Railroad Avenue Design Charette

1
Railroad Avenue Design Charette
2
What is AIA 150?

• The AIA is the foremost nationwide association of
  architects.
• 2007 marked the 150th anniversary of the
  organization. To
• commemorate this event, The AIA and its state and
  local
• chapters embarked on hundreds of projects, the
  principal thrust
• of which was to enhance the human relationship
  with and to the
• environment. This sizable and largely altruistic
  effort, involving
• thousands of architects, is aligned with one of
  The AIAs leading
• tenets that its members use their professional
  skills in ways to
• improve the quality of life in their respective
  communities.

3
Charette Event Background

• A charette is a public design exercise to bring
  out new ideas through interactive participation
  of the public and design professionals.
• The goal is to find new and innovative ideas
  without restrictions on creativity.
  Implementation will be the test for the potential
  of ideas
• The charette was held at the Elks Club in the
  City of Pittsburg on October 27, 2007
• Over 50 persons attended the full day charette
• Participants included AIA East Bay Chapter
  members, Pittsburg citizens, Pittsburg City staff
  as well as professors and students from the UC
  Berkeley College of Environmental Design
• This report was prepared as a PowerPoint
  presentation to the Pittsburg City Council on
  February 19, 2008

4
Acknowledgements

• City Marc Grisham, Michael Kee AIA, Dana Hoggett
• AIAEB Steven Winkel FAIA, Sidney Sweeney AIA
  East Bay Executive Director, Bonnie
  Blake-Drucker, AIA, AIAEB Chapter President, Anko
  Chen, AIA, AIAEB Chapter Vice-President
• City Volunteers at the Charette
• Pittsburg Elks Club for their hospitality
• CED Harrison Fraker FAIA, Michael Southworth,
  Donlyn Lyndon FAIA and the students
• AIA National and AIACC for support of AIA 150

5
Charette Scope

• Railroad Avenue was chosen because of its
  historic relationship to the history of Pittsburg
  and its central location in the city
• The charette was designed to study connections
  along Railroad Avenue from the downtown
  redevelopment area to the proposed new eBART
  station, Highway 4 and the area to the south of
  Highway 4 along Railroad Avenue
• The charette had participants study one of three
  areas along Railroad Avenue
• North from 10th Avenue Redevelopment area edge to
  the park
• Civic Center and Highway 4
• Highway 4 and areas south of the highway
• This report looks at the whole of the charette
  study area, identifying the focus of the
  discussion by geographic area and by issue. There
  are many diverse ideas from several groups

6
ISSUES Reconnect R R Avenue At Railroads
Across Highway 4 To the Civic Center
To NeighborhoodsIdentity for PittsburgMake
Places at RR Ave.Transportation Choices
Cars Transit Bikes PedestriansEngagem
ent People Housing Civic Youth
Business

• PROPOSAL
• 5 Big Ideas
• New Amtrak depot
• Civic Center District along RR Ave.
• Reconnect city over freeway via new land bridge
• Make eBART focus at Highway 4 for city identity
• Transit shuttle along RR Ave.

7
ISSUES Reconnect R R Avenue At Railroads
Across Highway 4 To the Civic Center
To NeighborhoodsIdentity for PittsburgMake
Places at RR Ave.Transportation Choices
Cars Transit Bikes PedestriansEngagem
ent People Housing Civic Youth
Business

• PROPOSAL
• Existing condition study at north end of RR Ave.
  charette area
• Identifies issues and opportunities
• Fragmentation and disconnection
• Views, gateway to downtown from the south

8
ISSUES Reconnect R R Avenue At Railroads
Across Highway 4 To the Civic Center
To NeighborhoodsIdentity for PittsburgMake
Places at RR Ave.Transportation Choices
Cars Transit Bikes PedestriansEngagem
ent People Housing Civic Youth
Business

• PROPOSAL
• Provide retail along road over rail lines
• Provide view spots at over pass to exploit views
  to water and the hills

9
ISSUES Reconnect R R Avenue At Railroads
Across Highway 4 To the Civic Center
To NeighborhoodsIdentity for PittsburgMake
Places at RR Ave.Transportation Choices
Cars Transit Bikes PedestriansEngagem
ent People Housing Civic Youth
Business

• PROPOSAL
• Green Belts along rail corridors
• New connective tissue fronting on RR Ave. in
  light industrial area
• Enhance view corridor from overpass
• Build up buildings along RR Ave. at overpass to
  match scales

10
ISSUES Reconnect R R Avenue At Railroads
Across Highway 4 To the Civic Center
To NeighborhoodsIdentity for PittsburgMake
Places at RR Ave.Transportation Choices
Cars Transit Bikes PedestriansEngagem
ent People Housing Civic Youth
Business

• PROPOSAL
• Provide view node at overcrossing
• Revise paths under and over railroads to be more
  pedestrian friendly
• Make space between tracks a more defined light
  industrial area and relate it back to RR Ave.

11
ISSUES Reconnect R R Avenue At Railroads
Across Highway 4 To the Civic Center
To NeighborhoodsIdentity for PittsburgMake
Places at RR Ave.Transportation Choices
Cars Transit Bikes PedestriansEngagem
ent People Housing Civic Youth
Business

• PROPOSAL
• Provide view opportunity at railroad
  overcrossing for views to hills and water

12
ISSUES Reconnect R R Avenue At Railroads
Across Highway 4 To the Civic Center
To NeighborhoodsIdentity for PittsburgMake
Places at RR Ave.Transportation Choices
Cars Transit Bikes PedestriansEngagem
ent People Housing Civic Youth
Business

• PROPOSAL
• Saddle Bag parks along overpass to provide
  views from high place
• New design for overpass to be sculptural and
  place making icon
• New landscaping at pedestrian tunnel to make
  more user friendly
• Provide bike paths or lanes for bike travel

13
ISSUES Reconnect R R Avenue At Railroads
Across Highway 4 To the Civic Center
To NeighborhoodsIdentity for PittsburgMake
Places at RR Ave.Transportation Choices
Cars Transit Bikes PedestriansEngagem
ent People Housing Civic Youth
Business

• PROPOSAL
• Make rail corridors into greenbelts
• Connect to redevelopment area with retail along
  RR Ave.
• Provide civic activities in park related to RR
  Ave.
• Connect park activities to civic center
• Connect schools to RR Ave.
• Provide art/culture gateway on
• RR Ave.

14
ISSUES Reconnect R R Avenue At Railroads
Across Highway 4 To the Civic Center
To NeighborhoodsIdentity for PittsburgMake
Places at RR Ave.Transportation Choices
Cars Transit Bikes PedestriansEngagem
ent People Housing Civic Youth
Business

• PROPOSAL
• New pedestrian and bike paths over and under
  railroad to connect along RR Ave.
• Landscape along new pathways for visual
  continuity along RR Ave.

15
ISSUES Reconnect R R Avenue At Railroads
Across Highway 4 To the Civic Center
To NeighborhoodsIdentity for PittsburgMake
Places at RR Ave.Transportation Choices
Cars Transit Bikes PedestriansEngagem
ent People Housing Civic Youth
Business

• PROPOSAL
• Commercial link to downtown
• Enhance and enlarge underpass for pedestrians
  and bikes
• New commuter rail station
• Defined light industrial area between tracks
• New community services near park, high school
  and civic center
• Pocket parks on overpass for view opportunities

16
ISSUES Reconnect R R Avenue At Railroads
Across Highway 4 To the Civic Center
To NeighborhoodsIdentity for PittsburgMake
Places at RR Ave.Transportation Choices
Cars Transit Bikes PedestriansEngagem
ent People Housing Civic Youth
Business

• PROPOSAL
• Town Square as Node along RR Avenue

17
ISSUES Reconnect R R Avenue At
Railroads Across Highway 4 To the Civic
Center To NeighborhoodsIdentity for
PittsburgMake Places at RR Ave.Transportation
Choices Cars Transit Bikes
PedestriansEngagement People Housing
Civic Youth Business

• PROPOSAL
• New buildings along RR Ave. frontage
• Tie civic center to RR Ave. with Youth Center
• New Art Center across RR Ave. from Youth Center
• Place Library along RR Ave.

18
ISSUES Reconnect R R Avenue At Railroads
Across Highway 4 To the Civic Center
To NeighborhoodsIdentity for PittsburgMake
Places at RR Ave.Transportation Choices
Cars Transit Bikes PedestriansEngagem
ent People Housing Civic Youth
Business

• PROPOSAL
• Re-establish rail at median in RR Ave.
• Provide green buffers along RR Ave.
• New Bike Ways along RR Ave.

19
ISSUES Reconnect R R Avenue At Railroads
Across Highway 4 To the Civic Center
To NeighborhoodsIdentity for PittsburgMake
Places at RR Ave.Transportation Choices
Cars Transit Bikes PedestriansEngagem
ent People Housing Civic Youth
Business

• PROPOSAL
• Study of area around Civic Center
• Tie together transit, jobs, neighboerhoods,
  civic uses, youth energy, nature, scales of use
  patterns

20
ISSUES Reconnect R R Avenue At Railroads
Across Highway 4 To the Civic Center
To NeighborhoodsIdentity for PittsburgMake
Places at RR Ave.Transportation Choices
Cars Transit Bikes PedestriansEngagem
ent People Housing Civic Youth
Business

• PROPOSAL
• Street section at the Civic Center
• New transit median with landscaping
• New street trees
• Move buildings up against RR Ave. to define
  street edge

21
ISSUES Reconnect R R Avenue At Railroads
Across Highway 4 To the Civic Center
To NeighborhoodsIdentity for PittsburgMake
Places at RR Ave.Transportation Choices
Cars Transit Bikes PedestriansEngagem
ent People Housing Civic Youth
Business

• PROPOSAL
• New Amtrak Depot for Pittsburg
• New commercial at RR Ave. near Civic Center
• Tie civic center to eBART
• New Mixed Use south of Highway, relate to eBART
• Accentuate eBART station at Highway 4

22
ISSUES Reconnect R R Avenue At Railroads
Across Highway 4 To the Civic Center
To NeighborhoodsIdentity for PittsburgMake
Places at RR Ave.

• PROPOSAL
• New pedestrian pathways separate from bike lanes
  and cars
• New median landscaping at RR Ave. for identity
• New retail along street frontage

Transportation Choices Cars Transit
Bikes PedestriansEngagement People
Housing Civic Youth Business
23
ISSUES Reconnect R R Avenue At Railroads
Across Highway 4 To the Civic Center
To NeighborhoodsIdentity for PittsburgMake
Places at RR Ave.Transportation Choices
Cars Transit Bikes PedestriansEngagem
ent People Housing Civic Youth
Business

• PROPOSAL
• Very tall landmark tower to provide identity for
  city and connect Civic Center and eBART
• Mixed use to south of Highway 4 with eBART
  parking, frontage on RR Ave.
• Landmark sculture on south side of Highway 4

24
ISSUES Reconnect R R Avenue At Railroads
Across Highway 4 To the Civic Center
To NeighborhoodsIdentity for PittsburgMake
Places at RR Ave.Transportation Choices
Cars Transit Bikes Pedestrians

• PROPOSAL
• New bridge across Highway 4 at RR Ave. to
  connect to eBART
• New tall buildings along Highway 4 for new
  offices and identity

Engagement People Housing Civic
Youth Business
25
ISSUES Reconnect R R Avenue At Railroads
Across Highway 4 To the Civic Center
To NeighborhoodsIdentity for PittsburgMake
Places at RR Ave.

• PROPOSAL
• Make the eBART station a combination
  bridge/station to span RR Ave.
• Place new office towers at ends of briges

Transportation Choices Cars Transit
Bikes PedestriansEngagement People
Housing Civic Youth Business
26
ISSUES Reconnect R R Avenue At Railroads
Across Highway 4 To the Civic Center
To NeighborhoodsIdentity for PittsburgMake
Places at RR Ave.Transportation Choices
Cars Transit Bikes PedestriansEngagem
ent People Housing Civic Youth
Business

• PROPOSAL
• Mixed-use node at new eBART station as identity
  for city
• Tie eBART to Civic Center
• New mixed use along RR Ave. south of Highway 4
• Move retail up to front on RR Ave.

27
ISSUES Reconnect R R Avenue At Railroads
Across Highway 4 To the Civic Center
To NeighborhoodsIdentity for PittsburgMake
Places at RR Ave.Transportation Choices
Cars Transit Bikes PedestriansEngagem
ent People Housing Civic Youth
Business

• PROPOSAL
• Major retail and mixed use node south of Highway
  4
• Create ties across RR Ave. to existing
  neighborhoods through the node
• Tie back to eBART station at Highway 4

28
ISSUES Reconnect R R Avenue At Railroads
Across Highway 4 To the Civic Center
To NeighborhoodsIdentity for PittsburgMake
Places at RR Ave.Transportation Choices
Cars Transit Bikes Pedestrians

• PROPOSAL
• New transit in median of RR Ave.
• New street trees all along RR Ave. for visual
  continuity
• Move retail up to street edge to define street
  character
• Separate pedestrians, bikes, cars and transit

Engagement People Housing Civic
Youth Business
29
ISSUES Reconnect R R Avenue At Railroads
Across Highway 4 To the Civic Center
To NeighborhoodsIdentity for PittsburgMake
Places at RR Ave.Transportation Choices
Cars Transit Bikes PedestriansEngagem
ent People Housing Civic Youth
Business

• PROPOSAL
• New development at Civic Center to tie to RR
  Ave,
• Development at east side of RR Ave to tie to
  neighborhoods and Civic Center
• Transit Oriented Development south of Highway 4
  to tie to RR Ave and eBART

30
ISSUES Reconnect R R Avenue At Railroads
Across Highway 4 To the Civic Center
To NeighborhoodsIdentity for PittsburgMake
Places at RR Ave.Transportation Choices
Cars Transit Bikes PedestriansEngagem
ent People Housing Civic Youth
Business

• PROPOSAL
• Bridge over RR Ave. at DeAnza trail to highlight
  trail locatio and provide continuity of both
  trail and RR Ave.
• Move retail up to front on RR Ave.
• Provide separate bike, pedestrian and vehicle
  pathways. Add new transit median

31
The Three Big Ideas

• Make Railroad Avenue divide Highway 4, not the
  other way around as it does today
• Provide Identity for Pittsburg along the highway
• Provide continuity for Railroad Avenue in the
  city
• Celebrate the connection of the hills to the
  water along Railroad Avenue
• Use the opportunity for views at the railroad
  over crossing
• Re-establish the tradition of rail transit on
  Railroad Avenue
• Have Breda use Railroad Avenue as a demonstration
  track for urban rail vehicles
• Have historic transit and rail vehicles move from
  the water to the hills