Second Street Preferred Alternative

The Second Street Project is more than a street project, it’s a placemaking opportunity.  Placemaking opportunities allow a community to express its values through the design and use of public space, which is something the Langley community is already very adept at.  This project will simply build upon the already amazing placemaking that occurs here on almost a daily basis.  Placemaking is also increasingly acknowledged as being tied to economic sustainability as people have more freedom to choose where to live, work and play.  We understand from our public involvement efforts that community does not want to lose the organic look and feel along Second Street and that improvements should reflect the existing aesthetic.  We also want to ensure the design of Second Street supports our amazing local businesses through convenient access for customers and deliveries as well as an inviting streetscape.  We’ve designed the alternatives with this very much in mind.

Regardless of the long term benefits any major street project will inevitably involve short-term impacts during construction.  The city is committed to working with stakeholders to ensure that construction impacts are minimized as much as possible.  The city is seeking funding for the project and will update the community once funding is acquired and a construction timeline has been established.  Construction would not occur until at least 2013 and more likely in 2014.  Stay tuned here for the most up to date info.

Based on an extensive public involvement effort that resulted in substantial input from the community the city council endorsed plan Alternative C at the August 9, 2012 meeting.  

Alternative C enhances the pedestrian environment through increased pedestrian space provided in wider 10′ sidewalks that will accommodate increased seating areas, sidewalk cafes, landscaping, public art, wayfinding signage and other elements.  The north side of the street will be converted to parallel parking to accommodate the wider sidewalks.  Other design elements including a public plaza in front of the old firehouse, an overlook towards the sound at the top of Second Street on the east side of Cascade, gateway elements at the east and west ends of the project area, way finding cues and public art will be incorporated into the project.  Undergrounding utilities and pedestrian scale lighting are not included in the preferred alternative.  The city is also working to implement new parking management strategies including providing additional off-street parking through cooperative agreements with private property owners and providing designated off-street parking for employees of downtown businesses.  The selection of a preferred alternative is not the end of the design process or public involvement so stay tuned here as details continue to develop.  Lastly I want to thank everyone that has been involved and provided input on this important project – community based design does not work without your continued involvement!  Comments or questions can be sent to jeff@designlangley.org.

Preferred Alternative

The design is still conceptual at this point and many details are still be determined as the design and engineering process continues.  

**Please note the above graphic shows parallel parking on the south side.  The preferred alternative has parallel parking on the north side.  An updated graphic will be provided soon.

Second Street Project Alternatives

The design team presented three alternatives to the city council on July 16th.  Since the council meeting the three alternatives have been reduced to two alternatives.  The design concept and alternatives were developed after extensive public involvement and the design team and the city would like to thank those that have taken the time to get involved in the project.  A successful community based design project such as the second street project is not possible without community input.  The city council will again consider the design alternatives at the August 6th meeting at 5:30 pm in city hall.  

Each alternative is designed based upon the same concept, which is to introduce a plaza/flex zone in the center portion of the street (shown on the plans in yellow), to add gateway elements at the Anthes and Cascade/First Intersections and to support pedestrian mobility and comfort while retaining vehicular access for cars and delivery trucks.  Each alternatives retains the existing character of second street and uses new pavement textures for the crosswalks and the center plaza zone to define the street as more of a pedestrian space.  The double yellow street centerline is removed while the utility poles and existing street lighting are retained in both alternatives.  Both alternatives provide a central plaza space adjacent to the Firehouse.  Truck loading is proposed along Second Street for both alternatives near the intersection with Anthes and may be provided either on the north or south side of the street.  The design team and the city plan to have a separate stakeholder meeting to address truck loading in the near future.

Alternative A/B

Summary:  Alternative A/B retains angled parking on both sides of the street with the exception of the introduction of parallel parking near the intersection with Anthes Ave.  Alternative A/B retains most of the on-street parking, but would result in the loss of approximately 3-5 spaces.  Alternative A/B results in the same sidewalk width that is on Second Street today, approximately 6.5′.

Alternative C

Summary:  Alternative C shifts one side of the street from angled parking to parallel parking and retains angled parking on the other side.  Shown below are two variations on Alternative C, one with angled parking on the north side and another with angled parking on the south side.  One of the primary benefits of Alternative C is wider sidewalks.  Alternative C would allow for approximately 10′ sidewalks.

Alternative C (Version 1 – Angled Parking on north side)

Alternative C (Version 2 – Angled Parking on the south side)

Alternatives Comparison

Please use the form below to provide comments directly to the design team:

The Second Street Project Rumor Mill

As the project manager and lead designer for the Second Street Project I’ve been hearing from many different people in the community about all the things they heard I’m planning for the Second Street Project.  These are news to me.  Among the claims are that all the cars are going to be removed, we’re turning it into Times Square, it’s going to become a one-way street, and we’re going to start construction very soon and not only are we going to tear up Second Street, but we are going to tear up First and Anthes at the same time.  None of these are true.

I’d like to reiterate that we are in the midst of a community based design process and NO DECISIONS HAVE BEEN MADE ON THE PROJECT.  We are providing a myriad of ways to have your voice heard, to learn what is actually happening with the project and provide us your concerns, ideas, desires and needs.  We are starting to set up one on one meetings with each property and business owner along Second Street, but if there are other downtown property or business owners that want to meet I am more than willing to meet with anyone and everyone (residents too of course).  We are aiming to make a decision on a preferred design alternative at the end of August so it’s important if you want your voice to be heard that you get involved now.  Construction likely won’t happen until at least 2014.  My direct line is 360 221-4246 x26 so if you hear a concerning rumor about the project don’t hesitate to call me directly to find out if it has any merit or provide input.  We’ve gotten quality input from the community already, which is summarized below.  Our job is to listen to the community and interpret the input into a coherent design that reflects the community values.  Our job is not to impose some preconceived design philosophy onto the community.  So, if you hear something that concerns you or you have valuable input to provide please don’t hesitate to contact me!  I look forward to hearing from you.  There is a comment form at the end of this post that you can also use to send comments directly to me, they are not posted on the blog.  I’ll provide more detailed information on the project as it progresses.

SECOND STREET PUBLIC INPUT

1.  Second is a safe street for crossing, everyone agrees to dance  (let’s reinforce it) i.e. people cross without using the crosswalks

2.  Visual Variety, Lots of diversity (let’s not homogenize it)

3.  Big Space (let’s make it more pedestrian scaled)

4.  Authentic & Genuine – NOT CONTRIVED (don’t disneyfy it)

5.  Learning to Park (on 3^rd, management on 2^nd, clear connections) – provide better signage and way finding to parking on 3rd Street and other public parking areas as well as to the mid block alleyways.

6.  Identify opportunities for enhancing underutilized space

-Open Space

-Parking

7.  Working Street - Provide safe and convenient truck loading, access to businesses and parking.

2nd Street Charrette Update

We had a successful kick-off meeting last night and a big thank you to those that attended.  We will be at fellowship in the methodist church at 301 Anthes all day today so stop by at your convenience.  We will be conducting a walking tour at 11am and then breaking for lunch from 12 to 1.  We have lots of material for people to review, maps to draw on and many different ways to provide input so please stop by.

I want to reiterate that no design decisions have been made on the project!  The street is in disrepair and needs to be reconstructed and the storm water system must be upgraded to improvement treatment.  Beyond that it is an open dialogue on the future of 2nd Street.  The charrette is the first stage in the design process and construction will not happen for at least a year and will be dependent on our ability to get construction funding.

Below is a copy of a portion of our presentation last night that provides interesting examples communities have taken to designing and using their street right of ways.  Please review and let us know what you think by filling out the comment form below.

Street Design and Public Space Examples