Soma ECODISTRICT ROADMAP
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SOMA ECODISTRICT ROADMAP SEPTEMBER 2012 SOMA ECODISTRICT VISION STATEMENT To create a sustainable neighborhood for future generations, by working together with our community to define, create, and own a vibrant district with a variety of buildings and parks connected by green streets and public transit that will attract businesses, residents, and visitors to our neighborhood and create a vital and diverse place for people. Table of Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY GOALS, STRATEGIES + PERFORMAnce About the EcoDistrict Roadmap 4 Development Assumptions 20 The SoMa EcoDistrict 5 Equitable Development 21 Recommended Strategies: Five Focus Areas 6 Health + Wellbeing 23 THE SOMA ECODIStrict Community Identity 25 Background + Overview 8 Habitat + Ecosystem Function 28 EcoDistrict Map 10 Access + Mobility 30 IMPLEMENTATION Energy 32 Destination Gathering Spaces 12 Water 35 Improve Connectivity 13 Materials Management 37 Green Infrastructure 14 APPENDICES District Utilities 15 Appendix A: SoMa EcoDistrict Roadmap Participants 40 Existing Building Retrofits 16 Appendix B: The EcoDistricts Framework 41 Supporting Strategies 17 Appendix C: Additional Data: Demographics + District Context 42 SOMA ECODISTRICT ROADMAP WWW.PDXinstitUTE.ORG PORTLAND SUSTAINABILITY INSTITUTE 3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY About the EcoDistrict Roadmap PoSI EcoDistrict Goals* EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT SoMa EcoDistrict is one of the region’s most vibrant urban neighborhoods, with unparalleled Promote equity and opportunity and transit access, a dynamic urban research university, esteemed green spaces, and a diverse mix ensure fair distribution of benefits and burdens of investment and of business, retail, and residential uses. A well-connected, highly educated urban community, development it is a place where students, educators, residents, workers, and business owners choose to live, HEALTH+WELLBEING work, and play. SoMa EcoDistrict was formed to help Portland State University (PSU) and its Promote human health and community surrounding neighbors create a new model of urban sustainability. wellbeing COMMUNITY IDENTITY The SoMa EcoDistrict Roadmap includes an assessment of baseline conditions, adopted Create cohesive neighborhood identity through the built environment and a performance goals, and recommended strategies to support the district’s aspirations. The culture of community roadmap is intended to guide the SoMa EcoDistrict Steering Committee on meeting ambitious ACCESS + MOBILITY goals in the following performance areas: EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT, HEALTH + WELLBEING, Provide access to clean and affordable COMMUNITY IDENTITY, ACCESS + MOBILITY, ENERGY, WATER, HABITAT + ECOSYSTEM transportation options FUNCTION, and MATERIALS MANAGEMENT. The roadmap proposes a set of investment and ENERGY partnership strategies to achieving these goals. The roadmap was completed by the Portland Achieve net zero energy usage annually Sustainability Institute (PoSI) in partnership with Portland State University. WATER Meet both human and natural needs The Bullitt Foundation and PSU Institute for Sustainable Solutions through reliable and affordable water funded the work on behalf of the SoMa EcoDistrict. management HABITAT + ECOSYSTEM FUNCTION Achieve healthy urban ecosystems that protect and regenerate habitat and ecosystem function MATERIALS MANAGEMENT Zero waste and optimized materials management * Recommended visionary goals in EcoDistricts Framework. Strategies to achieve goals outlined in Goals, Strategies + Performance section SOMA ECODISTRICT ROADMAP WWW.PDXinstitUTE.ORG PORTLAND SUSTAINABILITY INSTITUTE 4 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The SoMa EcoDistrict WHAT IS AN ECODIStrict? around funding, boundaries, and management of an EcoDis- trict. After a few months, the group formalized a steering EcoDistricts are neighborhoods or districts where neighbors, committee, ratified a working boundary, and created a name Why EcoDistricts Matter community institutions and businesses join with city leaders (South of Market EcoDistrict, or SoMa), vision statement, and and utility providers to meet ambitious sustainability goals For Municipalities immediate priorities. Commitments were documented in a and co-develop innovative district-scale projects. In part- Memorandum of Understanding signed in June 2011. Supports a neighborhood sustainability nership with the City of Portland, PoSI launched EcoDistricts assessment and investment strategy to in 2009, creating an implementation framework, toolkits, a In addition, the steering committee agreed to develop a road- local pilot program, and capacity-building initiative to accel- map that would assess the district and thoughtfully prioritize help meet broader sustainability policy and erate widespread deployment. projects that meet the EcoDistrict performance areas. economic development goals SOMA OVERView ASSESSMENT + ROADMAP For Utilities The area around Portland State University (PSU) was select- PoSI built upon this early work and, in partnership with PSU Creates a model for integrated ed as an EcoDistrict pilot in 2009. An accompanying analysis faculty, secured a grant from the Bullitt Foundation and PSU infrastructure planning to guide identified key EcoDistrict opportunities to be considered as Institute for Sustainable Solutions, which allowed them to part of the University Framework Plan and Climate Action development of more effective lead an EcoDistrict Assessment to build on this early steering Plan with sustainability goals related to economic develop- infrastructure investments over time and committee work and to create consensus on the right project ment, mobility, open space, preservation, energy and water to emphasize resiliecy and efficiency priorities for SoMa. conservation, and material use and goal to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040. The work included developing and issuing a survey and col- For Developers and Property Owners lecting building performance data from all property owners In early 2011, PSU initiated one-on-one discussions with area Creates a mechanism to reduce development participating in the SoMa EcoDistrict. The approach is orga- property owners to gauge interest in working collectively as nized by the eight EcoDistrict performance areas of: Equi- and operating costs by linking individual a district to address sustainability. table Development, Health + Wellbeing, Community Identity, building investments to neighborhood The group then convened informally to discuss the benefits Access + Mobility, Energy, Water, Habitat + Ecosystem Func- infrastructure while making investments of working as a district and to understand the challenges tion, and Materials Management. Workshops with the SoMa more attractive to tenants and visitors Working Group refined these results into the five focus areas SOMA STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBERS recommended in this roadmap: For Businesses AAA Destination Gathering Spaces Provides a platform to deliver district-scale Church of Saint Michael Connectivity infrastruture and building products and City Center Parking Green Infrastructure Cushman & Wakefield services to market District Utilities Harsch Investment Properties Harrison Tower Apartments Existing Building Retrofits For Residents + Neighbors Melvin Mark Companies GOVERNAnce + FUNDING Provides a tangible way to get involved Naito Development LLC Oregon Pacific Management Corporation EcoDistrict success requires sophisticated coordination and in improving and enhancing the Portland State University investment across SoMa. Clarity in the areas of governance neighborhood’s economic vitality and Regence Blue Cross Blue Shield of Oregon (relationships between district stakeholders and the City) sustainability and establishes a new form of Russell Development Company and funding (for SoMa staff and projects) is essential to im- local organization Schlesinger Companies plementation of these recommended projects. St. Mary’s Academy SOMA ECODISTRICT ROADMAP WWW.PDXinstitUTE.ORG PORTLAND SUSTAINABILITY INSTITUTE 5 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Recommended Strategies: Five Focus Areas The following recommended strategies were identified in partnership with the SoMa Working Group based on data collected through this assessment. Detailed recommendations and actions are outlined in the Implementation section. DESTINATION GREEN EXISTING BUILDING CONNECTIVITY DISTRICT UTILITIES GATHERING SPACES INFRASTRUCTURE RETROFITS As one of Portland’s densest neigh- A well-connected neighborhood In order to effectively manage PSU has an existing district energy The SoMa EcoDistrict is home to borhoods, the SoMa EcoDistrict from a transit perspective, SoMa district stormwater and enhance the system that was recently upgraded 7.3 million SF of existing build- should expand its retail mix and the lacks internal connections across district’s biodiversity, SoMa should and expanded. While these improve- ings, many of which are in need of quality of gathering spaces to en- the east and west ends of the create a comprehensive green infra- ments will increase the system’s upgrades and present an opportu- hance overall vibrancy. This strategy district. Coordinated pedestrian and structure strategy. The district has overall efficiency the extent and nity to reduce overall energy costs means a focus on 1) improving the bicycle investments will improve many assets to build from including effectiveness of the system can be and greenhouse gas emissions. The quality and attraction of existing the connectivity between the major the Halprin and North Park Blocks improved by