Cathedral Area Historic District Project Breaking A 50-Year Impasse:

Cathedral Area Historic District Project

Breaking A 50-Year Impasse:


Project Background / History• Longest North-South Arterial

Street in Bismarck, ND• 5-Lane Roadway on North

& South Ends• Narrows to a 30’ 2-Lane

Through Historic District• Crumbling Infrastructure • LOS F• Neighborhood Stopped City

Widening Plan in 1950’s • Repeated Projects Failed


A New Approach Emerges

• City Approaches the Neighborhood

• Forms A Washington Street Working Group

• Discussed How To Approach Starting A Potential Project

• Result: Neighborhood Wanted A Process To Provide Input On EVERYTHING!


Seek To Understand, Then Be Understood

• Created A Stakeholder Advisory Committee (SAC)

• 5 Public Input Meetings

• Interactive Website with On-Line Public Opinion Survey

• Direct Mail

• Brought in News Media as Partners


Schedule

• Public Input Meeting #1 Feb. 9, 2006• Public Input Meeting #2 Feb. 21• Design Charrette Feb. 21-23• Public Open House Feb. 22• Public Input Meeting #3 Feb. 23• Public Input Meeting #4 Mar. 30• Public Input Meeting #5 90% Plans, Fall

2006• Construction 2007


SAC• Open To Anyone – No Limit

• Must Agree To Rules:– Must Commit To Attending All Meetings– Keep An Open Mind, No Criticism– Must Participate In Ideas and Discussions– Must Discuss Project With Others and Report

Back With Input

• Open Roster Helped Establish Credibility!


SAC• Listening Sessions

• Story Telling – What Makes A Sense of Place

• Personal & Historic Photos

• News Clippings/Articles

• Presentation of Historic District Key Features & History by SAC Volunteer

• Walking Tour of District & Buildings


Public Streetscape Survey• 456 Surveys Distributed

– Available on Website

• 120 Survey Responses Received– 20 Surveys Incomplete

• Response Rate = 26%• Prioritization of Project Goals

– Tree Preservation (17%); Left turn lane (16%); Streetscape Maintenance (15%); Seek public input/keep the public informed (15%)

• Preference of the Level of Detail of Streetscape Elements– High and Moderate


Public Comments Received

• Avoid Impacting the Trees. • Pedestrian Safety and Controlled Traffic Speeds Should

Remain Top Priorities.

• Like to See the District Enhanced but not ‘Themed’.


Public Comments Received

• This Section of Town Holds Bismarck’s History – Once Gone – it Will be Very Difficult to Restore.

• The Public has Set a High Priority that the Widened Street not Bisect Neighbors in the East from Those in the West…We are Concerned about PEOPLE Being Separated from PEOPLE.

• Widen the Street as much as Possible.


Challenge: “Preserve the Memorable Streetscape Experience”

• Condensed Project Goals:

– Infrastructure Improvements

– Neighborhood Character


Infrastructure Improvements

• Utilities Improvements– Opportunity to Upgrade

• Roadway Related Recommendations– Accommodate 20 year design life– Address Traffic Speed and Flow– Slow In-Bound Traffic– Focus on Pedestrian Conflict Zone– Emergency Vehicle Needs– Visibility and Lighting


What Is Primary Need Of Corridor?

• To Move High Volumes Of Traffic As Quickly As Possible?

• To Provide A Safe Corridor For Motorists & Pedestrians, While Providing An Acceptable Level Of Service To Corridor Traffic?


How We Got There

• Establish and Maintain Sincerity & Credibility

• Open Participatory Process

• Design Charrette

• Visualization Graphics

• Commitment


Design Charrette


Neighborhood Character








Visualization


Visualization


Visualization


Visualization


Visualization


Visualization


Visualization


Visualization


Visualization


Visualization


Lessons Learned:

• Begin Early Open Dialogue:– To Determine Support To Consider

Developing a Plan

• Open Invitation For SAC:– Everyone is a Stakeholder, Build

Credibility Through Open Participation


Lessons Learned:

• Establish Rules For SAC:– Requires a Commitment From Squeaky

Wheels, Doesn’t Just Provide Another Platform For Them.

• Seek To Understand, Then Be Understood:– Improves Communication and Builds Empathy

Both Ways


Lessons Learned:

• The Open House Design Charrette:– Capitalize on an Interactive, Collaborative

Design Concept Process

• The Power of Visualization:– A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words– Used in the Planning, Design, and in the Final

Project Features as Seen By The Users


Lessons Learned:

• Bring the News Media as a Partner:– Tell Them How You Would Like Them to

Participate, Provide Them Graphics, Etc.

• Commitment:– You Say You Are Going To Preserve Trees?

Prove it!


Lessons Learned:

• Keep The Momentum Going!– Frequent Meetings Build Enthusiasm &

Synergy


Documents

Cathedral Area Historic District Project Breaking A 50-Year Impasse: