SDAT Presentation for Downtown Hilo
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Transcript of SDAT Presentation for Downtown Hilo
Hilo, Hawai‘i - SDAT Team Presentation and Recommendations
May 5 – 7, 2009
The Sustainable Design Assessment Teamprogram provides broad assessments to help
frame future policies and sustainability solutions.
What is an SDAT?
SDAT principals:
•Multi-Disciplinary Team•Objective Outsiders•Community Participation
Three Elements of Sustainability
• Environmental Stewardship
• Social Equity• Economic
Development/Growth
Environment
EquityEconomics
Sense of Place
Physical Basisfor Prosperity
Demand for Products and
Services
COMMUNITY SUSTAINABILITYAll planning decisions must be
assessed based on all three elements- advances in only one, to the detriment of the others, is not sustainable.
Checklist of Issues
Social:Housing / Affordability
Public SpacesEthnic / Racial Issues
DemographicIncome Shifts
EducationSense of Community / PlacePedestrian / Bicycle Options
Access to Jobs / HousingManaging Growth
Economic:Revitalization
DiversityJobs
Public ServicesPublic Policy / Planning
Agricultural PreservationTraffic Congestion
Transportation
Environmental:Air Quality
Water Quality / QuantityOpen Spaces
Wildlife Habitat / Wetlands
Rivers / Streams / BayFlooding and Drought
Natural DisasterTransit and Land Use
Energy Efficiency
The Heart of Hilo
THERE WAS A TIME WHEN THE MOUNTAINS OF HILO WERE BANNED FROM REACHING
HILO’S SEAS
THE STREAMS THAT ONCE NOURISHED HILO’S HEART HAD NOWHERE TO GO AND AFTER MANY YEARS – THEY
DRIED UP
THE FISH WERE NOT ABLE TO REACH THE SEAS
SO THE SEA BIRDS LEFT HILO FOR THE OTHER ISLANDS IN
SEARCH OF FOOD
OVER THE YEARS HILO’S HEART - PIKO HARDENED…WHERE THERE WAS ONCE ALOHA, THERE WAS FIRE -
AHI AND SMOKE -UAHI
…ONE DAY, THEN THE MAKANI AHE AHE WINDS
BLEW INTO HILO
THE MAKANI BROUGHT ALONG WITH IT THE
FLOWERS OF THE ‘ŌHI‘A-LEHUA TREE THAT HELD THE
‘ANO‘ANO (SEEDS) OF CHANGE
THESE SEEDS FILLED THE CRACKS THAT COVERED
HILO’S HEART
…THE MAKANI ALSO BLEW IN THE AO PANOPANO RAIN
CLOUDS……AND IT RAINED FOR MANY
MANY DAYS….
…IT RAINED SO MUCH THAT THE SEEDS GREW INTO BEAUTIFUL TREES….THE RIVERS KAHAWAI
OVERFLOWED AND TORE UP HILO’S HARD COVER…THE HARD COVER FLOWED TOWARDS THE
OCEAN AND BREACHED THE BARRIERS …
…AS THE MOUNTAINS REACHED TOWARDS THE
SEAS…FISH PONDS DOTTED THE ISLAND ONCE
AGAIN…THE SEABIRDS RETURNED…AND FLOCKED
THE MANY TREES THAT NOW ADORNED HILO’S HEART
…AND ONCE AGAIN HILO’S HEART WAS FILLED WITH
ALOHA AND GRATITUDE….
Defining SustainabilityHawaiian Tradition of Subsistence
Kua‘aina: Respect the resources and the spirits of the land, forest and ocean.
Take only what is needed from the land, ocean and nature.
Defining SustainabilityHawaiian Tradition of Subsistence
Hō‘ailona: Observe the natural signs important for a sense of direction and well being.
Respect and protect knowledge and skill that has been passed down inter-generationally.
Defining SustainabilityHawaiian Tradition of Subsistence
Cultural Kīpuka: Sharing + redistribution of resources creates a social environment that cultivates community kinship ties, and support, as well as care for the elderly and prescribed roles for youth.
Defining SustainabilityHawaiian Tradition of Subsistence
Lōkahi: Unity, harmony, balance.Time spent in the natural environment develops a strong sense of environmental kinship that is the foundation of Hawaiian spirituality.
Defining SustainabilityHawaiian Tradition of Subsistence
Wahi pana: Develop stewardship and reinforce knowledge about the landscape, place-names, meanings and ancient sites.
Historic Preservation & Sustainability
• Historic Buildings tell a story of a time in Hilo when we used less energy and resources
• Ultimate in recycling• Saves embodied energy• Reduces waste stream
to landfill
Building Elements
• Tall first floors provide natural light deeper into the building
• Ventilation in upper walls provide natural ventilation
Building Elements
• Canopies protect from rain and sun• All elements create a distinctive Hilo streetscape
& promote pedestrian activity
Building Elements
• Mixed uses promote economic activity• Emotional attachments
Codes vs Revitalization • Existing codes (zoning, building,
urban design guidelines, storm management) make it difficult to restore old buildings
• Create new code(s) for downtown– Form based code(s) for new
buildings– Designate downtown an historic
landmark district – Specify alternate methods, existing
Building Code• Education
Tsunamis • Tsunamis have changed the shape of
Hilo and may do so again.• Hilo has done a good job to make
people safe.
Resiliency
“Resiliency means accepting that this is going to happen at some point in the future, and planning for it today”
Everyone wants to keep Hilo, Hilo
But, what does this mean?
But, what does this mean?
•“Old Hawai‘i”•For residents—not tourists
•A living place—for many people & activities
•Not about the chain store, but the local merchant
Many of you do not want Change.
Others of you want lots of it.
Truth is, you either get the Change you plan for, or the Change that
just comes.
The EDH 2025 Plan calls for a number of initiatives for Renewal & Growth
A few guiding suggestions.
The Place as a Brand.
Is this shoe more desirable?
Or, maybe this one?
A brand is an assortment of expectations established by the seller that, once fulfilled, forms a covenant with its buyers. A brand
covenant is an implicit guarantee that what consumers see is what they get.
What is the brand for Downtown Hilo?
scale…material….height…views…a family of styles…..culture & attitude.
First principle: That which you do not legally protect you will likely lose.
Second principle: That which you do not define as future development you will likely not get.
and
Third principle: Strong retail is inherently more sustainable
Fourth principle: Strong LOCAL brands can be sold to the world.
Fourth principle:strongLOCAL brands can be sold to the world.
Fourth principle: Strong LOCAL brands can be sold to the world.
The Goals: • Become known globally as the "True Hawai‘i", the place where Paradise is lived everyday.
• Develop portals for delivering "True Hawai‘i" to shoppers of the world.
Protecting & Projecting Downtown Hilo Through Codes
Recommendation 1: Protect history and guide development with a form-based code
QuickTime™ and a decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
Recommendation 1: Protect history and guide development with a form-based code
Recommendation 1: Protect history and guide development with a form-based code
Recommendation 1: Protect history and guide development with a form-based code
View Downtown Hilo as a series of Districts
Heart of Hilo
EntertainmentDistrict
Art + Culture
MarketDistrict
Hilo Youth
Teens | College Students | Young Adults
What we heard
Center for Youth Community
Sense of Safety and Welcome
Hangouts for Teens after school
Offerings for University Students
Connecting Youth with Downtown Hilo
High School
Middle School
Elem.School
Connections
Private Schools
Private Schools
Park
Boys+GirlsClub
Housing and Economic Development
• Make downtown family/youth friendly• Restrooms• Youth zone• Sports, arts, activities• Hang outs• Safety, eyes of community• Lighting
Urban Space for Youth
• Housing and economic development• What kind• Where• How• Infill and live /work units• Downtown residents will enhance Hilo.
– People can live where there are few stores, but stores cannot exist where there are few people.
Housing Accessibility
• Mixed-use residential/other housing• Live work units and co-housing• Single small units• Mixed unit sizes• Courtyard community
Mixed Use
Housing Options
• Communal arrangements• symbiotic
• Homelessness• Type of homeless• Detox center• What do they need• Screening (for drugs, illness, or even
vision)
Social Equity
• Access for disabled– Progress has been made– Some rough areas
• Change Sidewalks to volcanic surface– Chance to unify image while reducing slick
surfaces
Universal Design
• Pedestrian friendly sidewalk design• Volcanic surfacing• Re-do rough spots• Ties in to lighting and image• Move Bayfront highway
Universal Design
• Financing and incentives• Free short term parking• Tax abatements for added value• Tax abatements for housing
Economic Incentives
Sustainable connections
FOUR PRINCIPLES
• Downtown is a Destination• The Street Network Must Connect, not
Divide• Streets are for Everybody• Distinct Parking Strategies for each User
1. Hilo’s Downtown is a Destination• It is not a place to Go To not
Pass Through• It is a place to experience• A place that revives all our
senses• A place where “Life Slows and
Community Grows”• That is Downtown Hilo
• Therefore connections to the Downtown must flow into the area not rush by
• Slow traffic is safe, good for business, and uses less energy
• Slow traffic also allows for many modes of travel – on foot, in strollers, wheelchairs, bicycles
CIVICCENTER AIRPORT
TOUNIVERSITY
TOHARBOR
EXISTINGFISH
POND
TRANSIT CENTER
POTENTIALNEW FISH
POND
POTENTIALNEW FISH
POND
POTENTIALNEW FISH
POND
REGIONALTRANSIT
LOOP
SCHOOLS REGIONALGATEWAY
REGIONALGATEWAY
DOWNTOWN
REGIONALBIKE PATH
HOTELS
2. The Street Network Must Connect - Not Divide
• Create new connections into Downtown• Embrace the waterfront where it does not• Make connections where they do not exist• Strengthen pedestrian connections where
they are weak
3. Streets for EverybodyUNIVERSAL DESIGN• Kūpuna• Children• Bicyclists• Strollers• Sampans• Transit
4. Distinct Parking Strategies• PAID VERSUS FREE• 30 MIN VERSUS ALL-
DAY• PARKING TARGETS
– Residents– Visitors / Tourists– Employees
Transit Center
Sewer and
Energy
ParkingDistrict
Long TermParking
Vision Plan for Downtown Hilo
KEAWE
PONOHAWAII
Actions to Consider• Simplify and consolidate waterfront roads• Develop a plan for parking that allows for shared parking lots,
paid parking, timed parking• Establish a close-in shuttle system (sampans?) that connects
commuter parking, and park and ride lots to downtown businesses
• Establish a larger shuttle system that connects to remote activities such as the harbor, airport, and university to Downtown
• Create a wide, safe, and well-designed bike route to Downtown
• Consider pedestrian friendly road designs such as woonerfsor ‘shared space’ roadways
• Consider returning Keawe and Kino‘ole back to a two-way system
• Relocate the Transit Center to a nearby upland location
What happens next with the SDAT?
• 2-3 Months: SDAT Report delivered to the community
• Up to 12 Months: Conference Calls• 12 Months: Visit & Assessment
AIA Center for Communities by Design: Contact Information
www.aia.org/[email protected]
AIA National ComponentCenter for Communities by Design
1735 New York Avenue NWWashington, DC 20006-5292