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REZONE ALBANY: CENTRAL / MANNING SQUARE DESIGN WORKSHOP 2009 Welcome Back! ---PAGE BREAK--- Hands-On Design Workshop Monday, August 10 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM Open Design Studio Tuesday, August 11 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM Work-In-Progress Presentation Wednesday, August 12 6:00 to 8:00 PM 2 1 workshop events: location of all workshop events: The Linda - WAMC’s Performance Arts Center 339 Central Avenue 3 ---PAGE BREAK--- draft ---PAGE BREAK--- hands-on design session 40+ people ---PAGE BREAK--- open studio 20+ visitors ---PAGE BREAK--- meetings mayor city staff developers realtors housing representatives college representatives transportation officials (RTA) city councilpersons business owners neighborhood associations residents (from every part of the city) students ---PAGE BREAK--- in-person participation to-date 160+ studio visitors, meeting attendees, hands-on participants ---PAGE BREAK--- media coverage ---PAGE BREAK--- rezonealbany.com Online participation 33,420+ visitors ---PAGE BREAK--- participation to-date 55,000+ total media reach ---PAGE BREAK--- keypad poll ---PAGE BREAK--- Did you attend this week’s Kick-off or Open Studio? Kick-Off Open Studio Both Neither 28% 40% 24% 8% 1. Kick-Off 2. Open Studio 3. Both 4. Neither ---PAGE BREAK--- Next Question ---PAGE BREAK--- Is this the first event you have attended at The Linda? Yes No 59% 41% 1. Yes 2. No ---PAGE BREAK--- what we heard ---PAGE BREAK--- one word card ---PAGE BREAK--- 2009 ONE WORD that comes to mind NOW ---PAGE BREAK--- ONE WORD that comes to mind IN THE FUTURE ---PAGE BREAK--- big ideas for central & manning area • make central even more of a destination central exceeds expectations already, but let’s focus on intersections, provide ample (but consolidated) parking, develop opportunity sites like Bleecker Terrace, replace the “missing teeth” in the streetscape smile • transform central avenue into a “great street” safe, comfortable & interesting; “road diet”; safe crossings, trees; invest in Central’s design as we have on other streets • increase connectivity & “centralize” parking connections to downtown, overall connectivity, park-once environment • assist existing businesses & residents don’t zone-out existing businesses, help improve “look” of storefronts, housing for working class • enhance park visibility & accessibility Swinburne Park is an under-utlized asset, berm blocks views of the park ---PAGE BREAK--- what we heard Make Central Avenue a destination: 6 out of 6 tables ---PAGE BREAK--- what if… North Manning Stop where Manning, Central and Clinton all meet ---PAGE BREAK--- what if… Manning Corner of Central & Manning ---PAGE BREAK--- Manning what if… Corner of Central & Manning ---PAGE BREAK--- what if… Corner of Central & Manning Offices Shops Existing Businesses Existing Homes Residences Storefronts New Destinations ---PAGE BREAK--- respectful heights & architecture ---PAGE BREAK--- upgrade an outdated design Bleecker Terrace ---PAGE BREAK--- Bleecker Terrace: Before what if… ---PAGE BREAK--- Bleecker Terrace: After what if… ---PAGE BREAK--- Bleecker Terrace: After Keep Historic Buildings what if… Apartments Keep Open Spaces ---PAGE BREAK--- One kind of house for one kind of family no diversity ---PAGE BREAK--- A range of different housing types for a range of different people diversity (staying affordable) Mixed use Live-work Rental Apartments Townhomes Small homes Mid/Large Homes ---PAGE BREAK--- Transform Central Avenue into a “Great Street”: 6 out of 6 tables what we heard ---PAGE BREAK--- Central Avenue existing conditions ---PAGE BREAK--- Central Avenue with BRT w/ side running BRT ---PAGE BREAK--- Central Avenue with BRT – eastside running ---PAGE BREAK--- Central Avenue with BRT – center running ---PAGE BREAK--- Central Avenue with light rail – center running ---PAGE BREAK--- streetcar on central ---PAGE BREAK--- Central Avenue existing conditions ---PAGE BREAK--- Central Avenue with BRT w/ side running BRT ---PAGE BREAK--- Central Avenue with light rail – center running ---PAGE BREAK--- what we heard increase connectivity & “centralize” parking: 6 out of 6 tables ---PAGE BREAK--- opportunity site 526 Central near the Fireman’s Credit Union ---PAGE BREAK--- ---PAGE BREAK--- what if… Corner of Central & Manning looking east ---PAGE BREAK--- what if… Corner of Central & Manning looking east ---PAGE BREAK--- what if… Corner of Central & Manning looking east ---PAGE BREAK--- what if… Corner of Central & Manning looking east ---PAGE BREAK--- what if… Corner of Central & Manning looking east ---PAGE BREAK--- what if… Corner of Central & Manning looking east ---PAGE BREAK--- what we heard Enhance park visibility & accessibility: 5 out of 6 tables ---PAGE BREAK--- what we heard Historic, but not designated; “interventions” could be possible ---PAGE BREAK--- keypad poll ---PAGE BREAK--- Would you live in one of the renderings presented tonight? Yes Maybe No 59% 9% 31% 1. Yes 2. Maybe 3. No ---PAGE BREAK--- Next Question ---PAGE BREAK--- Yes Maybe No 65% 26% 9% Do you see Central as a congested street (difficult to travel, stop & go, not a preferred route, etc.)? 1. Yes 2. Maybe 3. No ---PAGE BREAK--- Next Question ---PAGE BREAK--- Less than 1% Around 10% Around 25% Around 50% 10% 10% 41% 38% What do you think the percentage of the capitol region live within a 1/4 mile of Central Avenue (and the Route 5 corridor)? 1. Less than 1% 2. Around 10% 3. Around 25% 4. Around 50% ---PAGE BREAK--- Next Question ---PAGE BREAK--- International Independent fa... Diverse retail... Smart & edgy 65% 6% 10% 19% What do you see as Central Avenue’s greatest strength? 1. International Community 2. Independent family owned businesses 3. Diverse retail (large & small retail) 4. Smart & edgy entertainment options ---PAGE BREAK--- Last Question ---PAGE BREAK--- Do you see the success of Central Avenue critical to the success of the City as a whole? Yes Maybe No 85% 9% 6% 1. Yes 2. Maybe 3. No ---PAGE BREAK--- what we heard Assist existing businesses and residents: 5 out of 6 tables ---PAGE BREAK--- Conventional Zoning: …buildings are random Form-Based Code: …focus on buildings ---PAGE BREAK--- Conventional Zoning: …ignores streets Form-Based Code: …includes streets ---PAGE BREAK--- ---PAGE BREAK--- no longer a one-size-fits all code ---PAGE BREAK--- existing regulating plan DRAFT Core Center General Edge Open Space Boundary Bleeker Stadium Swinburne Park St. Anne Institute ---PAGE BREAK--- existing regulating plan DRAFT Core Center General Edge Open Space Boundary Bleeker Stadium Swinburne Park St. Anne Institute ---PAGE BREAK--- Parks (civic) regulating plan DRAFT Core Center General Edge Open Space Boundary Bleeker Stadium Swinburne Park St. Anne Institute ---PAGE BREAK--- centers regulating plan DRAFT Core Center General Edge Open Space Boundary Bleeker Stadium Swinburne Park St. Anne Institute ---PAGE BREAK--- core nodes regulating plan DRAFT Core Center General Edge Open Space Boundary Bleeker Stadium Swinburne Park St. Anne Institute ---PAGE BREAK--- core nodes regulating plan DRAFT Core Center General Edge Open Space Boundary Bleeker Stadium Swinburne Park St. Anne Institute ---PAGE BREAK--- center regulating plan DRAFT Core Center General Edge Open Space Boundary Bleeker Stadium Swinburne Park St. Anne Institute ---PAGE BREAK--- general regulating plan DRAFT Core Center General Edge Open Space Boundary Bleeker Stadium Swinburne Park St. Anne Institute ---PAGE BREAK--- edge regulating plan DRAFT Core Center General Edge Open Space Boundary Bleeker Stadium Swinburne Park St. Anne Institute ---PAGE BREAK--- potential street connections regulating plan DRAFT Core Center General Edge Open Space Boundary Bleeker Stadium Swinburne Park St. Anne Institute ---PAGE BREAK--- will this work? ---PAGE BREAK--- where shall I live? $480K across from Washington Park $380K in Center Square $160K just off Central Ave $270K in Helderberg ---PAGE BREAK--- • Nationally, there’s a return to the cities • Infrastructure investments already made & transit rider numbers exceed expectations • Diversity of local businesses create a resilient local economy • Central Avenue and Midtown offers more “room to grow” than other places in the city Why Central? ---PAGE BREAK--- keypad poll ---PAGE BREAK--- Yes Probably yes Can’t tell yet No 62% 3% 9% 26% Do you think the draft ideas presented tonight are on the right track? 1. Yes 2. Probably yes 3. Can’t tell yet 4. No ---PAGE BREAK--- the conversation continues: rezonealbany.COM