Visualizing BRT-OD

1. Visualizing BRT-OD
A Study in Transit-Supportive Development
Design, Density and Dimension

2. Agenda
Project Overview
MARTINA HAGGERTY, PRINCIPAL PLANNER, CITY OF PROVIDENCE
Design & Dimension: Urban Design Principles & Best Practices
DAVID GAMBLE, PRINCIPAL, GAMBLE ASSOCIATES
3D Modeling Methodology
PAUL COTE, GIS SPECIALIST, HARVARD SCHOOL OF DESIGN
Interactive 3D Modeling Demonstration
PAUL COTE, GIS SPECIALIST, HARVARD SCHOOL OF DESIGN
Take Home Points
EMILY KISH, PRINCIPAL PLANNER, CITY OF PROVIDENCE
Q+A

3. Project Overview
MARTINA HAGGERTY, PRINCIPAL PLANNER, CITY OF PROVIDENCE

4. “the project”
• Two phase project initiated by City of Providence in
cooperation with RIPTA
• Funded by OSHC Community Challenge Planning Grant
• Phase I: TOD planning, creative placemaking strategies,
transit improvements for five highest use transit corridors in
Providence
• Phase II: Complete rewrite of the Providence Zoning
Ordinance

5. TransitOriented
Development
Encourage development
that supports transit
TOD: Mixed-use area designed to
maximize access to, encourage use of
public transit
(~¼ mile radius around transit stop)
DevelopmentOriented Transit
Make transit attractive, convenient
Make transit investments that
encourage development
Ensure that transit investments are
made in right places

6. Downtown
Pawtucket
Improve transit
Rapid Bus Route (R-Line)
Downtown
Providence
• Frequent service
• Fast service (spacing, TSP,
jump lanes, curb extensions,
TVMs)
• Improved shelters &
amenities
Key Bus Routes (“rapid ready”)
• Plans completed, budgeted
• Encourage development to
increase ridership
• Awaiting implementation $$

7. Identify vacant and
underutilized land
Where is redevelopment
potential?
Look at land vacant by tax code
In depth analysis of potentially
“underutilized land”
What is highest and best use?
Does current development
further or hinder community
vision?

8. Identify
“community hubs”
• Redevelopment
opportunities
• Areas that can foster
catalytic change for entire
corridor, centers of activity
• Previous plans - Where were
community hubs and
gateways previously
identified? Are these still the
best locations?

9. Develop short-term
approach
Credit: Wall Street Journal (Oakland Cemetery, Atlanta)
Credit: Lisa Murch, Mural Arts Program (Philadellphia)
Credit: Sean Capone Art + Video (Shoji Museum, Japan)
• Creative development
strategies
• Identify temporary uses,
other ways to activate,
mitigate, create place
(Public art, community
gardens, pop up
concerts)

10. Develop long-term
approach
• Where are “opportunity
sites” within each hub?
• Create long-term build
out scenarios for
potentially
redevelopable land at
each community hub
location

11. Work with
community to
refine, affirm
their vision
Existing Conditions
Analysis (in house)
What is current housing
density?
Employment density?
Is it transit-supportive?
What is max. build
out under current
zoning regulations?

12. Design and Dimension: Urban Design
Principles and Best Practices
DAVID GAMBLE, PRINCIPAL, GAMBLE ASSOCIATES

13. 1. Connectivity
Trinity Square
Enhance connections to existing open spaces or
parks that can link isolated places together.

14. Columbus Square
2. Blocks
Aggregate adjoining parcels into larger development parcels and
Subdivide exceptionally large parcels with new streets, public plazas

15. 3. Natural Systems
Leverage existing rivers or waterways
to reinforce sense of place
Upper Manton

16. 4. Placemaking
Chalkstone Avenue
Foster a stronger a sense of
place with open space,
plazas, easements in
relationship to existing
assets.

17. 5. Placemaking
Foster a stronger sense of place at the
confluence of street grids
Public Street

18. 6. Density
Encourage greater density and height
adjacent to landscape setbacks,
open spaces
Upper North Main

19. 7. Gateways
Identify existing architectural and
historical community assets
Integrate assets into transit hubs
Lower Manton

20. EXISTING
LOWER MANTON

21. 8. Parking
Chalkstone Avenue
Reduce surface parking (limits
dev. potential, thwarts ability
to link places together)
Use shared parking as tool to
reduce parking on individual
sites, promote active
pedestrian environment
Balance residential and
commercial uses for efficient
sharing between daytime,
nighttime uses
Buffer existing parking lots ,
break up with planting
islands, bio-swales

22. 9. Streetscape
Extend streetscape and public realm enhancements into the
neighborhoods with street trees, improved sidewalks
Lower North Main

23. 3D Modeling Methodology
PAUL COTE, GIS SPECIALIST, HARVARD SCHOOL OF DESIGN

24. Connecting Planners and Designers
Designers
Planners
3D GIS

25. Existing Condition Model
Tax Assessor data
per parcel.
Tabulated for
opportunity Sites.
Translated to 3D
Sketchup Model.

26. Zoning Buildout Model
Dimensional
Regulations
Site
Geometry

27. Transit Oriented Build-Out
Identify opportunity
sites.
Specify
development
targets.
Design
Numerical
Summary /
Comparison

28. Introducing the Buildout Calculator
• 3D GIS Plugin for Sketchup
• Allows Designer to experiment with
schemes in 3D.
• Calculates build consequences in terms of
Gross Floor Area and Parking Capacity
• Freely Downloadable from
www.pbcgis.com/buildout_calculator

29. Model a Site
Create Polygon for Site
Apply Materials for
Parking and Default
Site Background
Select All, Right-Click
And choose
“Create Site Group”

30. Model a Site
Expose Dynamic
Components toolbar.
View>Toolbars…
Build-Out Calculator
Site Object

31. Model a Building
Model building parts
as simple extrusions.
Apply materials to
indicate use.
Gridded materials
Indicate stories.
Select All, Right-Click
And choose
“Create Building Group”

32. Update Building Attributes
Expose Dynamic
Components toolbar.
Expose attributes for
building.
Choose roof material.
Gross Stories and GFA
updated automatically.
Fill in attributes for
usage by stories.

33. Create Scheme
Add more buildings.
Select buildings and site
Right-click and choose:
Create Scheme Group.

34. Create Scheme
Name Scheme and edit
Default parking
requirements if necessary.

35. Tabulate Schemes
Create another scheme
Use the sketchup
Outliner window to
Select and manage
scheme groups
Right-click and choose:
“Tabulate Schemes”
A table will appear.

36. Examine & Export Schemes Table
Save report as an
HTML file.
Open table in excel.

37. Integration with Google Earth

38. Integration of Data from ArcGIS

39. Download the
Build-Out Calculator Plugin!
www.pbcgis.com/buildout_calculator

40. Take Home Points
EMILY KISH, PRINCIPAL PLANNER, CITY OF PROVIDENCE

41. Begin with Placemaking
•
Understand existing character
•
Identify, uncover, connect to unique assets
–
–
•
Ex: Atlantic Mills dominates Lower Manton hub, rehabilitation should be
priority
Ex: Woonasquatucket River at Upper Manton provides potential for
restoration and connection to industrial past
Reveal intrinsic identity of each area, build cohesive urban design
framework

42. Forge Public/Private Partnerships
•
Coordinate with anchor
institutions that have longterm stake to align goals,
get buy in
•
Provide grant
opportunities to encourage
involvement, help achieve
goals

43. Implement the Vision
• Phase II: New zoning ordinance will implement City’s goals for
smart growth, sustainable, cultural, equitable, and
transit‐oriented development
• New TOD Districts for community hubs
– Increased density, use mix, affordability mix
– Eliminate parking minimum
– Introduce design standards
– Create parking maximums?
– Introduce minimum density requirements?

44. Q+A