cathedral area historic district project breaking a 50-year impasse:
TRANSCRIPT
Cathedral Area Historic District Project
Breaking A 50-Year Impasse:
Cathedral Area Historic District Project
Project Background / History• Longest North-South Arterial
Street in Bismarck, ND• 5-Lane Roadway on North
& South Ends• Narrows to a 30’ 2-Lane
Through Historic District• Crumbling Infrastructure • LOS F• Neighborhood Stopped City
Widening Plan in 1950’s • Repeated Projects Failed
Cathedral Area Historic District Project
A New Approach Emerges
• City Approaches the Neighborhood
• Forms A Washington Street Working Group
• Discussed How To Approach Starting A Potential Project
• Result: Neighborhood Wanted A Process To Provide Input On EVERYTHING!
Cathedral Area Historic District Project
Seek To Understand, Then Be Understood
• Created A Stakeholder Advisory Committee (SAC)
• 5 Public Input Meetings
• Interactive Website with On-Line Public Opinion Survey
• Direct Mail
• Brought in News Media as Partners
Cathedral Area Historic District Project
Schedule
• Public Input Meeting #1 Feb. 9, 2006• Public Input Meeting #2 Feb. 21• Design Charrette Feb. 21-23• Public Open House Feb. 22• Public Input Meeting #3 Feb. 23• Public Input Meeting #4 Mar. 30• Public Input Meeting #5 90% Plans, Fall
2006• Construction 2007
Cathedral Area Historic District Project
SAC• Open To Anyone – No Limit
• Must Agree To Rules:– Must Commit To Attending All Meetings– Keep An Open Mind, No Criticism– Must Participate In Ideas and Discussions– Must Discuss Project With Others and Report
Back With Input
• Open Roster Helped Establish Credibility!
Cathedral Area Historic District Project
SAC• Listening Sessions
• Story Telling – What Makes A Sense of Place
• Personal & Historic Photos
• News Clippings/Articles
• Presentation of Historic District Key Features & History by SAC Volunteer
• Walking Tour of District & Buildings
Cathedral Area Historic District Project
Public Streetscape Survey• 456 Surveys Distributed
– Available on Website
• 120 Survey Responses Received– 20 Surveys Incomplete
• Response Rate = 26%• Prioritization of Project Goals
– Tree Preservation (17%); Left turn lane (16%); Streetscape Maintenance (15%); Seek public input/keep the public informed (15%)
• Preference of the Level of Detail of Streetscape Elements– High and Moderate
Cathedral Area Historic District Project
Public Comments Received
• Avoid Impacting the Trees. • Pedestrian Safety and Controlled Traffic Speeds Should
Remain Top Priorities.
• Like to See the District Enhanced but not ‘Themed’.
Cathedral Area Historic District Project
Public Comments Received
• This Section of Town Holds Bismarck’s History – Once Gone – it Will be Very Difficult to Restore.
• The Public has Set a High Priority that the Widened Street not Bisect Neighbors in the East from Those in the West…We are Concerned about PEOPLE Being Separated from PEOPLE.
• Widen the Street as much as Possible.
Cathedral Area Historic District Project
Challenge: “Preserve the Memorable Streetscape Experience”
• Condensed Project Goals:
– Infrastructure Improvements
– Neighborhood Character
Cathedral Area Historic District Project
Infrastructure Improvements
• Utilities Improvements– Opportunity to Upgrade
• Roadway Related Recommendations– Accommodate 20 year design life– Address Traffic Speed and Flow– Slow In-Bound Traffic– Focus on Pedestrian Conflict Zone– Emergency Vehicle Needs– Visibility and Lighting
Cathedral Area Historic District Project
What Is Primary Need Of Corridor?
• To Move High Volumes Of Traffic As Quickly As Possible?
• To Provide A Safe Corridor For Motorists & Pedestrians, While Providing An Acceptable Level Of Service To Corridor Traffic?
Cathedral Area Historic District Project
How We Got There
• Establish and Maintain Sincerity & Credibility
• Open Participatory Process
• Design Charrette
• Visualization Graphics
• Commitment
Cathedral Area Historic District Project
Design Charrette
Cathedral Area Historic District Project
Neighborhood Character
Cathedral Area Historic District Project
Neighborhood Character
Cathedral Area Historic District Project
Neighborhood Character
Cathedral Area Historic District Project
Neighborhood Character
Cathedral Area Historic District Project
Visualization
Cathedral Area Historic District Project
Visualization
Cathedral Area Historic District Project
Visualization
Cathedral Area Historic District Project
Visualization
Cathedral Area Historic District Project
Visualization
Cathedral Area Historic District Project
Visualization
Cathedral Area Historic District Project
Visualization
Cathedral Area Historic District Project
Visualization
Cathedral Area Historic District Project
Visualization
Cathedral Area Historic District Project
Visualization
Cathedral Area Historic District Project
Lessons Learned:
• Begin Early Open Dialogue:– To Determine Support To Consider
Developing a Plan
• Open Invitation For SAC:– Everyone is a Stakeholder, Build
Credibility Through Open Participation
Cathedral Area Historic District Project
Lessons Learned:
• Establish Rules For SAC:– Requires a Commitment From Squeaky
Wheels, Doesn’t Just Provide Another Platform For Them.
• Seek To Understand, Then Be Understood:– Improves Communication and Builds Empathy
Both Ways
Cathedral Area Historic District Project
Lessons Learned:
• The Open House Design Charrette:– Capitalize on an Interactive, Collaborative
Design Concept Process
• The Power of Visualization:– A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words– Used in the Planning, Design, and in the Final
Project Features as Seen By The Users
Cathedral Area Historic District Project
Lessons Learned:
• Bring the News Media as a Partner:– Tell Them How You Would Like Them to
Participate, Provide Them Graphics, Etc.
• Commitment:– You Say You Are Going To Preserve Trees?
Prove it!
Cathedral Area Historic District Project
Lessons Learned:
• Keep The Momentum Going!– Frequent Meetings Build Enthusiasm &
Synergy
Cathedral Area Historic District Project