Wyoming State Capitol District Vision 2020 Plan
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Wyoming State Capitol District Vision 2020 Plan October 2003 Prepared by: GSG Architecture Civitas, Inc. Wyoming State Capitol District Vision 2020 Plan This plan has been prepared by Civitas, Inc. and GSG Architecture for the State of Wyoming, Department of Administration & Information, General Services Division. GSG Architecture 606 South David Street Casper, Wyoming 82601 307-234-8968 phone 307-234-2132 fax www.gsgarchitecture.com Civitas, Inc. 1200 Bannock Street Copyright © 2003 Denver, Colorado 80204 Civitas, Inc. and GSG Architecture. All rights reserved. 303-571-0053 phone 303-825-0438 fax This report is copyright. Apart from any fair dealings for the purpose of private research, criticism, or reviews, www.civitasinc.com as permitted under the Copyright Act, no part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, recording or otherwise, State of Wyoming without the written permission of Civitas, Inc. and GSG Department of Administration & Information Architecture. General Services Division 615 West 20th Street Disclaimer The content of this document is furnished for Cheyenne, Wyoming 82002 informational use only, is subject to change without 307-777-6106 phone notice, and should not be construed as a commitment 307-632-5684 fax by Civitas, Inc. and GSG Architecture. Every effort has www.State.wy.us been made to ensure that the information contained herein is correct. Civitas, Inc. and GSG Architecture State of Wyoming Project Manager assume no responsibility or liability for any errors or John Mahoney inaccuracies that may appear in this document. [email protected] The suggestions and recommendations made in this report are for the purposes of discussion and debate in regard to the Wyoming State Capitol District. Some Project Team of the ideas contained herein have regard to private GSG Architecture, Lisa Hubbard, AIA and public lands. These ideas have been developed as Civitas, Inc., Tom Hester, Rachel Scarborough a professional service without the full consultation of BenchMark of Cheyenne, P.C., Scott Larson property owners. Wyoming State Capitol District Vision 2020 Plan CONTENTS Introduction....................................................................................... 1 • Project Description • Organization of this Report • Study Area • Public Process • Project Goal • Historical Development of Cheyenne and the Capitol District Vision ............................................................................................... 11 Summary of Existing Conditions .................................................... 13 • Existing Base Map • Street Block Analyses • State Owned Facility Matrix Recommendations............................................................................ 21 • Streetscape and Civic Character • Signage and Wayfi nding • Open Space and Recreation • Circulation, Access and Parking • Land Use and Redevelopment Implementation................................................................................ 43 • Project Priorities and Phasing • Organization and Management Appendix.......................................................................................... 49 • Street Block Analyses • State Owned Facility Matrix • Summary of Interviews • Population and Growth Data • Preliminary Estimate of Costs for Capitol Improvements State of Wyoming, Department of Administration & Information, General Services Division i Wyoming State Capitol District Vision 2020 Plan ii State of Wyoming, Department of Administration & Information, General Services Division Wyoming State Capitol District Vision 2020 Plan INTRODUCTION The Wyoming Capitol District is located in the heart of Cheyenne and is composed of the State Capitol Building and surrounding buildings and grounds. The Capitol District is a civic destination attracting businesses and visitors both locally, regionally and nationally. While the District boasts many assets that any civic destination needs to be successful, it also faces many challenges that will need to be addressed to ensure its successful future. In recent years the Capitol District has been stressed by additional parking needs, increased tourism and departmental expansion. These pressures have led to unorganized development decisions that are not based on a collective long-term vision. Project Description In July of 2002, GSG Architecture and Civitas, Inc. were commissioned by the State of Wyoming to undertake a 12-month study to develop short and long-term strategies to improve the image, safety and growth of the Capitol District that reinforce the goals of the City and State. The purpose of this strategic Vision 2020 Plan is to provide recommendations that will help guide capital investment decisions and improvements within the Capitol District with respect to land use, public space and parking, prioritized over a fi fteen year period. This Vision 2020 Plan is the fi rst stage implementation of the “Wyoming Capitol District Framework Plan: Extending the Civic Legacy for Future Generations”. The recommendations in this plan build on the strengths of the existing neighborhoods and businesses, and provide improvements that make the State government uses interact better in the broader community. The recommendations also identify the market opportunities for additional retail, offi ce, civic, and residential uses, and the type of physical and public policy improvements necessary to achieve the desired development. Organization of this Report This plan is presented in four sections. The Vision section represents the four character vision themes from the “Wyoming State Capitol District Framework Plan” to provide a core foundation to this plan. The Summary of Existing Conditions section presents the team’s key fi ndings that provide a foundation for recommendations. The Recommendations section provides recommendations for streetscapes and civic character, recreation and open space, circulation, parking and access, and land use and redevelopment. The State of Wyoming, Department of Administration & Information, General Services Division 1 Wyoming State Capitol District Vision 2020 Plan Implementation section presents recommendations for project priories and phasing, funding sources and strategies, organization and management, and policy revision. The Appendix section includes study area analyses, public participation summaries, growth projections and preliminary cost estimates for capital improvements. Study Area The area of focus includes the Capitol District, the immediate area of between Pioneer Avenue to the west, West 27th Street to the north, Warren Avenue to the east, and East 20th Street to the south. The Plan will also address other State owned property located in Cheyenne outside of the Capitol District area. Public Process The goal for the public involvement process for the Vision 2020 Plan is to include all appropriate stakeholders and listen to people to glean the most critical issues to be addressed in the Plan. The resulting issues were then used to create the project goal and objectives. This process was designed to understand the range of opportunities and challenges facing the Capitol Study Area Study Area 2 State of Wyoming, Department of Administration & Information, General Services Division Wyoming State Capitol District Vision 2020 Plan District and the surrounding neighborhoods, including the downtown, medical and residential communities. To properly address concerns in the Capitol District, interview sessions were held with groups and individuals representing the range of State departments, and federal, county, city and community agencies. In addition to these individual interviews, a web site was hosted throughout the plan process with feedback obtained and integrated into the Plan. To present the draft plan to the public, exhibits were presented in key State and City buildings to provide information. The public involvement process proved to be a key component in designing the Plan with the stakeholders. From the beginning, the stakeholders helped to draft the major vision themes of the “Wyoming State Capitol District Framework Plan” and established the goals and objectives that would determine success for the project. Throughout the process, State and community issues surfaced, and ideas were tested by the stakeholders to ensure community support for each of the recommended implementation strategies of the plan. Key Findings from the Public Process The overriding concerns and issues throughout the public process were: Character and Image More defi ned environments for outdoor activities and shaded sitting areas; Consistent signage and wayfi nding; Amenities for tourists, such as restrooms and a visitor center; Flower beds incorporated in focal areas; More maintenance investment is needed in addition to a more systematic approach to maintenance; Improvements and repairs are needed to the Herschler Plaza, including more shade and shelter from winds; and The State, City, and Downtown Development Authority need to collaborate to achieve common goals. State of Wyoming, Department of Administration & Information, General Services Division 3 Wyoming State Capitol District Vision 2020 Plan Parking, Access and Transportation City shuttle system and the Cox parking garage located downtown are not being well utilized by State employees; Employees park in 2-hour on-street spaces and rotate spaces throughout the day; and More employee parking needs to be provided closer