A P L A C E M A K I N G IDEABOOK FOR HOLYOKE’S INNOVATION DISTRICT Prepared for the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission and the City of Holyoke’s Office of Planning and Economic Development Emily Davis, Jeffrey Dawson & Elizabeth Kelly Conway School of Landscape Design Winter 2014 A P L A C E M A K I N G IDEABOOK FOR HOLYOKE’S INNOVATION DISTRICT Prepared for the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission and the City of Holyoke’s Office of Planning and Economic Development Emily Davis, Jeffrey Dawson & Elizabeth Kelly Conway School of Landscape Design Winter 2014 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The authors would like to extend their appreciation to everyone who helped in the creation of this IdeaBook. Thank you to Tim Brennan of the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission; Marcos Marrero, Bradley Henning, and Claire Ricker of the Holyoke Office of Planning and Economic Development; and to Katie Stebbins of the Holyoke Innovation District. Thank you also to the faculty and our fellow students at Conway. This project was truly a team effort, and would not have been possible without your support. And finally, thank you to all the community groups, residents, and businesses in Holyoke for providing the foundation of this IdeaBook. Holyoke would not be the city it is without you. “There are only three cities in the world; Holyoke, Paris, and New York.” —Belle Skinner, American businesswoman circa 1900 PHOTO: Emily Davis Emily PHOTO: TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1 CONTEXT: THE BASICS Envisioning the innovation economy 4 Defining innovation in Holyoke 6 Innovation ecosystems 8 Holyoke’s distinctive qualities 10 Placemaking 101 24 The city as a forest 28 PLACEMAKING IDEAS 30 Arts & creative expression 32 Pop-ups to permanent 50 Mobility & connections 68 Urban agriculture 84 Connection to waterways 96 Ecological repair 114 MOVING FORWARD 132 GLOSSARY 136 REFERENCES 138 PHOTO: Emily Davis EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Holyoke, Massachusetts, has a rich history, with come from within a community, rather than being the distinction of being one of the first planned solely imported from outside. In addition, outside industrial cities in the U.S. As its industry grew, talent may be attracted to the culture of creativity Holyoke became known as the Paper City due to and innovation that Holyoke develops. its leadership in paper manufacturing. In its heyday, Holyoke was a leader in industrial innovation and Some in Holyoke are using placemaking, a process economic prosperity. After industrial out-migration, of turning physical spaces into meaningful places and due to a lack of economic diversity, the city has as a tool to foster innovation. Placemaking is endured steady economic decline for many years. consistent with the homegrown form of innovation envisioned here, because it can provide a platform Today, Holyoke residents envision a new future. for people to engage with their community and The Holyoke Office of Planning and Economic create a sense of ownership through interacting Development is collaborating with regional and with fellow community members. The rich cultural state agencies to establish Holyoke as a regional heritage of Holyoke provides the city with an economic hub. Holyoke’s Innovation District abundance of opportunities to create distinct (HID) was initiated in 2009 with the development and vibrant places within the HID. Providing the of the Massachusetts Green High Performance necessary resources to cultivate ideas and embrace Computing Center (MGHPCC). This center, which entrepreneurial energy may be the catalyst for provides computing power to many institutions change in Holyoke, allowing a transition from an in the region, is the pioneer project of the HID, industrial past to an innovative future. laying the foundation for other projects to enter the innovation “ecosystem” that is being promoted. This Placemaking IdeaBook examines the City planning officials see the HID as a means to innovative placemaking successes of other attract creative and innovative talent into the city. cities, and suggests how grass-roots, bottom-up placemaking could be successful in Holyoke. The term “innovation” has many definitions. In this document, it is not limited to high-tech or high-end industries; rather, it includes incorporating existing talents and grass-roots projects to create new ideas and creative solutions. A premise of this IdeaBook is that innovation can 1 PLACEMAKING principles An ECOLOGICAL metaphor The principles of placemaking presented here were Using ecological succession and natural ecosystems developed to fit the needs of Holyoke. They are as a model for placemaking in Holyoke is one way customized to capitalize on the city’s physical and to understand how urban spaces can develop and social assets to create an innovative environment. evolve through time. The principles are a set of strategies that could be used in planning and design to: Forests, for example, are regularly affected by • engage the community, disturbances on various scales, from lightning strikes • accommodate many different users, to invasive species infestations. After disturbances, • advocate for creative expression, pioneer species are able to capitalize on the • build on existing cultural resources, conditions and vacancies created by the disturbance. • incorporate cultural heritage, Once the pioneers have established themselves, the • promote walking and biking, intermediate species are able to build upon what the • make places safe and secure, pioneers have established. As the intermediates take • create a strong sense of place, and hold, more diverse species begin to grow, creating a • provide opportunities for education and skills dynamic equilibrium that tends to be resilient, and training. can balance the affects of future disturbances. The residents of Holyoke are a diverse community, The placemaking strategies within this IdeaBook with an abundance of resources and talents. If follow the framework established by this ecological properly understood and engaged, these human metaphor. Existing “pioneer” projects and initiatives resources can help transform downtown Holyoke are highlighted, and a logical evolution of proposed into a vibrant economic center. Because of this, the placemaking ideas builds from these early efforts. principles of placemaking put a strong emphasis on Over time, this succession can lead towards an nurturing existing creative individuals, organizations, innovation ecosystem that can improve the quality and projects in the city. of life in Holyoke. 2 A PLACEMAKING IDEABOOK FOR HOLYOKE’S INNOVATION DISTRICT PLACEMAKING strategies Six placemaking strategies, or themes, are presented here, each of which represents a different potential sequence (or succession) through which the city could build from existing resources and support and enhance innovation. The placemaking strategies, which interact and overlap, are: Art & creativE ExPRESSION Urban agriculture The placemaking ideas in this theme are aimed Community gardens in Holyoke have been an at encouraging the residents of Holyoke to important forum for community engagement. explore additional ways of creative expression. This can lead to an environment where art is The urban agriculture strategy examines the an important part of the city’s landscape, and efficacy of these gardens, and develops new helps create meaningful civic landmarks. ideas for the Innovation District that build on these efforts. POP-UPS to PERMANENT This thread also taps into the existing creative CONNECTING to THE water energies of the community. It supports the Though Holyoke developed largely because growth of permanent businesses and other of the Connecticut River, residents lack institutions in Holyoke through nurturing convenient access to this impressive natural experimental pop-up enterprises. feature. This theme examines how placemaking along the canal system and riverfront could MOBILITY & CONNECTIONS help create a strong sense of place, and Improving the pedestrian and cyclist experience empower the community. in Holyoke can create more incentives for non- vehicular traffic, could be a powerful tool for Ecological repair community-building, and eventually become Holyoke’s existing brownfield sites could connections or links within a regional greenway open opportunities to explore innovation system. remedating strategies. Bioremediating contaminated sites left by factories and restoring them into community spaces could lead to new environmental industries, creating a new workforce while helping restore urban ecological health. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 3 CONTEXT: THE BASICS ENVISIONING AN INNOVATION ECONOMY Innovation is an old story in Holyoke. The city was designed for industrial use, and Being one of the first planned industrial the canals and gridded streets were successful cities in America, it was at the forefront of at meeting the needs of manufacturers and cutting-edge engineering and manufacturing industrial developers, providing them with innovations. a foundation for growth. But Holyoke’s manufacturing-based economy has proven The physical remains of that industrial to be unreliable since many industries moved economy remain in Holyoke. An elaborate away, and left the city in a state of economic and distinctive canal system flows through downturn. downtown, creating a physical connection to the Connecticut River, and old mill buildings After years of losing businesses and and factories stand as reminders of the past. talent following the industrial decline, city officials are now looking to local talent, and