Green Lights on Winnipeg’s Back : Illumination from the Chicago Green Initiative and the Vancouver Country Lanes Program

Abstract

By Shengxu Li Cities in North America and around the world are increasingly demanding that their infrastructure contribute to sustainable development. Alleys or back in collaboration lanes used to be places that were easily to be forgotten in such discourse. with Ian Hall, However, there are cities have started paying attention to alleys and who are Environmental taking efforts to leverage these spaces into environmentally friendly urban amenities. Coordinator, City of Winnipeg This case-in-point project will examine two precedents: Chicago Green Alley Initiative and Vancouver’s Country Lanes program, drawing lessons from May 2012 them, and applying those lessons to the Green Back Initiative Pilot Project of Winnipeg. Specifically, it will look at the opportunities and methods for involving residents in the Green Back Lane pilot project. Residential engagement can help maintain and thereby improve the performance of the lane, and also their awareness can increase pride and, if they talk to others about the project, is a promotional opportunity for the City of Winnipeg.

1 “Working together, we can conserve Chicago and build a sustainable city for generations to come.” ­— ­Richard M. Daley Former Mayor, City of Background Chicago The Chicago Green Alley Initia- stormwater to infiltrate into the tive is a green infrastructure ground. Besides the environ- project that is aiming to incor- mental benefits that this project porate environment-friendly has brought, the new lane also characteristics, such as perme- has a function of calming able and high-albedo pavements, and provides natural appearance recycled materials, and dark that is aesthetically pleasing sky-compliant light fixtures into (City of Vancouver, 2002b). the city’s alleys (City of Chica- go, 2010). Those measurements The experience and lessons not only help to filter and drain from those precedents can the stormwater into the ground generate valuable resources to reduce urban run-off, but also for the proposed Green Back alleviate urban heat island effect Lane Initiative Pilot Project in and reduce light pollution. Winnipeg. It will also inform the City of developing strategies Similar to the Chicago’s initia- to engage local residents tive, a “Country Lanes” program in the project performance is designed and implemented enhancement. This is also by the City of Vancouver to identified as a key success factor demonstrate its emphasis on the for both the precedent pilots. city’s sustainability. The innova- tive design enables the “Country Lane” to withstand vehicles to drive on while allowing the

2 Facts of the Case of Transportation proposed the green alley program to solve The Chicago Green Alley the problem. As one of many Initiative environment friendly initiatives that the City of Chicago is With nearly 2,000 miles of working to achieve sustainable alleys and 3,500 acres of development, the Green Alley paved impermeable surface, project has showcased both the Chicago has one of the most techniques to reduce human extensive systems in the World, impact on the environment and and is referred to as the alley the intention to improve life capital of America. Due to the quality in local communities. problem that the surfaces and It incorporates a variety of grading of many alleys have innovative characteristics deteriorated, heavy rainstorm that help facilitate the city’s occasions excerbates Chicago’s infrastructure contributing laid combined sewage and sustainability: stormwater system, and cause • Permeable pavements watershed pollution when (asphalt, or pavers) overflow happens. In 2006, the that allow stormwater to City of Chicago’s Department filter through the pavement and drain into the ground • Open bottom catch basins-- “The alley is not installed in alleys to capture water and funnel it into the only functional, ground but an educational • High-albedo pavement that reflects sunlight instead of green landscape absorbing it, helping reduce that is helping a the urban heat island effect • Recycled materials, such as city experiment concrete aggregate, slag and recycled tire rubber with design and • Proper grading and pitch to different ways to facilitate drainage • Use of dark sky-compliant handle water.” ­ light fixtures to reduce —Michael­ D. Martin light pollution and provide Associate Professor, uniform illumination Iowa State University • Involvement of neighbouring

3 property owners in because that they gained strong maintaining their green community support from local alley and implementing residents to help maintain and sustainable practices to promote the projects (City of enhance the performance Vancouver, 2002a). of the green alley (City of Chicago, n.d.) As one of the City’s green design projects, Country Lanes A Chicago Green Alley Program provides a bunch of Handbook was developed by the benefits both to the environment City of Chicago to help adjacent and people’s life: landowners better understand • Natural drainage that green alley project and inform reduces urban run-off into them of ways that they can the stormwater system implement to enhance the • Recharging groundwater performance of the green alleys. with filtration • Creating attractive pleasing, The Vancouver Country and rural aesthetic Lanes Program • Encouraging drivers to reduce vehicle speed to In 2002, the City of Vancouver achieve (City approved the Country Lane as of Vancouver, 2002a and an alternative to traditional full 2002b) width lane. This new design is adopted to demonstrate Local community members the City’s commitment to were involved in the whole sustainable development. The process of the program Country Lane concept uses two from design to construction. bands of permeable hard surface The purpose of community to sustain vehicles driving on engagement in the program it, interspersed with structural is to educate public and grass area that is able to support bring awareness to issues of vehicles. stormwater management (City of Vancouver, 2002b). Three locations are identified as pilot project sites for the Contry Lanes Program: Lane south of 27th Ave. from east of Fraser St. to west of Pr. Albert St.; Lane east of Maple St. from 5th to the South; Lane south of Yale St. from Slocan St. to Kaslo St. These sites were selected partially

4 kind in western provinces, and perhaps around Canada. Vancouver city council has provided $150,000 to fund the pilot project entirely from the Basic Capital Unappropriated Account Group SCA5C-UNAP (Residential Conclusions Streets Unappropriated) (City The Chicago Green Alley of Vancouver, 2002a). Grant Initiative from Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) also made the program possible. Between 2006 and 2009, there The pilot project has won were more than 80 alleys in both the 2003 American Chicago having been retrofitted Public Works Association’s with green technologies (Hoyer, Technical Innovation Award 2009 ). The funding for the and Honourable Mention for green alley project has been the 2003 Canadian Association secured in the city budget. of Municipal Administrators Most of those resurfaced alleys USFilter Environmental Award. don’t look much different from The environmental, social, and their original appearance. They financial implications of this still maintain usual functions project are valuable lessons for that a typical alley may have: other Canadian cities to learn. providing space for garages and garbage bins, inter-building access, and transport space. What makes them different is the alley’s performance in filtering the stormwater and reducing urban run off. The Chicago Green Alley Initiative demonstrated sustainable strategies implemented in urban alleys, and since 2009, it has been integrated into ongoing planning process of Chicago’s infrastructure renewal.

The Vancouver Country Lanes Program

The program is the first of its

5 Lessons of the “Country Lane” pilot, but are also committed to the Learned lane’s maintenance (City of Alleys and Back Lanes Vancouver, 2002). Since the Could Do More Than Just concept of the Country Lane is “We are trying to Stormwater Management compatible with the its policy of sustainability and conservation, be proactive. When the City Farmer, which is an The main purpose of Chicago another city comes organization promoting urban Green Alley Initiative and the agriculture and other sustainable up with a good Vancouver Country Lanes development solutions actively Program are both on stormwater involves in the pilot and are idea, it’s incumbent management by using best dedicated to the long term management practices to upon us to take a maintenance (City of Vancouver, increase the infiltration of heavy 2002). In the Chicago Green look at it and see if precipitation, and reduce urban Alley Handbook, neighbouring run-off directed to sewage it works for us” property owners are recommend system. Besides the main ­—­Sam Katz to employ best management purpose, additional benefits Mayor, City of Winnipeg practices to enhance the are also generated during the performance of their green alley. process, such as incorporating The initial pilot successfully recycled materials, reducing proved the positive effects that light pollution, and providing alternative techniques brought rural aesthetics and traffic for those who were skeptical of calming. Actually, alleys the program. can also be transformed into neighbourhood amenities to enhance public life if they are properly planned and Financial Implications redesigned. Funding is a key issue to implement any green projects. Neighbourhood Support At the initial stage, the Plays a Vital Role in Chicago Green Alley Initiative Projects Implementation Program was funded by the Department of Transportation In both of the two projects, as an established component, support from property owners along with support from the and local residents plays an Mayor’s office. Later, due to important role in the executive the increasing popularity of this process. In the Vancouver program, it had become a line case, the Mountain View item in the city’s annual budget neighbourhood residents from the Alderman discretionary not only helped to provide funds for capital improvement landscaping and labour for one project. This enables each

6 alderman and neighbourhood proposed pilot project will to make decisions on which be a good opportunity to test green techniques will be used the effects of various green in green alley, as the funding techniques and to allay possible system is quite flexible. doubts and skepticism of the Similar to Chicago, pilot of work. the Vancouver Country Lane program was funded by the As identified in the cases City. Because of higher cost of of Chicago and Vancouver, the material than conventional property owners’ support and ones, property owners are also involvement will be a key assessed for part of the lane factor that has an influence of construction costs. The City of the success of the green back Vancouver also applied for grant lane pilot project. To gain from Federation of Canadian their support, two aspects of Municipalities to fund the the initiative pilot should be project. considered: a. The effectiveness of the pilot; and b. Construction and maintenance costs to Looking Ahead: neighbouring property owners.

Winnipeg’s If the pilot demonstrates Green Back positive functionality on addressing flood issue and/ Lane Initiative or other environmental issues, it will definitely attract Pilot neighbouring residents to be involved in it. Meanwhile, As the first attempt to explore reducing capital and the possibility of greening maintenance costs to property Winnipeg’s back lanes, the owners can possibly reduce the potential doubt or objection.

The following methods can help to realize the purposes aforementioned • Finding cost-effective techniques and materials and adapting them to fit to the Winnipeg’s climate and soil conditions is important to ensure the project success • During design stage, survey

7 and focus group can solicit Great sustainable development people’s ideas and concerns projects are often a combination on the project. Their of planning and design, and opinions will help the design improvement of both physical meet their needs, which in and social aspects. Planners, turn to gain their support who aid integrative planning • Making flyers or newsletters process, have a key role to to inform residents on the play in helping municipalities progress of the construction achieve sustainable development can foster their sense of goals through infrastructure involvement redesign and renewal projects. • Seeking external funding opportunities (such as Federation of Canadian Municipalities, sponsorship, and partnership) is an effective way to reduce costs to adjacent property owner • Providing incentives or subsidies on sustainable behaviours and practices, such as planting trees, using rain barrels, sweeping the lane by neighbourhood residents will further stimulate their willingness to engage in the practices and enhance the performance of the new lanes

Many of these approaches are not new, as they are frequently used in municipal planning process to solicit community About the Authors: members’ inputs and garner support to the proposed Ian Hall, BA, MPA, is the environmental coordinator of the City of planning project. However, Winnipeg’s Planning, Property and Development Department. employing them during municipal infrastructure renewal Shengxu Li is a second year graduate student at the University of projects can be considered as Manitoba’s Master of City Planning Program. His research interest new applications. is on urgan green infrastructure planning in inner city.

8 References

City of Chicago. (n.d.). Green Alleys. Retrieved from http://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/cdot/provdrs/alley/svcs/ green_alleys.html

Chicago Department of Transportation. (2010). The Chicago Green Alley Handbook. Chicago: CDOT. Retrieved from http://www.cityofchicago.org/content/dam/city/depts/cdot/Green_Alley_Handbook_2010.pdf

City of Vancouver. (2002a). Country Lanes Demonstration Project Administrative Report. Retrieved from http://vancou ver.ca/ctyclerk/cclerk/020709/a5.htm

City of Vancouver. (2002b). Country Lanes Flyer. Retrieved from http://www3.telus.net/public/a6a47567/CounrtyLane Flyer.PDF

Sharon Hoyer. (2009). Sustainability in Back: Chicago’s Green Alley Program. Retrieved from http://www.worldchang ing.com/archives/009756.html

Images

Page 1, from left to right: Coverpage of the Chicago Green Alley Handbook; Green Alley Section. Retrieved from http:// www.concretethinker.com/Content/ImageLib/greenalleys_section_large.jpg; Neighbourhood Activity in Country Lane. Retrieved from http://regardingplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/mountainviewbbq_mklassen1.jpg

Page 2, from left to right: Chicago Green Alley with Stamps. Retrieved from http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7LJMly3rXbo/ SYy0vpOm3DI/AAAAAAAAADc/UUnRmVyNZgo/s400/chicago+green+alley.jpg; City Farmer Country Lane. Retrieved from http://www.cityfarmer.org/lanes.html; Country Lane Project 1. Retrieved from http://vancouver.ca/ engsvcs/streets/localimprovements/improvementTypes/images/lane-fullsize/cl1_f.jpg http://www.werf.org/liveablecommunities/images/CHI_5.jpg

Page 3, from up to down: Chicago Green Alley Construction. Retrieved from http://www.cityofchicago.org/content/dam/ city/depts/cdot/GAconstruction.jpg; Chicago Green Alley. Retrieved from http://www.werf.org/liveablecommunities/ studies_chic_il.htm

Page 4, from up to down: Vancour Country Lane. Retrieved from http://vancouver.ca/engsvcs/streets/localimprovements/ improvementTypes/images/lane-fullsize/cl1_b.jpg; Country Lane Section. Retrieved from Country Lanes Flyer

Page 5, from up to down: Alleys with impermeable pavement and poor drainage. Retrieved from the Chicago Green Alley Handbook, p.4; Alley incorporating green alley principles. Retrived from the Chicago Green Alley Handbook, p.4

Page 6 Green Alley in Baltimore City. Retrieved from http://www.metropolismag.com/pov/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/ alley.jpg

Page 7 from up to down: A Winnipeg’s Back Lane in Winnter. Retrieved from http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7156/6604 113567_5d007428b5_z.jpg; Green Alley Principles Residential Application. Retrieved from the Chicago Green Alley Handbook.

9