What is the final product when DPZ is done with all zones? Any documents that are not integrated into existing policies seem to be so last century and destined for the shelves. If it doesn't include a roadmap with blue prints for intermediate steps, it's incomplete.
Here are a smattering of concers and questions that have come to mind as I have participated in the various stages of the Reinvent Phoenix process, with the charette with DPZ this past week being the latest and furthest along component of the process.
I am very concerned that there is no time spent to get to know our unique conditions, situations, ammenities, and challenges that don't occur anywhere else in the US. Without this step, we will get a cookie cutter set of recommendations in a format that is consistent with the reports and books of last century formats that support many shelves in city offices.
Where is our SimCity Phoenix (Reinvent version)? Shouldn't the tools produced from this process be electronic, customizable, dynamic? This tool can also assist in identifying areas that a developer or business owner would consider by entering parameters that they are able to work with or are looking for. Civic leaders (citizens, city staff and elected) can use this tool to understand the consequences of various decisions of ROW designs, parking requirements, water retention, FARs, use types, etc. Crowd sourcing from professional public and interested citizens can leverage the limited resources we have available at the city. (look for a future post on electronic modeling and simulators to go into more detail)
Where is econ development, transportation, utilities departments in this process?
What are DPZ's accomodation needs for the remainder of the process? Are hotel rooms adequate, do they need extended stay suites, is an office desired? We can do a lot in 4 months with what we have to make this stuff work. Put us to the test to see how we can mobilize!
If DPZ wanted to show commitment to this process, they can invest in phoenix: mixed use HQ location close to a station with suites above an office with conference room(s), drop in offices, zip car/car share; 1 week in hotel room would pay for 1 suite at HQ; since the process is dynamic and needs to have continued support, input, adjustment, advocacy as it progresses, having a location on the ground where the players can base and meet can be appropriate. A library of resources to tap into what the university has created. Access to research, reports, tools, data that is held by the university. A decision center where people can bring their laptops/iPads and connect to the network and video conference with other disciplines in other areas to resolve issues.
Levels of detail: system, connecting stations to surrounding areas, bike distance, walk distance; have the larger system and station connections presented in way that anyone at any time can learn about it before the station area planning workshops/charette.
We probably bit off too much by trying to take on 3 stations and surrounding communities (Gateway/44th St/24th st) without looking at what the immediate (1/4 mile) area needs to be like in order to be successful. We need to have the team back here before August to get on the ground views of various aspects of the city so they get and understand the unique aspects that need to be accounted for in their recommendations.
What are the services that each station area needs to have? What are the residential and worker concentrations that are required to make those services viable? What are the economic demographics necessary to begin the process and how are those attracted to a transitional area? How do local businesses and entrepreneurs fit into the picture of pioneering a transitional area? Where are the greenways/greenbelts, schools, parks, public plazas?
If we concentrate on figuring out how to maximize the small development scale so that local developers, construction companies, investors, can take part in this transformation, what does that look like (with the remainder of the concentrations/intensities brought by larger developments?
What does a transitional block look like: going from vacant land or small buildings to small mixed use with parking, to infill with larger projects on surface parking lots? What services can be sustainably be provided during those transition periods?
What does industrial look like when it is incorporated into a pedestrian friendly and TOD oriented area?
At what point does a streetcar type mode circulating between 38th street and 24 street stations along Van Buren and Air Ln start to make sense? Connecting workers to their employment where stations are too far to walk is key to reducing car parking needs.
Are there any ideal ROW (from property line to property line) sizes that can accomodate the maximum flexibility while allowing for the feel at the pedestrian scale to be its best without restricting access where needed?
Washington west to 26th street: protected bike lanes with medians between turn lane bumpouts
What does a properly designed ROW zone look like when landscaped properly for pedestrians, bikes, cars, and delivery? Our trees need more help then we provide; what will that look like when they are treated equally to pavement?
Econ Dev Bike tours: show private and public leaders where the opportunities are from a biking/pedestrian level. We need to get the decision makers out on the ground at all times of the year to get what is needed and how these impacts are felt.
Here are a smattering of concers and questions that have come to mind as I have participated in the various stages of the Reinvent Phoenix process, with the charette with DPZ this past week being the latest and furthest along component of the process.
I am very concerned that there is no time spent to get to know our unique conditions, situations, ammenities, and challenges that don't occur anywhere else in the US. Without this step, we will get a cookie cutter set of recommendations in a format that is consistent with the reports and books of last century formats that support many shelves in city offices.
Where is our SimCity Phoenix (Reinvent version)? Shouldn't the tools produced from this process be electronic, customizable, dynamic? This tool can also assist in identifying areas that a developer or business owner would consider by entering parameters that they are able to work with or are looking for. Civic leaders (citizens, city staff and elected) can use this tool to understand the consequences of various decisions of ROW designs, parking requirements, water retention, FARs, use types, etc. Crowd sourcing from professional public and interested citizens can leverage the limited resources we have available at the city. (look for a future post on electronic modeling and simulators to go into more detail)
Where is econ development, transportation, utilities departments in this process?
What are DPZ's accomodation needs for the remainder of the process? Are hotel rooms adequate, do they need extended stay suites, is an office desired? We can do a lot in 4 months with what we have to make this stuff work. Put us to the test to see how we can mobilize!
If DPZ wanted to show commitment to this process, they can invest in phoenix: mixed use HQ location close to a station with suites above an office with conference room(s), drop in offices, zip car/car share; 1 week in hotel room would pay for 1 suite at HQ; since the process is dynamic and needs to have continued support, input, adjustment, advocacy as it progresses, having a location on the ground where the players can base and meet can be appropriate. A library of resources to tap into what the university has created. Access to research, reports, tools, data that is held by the university. A decision center where people can bring their laptops/iPads and connect to the network and video conference with other disciplines in other areas to resolve issues.
Levels of detail: system, connecting stations to surrounding areas, bike distance, walk distance; have the larger system and station connections presented in way that anyone at any time can learn about it before the station area planning workshops/charette.
We probably bit off too much by trying to take on 3 stations and surrounding communities (Gateway/44th St/24th st) without looking at what the immediate (1/4 mile) area needs to be like in order to be successful. We need to have the team back here before August to get on the ground views of various aspects of the city so they get and understand the unique aspects that need to be accounted for in their recommendations.
What are the services that each station area needs to have? What are the residential and worker concentrations that are required to make those services viable? What are the economic demographics necessary to begin the process and how are those attracted to a transitional area? How do local businesses and entrepreneurs fit into the picture of pioneering a transitional area? Where are the greenways/greenbelts, schools, parks, public plazas?
If we concentrate on figuring out how to maximize the small development scale so that local developers, construction companies, investors, can take part in this transformation, what does that look like (with the remainder of the concentrations/intensities brought by larger developments?
What does a transitional block look like: going from vacant land or small buildings to small mixed use with parking, to infill with larger projects on surface parking lots? What services can be sustainably be provided during those transition periods?
What does industrial look like when it is incorporated into a pedestrian friendly and TOD oriented area?
At what point does a streetcar type mode circulating between 38th street and 24 street stations along Van Buren and Air Ln start to make sense? Connecting workers to their employment where stations are too far to walk is key to reducing car parking needs.
Are there any ideal ROW (from property line to property line) sizes that can accomodate the maximum flexibility while allowing for the feel at the pedestrian scale to be its best without restricting access where needed?
Washington west to 26th street: protected bike lanes with medians between turn lane bumpouts
What does a properly designed ROW zone look like when landscaped properly for pedestrians, bikes, cars, and delivery? Our trees need more help then we provide; what will that look like when they are treated equally to pavement?
Econ Dev Bike tours: show private and public leaders where the opportunities are from a biking/pedestrian level. We need to get the decision makers out on the ground at all times of the year to get what is needed and how these impacts are felt.
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