Public Presentation

Landworks will be in town Thursday, July 17th from 8:30am-10:am to present design concepts for downtown. Location: Resource Systems Group, 55 Railroad Row, White River Junction, Vermont. You're invited!

Schedule:

• 30 minute presentation
• 60 minute breakout
• Summary recap by Landworks & next steps to implementation

First Design Draft

Landworks has prepared a first pass at design concepts for the downtown. Please take time to read through the description and to look at the design sketches. There will be a public discussion in July that will be announced here and elsewhere. Following the meeting, Landworks will narrow the focus to one scheme that will be developed for final presentation. -Matt

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Design Sketches

Schematic Design and Development Plan (PDF)

Downtown Park Plan
Option A (PDF)
Option B (PDF)

Miller/Legion Plan
Option A (PDF)
Option B (PDF)
Option C (PDF)
Option D (PDF)

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Introduction to the Design Concepts

LandWorks has prepared a series of schematic design concepts as part of the ongoing development of a revitalization plan for downtown White River Junction. We have prepared and overview entitled “Overview of the Design Concepts for the Ongoing Revitalization of White River Junction”. Each design option also includes a paragraph called “Concept” which explains the intent and the how the spaces function. The elements of the designs are also listed out and keyed to the plan.

The basis for our design proposals includes the following considerations, using the Miller Property and the American Legion Lot as an example (and this area was one of the locations that was focused on):

• A. Public input regarding the potential that this site holds.
• B. Available buildable area on the site, the 'lay of the land.'
• C. The architectural context, in terms of scale, massing, and orientation.
• D. The goals of enhancing the critical mass of retail options to attract visitors and infusing life into the downtown by adding more office and housing, while also accommodating a new theater.
• E. The goal of encouraging pedestrian movement between all connection points to this site in a manner that enhances existing retail businesses and safety. A pedestrian-only promenade that links the parking area with the downtown core and a revitalized alleyway connection are key components in all the designs.
• F. The goal of providing sufficient parking capacity and directing vehicular traffic to and from a parking lot / structure in a manner that enhances local businesses and safety.
• G. The goal of controlling the visual experience by screening service and parking areas, providing positive visual 'anchors'.

Although there are some variations in terms of building massing, vehicular circulation and parking, all of the concepts for this area of downtown are characterized by a relatively dense mixed-use infill and a new street to connect the Currier Street extension and S. Main.

For the downtown park and plaza concepts, focused on the area once known as Loyal Park, our guiding goals were the following:

• A. Provide a well-detailed and visually rich urban plaza to attract pedestrians to the center of town and encourage them to linger (and spend money!).
• B. Provide for adequate parking, while balancing the need for public open space.
• C. Soften the downtown with trees and lawn, buffer views of the expanse of parking across the tracks.
• D. Encourage movement across the tracks to unify both areas of the downtown.
• E. Provide for gathering / event space.
• F. Provide a visual 'anchor' at the intersection of the three streets.

Vehicular Traffic, Parking and Infrastructure.

Studies have been ongoing with regard to vehicular traffic flow, parking and infrastructure. Vehicular circulation and parking proposals will be incorporated into the concept or concepts that are to be forwarded in the next iteration of the selected plan(s), which will based on community review and the consensus. The implications for utility infrastructure will be explored once a selected plan and direction have been determined. At that point Pathways and the design team will work to develop an outline and analysis.

Overview of the Design Concepts for the Ongoing Revitalization of White River Junction

The physical revitalization plan for an urban village such as White River Junction can at best only envision the possibilities of what can be, in concert with what is already present. Thus the designs options presented are conceptual ideas for the future possibilities - possible landscapes, buildings and circulation networks which are integral parts of White River’s fabric. Weaving these forms and functions together can be best planned for on a broad scale - and so it is that the concepts are the products to consider - rather than the details. Many of the details, in fact, are already in place: in the streetscape, in the signage, in the rich architecture which predominates, and particularly in some of the landmark projects which have already been developed. The key challenge now is to link these elements together, build on them, to continue the process of placemaking, and in so doing help to evolve the shared vision for the future of the “River City”.

The design plans forwarded are to be further studied and refined as part of this planning process; conformity with and implications for zoning will be addressed along with the assessment of infrastructure implications and costs. Another important consideration for this work is the recognition that it is fluid and can accommodate future proposals for infill and redevelopment; such as what may be proposed for the Miller Property, or on other downtown sites under consideration.

Overarching Elements of the Initial Design Proposals

It’s the River!

The River- Continuing the development of the riverfront resource along with landscape conservation and enhancement is a centerpiece for the plan. The Riverwalk concept is continued as an essential ingredient and a future focal point for a commercial and residential downtown. Overlooks, public art, interpretive opportunities and riverbank restoration effort are complementary and doable.

White River Needs More Green.

The Urban Landscape - White River has a lot of grayscape- in between ground conditions that are neither landscaped nor built upon - and extensive paving and surface parking lots in the core of the village. Thus an essential ingredient From stormwater gardens to breaking up parking lots with extensive landscaping- reducing asphalt, these initiatives can save money in maintenance and help save the planet by adding oxygen production coupled with heat reduction and cooling capabilities. Additional street tree planting is essential.

The green network also includes green connections- open spaces with walkways up the hillsides and residential areas, in alleys and vacant spaces and through the redevelopment areas. Bike friendly details will always be important to consider in strengthening the pedestrian environment.

Adding to the Fabric.

Currier Street and the Legion Lot - Options for mixed use infill development, bring more residential units downtown to serve various needs, including Cartoon Institute housing, are possible with the creative redevelopment of this area of the downtown. Opening up a new street with increased retail frontage will be an important component of this design along with the potential to create landmark architecture.

Opportunities for Infill - The plan portrays several areas where new structures, parking and parks can be located, and these provide some guidance as well as a sense of form giving and connectivity that the unified planning provides. Along the White River, and within the context of floodplain construction, the potential exists for some additional buildings, but these will need to be carefully sited and designed.

Loyal Park and Parking Cars.

A Public Park - Loyal Park is to become the centerpiece for the new downtown and expanded to a civic scale as a place for public gathering. A number of possibilities exist, from spanning the tracks with a landmark element and public space to an engaging water element evoking the confluence of community and river. More urban than Veteran’s Park it helps restore a sense of place to this “in-between” ground.

Driving, Parking and Riding...

A Transit Hub and a Parking Garage will be key elements of the transportation system in the future White River Junction. The design and connectivity of the parking garage will be integral to its serving as the primary parking facility in the village, allowing urban scale buildings to be built, further reinforcing and filling the urban form. More transit options will be in place, including local shuttles to better connect the uptown, with the downtown and across the river as well. Some refinements to on street parking and circulation should also be considered, with several options to look at. Enhanced signage and filling in the rest of the village lighting plan are also part of the overall design.

North Main Parking

Last rainy Tuesday, a few of us tramped out onto North Main Street to take a look at creating parallel parking on the street. David Saladino of RSG measured the street at various places with a measuring wheel. Rich Menge from public works discussed with us the snow storage needs of the Highway Department. Based on the information we had on hand (there is little accurate current information on the right of way along North Main--just those buildings surveyed in the past few years) it would appear that parallel parking is possible, but would require some changes to the sidewalk on the south side of the street. David is going to investigate the lane widths and parking space sizes in Burlington, which has recently revised some of its standards. The issue for Public Works is manpower: they do not have the manpower to keep downtown cleared as often as they would like and therefore need space to store the snow on the street. We talked a bit about the possibility of either adding crew or using private contractors. No conlcusions there. We measured Railroad Row and found the parking spaces were 8 feet and 8.5 feet wide and lanes were at least 12 feet wide. In any case, it would seem like a good idea to encourage including parking on the new master plan that Landworks will produce.

Tax Increment Financing

Following are notes taken by David Briggs at a Hartford Development Corporation meeting.

Tax Increment Financing (TIF) as of 03/21/08

TIF refers to a concept in which the tax base of a district within a municipality is measured and “frozen” such that all subsequently increased taxes realized from the district may be pledged to finance public works such as infrastructure. In other words tax revenues from a district are reserved specifically to finance improvements made in that district.

Believing that TIF might be an important source of financial support for public improvements in downtown WRJ the HDC invited Fred Kenney, Executive Director of the Vermont Economic Progress Council to come to WRJ and speak to HDC members. Kenney was recommended by Joss Besse of the Downtown Program. Sp on March 21, 2008 Kenney spoke to several HDC members at the Hotel Coolidge. The following are notes taken by David Briggs at that meeting:

• Enabling legislation in VT provides for 10 TIF districts to be established in the state prior to June 2010
• The taxes created within the TIF district may be used for up to 20 years (taxes come largely from real estate but it was therefore implied that sales, rooms and meals taxes might also apply
• No district has been formed yet but a number of towns are working on this concept and Williston is reported to be very close. Other towns are Waterbury, Waitsfield, Milton, Colchester and Middlebury. (remember the limit is 10 districts prior to 2011)
• Hartford / WRJ is not a Designated Growth Center but if it were the criteria for TIF would be easier to meet. Fred Kenney is to call back to expand on this aspect as it pertains to incorporating the costs involved and how it accelerates processes
• Consultants and Bond Attorneys are generally required to cause a TIF District to form but those costs can be borne by the TIF resource
• Creating a TIF takes approx 2 years and then comes a Bond Sale and a “Freeze Date” which marks the point at which “incremental taxes” are deferred to retire the bonds.
• It may be desirable to define a Hartford TIF district to include Sykes Avenue and the sewage treatment plant. This is a potentially vital point because only one TIF can be formed in a given municipality.
• S291 in the 2008 legislative session addresses TIF approval process
• Fred Kenney would be interested in hearing what kind of projects are potentially targeted by the current Landworks study for downtown WRJ
• HDC could be talking to Bond Attorneys to foresee issues, fees, etc.
• Following an initial discussion with a Bond Attorney a TIF Plan can be assembled with the help of a consultant
• The Central Business District (aka downtown WRJ) currently represents about 2.79% of the Hartford tax base (making it a relatively small impact on Hartford taxpayers
• Project Criteria guidelines brought to us in print by Fred Kenney call for meeting three out of five possible conditions. It appears that WRJ can meet three of those five.

Picture Thoughts

Here's a photo sketch of the downtown with a green space compared to current conditions. It's meant to give a rough idea of what i might look like. Clearly, having no cars around is not reality, but the couple looks happy!

The second image is from the Bugbee Center, at the top of North Main. It's meant to show how removing some of the highway elements changes the feel of a place dramatically. While not really an issue in downtown, Maple Street suffers from these oversized sign structures.

Click on the images to enlarge.

"Post Office Square"

Michelle Ollie and Bayle Drubel have sketched on the center-of-town park idea with some additions:

• Change circulation to one-way around the post office building (as also suggested by a commenter).
• Add lights in the park along the railroad.
• Add a bike rack and bus station stop in place of the info kiosk.
• Consider a cobblestone-like pavement around the post office.
• Add a sculptural element in the park that perhaps moves in the wind.
• Consider naming the area. They suggest "Post Office Square". Other name ideas? "Coolidge Square?" "Central Park?" I like the idea of naming the places in downtown and using that identity to form recognizable areas.

Click on the drawing to enlarge. Comments?

Revised Schedule

White River Junction Revised Schedule 3.25.08 (Draft for Review and Discusssion):

This is a revised schedule for the revitalization review project showing milestones for the next couple months.

LW = Landworks
RSG = Resource Systems Group

Week of April 21

Pathways: Submit updated Utility Inventory Map with indication of utility locations, condition, and sizes. Gaps in information shall be noted.

LW: Adjust Scope, budget and longer term time frame as per review and agreement with Town of Hartford.

Month of May

LW: Distribute two draft design and development scenarios (one modest and short-term oriented, the other more ambitious and long-term oriented) for review and comment. Designs to reflect community input and to incorporate public spaces.

RSG: Estimate parking demand and potential parking solutions based on design and development scenarios and RPC build-out analysis.

Week of June 5

LW: Present revised design and development scenarios at HDC meeting based on HDC comments (materials to be received from RSG + Pathways 1 week in advance)

Present preliminary Sign and Wayfinding Plan, to be refined with branding/marketing elements as developed subsequently

Identify streetscape improvements and short and long term scenarios (to include andy refinements/additions to street furniture elements)

RSG: Present proposed parking, vehicular circulation, bicycle circulation, and pedestrian infrastructure upgrades in support of revised design and development scenarios.

Pathways: Present recommended utility infrastructure upgrades in support of revised design and development scenarios

End of June/July

LW Team: Prepare a Capital Improvement Program with costs after the Town / board approves a design and development plan. Develop initial marketing and branding concepts Final Sign and Wyafinding Plan

Lane Widths

I did a bit of reading about lane widths this afternoon. Downtown White River Junction has, for the most part, very wide lanes (in excess of 12-feet, the width of an interstate lane). According to much of what I read, this encourages faster and more reckless driving because the perception from a driver's point of view is that there is plenty of margin for error. Some studies show that narrowing lanes statistically reduces accidents because people pay more attention and curiously, in some cases, narrowing has increased traffic because people feel safer when traffic is calmer.

As a result of these insights, some municipalities have narrowed their streets and avenues. In Montgomery, Maryland, a city more populous than the entire state of Vermont, for instance, 25mph streets, like those in downtown White River, have 10-foot lanes, with 8-foot parking along one or both sides. The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) recognize that in some situations lanes as narrow as 9-feet may be acceptable.

I'm not sure what the Hartford town ordinance specifies, if anything, but it seems like a good idea for us to review our lane widths downtown to see if they can be adjusted to promote better traffic flow, provide quality on-street parking, and reduce downtown driving speeds. I do know the minimum parking space is 9-feet by 20-feet, which is an enormous space that most cars swim within. Many parking facilities have compact-car parking which allows for additional cars without additional paving.

In the case of my prior post, looking at North Main Street, if lanes were narrowed to 10-feet, public on-street parking could be created without making any changes to sidewalks, curbing or lighting. By scaling downtown street conditions to reflect our desires (as opposed to the current conditions which seem to encourage undesirable behavior) we may be able to find inexpensive solutions to some of the traffic and parking problems much discussed.

North Main Street Parking

As a business owner of North Main Street, I am in favor of creating additional on-street public parking on North Main Street in front of businesses that have little to no on-site parking. This would help reduce the amount of "public" parking that is taking place in private lots, sometimes to the chagrin of the private lot owners (me included). Based on quick measurements of North Main Street, it seems quite possible to create about 17 parallel parking spaces without much, if any, adjustment to utilities.

In addition to providing parking in front of the businesses, it would also narrow the street (which is wider than it needs to be) and this might be one step that helps calm traffic entering town.

It would also make sense, as David Saladino of RSG suggests, to reduce the size of the intersection at Main and Currier/Bridge by extending the sidewalk in front of the furniture store eliminating the right turn lane. This would slow cars which tend to whip around that corner and provide sidewalk for pedestrians who cross there.

Comments?

Central Park Idea

Here's a concept for the center of downtown, and idea that combines a number of thoughts about the center of town: 1) increase green space by creating a larger central park area; 2) change traffic flow to two-way, which loses a few parking spaces but not that many; 3) adjust curbs to allow new traffic flow and create parallel parking spaces.

Click on the image for a larger view.

Comments? You can post them here.

First Draft Findings Presented

Landworks, RSG and Pathways Consulting presented their draft findings to a public meeting last week. Public comment was requested and is still encouraged as this part of the study prepares for the next phase which will make suggestions for revitalization. You can download the draft findings here .

Progress

Most of White River Junction may be frozen right now but LandWorks, of Middlebury, Vermont, is currently collecting and thawing out lots of data about the village as they prepare the ingredients for White River's Revitalization Plan. We have added to the left of this column a list of the deliverables and activities that will take place as part of the plan's preparation so that you can track what's happening. As documents and findings are produced we'll link to them from the status column.

River City Revitalization Broadside Complete

One of the first deliverables of the Revitalization Plan is complete: the River City Review 2. This broadside will be displayed in various locations around downtown to alert people to the presence of the revitalization project and to encourage public participation. You can download a PDF of the broadside here or grab it from the sidebar to the left.