HomeMy WebLinkAboutMICD-Auburn Final PresentationAlumni Technical Assistance Program
Auburn, Washington
August 31 – September 2, 2009
Resource Team Members
Judith Kinnard, FAIA
Tulane University, School of Architecture
New Orleans, Louisiana
Kathryn Rogers Merlino
Asst. Professor of Architecture
University of Washington
Rick Sundberg, FAIA
Olson Sundberg Kundig Allen Architects
Seattle, Washington
Observations - Strengths
•City-wide:
–Dedicated and invested mayor and staff
–Extensive park system
–Abundance of natural resources:
•river system, proximity of Mt. Rainier, scenic
view corridors
–Sense of civic and cultural identity:
•public art, performing arts, cultural museums +
history
Observations - Strengths
•Downtown Catalyst Area:
–Proximity to transit (rail and bus)
–Intact street grid / alleyways / good urban
framework
–Grocery stores + amenities
–Medical services nearby
–Walking distance to schools
Observations - Strengths
•Main Street:
–Good sense of place:
•local and independent businesses
•pedestrian-friendly scale
•abundant street plantings
•distinctive sidewalks
•variety of buildings and textures promote visual
interest
Observations - Opportunities
Overall City Design and Planning
–Harness energy from satellite destinations:
•Supermall, Emerald Downs, Mary Olsen Farm,
Muckleshoot Casino, Crystal Mountain, White River
Amphitheatre, Park System, Interurban Bike System,
White River Trail, and other park systems
–Way finding / Signage:
•increase visibility of existing businesses & amenities;
•guide traffic through downtown
–Connect existing transit to community resources:
•support multi-modal transportation
•consider future use of “Next Bus” system
General Recommendations
Create an urban design vision for the city
•hire urban design consultant to articulate urban design vision
•enlarge downtown design scope beyond existing catalyst area to
support vision for a ‘destination downtown’
•consider how to connect easily with multi modal transportation
methods to access downtown to and from residential areas and
workplace
•Design focused parking areas for easy access by visitors who visit
satellite destinations around Auburn yet retain street character
•Engage stakeholders for urban design vision
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Urban Design Recommendations
•build upon existing and historic strengths: main street, historic
street grid
•design with downtown main street pedestrian scale in mind; height,
massing, scale and texture to blend old Auburn with new Auburn
through scale, massing, texture and appropriate pedestrian uses
•Re-enforce the street grid, alley system, continuous street wall
•Revisit 2005 storefront studio design guidelines to revitalize existing
buildings and promote cohesive planning
•Celebrate your strengths downtown
–Create a central park that supports current activity and serves as a
destination for citizens and visitors
–Design with pedestrian scale in mind; places that make people
want to walk, stay, play
Draw from satellite sites with multi-modal transportation
•Make destination downtown a secondary stop on way to mall, race track, historic sites of
Mary Olsen Farm, bike paths, route to Crystal Mt., etc
•Design ease of transportation from bike to bus, bus to train, etc.
•Create a pedestrian downtown destination with a variety of uses
Emerald Downs
Mary Olsen Farm + Historic Sites
Performing Arts Center + High School
River Park System
Supermall Stop overs to Crystal Mt.
Extensive Park System
Bike paths
Create a vision for a larger Destination Downtown
-historic core at center
-design vision for growth around pedestrians, amenities and transportation
Establish an Identity for design vision for downtown
•What is unique about downtown?
•What is the quality of life you want for downtown?
•What current strengths can you build upon?
•Historic street grid with
Pedestrian quality + scale
•Connection to transit
•Amenities + entertainment
•Civic events
•History and culture of Auburn
Design for identified pedestrian activity zones
Create places for invitation to walk, stay and play
pedestrian environment / best practices
•Design crossings designed for people
•Lights designed for maximum pedestrian ease day and night
•Make it easy for people to move between destinations
•Paved roads slow vehicular traffic heavy intersections such as Auburn Way
•Consider creative public art to contribute to wayfinding and marking systems
pedestrian environment / best practices
•Mark Main Street as special by adding brick or textured paving
•Consider creative public art to contribute to wayfinding and marking systems
parking / best practices
•Concentrate parking in surface lots in planned areas
•Remove streetside parking on north side of Main street to allow street activity
•Consider low cost paid parking to allow ease of parking for downtown (2 hour) to keep
customer base actively turning over throughout day (and discourage employee parking)
•Add plantings to parking lots and streets to add to buffer to pedstrians
Pedestrian space / consider existing alleys as pedestrian space
Create pedestrian places to walk, sit, stay and play
•Build upon history of river + water
•Places to sit and rest
•Create visual interest and views
•Places for play