The Eastern Gateway: Spatial Strategies for the Capitol East Neighborhood, Des Moines, Iowa.

THE

EASTERN GATEWAYSPATIAL STRATEGIES FOR THE CAPITOL EAST NEIGHBORHOODDES MOINES, IA

1 INTRODUCTION

2 INVENTORY & ANALYSIS Neighborhood History Historic Change Downtown Axis Figure Ground Hill Shade & Topography Impervious Surfaces Zoning Land Use Open Space Greenway & Trail Connections Nonconforming Lots Ownership Sale History & Square Footage Architectural Styles Building Condition Infrastructure Condition Zones of Greatest Need Assets

23 STRATEGIES Create Corridor Create Networks Create Blocks Create Identity

32 CREATE NODES

41 SCENARIOS

51 CONCLUSION

53 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

ISU Communi ty Des ign Lab

CONTENTS

INVENTORY & ANALYSISCAPITOL EAST NEIGHBORHOODDES MOINES, IA

Des Moines Capitol East neighborhood is one of three neighborhoods on the east bank of the Des Moines River that have recently gone through the Citys Neighborhood Revitalization Program. It is part of the Viva East Bank! neighborhood coalition along with the Capitol Park and Martin Luther King Jr. Park neighborhoods. This report articulates spatial strategies and options for Capitol East based on goals and priorities from the 2014 Capitol East Neighborhood Charter Plan Update, prepared by students and faculty from the Iowa State University Community and Regional Planning Department in cooperation with the Capitol East Neighborhood Association and the City of Des Moines.

Historical documents show that Capitol East was originally part of the Des Moines downtown core, located at the eastern end of a continuous grid terminating in the west with the recently revitalized Western Gateway area. Capitol East today is, however, a spatial island, cut off by Interstate 235 and the Iowa State Capitol Grounds. Strategies presented in this report reconnect Capitol East to the historic and contemporary fabrics of Des Moines, using spatial strategies including nodes, corridors, networks, and blocks to integrate the neighborhood plan priorities of housing, infrastructure, youth, community building, and economic development.

These strategies build on existing assets and reveal hidden opportunities; they provide spatial guidelines for the integration and prioritization of specific spatial projects. During the next phase of work, the CDL will partner with local artists, organizations, and ISU classes to engage specific catalyst sites through temporary and permanent installations and designs.


INTRODUCTION

1

NEIGHBORHOODHISTORYCapitol East is one of Des Moines oldest neighborhoods, with the first modern development happening in the late 19th century. Many of its early residents came from prestigious East Side families, living in large homes near the State Capitol. The historic residential fabric of the neighborhood surrounded the capitol building, which at the time occupied a single city block. The erosion of this fabric began with the expansion of the Capitol Grounds in 1913 that included boulevards to the east and west and a plaza to the south. This residential fabric disappeared over time as the capitol complex expanded with new construction and landscaping, eventually turning its back on the Capitol East neighborhood to face the west and downtown Des Moines.

During the 1913 Capitol Grounds Expansion, houses were demolished and relocated to other parts of the neighborhood. A piece of land, called Governors Square and now encircled by East 14th and 15th Streets and East Walnut and the former alley between Dean Avenue and Court Avenue, was reserved for the construction of a Governors mansion. This vision never came to fruition due to a lack of funding, and thirty houses near the original capitol were relocated to this property and remain there in the present.

After World War II, the dominance of the automobile led to the construction of internally focused office buildings and parking lots in the area surrounding the capitol. On the east side of the Capitol, the 1968 Grimes Building terminated the east boulevard, which has been largely replaced by surface parking lots. The lack of pedestrian-scaled buildings and open spaces surrounding the Capitol now cut Capitol East off on the west, creating a barrier between the neighborhood and areas to the west.

2

1899 Map of Des Moines, Tates Atlas of Des MoinesSource: The University of Iowa Libraries: Iowa Digital Library, http://digital.lib.uiowa.edu/cdm/landingpage/collection/atlases

1913 Iowa State Capitol Grounds ExpansionSource: Edgar R. Harlan, Proposed Improvement of the Iowa State Capitol Grounds, Annals of Iowa (XI:2-3), 104.


3

HISTORICCHANGEDesignated in 1963 by the Des Moines City Council as the John MacVicar Freeway in honor of two former mayors, Interstate 235 further separated Capitol East from the neighborhoods to the north. Opened in 1968, I-235 improved transportation between central Des Moines and expanding suburbs to the west and north but cut apart historic working class neighborhoods including Capitol East.

While U.S. Highway 69 has followed East 14th Street since 1926, it has been subsequently expanded multiple times to facilitate the north-south flow of automobile traffic. East 14th and 15th Streets have both been expanded and designated as one-way streets as they pass through Capitol East, creating another barrier on the west side of the neighborhood.

From the 1950s to the 1970s, Dutch Elm disease wiped out the existing tree canopy of the neighborhood, which was planted as a neighborhood effort at the end of the 19th century. What was once a connected, interwoven neighborhood, became an island, separated from the rest of the city by various natural and human-made physical conditions.

1960s Aerial Photo, Pre Interstate 235Source: Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Iowa Geographic Map Server

1970s Aerial Photo, Post Interstate 235Source: Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Iowa Geographic Map Server

1990s Aerial Photo, Vegetation Re-establishing Throughout the NeighborhoodSource: Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Iowa Geographic Map Server

1965 Aerial Photo, Post Interstate 235 Source: Lost Des Moines

4DOWNTOWN AXIS

Des Moines historic grid sits on a tilted axis that extends from the Western Gateway at 18th Street/Fleur Drive to East 18th Street in the Capitol East neighborhood. Capitol Easts location within this grid indicates that the neighborhood is part of the original development of downtown Des Moines.

The grid shifts to a true north-south pattern at East 18th Street, creating a bookend to the downtown core and making the neighborhood a prime location for an Eastern Gateway. In addition to being a gateway for central Des Moines, Capitol East also serves as a gateway for the Capitol building and surrounding complex. The Capitol East Neighborhood Plan states that this connection to the Capitol and downtown Des Moines is important to residents in the neighborhood. They want to highlight this with a physical gateway to welcome visitors and newcomers.

The Capitol East community has a vibrant and diverse population that includes many ethnic groups. According to the Capitol East Neighborhood Plan, the neighborhood has a history as a gateway for immigrants where new arrivals make their first home upon moving to Des Moines. Today this is reflected by the growth of the local Latino community, visible particularly in the commercial district along Grand Avenue which contains many Latino-owned small businesses.

5This drawing shows buildings (the figures) in black against the white of open space (the ground), with the neighborhood highlighted in beige. The large white spaces surrounding the neighborhood reveal how Capitol East is disconnected from its surrounding context. On the north, Interstate 235 interrupts the historic street patterns that once linked the Capitol East, Capitol Park, and Martin Luther King Jr. Park neighborhoods. The railroad to the east creates a smaller gap, but as it curves to the south the rail yard along with industrial development and dramatic change in topography create disconnection on the south side of the neighborhood.

To the west, the low-density zone of civic and commercial development surrounding the Iowa State Capitol contains large open tracts of land and vast parking lots. This breaks the continuity that once existed between Capitol East, the State Capitol, and the East Village, ultimately isolating Capitol East as a spatial island.


FIGURE-GROUND

6Community Housing Initiatives : Capitol East ISU Community Design LabSpatial Strategies 07.16.2014

0 150 300 600

N

E COURT AVE

VINE ST

E 18

TH S

T

E 19

TH S

T

SE 1

4TH

ST

E 17

TH S

T

E 16

TH S

T

E 15

TH S

T

JOHN

SON

CT

E 14

TH S

T

DEAN AVE

BURSON ST

CLAYPOOL ST

E WALNUT AV

E

REDH

EAD R

D

CAPITOL AVE

E GRAND AV

E

DES MOINES

ST

HUBB

ELL AV

E

LYON ST

235

69

HILL-SHADE

This hill-shade model uses shading based on topography to highlight the northeasterly slope of Capitol East, roughly following the original city grid. It also points out the high point of the capitol grounds and the abrupt edge that occurs at the south edge of the neighborhood where glacial deposits separate the high residential area from the low industrial land along the Des Moines River to the south. In addition, this map visually shows how the interstate on the north side of the neighborhood creates the equivalent of a topographic barrier.

Through the outreach efforts done to create the Capitol East Neighborhood Plan, attention was brought to problems with flooding and sitting water in the areas south of Court Avenue. Because of the terrain in that area and the lack of appropriate storm water systems, the area is inundated during heavy rains.

InterstateEmbankment

Steep Slope Down to Railway

General Stormwater

Flow Direction

7ISU Communi ty Des ign Lab

Impervious surfaces are areas covered in material that water cannot penetrate such as concrete and asphalt. Compacted soil in urban areas can also be highly impervious. Impervious surfaces shaded in black on this map consist of streets, sidewalks, alleys, parking lots, and rooftops.

Within Capitol East, the map reveals how the intensity and density of impervious surfaces increase around the East Grand Avenue and HWY 69 commercial corridors as well as the industrial zone on the eastern edge of the neighborhood. This happens because of parking lots and large building roofs. Outside the neighborhood, the Capitol Complex also contains large buildings and parking lots that produce considerable stormwater run-off. Since the topography of the area falls downhill to the east, the Capitol Complex run-off flows into Capitol East, potentially creating problems with flooding particularly in areas that lack storm sewers.

IMPERVIOUSSURFACES

8ZONING

It is beneficial to view zoning and land use together to see how the city has envisioned the layout of the neighborhood along with how the community has actually developed.

The zoning map highlights the commercial corridor along Grand Avenue and the industrial belt on the eastern edge of the neighborhood. On the west side of the neighborhood, the area between East 14th and 15th Streets (Highway 69) shows a higher density area of commercial and multi-family residential uses. The core of the neighborhood is low-density residential.

For future development, the East Grand Avenue corridor has great potential for commercial, residential and mixed-use opportunities that build on existing uses.

Zoning ClassificationsR1-60 One-Family Low-Density Residential DistrictR-2 One & Two Family Residential DistrictR-2A General Residential DistrictR-3 Multiple-Family Residential DistrictR-4 Multiple-Family Residential DistrictNPC Neighborhood Pedestrian Commercial DistrictC-1 Neighborhood Retail Commercial DistrictC-2 General Retail & Highway Oriented Commercial DistrictM-1 Light Industrial DistrictM-2 Heavy Industrial District

9ISU Communi ty Des ign Lab

The land use patterns in Capitol East show that the majority of the neighborhood is residential. Even the commercial and industrial corridors that help define the neighborhood character are broken up by patches of residential land uses that include single family homes, single family homes converted into two or more units, and larger multi-unit apartment buildings.

The combination of commercial and multi-family land use between East 14th and East 15th Streets (Highway 69) adds to the barrier between the neighborhood and downtown Des Moines because of its parking lots and high traffic and building density. This barrier is in place not only because of the highway but also the Capitol complex, and creates a lack of connection and accessibility for pedestrians.

LAND USE

10

OPEN SPACE

Capitol East has three parks: Stewart Square, Ashfield Park, and Redhead Park. Each has a significant amount of open space and amenities that could be enhanced through a more interconnected green network. This could include:

Capitol View Elementary School grounds A large quanitity of sidewalks, separated from the

road by a vegetated right-of-way Green buffer zones that line the railway and

interstate infrastructure Undeveloped, vacant parcels of land scattered

throughout the neighborhood

Enhancement and expansion of these open spaces could include native plantings and improved infrastructure. Creating connections between these spaces could lead to a significant green network for the neighborhood. This would not only improve walkability and make the neighborhood beautiful but would also help manage stormwater.

11


Des Moines has a wealth of natural amenities, parks, and trails that offer many healthy lifestyle opportunities for city residents. The Principal Riverwalk, Grays Lake Park, Water Works Park, and the Clive Greenbelt draw residents from Des Moines and surrounding communities. Local and regional trail systems connect these amenitites and also provide access to many other key cultural and commercial amenities in Des Moines and elsewhere in Central Iowa.

Linking to this network would not only give Capitol East residents better access to Des Moines amenities but could also make Capitol East a more desirable place to explore, shop, eat, and live. Drawing visitors to Capitol East would not only boost the economic activity of the neighborhood but also attract new residents. Studies conducted in Omaha, Colorado, Delaware, and many other locations indicate that proximity to trails increases property values and saleability while also decreasing crime.

GREENWAY &TRAIL CONNECTIONS

12

NON-CONFORMINGLOTSBecause the neighborhood was platted before the adoption of current city codes, the majority of residential parcels in Capitol East do not meet current size and bulk requirements as described in Article 3-Divison 5-Section 134-414 of the City of Des Moines Zoning Code.

These parcels, which make up 65% of the single-family residential parcels in Capitol East, are located throughout the neighborhood and do not show any clear pattern of distribution. Even though they do not meet current code requirements, these lots can still be built upon as long as they are lots of record. This may, however, require additional review processes.

13


The ratio of renters to homeowners in Capitol East is approximately equal. While this ratio is not necessarily problemmatic, care should be taken to maintain this ratio within single-family residential areas.

The Capitol East Neighborhood Plan states that purchasing housing in the neighborhood is less expensive than renting. Many households may not, however, be able to purchase a home due to lack of savings or good credit history.

Information shown in this map is based on data from the Polk County Assessor. Properties whose owners addresses do not match the property addresses are indicated as rental.

OWNERSHIP

14

SALE HISTORY& SQUARE FOOTAGEBetween 2013 and 2014, sixty properties in Capitol East were sold. This constitutes approximately 10% of the total amount of properties in the neighborhood. Home prices in this neighborhood average $45,000. At the time this map was created, eighteen homes were for sale. The majority of homes for sale and that had recently sold were concentrated in the eastern and central region of the neighborhood.


15

A handful of the homes in the neighborhood, a couple of districts, and the neighborhood as a whole were submitted to the National Register of Historic Places in 2002 Using information from the report In the Shadow of the State Capitol, we have identified five historically significant housing styles. These are scattered throughout Capitol East and each style includes several subcategories. The five styles are Gable Front, Bungalow, Foursquare, Cottage, and Victorian. Of these, Gable Front and Cottage are the most prominent in the neighborhood. There are also a sizable quantity of Foursquare and Bungalow homes.

Throughout this eclectic neighborhood there are homes that provide excellent examples of the qualities and characteristics of these historic styles. While the condition of these houses varies considerably, it is recommended that these exemplary models be targeted for renovation rather than demolition and/or rebuilding.

ARCHITECTURAL STYLES

16

ARCHITECTURALSTYLESThis image shows the homes in the neighborhood that were submitted to the National Register of Historic Places in 2002 (Information found in In the Shadow of the State Capitol, City of Des Moines Community Development Department). These homes were categorized by architectural style as listed below:

ItalianateQueen AnneColonial RevivalDutch Colonial RevivalTudor RevivalVernacular CottageGable FrontGambrel FrontShotgunSide Hall PlanGabled EllI-HouseL-PlanT-PlanCross PlanBungalowAeroplane BungalowAmerican FoursquareMinimal Traditional CottageDuplexRow HouseApartment House

These categories were combined based on similar features to create the five styles shown on the following page.

17


The traditional architectural character of the neighborhood has maintained its diversity of style. The city of Des Moines and many area residents already value the preservation, restoration, and awareness of historic architecture. Awareness of the significant architecture within the Capitol East neighborhood would enhance preservation efforts throughout the city and attract the interest of residents and visitors.

At the left are the five most typical home styles found in the Capitol East neighborhood. An example of the overall form, an image of a home from the neighborhood, and a description of the style are included.

BUNGALOW The defining characteristic of this style is a one-story floor plan with a porch and the option of livable attic space. The roof system can be a front gable or side gable, which must minimize the presence of a livable second floor. Walls should terminate at the first floor with the exception of the gables and dormers. Overall this style should have a horizontal feeling. Many houses feature multiple colors and materials for ornamentation. (Pictured : 1534 Des Moines Street)

GABLE FRONT Many homes in the neighborhood are in this style. The two defining characteristics of this style are the gable front roof and a gable end entrance. A gambrel roof system is also popular in this neighborhood. Most homes feature a front porch with either a hip or gable roof. This style is typically 24 feet wide. Many also feature a full or broken pediment in the upper portion of the gable end walls. (Pictured : 1718 East Walnut Street)

COTTAGE This style contains an eclectic mix of vernacular elements. Vernacular architecture was influenced by regional climate, availability of building materials, and cultural or traditional values. A mixture of gable and hip roof systems are typical of this style. Floor plans are typically small, with a maximum of three bedrooms. Ornamentation and materials used are very simple. (Pictured : 1748 Capitol Avenue)

FOURSQUARE This style is also known as a Foursquare. The defining characteristic for this style is a square-shaped form with four rooms completing the main level floor plan. Most are two-story buildings with a porch. The most popular roof system for this style is the hip with the addition of dormers, but gable fronts are also used. Ornamentation is found over windows and doorways. The material palette is simple.(Pictured : 1726 Logan Avenue)

VICTORIAN All Victorian houses in the neighborhood are of the Queen Anne style. This style focuses on exterior variety through the use of asymmetrical form. Homes may have gabled or hip roofs or a combination. Wrap-around porches are also common. Thin and delicate ornamentation with much variety in color and material, especially at the gable ends and porch pediments, are important components of this style. (Pictured : 1409 East Walnut Street)

ARCHITECTURALSTYLES

18

Property assessment based on Polk County Assessor reports shows an accumulation of Below Normal to Very Poor condition properties and properties deemed Nuisance Properties by the City of Des Moines in four locations:

Along the East Grand Avenue corridor In a north-south corridor from Des Moines Street

to Dean Avenue On the southwest corner of the neighborhood

along Hwy 69 In the industrial belt bordering Redhead Park

This information identifies the areas most in need of redevelopment. Without a focus on redevelopment of these areas in need, the Capitol East Neighborhood Plan suggests it may significantly affect the neighborhoods ability to improve itself or to attract new development in the future, whether it be residential or commercial.

How a property becomes labeled a nuisance: An official complaint is filed. A city inspector investigates. The property owner and neighborhood leaders are notified. The inspector posts a notice on the front door that the home is unsafe. The City Council, acting as the citys board of health, orders its lawyer to file court papers that declare the home a public nuisance. A court hearing is scheduled. The city contacts owners to ask whether they will agree to renovate the property. Inspectors ask council members for permission to demolish. (Source: Des Moines Register)

BUILDINGCONDITION

19


INFRASTRUCTURECONDITIONMapping of infrastructure condition and accidents involving pedestrians does not clearly single out an area of concern. As a whole Capitol East is in need of infrastructure improvements. This information does, however, reveal the intensity of accidents along East Grand Avenue, Hubbell Avenue, East 14th Street, and East 15th Street due to their heavy traffic flows and lack of safe pedestrian access. Lack of or poor condition of sidewalks in many areas further exacerbates this situation.

To address these accident areas, the Capitol East Neighborhood Plan proposes to decrease accidents and increase safety by implementing a Safe Routes to School Program, improving crosswalk infrastructure, and working with the City of Des Moines to implement streetscaping for traffic-calming purposes. Linking these improvements to bicycle routes, new sidewalks, and green infrastructure can also further reduce accidents while improving the condition of exiting infrastructure.

Accident and infrastructure data seen on this map came from a combination of data found in the Capitol East Neighborhood Plan and a visual survey completed by the Community Design Lab during the summer of 2014.

20

Combining the zones with the greatest infrastructure improvement needs and the greatest building improvement needs highlights key areas to target for overall neighborhood revitalization. Overlaying the building and infrastructure condition maps reveals four zones with greatest need of improvements:

The East Grand Avenue corridor including the south side of Des Moines Street

The block immediately adjacent to the east side of Redhead Park

A short corridor between East 16th Street and East 17th Street from Capitol Avenue to Dean Avenue

A node on the southwest corner of the neighborhood where Hwy 69 divides

ZONES OFGREATEST NEED

21


ASSETS

In addition to identifying needs, we also established criteria to help identify existing neighorhood assets that can help prioritize where community development and revitalization work can have greatest impact:

Where could catalyst projects be the most visible? What opportunities and amenities exist in the

community? Where are job opportunities that could draw non-

residents into the neighborhood? What type of access exists to bring people into the

neighborhood? What access is there for residents to locations

beyond the neighborhood?

22

STRATEGIESCAPITOL EAST NEIGHBORHOODDES MOINES, IA

Using materials from the inventory and analysis phase of this project with data gathered in the 2013 Capitol East Neighborhood Plan, we established four spatial strategies to guide development and help achieve desired outcomes. These four strategies are: Corridor, Network, Blocks and Nodes.

These spatial strategies play to the existing strengths and needs of the neighborhood and identify locations for development and enhancements that can have the greatest impact on the neighborhood. Locations were chosen based on: Visibility to residents and non-residents Ability to encourage further development and

enhancements Availability and proximity of neighborhood assets and

resources such as public transportation and primary businesses

Areas in greater need of improvements Zones with greater quantity and variety of homes

featuring notable characteristics of historic housing styles


STRATEGIES

23

E COURT AVE

VINE ST

E 18

TH S

T

E 19

TH S

T

SE 1

4TH

ST

E 17

TH S

T

E 16

TH S

T

E 15

TH S

T

JOHN

SON

CT

E 14

TH S

T

DEAN AVE

BURSON ST

CLAYPOOL ST

E WALNUT AV

E

REDH

EAD R

D

CAPITOL AVE

E GRAND AV

E

DES MOINES

ST

HUBB

ELL AV

E

LYON ST

235

69

Community Housing Initiatives : Capitol East ISU Community Design LabSpatial Strategies 07.16.2014

0 150 300 600

N

LEGEND Neighborhood Boundary

Eastern Gateway CorridorEnhanced NetworkNeighborhood Connections / Gateway SignageLocal Development Areas

Nodes

E COURT AVE

VINE ST

E 18

TH S

T

E 19

TH S

T

SE 1

4TH

ST

E 17

TH S

T

E 16

TH S

T

E 15

TH S

T

JOHN

SON

CT

E 14

TH S

T

DEAN AVE

BURSON ST

CLAYPOOL ST

E WALNUT AV

E

REDH

EAD R

D

CAPITOL AVE

E GRAND AV

E

DES MOINES

ST

HUBB

ELL AV

E

LYON ST

235

69

Community Housing Initiatives : Capitol East ISU Community Design LabCreate Corridor 07.16.2014

0 300 600 1200

N

LEGEND CORRIDOR DEVELOPMENTNeighborhood BoundaryPark & School GroundsPrimary Corridor RouteSecondary Corridor RoutePrimary Corridor Development ZoneSecondary Corridor Development ZoneFeeder Streets

Capitol View Elementary

East Grand Avenue is a primary corridor running through Capitol East and connecting it to other parts of the city. The success of the commercial area on the north side of East Grand between East 15th Street and East 16th Street makes it a model for other areas along the corridor. This area contains culturally relevant businesses and wide sidewalks with off-street gathering spaces. The Capitol East Neighborhood Plan notes the untapped potential of the south side of East Grand Avenue. This area currently has many vacant lots that could provide the neighborhood plaza mentioned in the plan while also incorporating the informality of existing taco trucks alongside new businesses.

Updated streetscaping along East Grand could also extend beyond neighborhood boundaries and re-establish continuity with surrounding neighborhoods. Within Capitol East, the streetscape could contain branding elements to establish neighborhood identity such as banners and wayfinding signage.

Barriers to development along East Grand Avenue, identified by the Capitol East Neighborhood Plan, include insufficient street lighting, concerns regarding crime and safety, and a desire for ongoing business support. The Plan also adds that the corridor would benefit from a distinct urban design that captures the ethnic identity of the local businesses and creates a unique experience for potential patrons and visitors.

Another concern is the current economic standing of the neighborhood. A lack of disposable income among residents could limit the success of future commercial development. New business proposals should seek to attract clientele from both inside and outside the neighborhood and from a range of income levels.

ReimaginedInterstate

Underpass(p. 45)

STRATEGY ONECREATE CORRIDOR

24


STRATEGY ONECREATE CORRIDOR

25

RIVER BEND STREETSCAPE PLANDes Moines, Iowa

The 6th Avenue Corridor faces many challenges including: lack of adequate pedestrian facilities, safety issues due to excess and fast vehicle traffic, and poor visibility for drivers. To address these issues, the neighborhood and City of Des Moines have gone through a planning process to create a new streetscape plan for the corridor. The plan uses ideas based on the Complete Streets program, which takes a wide, multi-lane road, and pares it down to a typical two-lane road with a central turning lane. By reducing the number of lanes, there is space alongside the road to widen sidewalks, create outdoor spaces for business use, continue to keep parallel parking, add trees along the street edge, and create retention areas for stormwater run-off.

Sources : BNIM Architectshttp://www.epa.gov/dced/pdf/greencapitals/DesMoines.pdfhttp://www.smartgrowthamerica.org/complete-streets/

BIKE LONG BEACHLong Beach, California

The city of Long Beach, California has a local commitment to safe and convenient bike facilities. This commitment to bicycling, as an important part of the transportation system, is one piece of the Smart Growth America program, which aims to build urban, suburban, and rural communities with housing and transportation choices near jobs, shops, and schools to support local economies and protect the environment. This program values density, accessibility, and infill development, which also help create strong corridors within neighborhoods. Other pieces of the Smart Growth program include housing, business, economic prosperity, environment, healthy communities and people, and revitalization. The national organization Smart Growth America is dedicated to meeting their goals through research and advocacy.

Sources : http://www.smartgrowthamerica.org/2014/05/16/biking-means-business-in-long-beach-ca/http://www.smartgrowthamerica.org/what-is-smart-growth

GREENING AMERICAS CAPITALSLittle Rock, Arkansas

The Greening Americas Capitals program is part of the US Environmental Protection Agency, designed to help state capitals develop an implementable vision of distinctive, environmentally friendly neighborhoods that incorporate innovative green infrastructure strategies. This project is part of a larger plan to green downtown Baton Rouge. After selecting the route for the greenway, the City of Baton Rouge wanted to accommodate bicyclists and create attractive streets and public spaces that reflect Baton Rouges sense of place. The city also wanted to increase tree canopy, capture and hold stormwater, and improve natural habitat.

Source : http://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/pdf/GAC_LittleRock.pdf

SMART GROWTH AMERICAWashington, DC

The image above is an example of the Complete Streets program, which seeks to provide multiple forms of transportation for people. Complete Streets works well on main thoroughfares that contain both residential and commercial properties. The Grand Avenue corridor could be a prime location to consider implementing a Complete Streets corridor. This type of infrastructure could reduce car and pedestrian accidents by providing a comfortable pedestrian sidewalk condition through the use of street trees. This could also provide dedicated bicycle lanes for those wanting to use more sustainable and less expensive forms of transportation. The program encourages more walkable and bicycle-able communities, while still providing adequate parking and road lanes for vehicle traffic and public transportation. These strategies not only boost the economic vitality of the corridor but also make the neighborhood a more desireable place to live.

Source : http://www.smartgrowthamerica.org/complete-streets

E COURT AVE

VINE ST

E 18

TH S

T

E 19

TH S

T

SE 1

4TH

ST

E 17

TH S

T

E 16

TH S

T

E 15

TH S

T

JOHN

SON

CT

E 14

TH S

T

DEAN AVE

BURSON ST

CLAYPOOL ST

E WALNUT AV

E

REDH

EAD R

D

CAPITOL AVE

E GRAND AV

E

DES MOINES

ST

HUBB

ELL AV

E

LYON ST

235

69

Future Connection to MLK and Trail Network

Community Housing Initiatives : Capitol East ISU Community Design LabCreate Network 07.16.2014

0 300 600 1200

N

LEGEND NETWORK DEVELOPMENTNeighborhood BoundaryPark & School GroundsPrimary Trail RouteSecondary Trail RoutesExisting Trails - designated by the DNROpen Green NtworkProposed Park Area


STRATEGY TWOCREATE NETWORKS

Another way in which connections to surrounding neighborhoods can be restored is through the development of a green network in Capitol East. This network would provide trail and bike lane connections to the greater Des Moines area and its many natural amenities and park spaces. It would also enhance neighborhood walkability and pedestrian safety and could be combined with green infrastructure to manage stormwater.

The Capitol East Neighborhood Plan found pedestrian car accidents to be an important issue for parts of the neighborhood. By improving existing sidewalk and alley infrastructure, and by creating a pedestrian and bicycle green network, the neighborhood can become a safer place for the people living, working, and going to school there.

Greater opportunities for engagement in the community through walking, biking, and other outdoor recreation will increase through expanded and reorganized streetscapes and access to open space. This strategy connects existing parks within the neighborhood to other re-purposed and re-imagined open spaces including vacant lots, right-of-ways and vegetated buffer strips.


Underpass(p. 45)

26


STRATEGY TWOCREATE NETWORKS

27

GREEN NETWORK & CLIMATE RESILIENCEHamburg, Germany

The City of Hamburg, Germany is creating a 15 to 20 year plan, called the Grnes Netz or Green Network, that will eliminate the need for vehicle usage within the city. This plan calls for pedestrian and cycle paths to connect the citys existing, substantial green spaces, and provide safe, car-free commuter routes for all residents. These paths will connect all major parks, playgrounds, community gardens, and cemeteries in Hamburg, covering 40% of the city. Hamburg is motivated by climate change to change the way that the city works, drastically reducing the overall carbon footprint and emissions of the city. This network will not only make Hamburg a more environmentally-sustainable place, but also a healthier place for its residents.

Sources: http://inhabitat.com/hamburg-announces-plans-to-become-a-car-free-city-within-20-years/http://assets.inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2014/01/hamburg-green-network.jpg

LANDSCAPE INFRASTRUCTURE Detroit, Michigan

The City of Detroit has been struggling with a high land vacancy rate, with approximately 20% of city land vacant, and 30% contained within the right-of-way. This issue has prompted Stoss Landscape Urbanism to create interventions for new uses for vacant parcels. The company advocates for landscape projects that transcend form, object, and pure aesthetics to embrace performance, metrics, frameworks, and systems. Keeping this in mind, the company is developing different types of green infrastructure within a landscape-driven framework to guide future land use and development for the city.

Source: http://scenariojournal.com/article/wild-innovation-stoss-in-detroit/

ATLANTA BELTLINE PROJECTAtlanta, Georgia

The Atlanta Beltline project is a comprehensive transportation, economic development, and sustainable redevelopment project that will provide a network of public parks, multi-use trails, and transit along a historic 22-mile railroad corridor circling downtown and connecting many neighborhoods directly to each other. The project started in 1999 as a masters thesis. A few phases have already been completed, and the rest will be completed over the next two decades. The project is important to the region because it creates a new Transit-Oriented Development framework to guide future growth. Project highlights include 22 miles of pedestrian friendly rail transit, 33 miles of multi-use trails, 1300 acres of parks, 5600 units of affordable housing, 1100 acres of remediated brownfields, public art, and historic preservation.

Source: http://beltline.org/about/the-atlanta-beltline-project/atlanta-beltline-overview/

RAILS TO TRAILS CONSERVANCYWashington DC

The image above is the Winnebago River Trail, a project of the Rails to Trails Conservancy program located in Mason City, Iowa. Rails to Trails seeks to create a nationwide network of trails from former rail lines and connecting corridors to build healthier places for healthier people. This program creates networks by recycling abandoned or unused train line infrastructure into bike trails. The program also creates new bike trails along existing rail lines, using the existing topography, originally changed for the train lines. This type of project could be a way to connect downtown Des Moines, and the fantastic existing trail system found there, to the Capitol East neighborhood.

Sources: https://www.whks.com/experience/parkandrec/east-park.htmlhttp://www.railstotrails.org/aboutUs/index.html

STRATEGY THREECREATE BLOCK GROUPS

E COURT AVE

VINE ST

E 18

TH S

T

E 19

TH S

T

SE 1

4TH

ST

E 17

TH S

T

E 16

TH S

T

E 15

TH S

T

JOHN

SON

CT

E 14

TH S

T

DEAN AVE

BURSON ST

CLAYPOOL ST

E WALNUT AV

E

REDH

EAD R

D

CAPITOL AVE

E GRAND AV

E

DES MOINES

ST

HUBB

ELL AV

E

LYON ST

235

69

Community Housing Initiatives : Capitol East ISU Community Design LabCreate Blocks 07.16.2014

0 150 300 600

N

LEGEND BLOCK CONDITIONSNeighborhood BoundaryParks & School GroundsBetter

Worse


Each block in Capitol East was scored using a physical, visual survey of its infrastructure and buildings. Scoring included conditions of streets, sidewalks, and alleys; presence of standing water; and conditions of built structures. Comprehensive scores show which blocks have the greatest need for improvements. Unlike the corridor, nodes, and network, the block strategy is about building community capital through neighborhood block groups that will empower residents to make decisions about their physical environments that play important roles in larger neighborhood revitalization efforts.

The Capitol East Neighborhood Plan found a high percentage of residents to carry a housing cost burden because of low incomes and/or high rents. Vacant properties - separate properties without structures - can be found on almost every block, creating a sense of abandonment in addition to safety issues. According to the Neighborhood Plan, approximately half of the neighborhood is renter-occupied, and despite lower home prices in the neighborhood, many households are paying more than they can afford in rent.

Block groups would require that a percentage of block residents and/or property owners participate in order to gain support from the city and other organizations. Residents are the primary drivers, setting priorities within a block for repairs, maintenance, and new initiatives. The group not only makes collective decisions but also shares resources including knowledge and tools, increasing individual capacity and increasing the sense of ownership that residents feel within their community. Within a block, each initiative acts as a catalyst, encouraging other individuals and block groups to push forward with their own initiatives.


Underpass(p. 45)

28

GREATER DES MOINES HABITAT FOR HUMANITY ROCK THE BLOCKDes Moines, Iowa

The Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity (GDMHFH) Rock the Block program is a three-day event happening three to four times a year in Des Moines. The program targets a specific neighborhood for each event, and uses volunteer labor to provide home repair and maintenance services along with weatherization and home preservation projects within the targeted neighborhood. Residents apply to GDMHFH to be apart of the program. Once approved residents are granted up to $5,000 for home repairs and work is completed by volunteers.

Sources: http://www.gdmhabitat.org/rock-the-block/http://media.virbcdn.com/files/resize_1024x1365/1a/FileItem-105603-GDMHABITAT.jpghttp://www.stanleyconsultants.com/files/9913/7348/6856/Des_Moines__Rock_the_Block_2.jpg

REBUILDING TOGETHERSpringfield, Massachusetts

Rebuilding Together works with vulnerable communities across the United States to help them revitalize and strengthen their neighborhoods block-by-block. This non-profit supplies materials and labor to low-income residents through generous donations and countless volunteers who dedicate their time to these projects. In a single year neighborhood residents along with the Rebuilding Together staff, sponsors, donors, and 2500 volunteers constructed 25 homes and 4 community facility improvement projects along a stretch of Tyler Street in Springfield, MA. These efforts were part of the 2013 Green-N-Fit Cluster Rebuild. A similar project is taking place in 2014 in the Old Hill Neighborhood in Springfield where 25 homes and a local park will be rehabbed. This is part of a 10-year project during which hundreds of homes will undergo improvements. These projects focus on small areas like a single home, a corner, or a block and grow into community-wide revitalization initiatives.

Source: http://www.rebuildingtogetherspringfield.org/


STRATEGY THREECREATE BLOCKS

29

DETROIT COLLABORATIVE DESIGN CENTER HOW-TO GUIDESDetroit, Michigan

The Detroit Collaborative Design Center program Impact Detroit developed a series of How-To Guides for communities and neighborhoods within Detroit to share information about how to start new projects and processes. One guide focuses on the creation and maintenance of Block Clubs. The information provided is both practical and empowering. By recognizing neighborhood leaders, identifying neighborhood strengths and challenges, setting goals, and identifying resources and partners, motivated community members can begin a block club in their own neighborhood. These block clubs can provide neighborhood-initiated support with home repairs and maintenance, neighborhood clean-up days, carpool commuting, neighborhood watch programs, and assistance for the elderly and childcare, among many other things.

Sources: http://www.dcdc-udm.org/community/impact/howto/http://www.dcdc-udm.org/community/impact/howto/Howto3.pdf

DETROIT SHOREWAY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION Detroit, Michigan

The Detroit Shoreway neighborhood is an example of a neighborhood with many successful Block Clubs. These organizations greatly enhance quality of life within the neighborhood and the website lists many reasons to join a Block Club. These include strength in numbers, the ability to socialize and build relationships with your neighbors, the ability to collectively address crime and safety issues, increased information about community events, participation in neighborhood event planning, and development of leadership skills and training.

Sources : http://www.dscdo.org/join_a_block_club.aspxhttp://ditmasparkcorner.com/blog/neighbors/maria-newsom-fahey-talks-trees-urban-beauty-what-makes-a-neighborhood-good

STRATEGY FOURCREATE IDENTITY

Placemaking refers to the creation of a common vision for a place. This work is done by introducing new amenities and resources into a place, celebrating multiculturalism and diversity, connecting social and professional networks, and providing opportunities for a thriving lifestyle. Organizations across the country work to make places within city neighborhoods.

Cities often undertake creating a placemaking plan for a neighborhood. Many times these plans include neighborhood niches. A niche is a clustered set of services that are related by an overall theme. Niche themes include food, multiculturalism, a particular shopping experience, and cultural heritage. By discovering an existing niche or creating a new niche, neighborhoods are able to brand themselves and become recognized for the particular niche they provide for both residents and visitors. Other niches that exist within Iowa include:

Walnut (Antiques) Pella (Dutch Heritage and the Tulip Festival) The East Village, Des Moines (Boutique shopping

and restaurant experiences)


0 150 300 600

N

LEGENDNeighborhood BoundaryPark & School GroundsPotential Gateway

AshfieldPark

E COURT AVE

VINE ST

E 18

TH S

T

E 19

TH S

T

SE 1

4TH

ST

E 17

TH S

T

E 16

TH S

T

E 15

TH S

T

JOHN

SON

CT

E 14

TH S

T

DEAN AVE

BURSON ST

CLAYPOOL ST

E WALNUT AV

E

REDH

EAD R

D

CAPITOL AVE

E GRAND AV

E

DES MOINES

ST

HUBB

ELL AV

E

LYON ST

235

69


StewartSquare

RedheadPark


Underpass(p. 45)

PotentialGateway

(p. 43)

30


STRATEGY FOURCREATE IDENTITY

31

ART GARDENJackson, Mississippi

The Mississippi Museum of Art (MMA) transformed the parking lot next door into a public open space, now used as a performance and gathering venue. The City of Jackson has a strong cultural heritage and boasts five institutions of higher education. To combat land use and development patterns that were reinforcing historic racial divisions, the MMA applied for a grant through the National Endowment for the Arts to revitalize the parking lot into a public space that people of all racial and socioeconomic backgrounds could use, creating a museum without walls. The museum launched public performances and programs in this space that engage the community with art in a very accessible way.

Sources : http://arts.gov/exploring-our-town/art-gardenhttp://jacksonfreepress.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/photos/2012/09/19/MS_Museum_of_Art_Garden_TB_t670JPG?b3f6a5d7692ccc373d56e40cf708e3fa67

HUMBOLDT PARK GATEWAYChicago, Illinois

The image above is an example of neighborhood identity. This gateway is located in Chicago, Illinois in a section of the Humboldt Park neighborhood known as Paseo Boricua. The gateway is an abstraction of the Puerto Rican flag and marks the section of Division Street known for Puerto Rican culture, food, business, and politics. Ethnically diverse businesses have expanded markedly in Capitol East over the past several years. This growth includes retail shops, grocery stores, and many restaurants including taco trucks, making the East Grand Avenue Corridor a destination for the Des Moines Latino population. Visually expressing this identity with devices such as gateway installations, banners, and street furniture can help boost the commercial corridor, build community within the neighborhood, and establish Capitol East as a recognizable district within Des Moines.

Source : http://nblensview.blogspot.com/

FOOD CARTSPortland, Oregon

Set up along sidewalks, parking lots, and parks, the City of Portland has prioritized the expansion of food carts over the past decade, creating areas that draw not only local customers but also tourists and visitors from other parts of the city. The food carts set up for lunch and dinner service each day, leaving the area after service has ended. The carts have become a placemaking phenomenon for the City of Portland, with other cities around the country following the initiative. The existing presence of taco trucks in Capitol East is a place-based asset that could be expanded to include more types of food trucks in conjunction with public space improvements.

Sources : https://sandandfeathers.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/portland-pod.jpghttp://www.foodcartsportland.com/

DISCOVERY GREENHouston, Texas

The planning and implementation of Discovery Green was undertaken by several Houston-area philanthropists (the Discovery Green Conservancy), who saw a twelve acre site downtown as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create an urban park that would redefine the landscape of downtown. This project used the guidance of Project for Public Spaces (PPS), a nonprofit planning, design, and educational organization dedicated to helping people create and sustain public spaces that build stronger communities. With the partnership of PPS, the Discovery Green Conservancy held public meetings and focus groups for public feedback that became the basis for the parks programming. The plan was implemented, and the park opened in 2008.

Sources : http://www.pps.org/http://www.discoverygreen.com/

32

NODESCAPITOL EAST NEIGHBORHOODDES MOINES, IA


0 150 300 600

N

AshfieldPark

E COURT AVE

VINE ST

E 18

TH S

T

E 19

TH S

T

SE 1

4TH

ST

E 17

TH S

T

E 16

TH S

T

E 15

TH S

T

JOHN

SON

CT

E 14

TH S

T

DEAN AVE

BURSON ST

CLAYPOOL ST

E WALNUT AV

E

REDH

EAD R

D

CAPITOL AVE

E GRAND AV

E

DES MOINES

ST

HUBB

ELL AV

E

LYON ST

235

69


StewartSquare

RedheadPark

Capitol EastDistrict

GovernorsSquare

BF MillPlace

After reviewing the initial inventory and analysis along with the four spatial strategies, The node strategy was developed to best fit the needs and goals of the Community Housing Initiative. A node is a zone often located at the crossroads of primary routes through a neighborhood and containing a significant point of gathering or landmark. Three major nodes were determined based on existing assets, visibility, needs and opportunities.

Within each node we investigated the potential of individual parcels based on availability, current use and condition. The parcels that have been selected are those that offer the greatest amount of potential as catalyst projects due to their visibility within the neighborhood and/or those that would show greater amounts of positive change through updates and improvements. The selected parcels have been divided into six groups:

Vacant Lots Underutilized Lots Potential Gateways Historic Examples Right-of-Ways Property Condition Low (properties with low condition ratings based on data from the Polk County

Assessor and nuisance properties designated by the City of Des Moines)

With each parcel group there is a list of potential tactics on how to address each condition ranging from more immediate options with lower investment to higher investment, long-term solutions.


STRATEGY FIVECREATE NODES

33

Vacant Lots are those parcels that do not contain structures and/or parking lots and are not being utilized as a residential yard.

General Maintenance Planted (Native Landscaping, Community Gardens,

Earthworks) Art Installation Development (Residential or Mixed-Use depending on

its location)

Historic Examples are homes that display strong characteristics of the significant historic home styles that are represented within the neighborhood.

General Maintenance Maintenance Assistance Rehabilitation New Construction

An Underutilized Lot is one that is currently occupied by a business or resident for parking or open space, but has the potential to be a more integral part of the community growth and identity through updates and improvements.

Planted Greenway Connection Park or Plaza Mixed-Use Development

These properties were identified by the Polk County Assessor and the City of Des Moines as locations that are at below normal standards for building condition. Updates and improvements to these sites increases the overall neighborhood condition and shows positive change within the community that can inspire other residents to follow suit and can also encourage new growth and development within the neighborhood.

RESIDENTIAL General Maintenance Maintenance Assistance Rehabilitation New Construction

COMMERCIAL/CIVIC/INDUSTRIAL General Maintenance Art Installation Rehabilitation (Improvements to property & Structure

returns to original use) Revitalization (Improvements to property & new use) New Construction

VACANT LOTS UNDERUTILIZED LOTS

HISTORIC EXAMPLES PROPERTY CONDITION LOW

RIGHT-OF-WAYS

Right-of-Ways are city owned, open land adjacent to the roadways. These parcels are left undeveloped for safety concerns, but offer great potential for enhancing the environmental health of the neighborhood and the pedestrian experience through thoughtful planting strategies.

General Maintenance Planted (Native Landscapes, Community Gardens) Greenway Development

A Potential Gateway is a location that marks a significant entry into the neighborhood and where establishing identity features will have the biggest impact.

Landscape Development Identity and Branding Materials Art Installation Plaza

POTENTIAL GATEWAYS

NODE ONECAPITOL EAST GATEWAY

OPPORTUNITIES To enhance the safety of the Capitol East Gateway node, streetscape improvements including clearly marked crosswalks, street trees, and vegetated spaces are recommended to separate pedestrians from traffic flow along primary streets such as East Grand, East 14th, and East 15th.

Visual gateways that welcome drivers and pedestrians to the neighborhood will increase neighborhood visibility and act as catalyst projects to encourage further utilization of and development within the neighborhood. The right-of-way on the southern edge of I-235 could be enhanced through a vegetation strategy that would provide a positive aesthetic identity for the community by buffering against the visual dominance and noise created by the interstate and providing a more naturalized backdrop for the neighborhood.

There are also significant structures in need of revitalization along with vacant lots located in prime, visible locations. These could support mixed-use development, recreational facilities, or art-based catalyst projects to spark interest in and increase the appeal of the community. Development of a mixed-use, more pedestrian-oriented business district along East Grand is also suggested to reduce traffic dominance and create safer pedestrian environments that are more appropriately scaled to this highly residential neighborhood. This district could include revitalization of the south side of East Grand, including the exterior plaza proposed in the Neighborhood Plan. as a focus for neighborhood events and activities.

Community Housing Initiatives : Capitol East ISU Community Design LabCapitol East Gateway : Opportunities 09.01.2014

0 40 80 160

N

E 17

TH S

T

E 16

TH S

T

E 15

TH S

T

E 14

TH S

T

DEAN AVE

E WALNUT AV

E

CAPITOL AVE

E GRAND AV

E

DES MOINES

ST

LYON ST

235

69

Stewart Square



Underpass

Liminal Zone(Vegetated

Gateway)

StreetscapeUpdates

PotentialGateway

VACANT LOTSUNDERUTILIZED LOTSPOTENTIAL GATEWAYSHISTORIC EXAMPLERIGHT-OF-WAYSPROPERTY CONDITION LOW

Property Condition Assessment Based on Data from the Polk County Assessor and Nuisance Properties Identified By the City of Des Moines*

34


NODE ONECAPITOL EAST DISTRICT

UNDERPASS INSTALLATIONBallroom Luminoso, San Antonio, Texas

Ballroom Luminoso is an example of an undesirable space being transformed into a space in which people can interact and learn. This type of project could be a consideration for the Interstate 235 underpass located on 15th Street. The underpass on 15th Street is currently less safe than it could be yet is well-used by adults as well as children and youth coming and going between Capitol East, Hiatt MIddle School, and East High School. By creating a space that visually engages the people using it, the space becomes not only more safe but also helps build an identity for the neighborhoods adjacent to it.

Source: http://www.jbpublicart.com/

NEIGHBORHOOD IDENTITYBaltimore Love Project, Baltimore, Maryland

The Baltimore Love Project was initiated to express love by connecting people and communities across Baltimore. This type of project can not only display a good message but also bring a neighborhood together by creating identity and help to aesthetically improve distressed neighborhood buildings. One possible place for a mural in the Captiol East neighborhood is the northeast corner of East 15th Street and East Grand Avenue where a building with a large blank wall facing 15th Street is adjacent to a vacant lot. Adding a mural and a temporary public space installation in the vacant lot can enlivened this corner, make it more pedestrian-friendly, and create a gateway for the neighborhood.

Source: http://www.baltimoreloveproject.com/

UNDERPASS INSTALLATIONFitzGibbons Installation, San Antonio, Texas

Similar to Ballroom Luminoso but applied to an exclusively vehicular situation, the Fitzgibbons Installation uses only colored light to engage and activate an underpass in San Antonio. This idea could be a consideration for the Interstate 235 underpass located on East 15th Street. The underpass is currently dark and not very safe for pedestrians yet is well-used by both young people and adults. By creating a space that visually engages the people using it, the space cannot only become more safe, but can also help to build an identity for the neighborhoods around it.

Source: http://www.billfitzgibbons.com/

CORRIDOR DEVELOPMENTComplete Streets Program

The image above is an example of the Complete Streets program, which provides for multiple forms of transportation, giving priority to pedestrians and bicycles as well as automobiles. Complete Streets works well on main thoroughfares that contain both residential and commercial properties. The Grand Avenue corridor could be a prime location to consider implementing a Complete Streets corridor. This type of infrastructure is designed to reduce car and pedestrian accidents by providing a comfortable pedestrian sidewalk that includes street trees and native plantings. This also provides dedicated bicycle lanes for those wanting to use more sustainable forms of transportation. The program encourages more walkable and cyclable communities while still providing adequate parking and drive lanes for cars and public transportation. This kind of infrastructure increases quality of life by not only reducing accidents and providing options but also by increasing corridor economic vitality and desirability.

Source: http://www.smartgrowthamerica.org/complete-streets

35

NODE TWOGOVERNORS SQUARE

OPPORTUNITIES The Governors Square node would benefit most from utilizing and expanding its existing unique features. Preserving the character of the historic Governors Square neighborhood and improving the overall quality of the homes here could make it an important architectural amenity for Des Moines and a major identifier for Capitol East.

Linking the pockets of open green space that dot the edges of East 14th and East 15th Streets through streetscaping and further developing the landscape within these pockets could create a vital corridor for the proposed Green Network. This would also provide a gateway from the south and an important link to the East Grand corridor.


E 17

TH S

T

E 16

TH S

T

E 15

TH S

T

E 14

TH S

T

DEAN AVE

E COURT AVE

E VINE ST

E WALNUT AV

E

CAPITOL AVE

E GRAND AV

E StewartSquare

Community Housing Initiatives : Capitol East ISU Community Design LabGovernors Square : Opportunities 09.01.2014

0 40 80 160

N

Governors Square Historic

DistrictWalking Tour

StreetscapeUpdates

GreenwayDevelopment



36


NODE TWOGOVERNORS SQUARE

2 1

4

6

7

8

5

3 0 0.04 mi 0.08 mi

Hub Spot

0.08 mi

0.58 mi

0.20 mi

0.18 mi

0.06 mi

0.30 mi

0.20 mi 0.11 mi

DO

WN

TOW

N A

RCH

ITEC

TURE

Downtown is home to an impressive collection of buildings notable for their range in age, size, style, and use. This eclectic mix of architectural expression certainly would not be what it is without some of the historic buildings remaining in downtown.

A w

alk

ba

ck

into

his

tory

2.0

mile

s

For additional information on docent-led tours of downtown Des Moines architecture, visit iowaarchfoundation.org.

Saddlery Building (1) Constructed in four phases between 1878 and 1920, this classic with iron pillars is the largest example of commercial Italianate architecture in Des Moines.

Hotel Row (2) In the era of passenger rail travel, 4th Street from Walnut Street to the Rock Island Depot was home to as many as 13 hotels. All of the hotels are gone, but the names remain on a few, including the Hotel Randolph and Hotel Kirkwood. The Hawkeye Insurance Building (1868) on the east side of 4th is downtowns oldest remaining building.

Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Depot (3) At the peak of train travel in the United States, more than 60 passenger trains arrived daily in Des Moines. The passenger depot (west of 4th) was built in 1910. The freight and shipping depot to the east was enclosed in 1929. This lone survivor of downtowns train depots has been converted into offices and a restaurant.

Polk County Courthouse (4) This is one of the citys most iconic and identifiable buildings. Proudfoot and Bird designed the building in 1895, and construction was completed in 1902. Each arched window on the second floor of the building is capped with a grotesque (carved face). There are 28 grotesques on the building each one different.

Fleming Building (5) One of the first skyscrapers in Des Moines is also notable for its architect Daniel Burnham, often called the father of the City Beautiful Movement. This building was completed in 1907 and was one of the first buildings in Iowa to use steel for the internal structure.

Equitable Building (6) Designed by Proudfoot Bird & Rawson, this was the tallest building in Iowa from its completion in 1923 until 1973. Be sure to notice the exterior stone carvings helping hold up the building just below the third floor.

City Hall (7) This was the third building constructed in the early 1900s under Des Moines City Beautiful Plan. The city offices on the upper level were designed to show visibility and transparency in the local government. The World Food Prize Building, Polk County Administration Building, Des Moines Police Station, Federal Courthouse, and Argonne Armory are the other remaining buildings from the City Beautiful Plan.

World Food Prize Hall of Laureates (8) This Beaux Arts-style building served as the main branch of the Des Moines Public Library from 1903 to 2006. Renovation and restoration work was completed in 2012, and the building was reopened as the World Food Prize Hall of Laureates.

Route Scout Tim Bungert, Associate AIA, Iowa Architectural Foundation volunteer and docent

3

Copyright 2013 by the Des Moines Bicycle Collective. Online versions intended for limited home use by individuals. No part of these maps can be reproduced in any way without the permission of the Des Moines Bicycle Collective.

GREEN NETWORKTrout Run Trail, Decorah, Iowa

The image above is an example of a trail system, complete with commissioned public artwork, located in northwest Iowa. This trail system is a regional greenway with an 11-mile loop connecting the city of Decorah to surrounding natural amenities and landscapes. While this trail is mostly rural, the idea is already being applied to the greater Des Moines area. Many trail systems currently exist in the Des Moines area but none run through the Capitol East neighborhood. By adding a greenway system in Capitol East, residents will have better access to downtown, the Des Moines River, and other parts of Des Moines. Visitors will likewise have better access into Capitol East. A greenway system can also safely connect the existing parks in Capitol East and connect residential areas to the commercial corridor along East Grand Avenue. Safer and better connectivity for recreation and commuting will enhance the desirability of the neighborhood and make it more visible within the city.

Source: http://www.troutruntrail.com/

WALKING TOUR Literary Walk, Iowa City, Iowa

The Literary Walk in Iowa City celebrates the many connections the state of Iowa has to literary authors and works. Along the walk, users will find famous quotes from authors and historic information about the people and the books they wrote. As one of Des Moines oldest neighborhoods, Capitol East could easily incorporate something similar, calling attention to important moments and locations in Des Moines history. The stock of historic architecture and the history of how the neighborhood has changed over time could be topics of interest to those living within or visiting the neighborhood. A pamphlet containing historical information and a map could be placed in strategic locations around the neighborhood allowing users to take themselves on self-guided tours. Literary Walk booklets are available for a nominal fee at two bookstores in Iowa City for people interested in taking the tour. Guided tours and audio tours accessed via a phone app could also be incorporated.

Source: http://iowacitycoralville.org/

HISTORIC HOME TOURFrank Lloyd Wright Walking Tours, Oak Park , Illinois

The city of Oak Park, Illinois boasts many of architect Frank Lloyd Wrights home designs. To allow visitors and residents to take advantage of these beautiful buildings, the Frank Lloyd Wright Trust offers multiple tours of the area. These include Wright Around Oak Park, Pedal Oak Park, Oak Park Combination Tours, and Wright Plus Housewalk. Each tour features Wrights architecture in different ways. Placards are posted alongside each home, giving a short description of the history of the home and the architecture. Capitol East contains historic architecture worth noting, and could consider a project such as the tours, placards, and information pamphlets available for the Oak Park tours.

Source: http://oakparkdining.com/

ARCHITECTURAL TOUR MAPDes Moines Walk & Bike Guide, Des Moines, Iowa

This guide is a collection of themed walking and biking tours created by the Des Moines Bicycle Collective and partners to provide Des Moines residents and visitors with recreational tour options throughout Des Moines. Each route is developed by local individuals and/or non-profit organizations with expert knowledge about the route topic and information is provided about key points along the route in addition to the route map. The neighborhood of Capitol East could use this idea to create something similar for the neighborhood or partner with the Bicycle Collective to be in their their next version of the guide version. Several of the routes include the Capitol and Capitol Easts proximity and participation in the development of the Capitol Grounds make it a natural addition.

Source: http://dsmbikecollective.org/resources/des-moines-biking-and-walking-tours/

37

NODE THREEB.F. MILL PLACE

OPPORTUNITIES This node re-envisions the B.F. Mill grain elevator and its surrounding site on the eastern edge of Capitol East. With the grain elevator visible from I-235, this site has the potential to be a landmark for the community that locates the neighborhood within greater Des Moines and encourages people to visit and move to the neighborhood. As a catalyst project this site also has the potential to spur residential growth and development around it.

There are many vacant lots and other opportunities for infill development in this area. There has been a recent increase in home sales here and revitalization and development projects could be a starting point for improvements and updates throughout the neighborhood.

0 40 80 160

N

E 18

TH S

T

E 19

TH S

T

E 17

TH S

T

DEAN AVE

REDH

EAD R

D

HUBB

ELL AV

E

Redhead Park

AshfieldPark

Community Housing Initiatives : Capitol East ISU Community Design LabB.F. Mill Park : Opportunities 09.01.2014

PotentialGateway

Streetscape Updates

Elevator Reuse



38

HISTORIC ARCHITECTURESherman Hill, Des Moines, Iowa

Sherman Hill, a neighborhood northwest of downtown Des Moines, is a distinctive urban neighborhood filled with historic architecture, and one of the oldest found in Des Moines. The Sherman Hill Neighborhood Association has been working for nearly forty years to revitalize the area by creating a local historic district, completing historic home renovations, and rebranding the neighborhood as a whole. Some of these ideas could also be used in Capitol East to create a similar transformation, especially with respect to the many distressed historic properties in the neighborhood.

Source: http://www.historicshermanhill.com/http://www.mikebandow.com/p996797800/h55B-085FA#h55b085fa

MILL ELEVATOR CONVERSIONStored Potential, Omaha, Nebraska

Stored Potential, located in Omaha, Nebraska, is a large-scale temporary installation on a grain elevator located along Interstate 80. The project not only found a new use for an unused grain elevator, but was also intended to initiate conversations about larger issues of land use and planning. Seen by 76,000 daily commuters, the project is a series of banners created by primarily local artists in response to questions about land use, food, agriculture, and transportation. This project presents an interesting parallel to the B.F. Mill grain elevator located along East Grand Avenue on the eastern side of Capitol East. Visible from Interstate 235, this could be an opportunity for the neighborhood to engage with local artists, creating a relationship that could extend to other sites in the neighborhood.

Source: http://emergingterrain.org/

GREEN NETWORKVirginia Bicycle Federation Rails to Trails

The state of Virginia has a recent history of converting abandoned train lines into bicycling trails. The Rails to Trails program uses the old infrastructure of railroad tracks, converting the tracks and/or adjacent rights-of-way into recreation trails. Rail lines surround Capitol East on the south and east. While some of the lines are still in use, others are not, and could be converted into trails like the one in the image above. This type of conversion recycles existing unused infrastructure into something new, providing access to other parts of Des Moines to neighborhood residents through the use of the greenway system.

Source: http://www.railstotrails.org/index.html

MILL ELEVATOR CONVERSIONErie Canal Harbor, Buffalo, New York

Buffalo, New York was once a center of manufacturing and distribution activity along the shores of Lake Erie. Much of the infrastructure used for this commercial activity still exists but is no longer in use. The Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation initiated a Visual Master Plan for Buffalo, providing a new life for many warehouse buildings and grain elevators through the addition of projected public art and eventually redevelopment of the buildings. Capitol East contains an asset in the B.F. Mill Company grain elevator and could consider a use similar to the elevators in Buffalo. This can help the neighborhood become more visible as a unique destination in Des Moines that is no longer hidden alongside the Capitol complex.

Source: http://ambiancesdesign.com/?lang=en


NODE THREEB.F. MILL PARK

39

SCENARIOSCAPITOL EAST NEIGHBORHOODDES MOINES, IA

40

Of all the ideas found in the five strategies detailed above, what could the neighborhood actually look like after implementation? On the following pages, hypothetical scenarios show how some of these catalyst projects could integrate into and transform the existing context of Capitol East. The scenarios tell the daily stories of three individuals: the neighborhood resident, the Hiatt Middle School student, and the visitor. These three people are realistic users of the neighborhood and their scenarios illustrate everyday activities and visitor experiences. Their stories reflect how positive change within the neighborhood can affect users from both inside and outside the area.

Each scenario page contains a vignette, a story, icons detailing implemented projects, potential partners for the projects, and how the Community Design Lab can help move design and implementation forward.


SCENARIOS

41

Renovated Historic Home

Block CoalitionHome Updates

Improved StreetConditions

NativeLandscaping

Planted and Expanded Right-of-Way

Clearly IdentifiedCrosswalks

HOW CAN THE COMMUNITY DESIGN LAB HELP? By designing and specifying native landscaping for both

resident properties and right-of-ways. By consulting on architectural form and detail to discuss

historic home renovation options with residents and organizations.

By creating and producing How-To literature to define a block coalition, explain what a block coalition could accomplish, and help guide the neighborhood in forming block coalitions.

The resident sets out from her house, a recently restored historic home on the west side of Capitol East. Understanding the potential of home improvements to enhance the overall condition of the neighborhood, the resident and her neighbors have created a block coalition, banding together to help each other with home improvement projects. The resident has planted native landscaping throughout her yard to reduce dependency on water and provide habitat for birds and insects. The right-of-way along her block has also been planted with native trees and flowers. This creates a separation between the road and sidewalk, creating a safer and more enjoyable pedestrian experience. The street

42

SCENARIO ONE: THE RESIDENT HISTORIC RESIDENCE NEAR B.F. MILL PLACE

infrastructure near the residents home has also been updated by adding clearly identified crosswalks and better road conditions for both vehicles and bicycles. This improved street makes the trip from home to school and nearby parks much safer for the children and adults living in the area.

POTENTIAL PROJECT PARTNERSCapitol East Neighborhood AssociationCity of Des MoinesState Historic Preservation OfficeIowa Architectural Foundation

IBioretentionBasin

Improved Sidewalk & Street Conditions

Streetscape Updates IncludingPlanted Medians & Bike Lanes

New Mixed-UseDevelopment

Extension of the D-Line Bus Route

Bike Share &Repair Station

Eastern GatewaySculpture

Eastern GatewayPark

SCENARIO ONE: THE RESIDENT EASTERN GATEWAY

43

Just down the street from the residents home is the Eastern Gateway, a new pocket park and area of mixed-use development at the intersection of East Grand and Hubbell. The Eastern Gateway mirrors the Western Gateway Park, providing an eastern entrance to the historic grid of central Des Moines. The new park features a bike share and repair station, where the resident can fill up her bike tires before cycling to work downtown. An iconic sculpture acts as a welcome sign into the neighborhood along the East Grand Avenue corridor, leading to the city center. Newly finished streetscaping projects line the corridor. Clearly identified crosswalks and bike lanes give equal priority to pedestrians,

bicycles, and cars. The DART D-Line has been extended to bring public transportation to this part of the neighborhood. Other streetscape updates include green infrastructure projects such as permeable pavers in the crosswalks, street trees, median plantings, and a bioretention basin that collects stormwater run-off from Hubbell Avenue.

HOW CAN THE COMMUNITY DESIGN LAB HELP? By creating schematic and programmatic designs for Eastern

Gateway park. By designing and specifying native landscaping for the median

plantings and the bioretention basin. By creating schematic and programmatic designs for the new

mixed-use development for the neighborhood.POTENTIAL PROJECT PARTNERSCity of Des MoinesDes Moines Area Regional Transit AuthorityGreater Des Moines Public Art Foundation

IVegetated Biofilters

Streetscape Updates IncludingBike Lanes and Permeable Crosswalks

East Grand Avenue Plaza

Mixed-UseDevelopment

Native Plantings and Street TreesAlong Roadways & Sidewalks

Solar Canopy

The resident cycles to work in downtown Des Moines, passing through the enhanced East Grand Avenue pedestrian corridor between East 16th Street and East 15th Street. The atmosphere is casual and inviting. New mixed-use buildings on the south side of East Grand Avenue boast a variety of multi-cultural shops and new apartment rental opportunities for the neighborhood. Local events and everyday interactions take place in the neighborhood plaza, located in the middle of the block. Food trucks set up shop here along the corridor, complete with bicycle lanes and ample room for pedestrian activity along the sidewalks. The plazas

seating and trees provide a comfortable place to enjoy lunch. Efforts are underway to plan a new community next to the plaza. Arching over parts of the corridor is a solar canopy, a grid of energy-collecting solar panels that power improved lighting and provide shade.

POTENTIAL PROJECT PARTNERSCity of Des MoinesDes Moines Bicycle CollectiveAlliant Energy Corporation

HOW CAN THE COMMUNITY DESIGN LAB HELP? By creating schematic and programmatic designs for the new

mixed-use development for the neighborhood. By creating schematic and programmatic designs for the new

East Grand Avenue Plaza. By consulting on best practices for renewable energy

infrastructure and how to best implement into neighborhoods. By designing and specifying native landscaping for right-of-

ways and biofilters.

SCENARIO ONE: THE RESIDENT EAST GRAND PEDESTRIAN CORRIDOR

44

IImproved Infrastructure to Adjacent Neighborhoods

Interactive Arts Installation

Safer Connection to Schools

Neighborhood Gateway

SCENARIO TWO: THE STUDENT HIGHWAY 69 UNDERPASS

45

The student passes beneath Interstate 235, along East 15th Street, on his way home from Hiatt Middle School. A space that was once a scary journey for the middle-schooler is now lit and colorful from the addition of an interactive arts installation, helping to create a more meaningful physical connection between his neighborhood, Capitol East, and the MLK Jr. Park neighborhood to the north. An interactive, artistic buffer along the road has made the sidewalk a safer place to be. The arts installation doesnt create a better place for the student alone. It also provides a unique transition for drivers headed northbound on Highway

69. The student also participated in the creation of the installation and points out a piece of a lighting mural taken from one of his drawings.

POTENTIAL PROJECT PARTNERSCity of Des MoinesGreater Des Moines Public Art FoundationMetro Arts Alliance of Greater Des MoinesIowa Arts CouncilHiatt Middle SchoolEast High School

HOW CAN THE COMMUNITY DESIGN LAB HELP? By helping the neighborhoods of Capitol East and MLK Jr. Park

write grant proposals to secure funding for an arts installation under the Interstate 235 overpass.

By bringing together local artists, school programs, and youth organizations to brainstorm and development the installation.

Community Garden Plots

Extension of GreenwayRecreational Trail System

Native Plantings and Street TreesAlong Roadways & Sidewalks

INeighborhood

GatewayEducational Opportunitiesfor Local Students & Youth

POTENTIAL PROJECT PARTNERSCity of Des MoinesDes Moines Bicycle CollectiveCommunity Design Lab - Agricultural Urbanism Toolkit

SCENARIO TWO: THE STUDENT THE NATURAL GATEWAY

46

As a result of the entrance ramp from East 15th onto I-235, there is a large blank area made up of the interstate right-of-way and under-utilized parcels. Native prairie plants and agricultural urbanism projects now occupy these parcels, creating a changing band of color that helps define Capitol East as a resilient and adaptable community. The student helps his parents tend their community garden plot here and stops to maintain it on his way home from school. This gateway corridor creates a safer and more pleasant walk for students and other residents while also creating opportunities for healthy lifestyles, art installations, and

outdoor socializing. Bicycle and pedestrian trails weave into the native landscape as part of the larger neighborhood green network . Connecting to expanded sidewalks, bike lanes, and city-wide trails, the green network provides many opportunities for positive outdoor activities for the youth of Capitol East.

HOW CAN THE COMMUNITY DESIGN LAB HELP? By hosting workshops to introduce the CDL Agricultural

Urbanism toolkit to local residents, schools, and organizations in the neighborhood.

By designing and specifying native landscaping for rights-of-way.

INative Plantings Along Roadways & Sidewalks

Neighborhood GatewayLandscape Feature

Cultural Diversity Arts Installation I

Educational and Play Opportunities for Local Students & Youth

SCENARIO TWO: THE STUDENT MURAL & LAND ART PROJECT

47

Continuing on his way home from school, the student follows the new greenway to the East Grand Avenue pedestrian corridor. At the corner of East 15th Street and East Grand Avenue, landscape artwork has been installed in the vacant lot. This new addition attracts neighborhood youth and families to hang out, play, and study. Recently a group of community teenagers teamed up with a non-profit organization to paint a mural on the blank side of the Lathrop building. The new mural celebrates the cultural diversity of the community. Through the public visibility and popularity of these art installations, further interest has been generated

throughout the community to work toward strengthening area business development and taking more pride in home ownership.

POTENTIAL PROJECT PARTNERSCity of Des MoinesGreater Des Moines Public Art FoundationAfter School Arts ProgramCapitol View ElementaryLocal Business Owners

HOW CAN THE COMMUNITY DESIGN LAB HELP? By helping the neighborhood of Capitol East write grant

proposals to secure funding for a landscape arts installation and mural arts installation.

By creating schematic and programmatic designs for the vacant space and use.

By bringing together local artists, school programs, and youth organizations to brainstorm and development the installation.

Extension of GreenwayRecreational Trail System

Native Plantings Along Roadways & Sidewalks

Public ArtInstallations

SCENARIO THREE: THE VISITOR 15TH STREET GREENWAY

48

Coming from his home on Southwest 9th Street, the visitor makes his way into Capitol East using the expanded greenway system. So many new-comers have been entering the neighborhood through the trail system, checking out new development projects as well as local restaurants, shops, and markets. Enveloped in native plantings and punctuated by street trees, the green network is a part of the neighborhoods resiliency plan, not only providing a more pleasant atmosphere but creating systems to provide wildlife habitat and water retention. On top of everything, the

trails have created a safer circulation system throughout Capitol East for pedestrians and vehicles.

POTENTIAL PROJECT PARTNERSCity of Des MoinesDes Moines Bicycle Collective

HOW CAN THE COMMUNITY DESIGN LAB HELP? By designing and specifying native landscaping for rights-of-

way.

The Eastern Gateway: Spatial Strategies for the Capitol East Neighborhood, Des Moines, Iowa.

Documents

Transcript of The Eastern Gateway: Spatial Strategies for the Capitol East Neighborhood, Des Moines, Iowa.