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VISION Transit Oriented Development December 2011 Contents Vision 3 Introduction 4 VISION Artisan Neighborhood Economics 6 Study Purpose 8 Transit Oriented Development Goals & Objectives 10 Urban Design Plan 13 Transit Oriented Development 14 Anchors 18 Inter-modal Urban Design Open Space 22 Circulation 26 Wayfinding 43 Regional Wayfinding 44 & Wayfinding Plan for the Local Wayfinding 46 Implementation 51 Land Use Strategy 52 inc. peter j. smith & company, Market District Market District Project Implementation 54 Ohio City Incorporated (OCI) Inventory 85 Public Input 86 December 2011 Land Use & Ownership 88 Circulation & Parking 94 Historic Resources 100 Local Initiatives 104 Prepared by: peter j. smith & company, inc. 1896 Niagara Street Buffalo, NY 14207 1 www.pjscompany.com Vision Developing a vision means understanding and engaging the community in an effort to create a strategy for the future. For the Market District in Ohio City goals and objectives guide the Inter-modal Urban Design and Wayfinding Plan towards the neighborhood vision. Ohio City is one of Cleveland’s oldest and most vibrant neighborhoods. Introduction Located immediately west of the Cuyahoga River, and only a 15 minute walk to the Downtown Waterfront/Flats A mixed-use artisan neighborhood, Ohio City District,Ohio City has evolved into a diverse complements the West Side Market and enhances cultural community with many different cultural the local food economy. The neighborhood and ethnic influences including German, Irish, extends the “business incubator” that is the Eastern European, African-American and Hispanic. West Side Market by fostering local farmers, The focal point of Ohio City is the historic West bakers, butchers, chefs, restaurants, artists, Side Market. Built in 1912, this European-styled boutique retailers and grass roots agricultural public market is a regional icon that has thrived initiatives. Over the past two decades, Ohio continuously despite economic expansions and City’s local artisans have created hundreds of contractions of the Ohio City neighborhood during jobs and revitalized the community. One example Market Avenue the 20th century. Located at the intersection of of success is the Great Lakes Brewing Company, Lorain Avenue and West 25th Street, the West Side which was started by two brothers and has Market maintains the culture of the traditional grown to employ nearly 150 people, distribute its public market with family occupied stands product to ten states, and earn nearly $30 million and bustling crowds. In 2008 the Market was annually.1 designated by the American Planning Association 1West Side Market Centennial Commission Report, 2011. as one of the top 10 Great Public Spaces in America. 4 Incorporated as “Ohio City” in 1832 before being annexed to the City of Cleveland in 1854, the neighborhood’s namesake reflects its historic beginnings. West Side Market Photograph By: Craig Hatfield * * OHIO CITY * Superior Ave. TheThe FlatsF Bridge peter j. smith & company, inc. peter j. smith & company, Downtown *Photographs By: Cuyahhoga Cleveland jco Vision Regional Context: Located within the city limits, along the Cuyahoga River, Ohio City is a key urban attraction with one of the top five nationally 5 significant cultural icons in Cleveland along with the Cleveland Orchestra, Museum of Art, Playhouse Square and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The ultimate purpose of this report is to enable the development of a Artisan “complete” community: a place where visitors, young professionals and empty nesters alike can reside in a place offering Attracting the Cultural Tourist Neighborhood creative opportunity, housing options, safety, A “complete” community includes a healthy strong schools, and services critical to long term combination of residents, visitors and tourists. economic viability. Fortunately, the Leisure Tourist is the type most likely to frequent Ohio City and counts artisanal Economics The Market as Economic Engine food as critical to future travel decisions. The West Side Market is the primary anchor and According to Travel Wire, a travel industry economic engine to foster the progression of publication, nearly 25% of all Leisure Tourists the Ohio City neighborhood into a “complete” consider food options critical to their choice of community. According the West Side Market destination. USA Today reports that of nearly 160 Centennial Commission’s most recent report, million US travelers in 2009, nearly 25% of these wealth generated by local merchants creates a included a food tour or a cooking class as part local economic impact as much as two to four of their activities. This is welcome news both times greater than a national retailer or “chain” for Ohio City and for the regional Leisure Tourist! restaurant. Expanding on the success of the To add further positive potential, the National Market, the surrounding neighborhood encourages Restaurant Associated cited local food, locally a burgeoning artisan class of farmers, craftsmen grown produce, and locally produced wine and and business owners by offering incubator space, beer as top trends for 2011. commercial kitchen access and a “honeycomb” of 6 complementary businesses that establish a critical mass of activity and create a regional attraction. Primary Anchor: West Side Market The Plan as a Tool for Economic Growth The Urban Design and Wayfinding Plan will Nearly strengthen both the Market and Ohio City neighborhood by organizing the streets, parking 25% of all facilities and land uses surrounding the area in a Leisure manner that encourages economic sustainability. The Plan will enable more people to find their way Tourists to and around the Ohio City neighborhood. Ease of access will translate to more visitation, more consider spending and more sustainable economic benefit. food The Plan also encourages the development of peter j. smith & company, inc. peter j. smith & company, higher density residential environments near options mass transit, or “transit-oriented development”, that is appealing to environmentally conscious critical professionals seeking an alternative to a suburban environment. to their choice of Vision destination. 7 ~Travel Wire Accessible Food Options in the Market District The Inter-modal Urban Design & Wayfinding Plan serves to enhance the Study artisan neighborhood experience of Ohio City by making the Market District easier to navigate and promoting an the Market District. A series of focus groups, appropriate mix of attractions and facilities. public meetings and interviews helped to establish Purpose Ultimately this study will help to make Ohio the existing strengths and challenges listed City a more appealing place to live, work and in the Community Assessment of the Market visit. This task is accomplished by involving District. This initial investigation of the Ohio the local community in the planning process to City and the Market District focuses the study on identify the character of the community and the the most effective and efficient way to achieve aspects that add or subtract from the quality of neighborhood improvement. Community Assessment of the Market District Strengths Challenges • Provides an exciting and vibrant place to live and visit • Difficult to find parking during peak hours • Home to one of the top attractions in Cleveland, the West • Confusing transitions between buildings Side Market • Complicated interactions between various modes of transportation • Accessible by a variety of transportation modes • Lacking a cohesive plan to make Ohio City into one • Located within an historic district interconnected neighborhood • The economic, cultural, and social diversity of the • Lacking visual and physical connection to Cuyahoga River neighborhood and the ability to capture real Cleveland • Adequate streetscaping and lighting need to be addressed culture with “Mom & Pop” businesses • Too much surface parking – vertical parking • Energy and Urban Character opportunities should be considered 8 • Multi-modal transportation options offer great potential • Lacking places for outdoor dining and relaxing around the for Transit-Oriented Residential Developments Market • Access to RTA station should be improved Public Meeting for the Project Planning Context Study Area The Vision for the Market District is funded by Boundary: the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency The Inter-modal Urban (NOACA) under their Transportation for Livable Design & Wayfinding Communities Initiative (TLCI). The TLCI helps Plan focuses on Ohio communities in Northeast Ohio obtain federal City’s Market District, funding and technical assistance for planning generally along West th transportation projects that strengthen community 25 Street bounded by Columbus Road and livability. The TLCI consists essentially of Detroit Avenue and federally funded planning grants and free technical along Lorain Avenue assistance and small-scale traffic studies for bounded by West 32nd inc. peter j. smith & company, eligible communities. Street and Columbus Road. This study works together with other initiatives for the Market District including: • West Side Market Centennial Commission: With the Commission Report identified a vision for the Ohio local artisans who can live, work and create local Market’s Centennial in Fall of 2012, the Centennial City Market District: The Ohio City Market District, products sustainably. The objective is to establish Commission used this opportunity to celebrate, anchored by the West Side Market, is positioned to a merchant