and meets the three oldest at the bus stop. The closest school is over two miles from home and she doesn’t feel comfortable allowing her kids to walk over the busy intersection at Old Main. She enters the store, a sorry looking affair with limited selection and no fresh produce. She buys the milk, wishes there was an apple or orange for sale and trudges home to another evening of television, keeping an eye on her kids in the yard and worrying about tomorrow.

The next year Kya walks to meet her kids at school. A new small school of two hundred has been built as an addition to the nearby community center. She’s able to help in the class room a day a week and earns money as a lunch aide. Onsite day care makes it easy to drop off her youngest during the hours she works.

That afternoon is City Fresh day. She takes the minibus to the corner store to pick up her weekly share of groceries and pays the $10 for next week’s half share. Week to week she never knows what will be in the box, but she’s found that the elderly ladies living in the new housing development are a great source of recipes for cooking butternut squash, sweet potatoes and greens.

“You remember how to get here, right? Get off the highway when you see three wind turbines. Yup, that’s our Summit Lake exit. OK, see you soon!” It’s been five years since Kya saw her old neighbor and can’t wait to show her how the neighborhood’s changed. Tomorrow morning, her youngest son will work a couple hours at the Pump House Bike Shop, learning to fix bicycles, and earning credit towards a new used bike. Later, Kya plans to take her children and old friend for a paddle on the lake in canoes rented from the Summit Lake Boat House. She never thought she would enjoy being outside so much, but with the new bike trail around the lake, bikes and boats to rent and new borderwalks at the lakes edge, she finds that she looks forward to her moments at the water. The geese, the light on the water, the breeze, all are a balm to her busy life.


Summit Lake is a neighborhood with a distinctive natural asset, which should be accessible to the community and utilized to the fullest extent possible. The green space group took on the task of creating a set of proposals addressing several of the most fundamental issues in the area, including access to the lake, reestablishing wetlands and natural hydrological function, and repurposing vacant land. Some of the recommendations addressing these goals include: • ExtendingtheexistingOhio&ErieCanalTowpathTrailaroundthelakewithnewbridges at the north and south ends • Building“borderwalks”alongthewater’sedgetoprovideclosercontactwiththenatural environment

The playfully named “borderwalks” create a variety of new ways to experience the border between lake and surrounding neighborhood

3.3 gReeN spACe & CoNNeCtivity

New Summit Lake Towpath Loop

Borderwalks

Lincoln Park

Community Gardens

Urban Farm

Neighborhood Pathways

legeNd


• PublicparkonthecurrentsiteofLincolnElementarySchool,ifdemolishedRestore street tree canopy for rain water absorption and aesthetic enhancement •Reestablish wetlands along southern edge of lake through consevation development•Encourage native plantings in private yards and vacant lots •use empty lots for pathways, urban agriculture, green space and holding strategies•Consider urban farms as development anchors for new senior housing and Acme site•

Accessibility around the lake is an issue, therefore, continuing a towpath loop around the perimeter of the lake would be beneficial for residents and would create an interesting route option for frequent visitors of the towpath. As the Ohio Department of Natural Resources plans to transfer the land at the north end of the lake to the city, there is a clear opportunity to create a continuous pathway around the lake. Interest in a canoe or sailboat livery on this site was also expressed by neighborhood stakeholders. A bridge atthenorthendofthelake,crossingthecanal,couldprovideapedestrian/bicyclelinkto the future boat house and towpath loop. Summit Lake Boulevard, which runs along the west edge of the lake, could be used for a length of the proposed towpath loop by simply painting sharrows on the paved road surface. Reusing the existing roadway would minimize the cost of implementation and provide a mutually beneficial connection between the two lakeside neighborhoods. To provide interaction and a closer contact with the natural environment of the lake, “borderwalks” were proposed. The borderwalk concept differs from typical boardwalks by creating a wider range of experiences of the lake edge, such as views above the lake via ramped platforms and providing multiple seating options for groups and individuals.

An obvious challenge is posed by abandoned, deteriorating housing and the subsequent vacant lots. The city currently owns many vacant lots, so utilizing those lots strategically is a key priority. Several ideas are proposed for potential use of the lots as neighborhood pathways, urban farms & community gardens, pocket parks, and neighborhood open space amentities, both passive and active. The pathways were drawn to connect frequently used ammenities, such as the community center and local corner stores. The former Acme site is a prime candidate for use as an urban farm because of its large size, high visibility and unused building, which could be shared by multiple local organizations. Of course, all soils should be tested for contaminants before planting.

Acme site revitalized as an urban farm and hub for community organizations

Urban farm in Detroit, MI

Borderwalk along edge of Summit Lake

View of Summit Lake from Miller Ave Rain garden

New paths through vacant lots provide useful neighborhood connections for residents and counter the negative perception of vacancy


New Learning Landscape created between Community Learning Center addition and Kenmore Annex reutilization

The City of Akron, like many urban areas, is experiencing a decline in population, which in turn leads to low enrollment in local schools. Between 1994 and 2010, AkronPublicSchools(APS)lost27%ofitsstudentpopulation,droppingfrom31,800to 23,3001. The existing school stock is old and costly to rehabilitate. One of the highest priorities for the community mentioned during the charrette is the need for a neighborhood school.

1 AkronPublicSchoolsCommunityLearningCenterswebsite:http://www.imag-ineakronschools.com/content/fmp.htm

3.4 edUCAtioN

Community Learning Center

Kenmore Annex

YMCA Branch

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New Community Learning Center addition to the existing Summit Lake Community Center

Existing Lincoln School shown with proposed glass elevator on the exterior of the building, providing required ADA accessibility and exciting visual contrast.

New outdoor amphitheater along Lake Shore Blvd., near Kenmore Annex

Library and Performing Arts Center as part of the Community Learning Center addition

Currently, Lincoln Elementary School is used as a temporary location while McEbright Elementary School is being renovated. Once the renovation is complete, Lincoln Elementary is planned to close, because the cost of required renovations to bring the old building up to ADA codes is cost prohobitive. The planned closure will leave children living in Summit Lake without a neighborhood school.

Based on an idea presented at the charrette by APS’s superintendent, a smaller and leaner Community Learning Center model may be an option for the neighborhood. This model’s reduced school size of roughly 200 students and a streamlined staff lead by teachers, with no principal, may keep operational costs low enough to make a neighborhood school feasible. In order to further reduce the cost of capital and operational expenses, the charrette team proposes building the new, energy efficient Learning Center adjacent to the existing Summit Lake Community Center. This site would be ideal for a combined Community Learning Center, because the current Community Center’s gymnasium, parking, playground, and open space could be used by the school, rather than investing in new facilities. The school addition could include a local library and provide adult education courses in the evenings, further offsetting the operational costs. The current Community Center may be in need of physical improvement, but it provides a much needed sense of permanence to a neighborhood that has lost many assets including stores and schools. A school addition would leverage the Summit Lake Community Center’s strong presence in the neighborhood and attractive location along the lake’s edge. The school could also focus on environmental education or create a sustainability center, which could be developed in collaboration with the site of the proposed boathouse at the north end of the lake. This would help educate the local youth and adults about environmental issues and how to be good stewards of the lake.

Lincoln School is a possible revitalization effort that would convert the front building into mixed income housing, supported by a branch location of a non-profit entity, such as OPEN-M, the urban League or the YMCA, taking advantage of the existing pool in the rear building. The Kenmore Annex could also serve as a vocational learning and non-profit incubator, benefiting groups such as Youth Build, Let’s Grow Akron, and T.R.Y (Truly Reaching You). This type of facility would consolidate these organizations into one location for administration, meeting, shop and storage space.


The Summit Lake neighborhood is a forgotten pocket within the City of Akron and is cut-off by the freeway to the north, the industrial zone to the south, South Main Street to the east, and the lake to the west. While these features may be seen as barriers, they can also be leveraged as assets to attract new development. The freeway provides high traffic visibility, the industrial past can be woven into a reimagined identity, South Main Street may once again provide for the retail needs of residents and the lake can once again draw visitors as a regional recreation attraction. The residents of Summit Lake pointed out that there are no banks, gas stations or grocery stores

Adaptive reuse of the vacant Pump House as a bike rental/repair shop and coffee shop serving the neighborhood and towpath visitors.

3.5 developMeNt

Pump House Bike Shop

Boat House & Event Center

Main Street Retail Development

Elderly Housing

Multi-Family Housing & Town Center

Conservation Development Housing

Office Park

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Proposed Town Square park at intersection of Miller Ave. and Princeton St.

Proposed Town Square park and new multi-family housing development at intersection of Miller Ave. and Princeton St.

Proposed Boat House

in the neighborhood. Though the AMHA housing is fairly new and in very good condition, there are many abandoned housing and empty lots. Based on these observations, the development proposals for the neighborhood include:•AdaptivereuseoftheemptyPumpHouse,justsouthof the AMHA housing and adjacent to the towpath trail, as a bike rental and repair shop, also including a neighborhood coffee shop

•NewboathouseatthenorthernendofSummitLake,providinganeasilyaccessibleboat launch and attractive event venue with marvelous views of the lake•SustainabilityLearningCenterconnectingthenewboathousedevelopmentwiththeproposed school at the Summit Lake Community Center, capitalizing on the open space with solar panels and the high winds with vertical wind turbines next to the freeway •StrategicrenovationandinfillretaildevelopmentalongSouthMainStreetnearthehighest concentrations of neighborhood housing (W. Crosier St. and W. Miller Ave.)•Buildingnewhousingwithafocusontheelderlyandsingleparenthomesclosetocurrent nodes of community activity (Open M)•Newmarketratehousingintroducedalongthelakeusingprinicplesofconservationdevelopment; protecting sensitive wetlands and creating public open space along lake•OfficeparkdevelopmentatintersectionofPrincetonSt.andIraAve.

There are several suggested types of development for the Summit Lake neighborhood including a redesign of the Shaefer Street block as senior citizen housing. units would be only two blocks from the bus stop at South Main Street. The senior housing units could be organzed around a central urban farm and garden oasis, providing a community building space literally at the front doorstep of residents. It would also be within easy walking distance of OPEN M, one of the community service anchors.

A second proposed development is at the corner of Miller Avenue and Princeton Street. Each quadrant of the intersection would have a unique outdoor public space; the northern half with seating and gardens incorporating the sloped topography and the southern half with a pergola on one side and basketball court on the other. Further back on each quadrant, extending into the block, would be new housing. The west side of Princeton would have town houses and the east side with apartments.

New Boat House along the northern banks of Summit Lake provides an easily accessible launch site for sail boats and an event center with great views of the lake


3.6 ideNtityHistorically, Summit Lake was known as a destination for outdoor recreation and connection to nature. The community also has strong values placed on family and investing in its youth. These desireable identities should play a major role in the future development and character of the neighborhood. The current expression of this neighborhood identity feels invisible and ignored. Creating gateways into the area should be created make passers-by aware of the neighborhood and the natural environment in an inviting manner. Making those values visible in a community logo and signage would enhance the sense of neighborhood identity for residents and youth. Incorporating artful wayfinding signage throughout the area and establishing memorable public spaces would foster a sense of community identity and pride, as well as help visitors find their way. Recommendations for the community include: • Developingalogoandcolorschemetobeusedonbanners,streetsignsandlocal organizations’ printed materials• Markingthegatewaysatthenorthandsouthentrancetotheneighborhood welcoming towpath visitors • NewneighborhoodgatewayatthecornerofBroadwaySt.andMillerAve.inspired by the lake and surrounding natural environment, perhaps using tall, native wetland grasses and local stones • Developnewpublicspaceswithintheneighborhood,attheproposedboathouse and along the towpath, which include engaging public art installations

Public art and banners along towpath

New neighborhood logo on signage

Orenco Station townhomes, Portland, OR

City Fresh pickup spot, Cleveland, OH

Gateway at South Main St. & Miller Ave.

The team also proposed new housing development along the southern end of Lakeshore Boulevard. As this site is close to the lake and adjacent to existing wetlands, it should be designed as a conservation development, providing residential amenities while also protecting sensitive environmental features.

A more broad proposed iniative is the support of local corner stores in expanding their products and upgrading their premises. Onsite physical improvements to the corner stores can be made which recognizes the unique opportunities of each location. Some stores may benefit from outdoor seating, some from an adjacent community garden, etc. Some could even be the site of weekly farmers markets and events. Small towns and city neighborhoods in Europe and South America have local markets once or twice a week. Some of these sell food, other sell the full range of household goods and clothing. Another option is initiating a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program in which people pay for a weekly “share” in groceries. The food is locally grown, fresh and supports local farmers. City Fresh is a popular CSA program in Cleveland, which has stops in many neighborhoods throughout the city. Though the concept of buying a surprise basket of fresh produce can take some getting used to, it can’t be beat for farm to table freshness and low cost. In making the current stores the local pickup site, the owner would benefit from increased traffic and the program would reuse a location familiar with local residents.


3.7 shoRt teRM stRAtegiesSince many of the projects proposed will take at least a few years if not longer to realize, the team found it important to suggest a few short term strategies, which could be implemented in less than a year. Recommendations include the following: • Streetlightmaintenanceandimprovedlightingalongtowpathtrail• Communityshuttle• Lakepollutionawarenesscampaign• Installationofdebriscatchersatstormdrains• Additionaltrashcanslocatedthroughoutneighborhood• PicnictablesinstalledalongtowpathnearSummitLakeCommunityCenter• SummitLakesignagealongfreewayannouncingpicnicareasandtowpathtrailhead• Encouragetheuseofnativeplantingsonprivatepropertyandpublicspaces Along with the community suffering from issues that were mentioned in each of the design proposals, Summit Lake is affected by drugs and crime. In an effort to change the environment to deter crime, several recommendations included upgraded and improved street lighting and a community shuttle to link major destinations that would provide traffic and eyes on the street like a “Giant Carpool”. As a result of the lake being contaminated by remnants from nearby factories and other sediments, it cannot be encountered by bare skin. Debris catchers can be placed at the outflows of storm drains to prevent trash and other pollutants from entering the lake. For the towpath, picnic areas would be implemented as well as biking amenities for users. Ideas for the vacant lot improvements would be raised garden beds to start revitalization efforts until more long term plans are ready to be set in place.

4.1 NeXt stepsThe charrette process has outlined an overall framework for development of Summit Lake and a series of possible strategies for implementing the team’s recommendations. It is important to recognize that this is NOT a plan. It is only a collection of possible development ideas that will help to focus continuing community debate, leading to concensus on a detailed plan of action for the future. To move forward from this initial step, we recommend the following priorities:

Identify collaborators•Asset mapping•Identify funding opportunities•Prioritize short term strategies to support long term initiatives•

The most important next step, however, is to build support for the planning effort. To begin this process, we hope this summary of the charrette proceedings will be circulated, with comments and suggestions solicited from as wide an audience as possible.

Debris catchers reduce the amount of litter entering the lake

New signage along highway announcing picnic area, parking and towpath trailhead in Summit Lake

Native plantings on vacant lots require very little maintenance once established, increase soil permeability for rain water, provide habitat for beneficial birds & insects, and improve beautify the neighborhood

Picnicing encouraged for residents and visitors by adding new signage, picnic tables and secure bike racks


5.1 the ChARRette teAMStaff of the Cleveland Urban Design Center: Terry Schwarz, Director David Jurca, urban Designer Gauri Torgalkar, urban Designer Annie Lynch, urban Design Intern

Community Development Process Course Instructor: Patti Choby, Principal, The Cobalt Group, Inc.

Undergraduate and Graduate Student Participants: Dustin Baker Rhiannon Bitting Kristen Buckland Marissa Butts Juleian Curtis Philip Erb Victoria Hampton Mitch Hoyt Alex Johnson

5. AppeNdiX

utkarsh Kankariya Kat Keller Wade Kratzer Michael Langelier Carmen Licate Joseph Palmieri Krysta Pesarchick Haley Rice Arthur Schmidt IV

Student and staff design team in Summit Lake

Brent Schriefer Nicholas Skowron Mathew Spencer John Stouffer III Jesse Sweigart Heather Ways Tempest’t Ziegler


5.2 ACKNowledgeMeNtsThe CuDC staff and students of the Graduate Program in urban Design at Kent State university would like to thank those that made the workshop possible, particulary John O. Moore, Director, City of Akron Department of Planning and urban Development Thomas A. Tatum, City of Akron Department of Planning and urban Development and the staff and public officials from the City of Akron Michael Starks, Community Organizer, Summit Lake Neighborhood Association Cazzell Smith, Summit County Council Member, District 5 Kenneth Jones, Akron City Council, Ward 5 Malcolm Costa, CEO, Akron Summit County Action Agency and the many individuals and organizations who participated in the Summit Lake Workshop.

Summit Lake Workshop 2010 - Charrette Report

Documents

Transcript of Summit Lake Workshop 2010 - Charrette Report