4:30 – 6:00 Downtown Public Library.
I have had bad luck/struggled to keep up with what is going on with the plans. I missed the first public meeting because I had to be somewhere else, but I stopped by and only saw 3 people participating that use the space regularly/hoeless or formerly homeless. The Downtown Coordinating Committee where this was discussed was also a conflict for me and the materials for the meeting were not attached to the agenda prior to the meeting. So, tonight, I’m hoping to actually catch up on this subject. There are some materials we can look at in advance:
Workshop presentation from 11/20
– News headlines are a call to remove “artsy” stones and solve crime.
– Concerns – Design Issues: Limited flow through space, lacks connectivity, Feels dark and Lack of use by general public & Quality of Life Issues: Intimidation, Crime, Not welcoming
– It was renovated just 10 years ago in 2004 (2003 budget estimated $1.5M in improvements, 2004 was a larger area and was over $3M)
– What have they tried? Lighter, Quicker, Cheaper Ideas: Chalkboard experiment & Twinkle lights on trees & Increased Police presence, Easier permitting process, Increased Programming & Sidewalk Cleaning
– What should they do with the trees, the philosophers stones, the stage in Veterans Park, do you like the Lights, Ambassador Booth, Kiosk, Bike Racks, Trash Receptacles, planters, etc.
– Ideas: parklets, food carts, night market, movable chairs, events, temporary art, projection art, music, movie nights, yoga, games, dancing, lights, banners or flags
– Changes could start as early as April
Workshop results and comments by table
Workshop results sorted
A few comments of interest:
– Opportunity to address racial/class disparity /institutional racism
– Oral history idea: why not use space to engage displaced people about their stories
– Lack of public restrooms
– Bike connection needed
– Dog friendly environment
– Splash pad/ice rink
– Active storefronts – What happens to the Hovde buildings?
– Larger problem of the population currently using the space, No matter what the programming … what happens during “downtime”
– Sports/ basketball, tennis, badminton, pickle ball, playground
– School bus drop off space
– Pedestrian only mall
– Taxi stand, b-cycle station
– Make it a park (bk: close at 10:00pm?)
– Drones (bk: wtf?)
– Outside beer garden (bk: that’ll solve “behavior” problems?)
– Chess/checkers – oversized?
– Table tennis
– Day shelter within proximity needed
– 2d labyrinth
– Reflection pool
– Food carts compete with restaurants
– Movies
– Circus exhibit
– Murals, use blank walls
December 18 approaches
– Approach #1: Rely on programming and services, very little physical change to space
Minor physical changes to Philosophers’ Grove could include
o Reinstall wrapped tree lights in the spring
o Remove bike racks at top of cul-de-sac that impede pedestrian traffic
Programming Options could include:
o Support efforts to create a field office for the State Street Police Officer
Consider behavior policy for area / posted expectations
o Provide funding for a part time programmer to enlist and coordinative weekly activities in the Philosophers Grove and on the Stage.
Museum/art display/Blink projects
Markets (books, music, food etc.)
Food carts within the existing space
o Coordinate art project in vacant storefronts
o Fast track approvals for outdoor cafes on West Mifflin Street
– Approach #2: Reconfigure the front (State Street End)
Reconfigure “front” area of trees and stones, leaving the gridded grove area without major physical changes.
Physical changes could include
o Reconfigure some/all of 6 trees and 14 stones in the front area closest to State Street.
o Reinstall wrapped tree lights in the spring
o Remove three bike racks at the end of the Mifflin Street cul-de-sac that impede pedestrian traffic
Programming Options
o Programming options as mentioned in Approach #1
o Consider allowing food carts in front space
o Consider a redesigned ambassador booth
o Consider adding some movable chairs and tables
– Approach #3 Reconfigure the middle
Reconfigure two center rows of trees, and reshuffle/remove some stones, allow bikes and pedestrians to mingle in the middle, similarly to the 700-800 blocks of State Street.
Physical Changes:
o Remove some/all 12-15 trees down the center two rows, leaving only a single row on each side.
o Reshuffle Philosophers’ Stones from middle to edge, (likely 20-30% will need to be removed entirely for this option)
o Fix/smooth curb at the end of cul-de-sac to allows bicycles to safely enter /exit the area
Remove three bike racks at the end of the Mifflin Street cul-de-sac that impede pedestrian traffic
o Wrap remaining trees with lights
Programming Changes”
o Programming options as mentioned in Approach #1
o Consider allowing up to four food carts in the new middle space
o Consider a redesigned ambassador booth
o Consider adding some movable chairs and tables
– Approach #4 – Reconfigure the edges
Remove/reconfigure the two outer rows of trees to widen the effective sidewalk area on each side, and concentrate trees and stones in the middle. (Likely only a few stones may need to be removed or reshuffled in this option.)
Physical Changes:
o Remove some/all 8-10 trees at the edges of the space, leaving a smaller grove in the middle.
o Reshuffle Philosophers’ Stones from edges to middle (likely 5-10% will need to be removed entirely for this option)
Remove three bike racks at the end of the Mifflin Street cul-de-sac that impede pedestrian traffic
o Wrap remaining trees with lights
Programming Changes:
o Programming options as mentioned in Approach #1
o Consider allowing up to four food carts in the new middle space
o Consider a redesigned ambassador booth
o Consider adding some movable chairs and tables
– Approach #5 – Reconfigure entire space: longer term effort in coordination with redevelopment opportunities
Reconfigure the entire street width to better serve both existing businesses on north side of Mifflin, as well a redevelopment project on the south side of the street.
Physical Changes could include:
o Complete street reconfiguration (changes in vehicular/pedestrian access or loss of cul-de-sac for example)
o Reshuffle Philosophers’ Stones
o Removal/reconfiguration of trees
Programming Changes:
o Programming options as mentioned in Approach #1
o Other potential ideas depending upon final design of physical space
February 19th options
– The adopted 2015 Capital Budget provides for an inter-agency staff team to develop options for improvements in the area of the 100 block of West Mifflin Street for consideration by the Council in early 2015. The budget also designates $50,000 from TID 32 to support implementation efforts.
– See link for pictures, pros, cons and notes
▪ Concept A: Provides a bikeway towards the southern side of the space and keeps a more cohesive “grove” to the north of it.
$55 – 77,000
▪ Concept B: Provides a bikeway through the middle of the space and creates two smaller, more linear “groves” on either side of it.
$22 – 52,000
▪ Concept C: Does not provide a bikeway, but provides space for two foodcarts at the top of the cu-de-sac.
$4,000
April: DCC makes recommendations.
May: Public meeting on DCC recommendations.
June: DCC finalizes recommendations and forwards to the Common Council.
Common Council (with recommendations from other boards/commissions) approves.
Phased implementation begins. Note that programming may begin sooner since construction on
any physical changes will not likely occur until summer/fall.
