SUNY ESF Department of Landscape Architecture Center for Community Design Research December 11, 2009 Kennedy Square Redevelopment Design Study Summary of Project Results – Desired Characteristics Introduction The Kennedy Square Redevelopment Design Study is a collaborative service learning project involving Upstate Medical University, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) Department of Landscape Architecture (DLA) and the Center for Community Design Research (CCDR), and several neighborhood organizations and residents. This service learning project was initiated as a result of on‐going discussions over approximately two years concerning the redevelopment of the former Kennedy Square housing site. It was anticipated that a student design process would be an appropriate forum to explore development alternatives with the potential that the results might inform the Request for Proposals (RFP) that Upstate is planning to prepare. This document summarizes the desired characteristics for the redevelopment that came out of the student design study. These characteristics have been derived from the comments of reviewers at the interimi and finalii design reviews, preferences expressed by those that participated in the initial panel discussions and comments of the DLA faculty that have worked with the students. Accompanying this narrative are copies of selected student design projects that illustrate many of the characteristics described. Some of these characteristics might be expected to be provided on‐site through the development of the site but others will require off‐site improvements by other project partners and stakeholders. The full process of the design study will be documented in case study format at a later date. Desired Characteristics • Mixed Use – There should be a mutually supportive mix of residential, commercial (retail, restaurant, service), office (medical, professional), academic/research and recreational uses on the site that as a whole result in an economically viable development. • Residential, as part of a mixed use development ‐ Should include choices for Upstate graduate student, faculty and staff as well as residents not associated with Upstate. The housing types should provide the opportunity to purchase units. Detached single family residential with single driveways and individual yards may not be viable on this site but may be more appropriate in the existing neighborhood to the east. • Density must be appropriate to support the cost of the infrastructure and contribute to the site’s urban setting. Green space should be defined by buildings and contribute to an urban neighborhood character rather than a suburban development character. The student design studies illustrate a number of ways to Kennedy Square – Desired Characteristics Page 2 of 4 integrate green space into the development while still maintaining density including greenways, promenades, and pocket parks. •
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Integration and connections with neighborhood residents – Area residents should feel that the new development is part of the neighborhood. o Physical characteristics – Promote a sense of welcome through the design of outdoor spaces that invite access and passing through o Social interaction and access – Provide indoor and outdoor places for events and programs o Services – Provide space and programming for services desired by the community, such as a health clinic o Working – Encourage employment opportunities in construction and within the development o History of the site and the neighborhood – Acknowledge and mark the presence and contributions of people that lived in Kennedy Square and the 15th ward. Integration and connection with the Eastside Neighborhood and the Hawley Green Neighborhood (to the north under I‐690) o With inviting, safe and convenient connections both residential neighborhoods can provide needed pedestrian presence and activity to support the commercial uses in the development. o Spencer Park can serve as common ground for the existing and new neighborhood and consideration should be given to how use can be improved through redesign and upgrading its facilities and how the new development connects and relates to it. o Edges and context acknowledgement – site development should encourage development on adjacent sites Integration and connection with Upstate and all of University Hill – Of importance to Upstate is how movement and connection is encouraged between the new Biotech Research Center/Kennedy Square and the other existing and future Upstate facilities (hospital, academic and research buildings, living spaces) and programs. o Irving Avenue is the most obvious physical connection to SUNY Upstate and beyond to SUNY ESF. But there are also important visual and physical connections to the heart of University Hill via University Avenue and Crouse Avenue that if provided can only strengthen the positive impact and viability of this new development. o Philosophical connections should also be considered, including the relationship between our health and well being and the environments in which we live and work. This project has the opportunity to be a model of an urban neighborhood that promotes and supports healthy living. o Several students designed therapy gardens that promote healing through connections with nature and plants. Kennedy Square – Desired Characteristics Page 3 of 4 •
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Integration and connection with the commercial and retail context – New retail and commercial development on the site can benefit from the existing commercial activity that exists in the area, especially along East Genesee Street. New commercial and retail spaces should be located to take advantage of and add to the existing activity generators, including Syracuse Stage, the restaurants and offices. The existing Erie Blvd activity is less of a commercial destination but it has the potential to be an important access and commercial corridor in the future. Connection to downtown Syracuse– With the development of the Center of Excellence several blocks to the west, it is easier to imagine the potential to create stronger connections to downtown. The Connective Corridor concept and the future of Rt. 81 through the city will also influence the ease of movement through and between this site and downtown. •
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Urban Design – Several stakeholders involved in this project have commented on the characteristics of the existing Kennedy Square development that seem to have contributed to its eventual failure, including its design as a superblock and related lack of street grid continuity. Some urban design characteristics to consider: o Reintroduction of the street grid or some other design strategy to promote activity and movement through the site o Mass that holds the corners – Open space without definition at corners should not be allowed. While buildings are the preferred way to “hold the corner”, if there is going to be open space the edges should be defined with tree massing, trellis structures or similar. o The height, scale and detailing of buildings should provide a comfortable environment to encourage walking and support a high quality urban neighborhood living experience. Pedestrian scale design – The development should promote walking, bicycling and the use of public transportation. This goes beyond simply the provision of sidewalks, and many of the student projects illustrate the elements and characteristics that encourage safe and enjoyable humanscale environments. Parking and vehicular access – There was a long range desire expressed by Upstate to eventually reduce the amount of on site parking required by promoting arrival at the site via other forms of transportation. In the interim, city requirements for parking need to be met, preferably without parking structures. o Break down the scale of parking into smaller lots o Consider shared parking based on varied patterns of use o Using traffic calming techniques to slow traffic and encourage people to get out of their cars and walk Kennedy Square – Desired Characteristics Page 4 of 4 •
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Sustainable and green design practices – Upstate has expressed the desire for this development to achieve LEED silver certification. A number of the student design studies include ideas that will contribute to the environmental health and sustainability of this site and neighborhood including rain gardens, roof gardens, bioswales, permeable pavement, white roofs, and extensive tree canopy. Year round activities and potential use of outdoor space year round – Given the extent of winter in Syracuse providing indoor and outdoor spaces that promote or encourage year round activities should be encouraged. i
The interim review took place on October 2, 2009. In attendance were Thomas Pelis – Upstate, Dave Michel –
Syracuse Dept of Economic Development, Ben Lockwood – Housing Visions, Julius Lawrence – PEACE Inc.,
Cherise Hunter – former resident, Brian Buckley – Upstate student, David Mankiewicz - MDA
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The final review took place on October 30, 2009. In attendance were Thomas Pelis – Upstate, Dave Michel –
Syracuse Dept of Economic Development, Doug Sutherland – Franklin Development, Corey Driscoll –
Syracuse University, Jeffrey Blankenship – SUNY ESF
Representative Student Projects The projects of eight students from the studio have been selected that display many of the characteristics that have been described as desirable by those present at the design reviews and by other stakeholders during the panel discussions. The students whose work is included are: • Sarah Moore • Bobby Brittain • Greg Beale • Evan Sullivan • Joseph Cavender • Ken Gifford • Kyle Eddy • William Rodriguez All of the students in the 4th year studio put much time, thought and effort into preparing design studies for the Redevelopment of Kennedy Square. Although we are not able to include all of the projects in this document, they are acknowledged for their work on behalf of the eastside neighborhood and SUNY Upstate. • Jesse Marco • Fatimah Abdul‐Hamid • Phil Adams • Christopher McCarthy • Jim Burt • Cole Moore • Andrew Crapanzano • Moulthrop • Patrick Delaney • Stephen Mruk • Michael Delillo • Kerri Murphy • Tim Devlin • Adam Olinsky • Gino DosSantos • Peter Orilio • Even Gefell • Dana Park • Anthony Giacovelli • Mariah Phillips • Lisa Gorney • Jessica Redisch • Luke Grasmeyer • Samuel Rogers • Brian Hamlin • Michael Scholtz • Ryan Henry • Mark Simonin • Tom Kolodziejczyk • Thaddeus Tannenbaum • Justin Kukulski • Brittany Wells • Todd Lewis • Jeff Wright