Freedman Tung + Sasaki Urban Design - Districts, Featured

Pomona General Plan Update

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 10:42:48 -0800

Components:
General Plan visioning, document preparation, Business Park Revitalization & Innovative Workplace District Planning, TOD

INTRO text:

As a mature Los Angeles-area suburb, Pomona has experienced profound demographic, economic, and physical transformations in recent years. FTS is assisting the City to update its 1976 General Plan by noting limited city change areas, identifying regional trends for engagement by re-tuned city assets, defining a livable and sustainable City structure framework of neighborhoods, districts, and centers, and establishing a clear vision for “Pomona Tomorrow” to guide state-suggested General Plan elements and ensuing planning tools.

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BEFORE text:

The built-out city has extensive neighborhoods, excellent freeway and rail access, and planned regional transit expansions.
A previous General Plan effort stalled on concerns about high intensity housing on corridors.
Few anchored centers and inefficient distribution of retail have resulted in significant leakage of sales to neighboring cities.
Pomona’s walkable and historic downtown is slowly revitalizing, recently sparked by the Fox Theater’s rebirth
The community is burdened by perceptions of crime and low incomes.

BART to Livermore Community Dialogues

Mon, 11 Oct 2010 15:21:22 -0700

Components:
Transit Planning, Business Park Revitalization & Innovative Workplace District Planning, TOD, Public Outreach & Education

INTRO text:

For decades, the I-580 median had been BART’s planned extension alignment to Livermore, but transit, political, and funding contexts had changed dramatically by 2009’s environmental work. Residents’ preferences were split between freeway-located stations to keep traffic, noise, and outsiders away from settled areas, and in-town stations supporting transit-oriented development (TOD), revitalization, and sustainability. An FTS team led community workshops providing education, visualizations, and dialogue on station place types, TOD, and impacts. The resulting majority consensus led to Downtown and Vasco Stations becoming Livermore’s and BART’s recommended alignment.

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BEFORE text:

Livermore and BART policies and land acquisitions assumed future stations on I-580.
BART’s Program EIR (November 2009) presented 9 alignment alternatives.
Residents’ opinions were divided between freeway median and in-town BART station locations.

Beach Blvd. and Edinger Ave. Corridors Specific Plan

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 14:09:44 -0800

Components:
Corridor Revitalization, Specific Plan

INTRO text:

As the major access route from I-405 to the beach and downtown, Beach Boulevard is a wide, high volume corridor, and the City’s main commercial route. Despite the importance of this corridor to the function and image of the City, it is visually unappealing and in a state of economic transition. With significant City and Community involvement, FTB prepared the Beach & Edinger Corridors Specific Plan. The Plan will assist the community to more effectively attract investment to the corridor by 1) describing the overall vision for the future corridors and identifying key opportunities for revitalization 2) establishing form based land use and development standards to replace preexisting zoning regulations 3) outlining a program of capital improvements to influence the use and appearance of the public right of way.

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BEFORE text:

Primarily conventional commercial strip development along 6.5 miles of Beach Blvd. and Edinger Avenue.
Beach Blvd. is a 7 to 9 lane state route with high traffic volumes.
Bella Terra Mall located at the confluence of Beach Blvd., Edinger Ave., and I-405 was recently renovated into a lifestyle center.

Tracy Downtown Urban Design and Specific Plan

Tue, 05 Dec 2006 14:32:36 -0800

Components:
Urban Design, Specific Plan

INTRO text:

For the Downtown Urban Design and Specific Plan project, FTS was selected to conduct an extensive community participation, urban design, and planning process to revitalize downtown. Strategies include infilling the Bow-Tie with downtown mixed-use development, centered on an exciting central gathering and transit plaza; and tuning up development policies to revive existing shops and attract a mix of new family-oriented businesses to downtown main streets.

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BEFORE text:

Historic district with many beautiful buildings from the town’s heyday, but with many of these dilapidated or unoccupied today.
Struggling downtown core, with many buildings in poor condition and businesses running on the margins.
A 64-acre undeveloped former railyard parcel next to downtown separates the district from its surroundings.
“Holes” in the urban fabric that make the downtown unappealing for walking.

Bothell Downtown Revitalization Plan & Code Update

Wed, 08 Nov 2006 09:26:37 -0800

Components:
Downtown Revitalization, Code Update

INTRO text:

This plan proposes to transform a segment of State Route 522 into a grand boulevard in order to connect 1) an extensive open space network 2) a local university population and 3) downtown’s surrounding neighborhoods to Bothell’s historic main street.

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BEFORE text:

Conventional corridor development cuts Bothell’s downtown main street off from Bothell Landing, the City’s main Civic Open Space.
Main Street’s lacks visibility for potential customers on the adjacent state routes 522 and 527.
There is significant opportunities for infill development and a growing local university population.

Tukwila Heart of the Region TOD

Wed, 24 May 2006 09:39:07 -0700

Components:
TOD

INTRO text:

The Tukwila Urban Center Plan and Regulating Code restructures a built-out 1,000 acre commercial area into a social and symbolic regional center. With greater attention to street hierarchy, multi-modal connectivity, and pedestrian networks, the Plan transforms a haphazardly developed urban environment into a series of mixed- use, pedestrian scaled districts.

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BEFORE text:

Commuter rail facilities entirely cut off from their surroundings
Complete absence of pedestrian amenity and walkability
1,000 acres of sprawling, low-intensity, surface-parked development with no housing
Development projects turn their backs to the Green River
Located in a city that has no downtown

Hacienda Business Park Transit-Oriented Specific Plan

Fri, 05 May 2006 17:23:39 -0700

Components:
TOD

INTRO text:

FTS advised the Owners’ Association of the 900-acre Hacienda Buisiness Park and a team of consultants on how concentrating activity, deploying urban design techniques and altering the transportation system can influence travel patterns and take advantage of the adjoining Dublin/Pleasanton BART station.

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BEFORE text:

Premiere suburban business park in outer ring suburb
Largest business park in Northern California with limited mix of uses and range of FAR from .25 to .6
Development agreements make intensification contingent upon ability to limit traffic impacts
BART station (terminal of Dublin/Pleasanton line) at northern edge of property

Downtown Reno Blueprint and Riverfront Design Guidance

Thu, 16 Mar 2006 14:56:28 -0800

Components:
Waterfront

INTRO text:

The Downtown Blueprint charted the course to diversify Downtown’s tourist economy by adding a wide variety of cultural and entertainment offerings to complement and bolster the gaming industry, and to substantially enhance the appeal of Downtown to prospective and existing residents of the city and region. The centerpiece of the Blueprint is the complete transformation of the historic Downtown Riverfront from back side of development facing away from the river, to central gathering spine and linchpin between visitor-oriented and resident-oriented districts.

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BEFORE text:

Crucial gaming and entertainment uses were bleeding out of the downtown core.
Underutilized parcels made the downtown area less attractive for important entertainment uses.
The city’s development focus for the riverfront properties was unclear.

Redwood City Downtown Revitalization Strategy and Precise Plan

Thu, 16 Mar 2006 14:49:03 -0800

Components:
Downtown Revitalization, TOD

INTRO text:

The Redwood City Downtown Revitalization Strategy & Specific Plan will guide growth and change in this rapidly growing 190-acre city center at the heart of Silicon Valley. New retail and entertainment destinations, art and cultural opportunities and new housing will combine with improved transit infrastructure, enhanced streets and public spaces to create an exciting centerpiece for the city and region.

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BEFORE text:

Historic city center with magnificent public and historic building stock.
Underperforming retail; almost no housing in the district, little to no pedestrian activity.
Existing train and bus stations in close proximity feel cut off from the Downtown.
Downtown district built before the age of the shopping mall and strip center, significantly oversized for the contemporary retail landscape.

Central City Specific Plan & Revitalization Strategy

Mon, 13 Mar 2006 09:49:23 -0800

Components:
Downtown Revitalization, Business Park Revitalization & Innovative Workplace District Planning

INTRO text:

This Specific Plan for 295 acres near the Feather River has dramatically revitalized an underutilized area dominated by declining industrial uses into a new central city "workplace district" anchored by a central boulevard and town square. The Plan has shaped all new development through innovative "form-based" design standards and coordinated infrastructure improvements. The success of the new workplace district has catalyzed significant revitalization of the downtown and helped knit together adjoining neighborhoods.

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BEFORE text:

Underutilized 320-acre vacant site adjacent to the Feather River, small downtown and existing residential neighborhoods.
Minimal investment in new workplace development; low levels of job-creation.
Lack of a “heart” of the city.

Lodi Central City Revitalization Plan

Fri, 10 Mar 2006 16:24:08 -0800

Components:
Downtown Revitalization, Workplace

INTRO text:

The Central City Revitalization Plan directs the ongoing revitalization of Lodi’s 55-acre “Old Town,” the city’s original commercial area. FTS’ plan identified market and design obstacles to the downtown’s success. The plan provided the City with recommendations for necessary district ordinances and streetscape improvements to rejuvenate the local market and enrich the Old Town character. Since adoption of the strategy recommendations and streetscape guidance, Lodi has constructed a gateway to the downtown, new streetscapes, and a public square at the heart of a new workplace district.

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BEFORE text:

Recently developed retail strips and big box retail were draining Downtown retail and restaurant patronage.
Struggling and landlocked downtown was difficult to access and poorly defined.
Lacked downtown character with insufficient streetscape amenities.

Livermore Downtown Specific Plan

Tue, 07 Mar 2006 16:47:14 -0800

Components:
Downtown Revitalization

INTRO text:

This Specific Plan orchestrates all public and private investment toward the revitalization of Downtown. It begins with the transformation of the city’s historic main street from a disinvested state highway strip into its historic role as the central shopping district. The Plan calls for a pedestrian-oriented retail core along a redesigned main street, sets up a framework for an exciting new arts and entertainment district, and adds thousands of new housing units within a short walk to transit and services. The Plan has had a dramatic and positive effect on the downtown.

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BEFORE text:

Downtown Livermore declined over the past several decades as rapid office, commercial and residential development sprawled in outlying areas.

Livable Communities Case Studies Report

Mon, 06 Mar 2006 11:28:19 -0800

Components:
Downtown Revitalization

INTRO text:

The Livable Communities Case Studies Report for the GCCOC is a strategy document that presents detailed solutions to revitalize downtown Artesia, to reuse industrial lands in Paramount, and to make streetscape improvements along an arterial highway in Pico Rivera.

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BEFORE text:

City of Artesia: Desire to create a vibrant downtown along Pioneer Boulevard in spite of high traffic volumes.
City of Paramount: Industrial and brownfield lands developing in haphazard fashion, cutting one neighborhood off from another.
City of Pico Rivera: Washington Boulevard, once a primary corridor for industrial uses suffering from disinvestment, high levels.