city of jeffersonville, in strengthening the city’s civic ... · why plan for more than just cars...

Court Avenue Corridor AIA SDAT

City of Jeffersonville, IN

Strengthening the City’s Civic Spine

AIA SDAT Process

• We came – 3 days with 6 professionals from across the country

– June (New York), Judie (Phoenix), Paula (Seattle), Pat (Los

Angeles), Marc (Brooklyn), and Taryn (Tampa)

• We saw– Toured Court Avenue, from I-65 to Graham St.

• We listened– 1 day of stakeholder meetings & community workshop

• We planned– 2 days of intensive brainstorming, research, diagramming &

sketching

• Complete report to follow

We saw… touring Court Avenue

Cracked sidewalks

Poor crosswalks

Historic buildings

Lovely homes

Assets & Opportunities for Improvement

We saw… touring Court Avenue

And a side trip

to Schimpff’s

Candy!

Also, Café on Meigs,

Adrienne’s, Pearl St.

Game & Coffee, etc.

We listened… stakeholder sessions

We listened… community workshops

What we heard

• Court Ave. Feels Neglected and Unloved (“Bleak”)

– Unsafe for all users: drivers, parkers, and walkers

– And bicyclists? Forget about it...

• Parking, Parking, Parking!

• Corridor Turns into a Ghost Town after 5 pm

– You love your homes and businesses, but downtown lacks

conveniences and amenities, such as a grocery store

– The public/civic realm is tired and under-activated

• Desire to Strengthen the Downtown District

– Capitalize on ped/bike visitors from Big Four Pedestrian Bridge

– Improve experience of driver entry points from highways

– Realize potential of underutilized and vacant land parcels

Presentation Outline

• Context of Court Avenue within City of Jeff

– Why Does it Matter?

• Growth Opportunities Along the Corridor

– The Economic Big Picture

– Urban Design Analysis

• Healthy Corridor Re-Design

– Best Practices for Health and Mobility

– Streetscape Elements

• Programming the Public Realm

Context of Court Avenue

Why Does it Matter?

Context: City of Jeff

Metro Louisville’s

second downtown,

now linked up

closer than ever by

the Big Four

Pedestrian Bridge

Locating the Downtown

Court Ave forms a

central spine

through the

downtown, distinct

in character &

potential from 10th

St and Spring St

Civic Anchors

Many of the city’s

major civic

institutions are

anchored along, or

nearby, the corridor

Court Avenue CorridorCurrently disjointed and

in flux; with thoughtful

planning, the segments

can be redesigned to

work together

Court Ave: Why Does it Matter?

• The Big Four Bridge, a million crossings a year

into downtown Jeff, on foot and by bicycle;

• The new school will anchor a residential

neighborhood, ready to thrive for all ages;

• A major point of entry off the highways –first

impressions matter;

• Court Ave’s been relatively neglected – it’s due

for sprucing up – guiding new development;

• Upgrades will complement – not compete with

– plans for 10th St. and Spring St.

Growth Opportunities Along the

Corridor:

The Economic Big Picture

Big Picture – What are the Factors that

Influence Economic Development?

• Demographics of the area

• Historical and projected population and

employment growth

• Availability of skilled and unskilled

workforce

• Availability of sites and buildings

• Access to suppliers

• Proximity to competition

Jeffersonville City Key Demographics

• 2018-2028

Projected Growth

Rate - 4.2%

• Higher educational

attainment lags the

state (22.7% vs.

24.6%)

• White collar workers

comprise 55.1%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Esri forecasts for 2018

Demographic Comparison

Jeffersonville 1 mile 3 mile 5 mile

Total Population 47,803 7,797 79,349 237,716

Total Households 19,833 3,655 36,005 104,014

Median Household

Income$54,144 $38,824 $38,206 $41,516

Vacant Housing Units 6.9% 11.6% 11.3% 12.2%

Number of Businesses 1,569 730 5,748 10,833

Number of Employees 23,279 10,445 131,142 201,638


One Mile Radius Compared to

Jeffersonville City

Within the 1 Mile Radius

• Contains 16% of

Jeffersonville’s population

• 47% of total business

establishments

• 45% of total employment

• Daytime population is

double the resident

population

Key Employment Sectors within One

Mile Radius

Jeffersonville1 Mile Radius

Retail Trade 11.3% 10.1%

Finance & Insurance 6.1% 6.3%

Professional, Scientific & Tech Services 8.2% 11.2%

Health Care & Social Assistance 11.2% 15.2%

Other Services (except Public

Administration)13.3% 11.9%

Public Administration 5.7% 9.0%


Where People Live and Work

• Employed in Jeffersonville but live elsewhere - 24,627

• Employed and living in Jeffersonville – 6,503

• Total employed in Jeffersonville - 31,130

Source: LEHD On the Map, 2015

Jeffersonville Assets

• Civic center uses for all of Jeffersonville (government,

courts, library)

• New elementary school

• Growing visitor destination

• Concentration of professional and health services

Opportunities

• Redevelop vacant and underutilized properties

(Opportunity Sites)

• Increase the number of people living downtown

• Growing visitor industry facilitated by the Big Four Bridge

• Attract a food market

• Arts and Cultural district that includes Vintage Fire

Museum and the Clark County Museum

• Build upon downtown renaissance

Growth Opportunities Along the

Corridor:

Urban Design Analysis

Existing Character

Underutilized Lots

Growth Character

New Growth

Growth Opportunities

Mixed-use/ Multifamily

New InstitutionsAffordable Infill Housing

Growth Cycle

Want local commercial

• Grocery

• Personal Services

• Bank

Local Retail Requires:

• More residential households to support businesses

Residential Requires:

• Active areas Spring Street

• Good Parks

• Walkable Street

• Jobs

Temporary Street Retrofit

Low Cost, Fast Implementation

Parking

Surface Parking

Estimated 1400 spaces

Parking

Parking Structure Study

Parking Structure Study

Simple Parking Structure

• Adds 118 spaces per level

• Estimated cost $20-30k per space

• $2.5M-3.5M, without property acquistion

Former Bank

Healthy Corridor Re-Design:

Best Practices for Health + Mobility

HEALTHY CORRIDOR Re-DESIGN

Rendering Courtesy of Tumwater, WA

Why plan for more than just cars on Court?

• Health - Portland, Oregon's regional trail network saves the city

approximately $115 million per year in healthcare costs.Beil, K., 2011 - Physical Activity and the Intertwine: A Public Health Method of Reducing Obesity and Healthcare Costs

• Economics- The Indianapolis Cultural Trail - $62.5 million to build and

yielded a $1.01 billion increase in property values adjacent to the trail. Urban

Land Institute, 2016 – Active Transportation and Real Estate

• Climate - The transportation sector accounts for two-thirds of US oil

consumption and accounts for the majority of the greenhouse gasses that

cause climate change. US Department of Transportation, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, 2007

• Our Children - If 20% of school children living within two miles of

school were to bike or walk, it would save 4.3 million miles of driving per

day. Over a year, that saved driving would prevent 356,000 tons of CO2 and

21,500 tons of other pollutants from being emitted. Pedroso, M., 2008 - Safe Routes to School: Steps

to a Greener Future

Source: The Smart Math of Mixed-Use Development, Joe Minicozzi

Mixed Use Development & Infrastructure

• Asheville, NC Example:

City sees 800% higher

returns on downtown

redevelopment than

suburban big box

• 15 US Cities:

Average $360,000 more in

tax revenue generated per

acre with downtown

redevelopment

Most Importantly…

Transportation & housing costs are rising

faster than income

• Median Income for

Court Ave Area

Residents is $40,964

• Residents of Court

Ave spend 49% of

their income on

housing and

transportation

School Zone & Pedestrian Safety Treatments

Rapid Flashing

Beacon & Yellow

Green Markings

Subtle Pavement

Changes

Visible Wide

Crosswalks

School Zone & Pedestrian Safety Treatments

Connections Crossing Guards

Adequate Bike Parking

Low Cost Speed Management

Practical Design for Bicycle Safety -

What Do Bicyclists Need?

Design for Bicycle Safety

Most Protected – Shared Use Path

Protected Bike Lanes:

Raised & Curb Separated

Protected Bike Lanes:

At Grade, Protected with Flexible Bollards or Other Separation

Low Impact Development –

Stormwater Management

School Site Improvements

Communities can realize cost savings of

30% to 60% by integrating green infrastructure

improvements in road reconstruction, utility

restoration, or roof replacements. –Real Cost of Green Infrastructure, 2015

Low Impact Development (LID)

School Site Improvements

Low Impact Development –Pervious Concrete

Low Impact Development –In Neighborhoods

Re-designing Court Avenue

I heard you say…

• Crossing the street is like playing a

game of Frogger

• New School will be a challenge –

parking, more traffic, drop off

• Corridor is stuck in the 70s and

needs to be spruced up

• The area just off I-65 is terrible,

impassible, bleak

• We want a “Family Avenue” with

Mom and Pops, boutiques, galleries

and services as well as civic center

Corridor Phasing Rules of Thumb

1 - Establish a Gateway

2 - Create a Center

3 - Define the Edges

4 - Strengthen Connections

1 2

2 Design Concepts for Court Ave

Wa

lnu

t

Welcome Zone Community Services

Zone

Neighborhood Zone

Welcome Zone – Nearest to I-65

TRAFFIC CIRCLE CONCEPT

Multi-way Boulevard – 4 Travel Lanes1

Bedroom or Office to Window &

Car Door to Traffic Rules

Multi-way Boulevard DesignOPTION 1 OPTION 2

Multi-Way Boulevard Slip Lane –

Bothell WA

1

Multi-way Boulevard-2 Lanes & 2-way Bike

Lane2

Civic Zone –

School Area

School Area Concept

2

Immediate Next Steps:

• Develop an Action Plan

• Collect current counts and more parking data

• Apply low cost safety &

speed management

• Expand the

community dialog

1. Slow traffic down

2. Make it easier to cross Court Avenue

3. Consistent improvements - “trees all the way”

4. Diagonal parking is unsafe

5. Add bike lanes on one east-west street

What We Heard – CivicS

prin

g S

t.

Meig

sA

ve.

travel lanetravel lane

Spring St. to Meigs St. looking east

70' roadway

100' right-of-way

0' 16'10'

14' sidewalk 16' sidewalk

angled parkingparking5-7' 5'

park-way

walk-way

EXISTING

Street Cross Section

• One lane each way for 12,000

ADT (<20,000-25,000ADT)

• 32’ of “excess” roadway

• Existing mostly 14-16’ sidewalks

: Opportunities

Street Cross Section: OpportunitiesStart by thinking of streets as places

What kind of place do you want Court Avenue to be?

"If we can develop and design streets so that they are wonderful,

fulfilling places to be,…then we will have successfully designed about

one-third of the city directly and had an immense impact on the

rest." Allan B. Jacobs

2. Center Multi-Use Area


70' roadway

100' right-of-way

0' 16'10'


parkingparking7' 7'

park- way

walk-way


CENTER MULTI-USE AREA

9'7'Multi-use area

18' 18'34'

2. Center Multi-Use Area

3. Separated Bike Lanes/Median



66' roadway

100' right-of-way

0' 16'10'


parkingparking

7' 7'park-way

walk-way

SEPARATED BIKE LANES

9'7'Median

7'bikelane

3'buf-fer

18' 3'buf-fer

7'bikelane

14' 18'

3. Separated Bike Lanes - parkway/curb

3. Separated Bike Lanes - striping

4. Wider Sidewalks


Spring St. to Meigs St. looking east 0' 10'

9'20'7'parking

16'

park-way

parking 7'

WIDER SIDEWALKS

walk-way

7'20'

40' roadway28' sidewalk

100' right-of-way

32' sidewalk

7'park-way

7'walk-way

9'7'park-way

walk-way

park-way

walk-way

4. Wider Sidewalks

Slow traffic/make it easier to cross – long term:

• Narrow the roadway

Pedestrian Safety – All Districts


Spring St. to Meigs St. looking east 0' 10'

9'20'7'parking

16'

park-way

parking 7'

WIDER SIDEWALKS

walk-way

7'20'

40' roadway28' sidewalk

100' right-of-way

32' sidewalk

7'park-way

7'walk-way

9'7'park-way

walk-way

park-way

walk-way



70' roadway

100' right-of-way

0' 16'10'


angled parkingparking5-7' 5'

park-way

walk-way

EXISTING

Pedestrian Safety – Everywhere

Slow traffic/make it easier to cross – short term:

• Strip the lanes and curb extensions

Standard crosswalk width and design

Pedestrian Safety

Consistent corner ramps

Pedestrian Safety

• Countdown “walk/don’t walk”

• Maintain corner radii

• Adequate crossing time

• Eliminate “pork-chop” islands

• Curb extensions

Pedestrian Safety

• At least one block in all directions

• 15 mph

• Design flexibility, e.g.:

- fluorescent yellow-green signs and striping

- stop signs

- speed traps

Safe Routes to Schools

Sidewalks – Civic & Welcome

Existing12 -15+’ width can accommodate:

7’ parkway/tree wells + 8’ walkway (generally)



66' roadway

100' right-of-way

0' 16'10'


parkingparking

7' 7'park-way

walk-way

SEPARATED BIKE LANES

9'7'Median

7'bikelane

3'buf-fer

18' 3'buf-fer

7'bikelane

14' 18'

Okay to vary where existing conditions constrain it

Sidewalks

But new development should stay out of the ROW

and provide parkways and street trees

Sidewalks

Stormwater infiltration/treatment

Sidewalks

Pedestrian Lighting

Sidewalks

Roadway Lighting

Sidewalks

Bus stop & other furnishings

Sidewalks

Sidewalks

Adjacent buildings can change the sidewalk

The Future? Striping and trees only

1. Clear transition from Civic to Residential

2. Slow traffic down

3. Consider parkways in residential area

4. “Trees all the way”

5. Enforcement, e.g., no parking on sidewalk

What We Heard – ResidentialM

eig

sA

ve.

• Curb extensions that slow cars down, create an

neighborhood gateway, & extend street trees

Transition/Traffic Calming/Landscape

• Speed humps and stop signs

Programming the Public Realm

Programming the Public Realm

Activating Court Avenue

It starts with your community, Jeffersonville

“Be honest, take care of your people, and give to your community.”

Build on Community Strengths

Events, Activities, and Programs

Image credit: Jeffersonville Main Street

Build on Community Strengths

Events, Activities, and Programs

Activate the Civic Spine

Court Avenue

“We found that if you make more road space, you

get more cars. If you make more bike lanes, you

get more bikes. If you make more spaces for

people, you get more people and of course then

you get more public life.” -Jen Gehl

Block by Block

Welcome and WayfindingInclude Upcoming Events + Directions

Block by Block

Welcome and Wayfinding

Provide ample signage to directpeople to parking, especially in heavily visited

areas.

Block by Block

Activation Strategies

Use the civic and Institutional buildings as wayfinding

nodes to help define where you are in downtown

Staged, inexpensive interventions can help “make-over”

undesirable spaces into cherished community places.

Often called “tactical urbanism” these interventions can

be temporary or permanent, or set the stage for long-term

infrastructure improvements.

Create a Pedestrian Culture

Tactical Urbanism ProjectsNarrow the streets and highlight special intersections


Tactical Urbanism ProjectsHelp people get around on foot, or bike


Tactical Urbanism Projects

Downtown

Rockford, Illinois

Block by Block

Avenue Anchors

Institutional and Civic Sites

Warder Park

Public Library

Court House

Elementary School

Field House

Block Activation Plan

Shared Spaces and Connections6th Street Corner

Close the short segment of 6th Street to create a

community gathering space


Shared Spaces and ConnectionsWarder Park and Carnegie Library

Remove the bushes and prune up the trees for visibility of

the Carnegie Library and through the park.

Shared Spaces and Connections“Path of Knowledge”

Create a painted “yellow brick path” to connect the new elementary school to

the public library


Community Partnerships

Collaborate for Success

Jeffersonville Mainstreet Program

Arts Center and Public Art

Clark County School District

Neighborhood Associations

City Pride

Leadership Southern Indiana

Jeffersonville Township Public Library

Ogle Foundation


Programed Events

Get the community engaged in Jeff

Partner with local businesses to host small events

that require minimal set-up.

Ideas:

Civic Day: City University Game Day in the Park

Court on Court Field Day in the Park

Sidewalk Salon Botanical Garden

History Happy Hour Food Trucks on Court

Complete Street DemoExperiential Learning through Tactical Urbanism

A Guide to Community Conversations

Urbanism on Tap (UOT) is an event series where

spaces of casual conversation become places of

civic education.

UOT brings ideas about cities to the local bar, pub,

or tavern to raise awareness, and exchange

knowledge and experience.


Court on Court

Host a day of basketball on Court Avenue on the block in front of the

elementary school and Field House.


Food Trucks on Court

Food trucks and other vendors can activate Court after 5pm during concerts

and other scheduled events, particularly if Court Avenue is closed to traffic.

Revisit the City ordinance to allow for mobile vendors. Encourage local

businesses to put out tents or carts.


History Happy HourOpen Mic style Show and Tell about Jeffersonville’s

History, from historic buildings to historic happenings.

Summing Up

We planned… for the City’s Civic Spine

Events: Temporary programming to enliven the public

realm for residents and visitors;

Paint: New striping and crosswalks, bulb outs, street

trees, etc., for safety and beautification;

Funding: Apply for support to a healthy corridor redesign,

especially to support new school;

Infill development: Underutilized and vacant lots can

support desirable downtown uses;

Market: Economic indicators suggest that a revitalized

corridor will further the downtown renaissance and benefit

the city at large.

Questions? www.aia.org/liv_sdat

Court Avenue Corridor AIA SDAT

City of Jeffersonville, IN

Strengthening the City’s Civic Spine

city of jeffersonville, in strengthening the city’s civic ... · why plan for more than just cars...

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