Telegraph Avenue Public Realm Plan
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Telegraph Avenue Public Realm Plan May 2016 SPROUL PLAZA Prepared for the City of Berkeley, Telegraph Business Improvement District, and UC Berkeley Table of Contents Executive Summary . 1 Demonstration Projects. 22 Overview. 22 Background. 3 Durant Plaza. 24 Purpose. 3 Dwight Triangle . 26 Conditions in 2016 . 4 Bancroft Scramble . 28 Process . 6 Design Objectives. 6 Implementation . 29 Time Horizon . 29 Design Elements. 6 Implementation Partners . 29 Overview . 8 Potential Funding Sources. 30 Phasing Strategy . 9 Technical Adequacy. 31 Sidewalk Etching . 11 Operational Needs . 31 Public Art. 12 Cost Estimates . 32 Modular Stations . 14 Scramble Intersections. 16 Acknowledgements . 33 Parklets . 17 Street Trees. 18 Pedestrian-Scaled Lighting . 19 Shared Street Improvements. 20 Green Infrastructure. 21 Executive Summary Executive Summary Berkeley’s iconic Telegraph Avenue hosts a high TPRP also establishes a long-term vision for a 6. Street Trees. New trees will be planted volume of daily visitors, is surrounded by high more dramatic transformation of Telegraph, as where trees are missing or in poor condi- density neighborhoods, and abuts UC Berkeley, funding becomes available. A “shared street,” tion using a consistent palette of species. yet the district has suffered from disinvestment, with a plaza-like surface that extends seam- 7. Street Lighting. Lighting will be ret- which has been exacerbated by relatively few lessly across Telegraph, forms the centerpiece rofitted for a vibrant environment, and public realm improvements and the lack of an for ultimate conditions. Design elements may be replaced with pedestrian-scaled overall vision for the area. In this context, the must, therefore, be affordable in the near- lighting in the long term. Telegraph Business Improvement District, the term, while also composing design elements 8. Shared Street. Plaza-like paving will City’s Office of Economic Development, UC within an ultimate vision. Berkeley’s Physical & Environmental Planning extend across the street to reinforce Tele- Office, and Berkeley Design Advocates part- Design Elements. The Telegraph Public Realm graph as a pedestrian-oriented place. nered on a grant application for UC Berkeley’s Plan proposes the following design elements, 9. Green Infrastructure. Improvements Chancellor’s Community Partnership Fund, and each of which is described and illustrated on may necessitate new stormwater drains, secured funding for the Telegraph Public Realm the following pages: which present opportunities for features Plan (TPRP). 1. Sidewalk Etching. Sidewalk surfaces that filter urban runoff. TPRP provides design and implementation will be made even and chemically Demonstration Projects. Demonstration guidance for public realm improvements that stained for a clean and enhanced walking projects focus on affordable but high-impact surface. will enhance Telegraph Avenue as a pedestrian- transformations, and offer an opportunity to friendly place and distinctive destination. It fo- 2. Public Art. Public art will add visual test and refine design features. Two target ar- cuses on four and one-half blocks of Telegraph and cultural interest, with temporary eas have been identified for making low-cost, – from below Dwight Way to Bancroft Avenue installations considered for more imme- high-impact improvements. “Durant Plaza” and UC Berkeley’s Sproul Plaza. From Dwight diate change. to Bancroft, Telegraph’s right of way narrows and “Dwight Triangle” offer wider sidewalks and creates a “main street” setting that has high 3. Modular Stations. Colorful corrugated extra right-of-way in highly visible locations, levels of activity, and proximity to UC Berkeley. metal “ modulars” will enclose trash which allow these demonstration areas to and recycling receptacles, story-telling incorporate place-making features that can Phasing Strategy. TPRP addresses near-term panels, and sidewalk lighting. leverage limited near-term resources. improvements but in the context of an ultimate vision. Near-term improvements must be af- 4. Scramble Intersections. “Scrambles” Implementation. TPRP also provides guid- fordable and may be made incrementally, as allow pedestrians to cross diagonally at ance on how features will be implemented, funding allows. To initiate and learn from near- intersections and calm traffic. such as by assigning responsibilities, refining term improvements, two prominent “demonstra- 5. Parklets. Parklets extend sidewalks to design concepts, estimating costs, identifying tion projects” are proposed at “Durant Plaza” create small amenity areas with features funding sources, and anticipating critical deci- and “Dwight Triangle.” like public art, landscaping, and seating. sions by interested stakeholders. 1 Telegraph Public Realm Plan TELEGRAPH HASTE DURANT DWIGHT BANCROFT CHANNING ANALYSIS: BDA SATELLITE IMAGE FROM APPLE MAPS ONE-STORY VACANT LOT Planning Area. TPRP focuses on four and one-half blocks of Telegraph, from below Dwight Way to Bancroft Avenue and UC Berkeley’s Sproul Plaza. Adjacent to the street, there are vacant and one-story buildings that may be considered as development opportunity sites. 2 Background Background Purpose Telegraph Avenue hosts the highest density of implemented elsewhere as funding becomes daily visitors of any district in Berkeley. Yet the available. Two target areas have been identified district and its public realm suffer from years of for making affordable high-impact improve- disinvestment, which has been exacerbated by ments: relatively few public realm improvements and • “Durant Plaza” takes advantage of Du- the lack of an overall vision for the area. rant’s unusually wide sidewalks and Critical to the revitalization of Berkeley’s Tele- heavy foot traffic to create a special urban graph Avenue is its success as a vibrant people- place through public art and other fea- friendly place. The “public realm” – the shared tures; and space between buildings – represents a signifi- • “Dwight Triangle” is an underutilized cant community asset that can promote further open space that can be a southern gateway revitalization and respond to community needs. and pedestrian-friendly amenity. At the same time, private vehicles, transit, pedestrians, bicycles, street vendors, businesses TPRP also establishes a long-term vision for and infrastructure compete for space within the what Telegraph can become ultimately, as fund- public right of way. ing becomes available. A “shared street,” with a plaza-like surface that extends seamlessly across The Telegraph Public Realm Plan (TPRP or Telegraph, forms the centerpiece for ultimate “the Plan”) provides design and implementa- conditions. Incrementally, and over time, pro- tion guidance for public realm improvements. posed design elements will create a more unified Proposed improvements address both functional and distinctive sense of place. needs and perception-changing enhancements. It covers unifying features (such as sidewalk pav- A roadmap for implementation is provided in ing), recurring elements (such as regular pause the final chapter. Near-term and long-term im- points), and specific place-making opportunities. provements are noted along with their relative importance, necessary actions, key partners, and TPRP offers a comprehensive vision for the potential funding sources. For near-term proj- Telegraph Vitality. The Telegraph district remains a Avenue that can help secure funding for near- ects, ballpark cost estimates have been devel- recognized destination with high activity on some days and long-term improvements. In the near-term, and in certain locations. TPRP creates a blue print for oped and are available as an appendix. improvements to accelerate Telegraph’s revitalization. TPRP provides a blueprint for “demonstration areas” for attainable and transformative projects. These demonstration areas will showcase new design features that can be refined and 3 Telegraph Public Realm Plan Conditions in 2016 Telegraph Avenue offers an urban “main street,” where shops and buildings frame the street, and the street sets the stage for pedestrian activity. A range of activity can be observed, as Telegraph A is enjoyed by Berkeley residents, vendors and merchants, visitors from around the world, and UC Berkeley faculty, staff and students. Telegraph continues to be a signifi cant com- mercial destination, in spite of growth in inter- net sales of books and music. Retail activity is highest near UC Berkeley’s campus, between Bancroft and Durant, with moderate activity extending to Channing. At the intersection of Haste and Telegraph, retail activity has been impeded, as three of the four corners have lacked active building fronts. At Dwight, at the southern end of the planning area, retail activity is moderate. While Telegraph is lined by active shops, the B condition of sidewalks and other public realm elements is poor. The streetscape has not been improved comprehensively since the 1970s. Piecemeal improvements have occurred with little aesthetic coordination. Sidewalks have multiple concrete segments poured at different times without a common pattern of concrete joints. Furthermore, many street trees have aphids that leave a sticky residue on sidewalks, and gives them an unclean appearance in spite of regular washing. 4 Background Telegraph also has light poles from when engineering concerns overshadowed aesthetics C and pedestrian scale. Refuse containers share this spare functional appearance. In addition, Telegraph lacks art or other features to add in- terest.