Waterfront Principles

8/19/2019 Waterfront Principles

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9 Steps to Creating a Great Waterfront

1. LOOK FIRST AT THE PUBLIC SPACE

In planning a waterfront development, city officials or a developer should begin by

envisioning a network of well-connected, multi-use public spaces that fit with the

community’s shared goals. By orienting waterfront revitalization around public spaces,

new construction will enhance the quality of eisting destinations and result in a whole

that is greater than the sum of its parts.

!hile streets may be appropriate on some waterfronts, pedestrian connections should

be given top priority, making large parking lots and auto-oriented development out of

the question.

"evelopers of the #oint $treet %anding development on the &udson 'iver in (onkers, ).(. began their pro*ect by

determining what the character of the public spaces should be.

2. MAKE SURE PUBLIC GOALS ARE THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE

!aterfronts everywhere are too valuable to simply allow developers to dictate what

happens there. . +his is not to say that private development is unwelcome and should be

discouraged on the contrary, it is often necessary to the future of a healthy waterfront.

But the best solutions for revamping waterfronts put public goals first, not private short-

term financial ob*ective . s long as redevelopment plans adhere to the notion that the

waterfront is an inherently public asset, it will be relatively easy to follow the rest of the

steps here. ommunity engagement and, ultimately, local ownership and pride

depend on this basic premise.


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$uccessful waterfront destinations reach out to entire community, as happens with #aris #lage, a month-long celebration

that creates a beach to the $eine 'iver in #aris.

3. BUILD ON EXISTING ASSETS & CONTEXT

/ranville Island has created an abundance of user-friendly destinations while preserving the site’s industrial character.

fter establishing the public spaces and public goals, begin the public visioning process with the eisting assets and surrounding contet. $tart with the historical form and

function of the site to foster a locally grounded identity by channeling former vibrancy

into a variety of uses. 0isting industrial uses should be preserved when compatible with

human activity on the waterfront. $urrounding neighborhoods should be integrated into

the waterfront to strengthen connectivity between destinations. nd new development

should embrace its waterfront contet with appropriate orientation and usages.

4. CREATE A SHARED COMMUNITY VISION1nlike a master plan, a community visioning process does not lock a pro*ect into a

prescribed solution. It is a citizen-driven initiative that outlines a set of goalsideals to

strive forthat set the stage for people to think boldly, make breakthroughs, and achieve

new possibilities for their waterfront. Because a vision is adaptable and can be


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implemented gradually, starting with small eperiments, it often becomes more

powerful through time as public enthusiasm for making bold changes gains support.

community visioning plan for Brooklyn’s #ier 2 3left4. +he eisting design did not benefit from a community process, and

the community did not feel it reflected its needs 3right4.

5. CREATE MULTIPLE-USE DESTINATIONS BY TAPPING THE

POWER OF 10

+hrough decades of work, ##$ has found that the most effective way to propel a

visioning process is to set a goal of creating ten great destinations along a waterfront, an

idea we call the 5#ower of +en.6 +his focus on destinations, rather than 5open space6 or

parks, enables a genuine community-led process to take root. 'esidents, businesses,

community organizations and other stakeholders all *oin in to help identify the key

destinations and then define the uses and activities they want to see at each place.

fter using the #ower of 78 to create great destinations throughout a waterfront, the

same principle should be applied at each destination to come up with a list of ten

activities for that spot. wealth of things to do broadens the appeal of the destination,

encouraging round-the-clock use.


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fter multiple place evaluation workshops, a variety of community stakeholders, public agencies, and private firms produced

a collective vision for a broad range of uses to draw people to )ewark’s waterfront.

6. CONNECT DESTINATIONS ALONG THE WATERFRONT

"estinations should be connected to one another and incorporated into a vision for the

waterfront as a whole. waterfront that is continuously walkable with a variety of

activities along the way will successfully link destinations, allowing the appeal of each

one to strengthen the place as a whole..

reating these seamless connections is a fascinating challenge that involves miing uses

3such as housing, recreation, entertainment and retail4 and miing partners 3such as

public institutions and local business owners4. nother key element is attracting people

to the waterfront on foot or bike, rather than *ust in their cars.

#arks or esplanades should not serve as the whole purpose of the entire waterfront. +oo

much passive, one-dimensional open space puts a damper on the inherent vibrancy of

waterfronts, as evident in many spots throughout +oronto, )ew (ork ity and

9ancouver, : cities that have relied too heavily on 5greening6 their waterfronts without

including other public activities that draw people for different reasons at different times.

+he world’s best waterfronts use parks as connective tissue, using them to link other

high-profile destinations together. &elsinki, $tockholm, $ydney, and Baltimore have

successfully employed this strategy.

onnecting the destinations at the $an "iego 0mbarcadero.

7. MAXIMIZE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PUBLIC ACCESS

It is essential that the waterfront be accessible for everyone to the greatest etent

possible. &ere too, the goal of continuity is of paramount importance. !aterfronts with


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continuous public access are much more popular than those where public space is

interrupted. 0ven small stretches where the waterfront is unavailable to people greatly

diminish the eperience. alifornia’s Balboa Island, located off the coast of )ewport

Beach, makes its entire shoreline accessible to the public instead of giving waterfront

property owners sole rights of use.

ccess also means that people can actually interact with the water in numerous ways

from swimming and fishing, to picnicking dockside and feeding the ducks. If it is not

possible to actually dip their hands in the water, people should have access to another

type of water nearbysuch as a fountain, spray play area or a swimming pool that floats

net to the shore 3such as the pools set up in the $eine during#aris #lage4.

##$ was asked to assess the strongest locations and connections for new waterfront destinations on 9ancouver’s ;alse reek.

8. BALANCE ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS WITH HUMAN NEEDS

!hile a wide variety of uses can flourish on a waterfront, many successful destinations

embrace their natural surroundings by creating a close connection between human and

natural needs.


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Boardwalks, such as this one in leveland, provide opportunities for people to interact with wildlife along natural shorelines.

9. START SMALL TO MAKE BIG CHANGES

/ood public spaces don’t happen overnight, and no one has all the answers about

improving a place right at the outset. #lacemaking is about doing more than planning.


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10 Qualities of a Great Waterfront

Destination

1. SURROUNDING BUILDINGS ENHANCE PUBLIC SPACE

ny building on the waterfront should boost activity in the public spaces around it.

Ideally, there should be a mi of uses, with seamless interaction between inside and

outdoors. &igh-rise towers that lack any public uses on the ground floor are noticeably

out of place along rivers, lakes and ocean fronts. +hey usually create a wall that

physically and psychologically cuts off the waterfront from surrounding neighborhoods.

Buildings on the harbor in uckland, )ew =ealand

2. LIMITS ARE PLACED ON RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT

/reat waterfronts are not dominated by residential development. !hy> Because these

are places that are full of people, day and night. +hey are the sites of festivals, markets,

fireworks displays, concerts, spontaneous celebrations and other high-energy

gatherings. high concentration of residential development undermines the diversity of waterfront use and creates pressure to prevent nighttime activity from flourishing.


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#orto, #ortugal’s residential component provides reciprocal benefit for the active public life below.

3. ACTIVITIES GO ON ROUND-THE-CLOCK AND THROUGHOUT

THE YEAR

!aterfronts that thrive year-round will reap substantial community and economic

benefits. 'ain or cold is no reason for a waterfront to sit empty. reative programming

can take rainy and winter weather into account, and smart use of amenities can provideprotection from inclement weather. %ikewise, people en*oy being by the water at night if

appropriate lighting and special events make them feel welcome and safe.

0ven on a blustery day, the seafront in Brighton, 0ngland still draws a crowd because of its fleible design and destinations

that are open all year round.


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!aterfire, a pyrotechnic public art pro*ect, brings crowds to downtown #rovidence in the evening hours.

4. FLEXIBLE DESIGN FOSTERS ADAPTABILITY

$uccessful waterfronts must adapt to many changes that bring different users at

different times. #rogramming and management are helpful in serving diverse audiences, but fleibility must also be built into the design of the place. Instead of a permanent

stage, for eample, which is well-used in the summer but not the winter, a retractable or

temporary stage could be used. %ikewise, it is important to have on-site storage for

movable chairs, tables, umbrellas, and games so they can be used at a moment’s notice.

"espite minimal funding, %ong Island ity’s !ater +ai Beach provides a compelling eample of the potential for )(’s

waterfront by successfully layering uses.


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Book and art stalls pull in curious browsers along the $eine in #aris.

5. CREATIVE AMENITIES BOOST EVERYONE’S ENJOYMENT

+he best waterfronts feature amenities that increase people’s comfort and en*oyment.

bench or waste receptacle in *ust the right location makes a surprising difference in how

people choose to use a place. %ighting strengthens a square’s identity and can draw

attention to specific activities, pathways or entrances. #ublic art is a great magnet for

children of all ages to come together. !hether temporary or permanent, amenities helpestablish a convivial setting for social interaction.

#aris’s #lage’s benches comfortably accommodate social groups of various sizes.


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!ater features on /ranville Island create an alternative connection where direct access to the water is not possible.

6. ACCESS MADE EASY BY BOAT, BIKE AND FOOT

!aterfronts flourish when they can be accessed by means other than private vehicles. In

$ydney, $tockholm, 9enice, &elsinki, and &ong ?ong, people head to the waterfront via

boat as much as by land. (ou can dramatically enhance the character and eperience of

a waterfront when it is easily reached in ways other than driving. ccess by foot and bike

are a crucial element of the transportation mi, which is why many of the most beloved

are crowned by pedestrian promenades and bike lanes. #eople feel more at ease when

not overwhelmed by traffic and parking lots, creating a climate that fosters a full breadth

of waterfront activity. !here streets are absolutely necessary for commercial deliveries,

or access to retail or marine uses, they should be designed to minimize their impact on

pedestrian safety and en*oyment, and always be closed for events and festivals.


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!ater-transit provides a prominent connection at "ubai reek.

In #orto, #ortugal’s 'ibiera district streets are scaled for pedestrians, and motor vehicles allowed only as guests.

+he harbor in $tavanger, )orway is dramatically enhanced by water-borne transit.

7. LOCAL IDENTITY IS SHOWCASED

+he greatest waterfront destinations are found in cities that truly orient themselves to

the water. 9enice and $tockholm are defined by their waterfronts, and residents and

visitors alike naturally gravitate there.


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Brooklyn’s oney Island has developed its own unique image over the years.

Brooklyn Bridge #ark uses public art to offer fun lessons.

8. THE WATER ITSELF DRAWS ATTENTION

+he water itself is the greatest asset of any waterfront, and should become the

centerpiece for programming and activities. +his can include traditional marine uses

such as a ferry terminal or fishing port, which helps preserve a place’s identity.

dditional activities may include water-tais, boat tours, restaurants or bars on

anchored boats, fishing, rock skipping, floating pools, kayaking and swimming.


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!aterfront fish markets contribute to the identity of @slo’s ker Brygge !aterfront.

!ater polo matches played in kayaks has emerged as an intriguing attraction at )ew (ork’s ;rying #an Bar and 'estaurant

on the &udson 'iver in


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$tockholm’s ity &all is not *ust the Aseat’ of local government

10. GOOD MANAGEMENT MAINTAINS COMMUNITY VISION


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ctive and evolving programming, as seen here in $an ;rancisco, is essential to waterfront success and may also be used to

generate revenues.

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