Imagine Tacoma – Downtown Gateway ( 6. June 2008, 16:46 by David Boe) ~ Do You Know Where Your Rumble Strips Are?
Building upon the comments from the trinity of urban design consultants in Tacoma this spring (Kunstler, Burden and Lars – oh my), Imagine Tacoma looks at the space ‘between the buildings’ at one of the main entrance to downtown – 7th and Pacific/Commerce.
Entering Downtown – and any of our Mixed-Use Centers for that matter – motorized vehicle operators should be made demonstratively aware that they have now entered a pedestrian realm. So extra wide drive lanes and extra turn lanes should be reduced to the minimum to allow the pedestrian walkways to expand and urban amenities to exist. For this gateway in particular, how about:
- Keeping the entry and exit lanes to/from Schuster Parkway as single lanes as this will allow an increased median width along with planter strips each side of Pacific Avenue (so the pedestrian access to the Thea Foss and Walk the Water can be that much more enjoyable – and safer).
- Add ‘rumble strips’ before entering Pacific Avenue from Schuster Parkway (designed musically – da, da, da, daaaah?).
- Add center islands to all crosswalks with lighted bollards.
- PAINT THE @#%*ing CROSSWALKS!
- Organize the unique historic street lamps IN COORDINATION with the street tree layout so that there is ample ability for the historic street lamps to light the sidewalk and street (i.e. not the interior of street tree canopies).
- Organize the street tree locations IN COORDINATION with the historic street lamps, adjacent building and signage (and while we are at it – selected a signature street tree species for Pacific Avenue that is columnar in shape, has a restrictive root ball, and does not drip sap/berries/etc… – I mean, do we really need 21 varieties between 7th and 21st?)
They say that guests make a positive or negative judgment about the quality of a hotel within 120 seconds upon entering the lobby– and that during the rest of the guest’s stay the hotel can either reinforce or struggle to overcome this initial impression. I wonder if that holds true for cities as well?
David Boe has been the Principal Architect for BOE architects in downtown Tacoma for the past 12 years. David's kept married to his best friend for the past 26 years and he writes for us because it's cheaper than therapy. He avoids jelly beans or candy canes but will get up close and personal with chocolate chips cookies anytime.
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now that would be rad. I hate crossing the street over there. Drivers hate to stop!!
1 | Posted by RR Anderson | Jun 6, 05:04 PM
Love the rumble strip idea, but could we get the opening strains of ‘Girl from Ipanema’, instead?
Traffic calming of some sort is definitely needed in that spot.
The rest — trees, street lights, crosswalks — just more examples of neglected maintenance and misplaced priorities at city hall. All should be in much better condition, but are not.
I too like the rumble strip music. “Shave and a haircut, two bits”?
If businesses could be attracted to downtown like condo developers, it would be a great start to draw people there that aren’t already there
3 | Posted by Craig | Jun 8, 07:05 PM
I’d like to see a new gazebo built in that little park and make the structure big enough for a permanent miltary concert band and dancing and what not.
4 | Posted by Mofo from the Hood | Jun 9, 12:36 PM
I recently saw a photo of the police headquarters that used to be on that parcel. It wasn’t a pretty building, but it was fairly substantial. I say the city should either turn the vacant lot “park” into a bocce court or sell it to a developer – we need more eyes on the street.
This proposal reminds me of too many suburban city gateway ideas that I’ve encountered over the years. In those, you’re essentially saying:
“Welcome to downtown Suburbia. We have lots of amenities and have a couple buildings over two stories in height. We show how much we care about our town by installing planters and ornate streetlights. Suburbia: big city amenities with small-town charm.”
On the other hand, most real cities don’t make use of such pathetic defined entryways. They don’t need to, because they have their impressive skylines and numerous access points to promote the idea that the city is a big, bustling, happening place. You drive off the comfort of a freeway and enter a much different, chaotic world of giant buildings, pedestrians, bike messengers, delivery trucks and loud noises. This should be but one of many entrances to the downtown area of a great city—not an idyllic, pastoral image of something better suited for suburbia.
drizell:
What about this idea for the little park:
A merry-go-round with hand-carved horses and calliope music.
7 | Posted by Mofo from the Hood | Jun 9, 10:43 PM
@ #3 Craig
Attract business!!?? And that would drive a real estate market and attract secondary businesses? No Way!
That would be putting the horse in front of the cart, definitely not the Tacoma way. Much better to attract condo owners first which will increase the need for better commuting options to the north where the jobs are. Cart before horse, the true Tacoma way.
8 | Posted by beerBoy | Jun 10, 10:27 AM
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