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 Public Open HouseFeb. 22 Public Input Meeting #3 Feb. 23 Public Input Meeting #4Mar. 30 Public Input Meeting #590% Plans, Fall 2006 Construction2007
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