3 alleys
0 / Session SummaryAlley projects are hot topics in many cities and for good reason. They can create open space, manage runoff, link bike and pedestrian routes and build community. But the transformation of neglected and unsafe alleys into urban green networks embraced by the community can be a tough sell. This panel presents the challenges, rewards and lessons learned through engaging diverse communities in three green alley projects.
Alleys are forgotten and neglected spaces, at best. And at worst, they are emblematic of the blight and decay that make these spaces unsafe and therefore unusable for the community. Failed or missing street and alley infrastructure make matters worse. This presentation will discuss ways that neighborhoods in Seattle and Los Angeles are now transforming underutilized alleys into urban green networks that result in multiple benefits.
1 / Learning ObjectiveUnderstand approaches and techniques for engaging communities in green alley projects.
2 / Learning ObjectiveIdentify the qualities and transferability of alley design typologies and components, including those addressing infrastructure inequality in urban landscapes.
3 / Learning ObjectiveGain insights into successful green infrastructure project partnerships and collabora-tions.
4 / Learning ObjectiveLearn about tools and methods for evaluating the design process and performance of green alley projects.
Presenter / Nancy Rottle is an associate professor of landscape architecture at the University of Washington and founding director of the UW’s Green Futures Lab.
www.greenfutures.washington.eduwww.facebook.com/UWGreenFu-turesLabE. [email protected]
Presenter / Eileen Alduenda is a project manager and researcher for the Council for Watershed Health in Los Angeles.
www.watershedhealth.org www.facebook.com/Councilfor-WatershedHealthP. 213.229.9945 E. [email protected]
Presenter / Laura Ballock is a project manager for the The Trust for Public Land’s Parks for People program in Los Angeles.
www.tpl.orgwww.facebook.com/tpl.orgP. 323.223.0441 x12E. [email protected]
Moderator / MaraLee Olson MaraLee Olson is a project manager for ZDA, inc., and an instructor in the Department of Landscape Architecture at the Uni-versity of Wisconsin-Madison.
www.zdainc.comP. 608.831.5098E. [email protected]
SUMMARY
AvalonAlley
Network Elmer PaseoNord Alley
+ More
OVERVIEW
1 2 3
Los Angeles Los Angeles Seattle
Why alleys?
Design
Multi-benefits
Lessons Learned
SW Management
Design
Community
Lessons Learned
Activation
Community
Design
Lessons Learned8 Principles
Review
Q+A
The Tale of Three AlleysIntegrating Green Infrastructurein Diverse Neighborhoods
Proj
ect
Typo
logy
/ F
unct
ion
/ N
eigh
borh
ood
Desi
gnG
reen
Infr
astr
uctu
re S
trat
egie
sAl
ley
Activ
atio
n St
rate
gies
Uni
que
Part
ners
hips
and
Co
llabo
ratio
nsLe
sson
s Lea
rned
Aval
on G
reen
Alle
y N
etw
ork
Dem
onst
ratio
n Pr
ojec
t
Los
Ange
les,
CA
Sout
h Pa
rk N
eigh
borh
ood
of S
outh
Lo
s Ang
eles
Seve
rly d
isadv
anta
ged
com
mun
ity
base
d on
MH
I
Hig
h de
nsity
: ~20
,000
ppl
/sq.
mi
Gre
en a
lleys
as s
hare
d sp
aces
for v
ehic
les,
bic
ycle
s and
pe
dest
rians
Min
i 'pa
rk' s
pace
s cre
ated
by
clos
ing
stra
tegi
c po
rtio
ns
of a
lleys
to v
ehic
le tr
affic
Nei
ghbo
rhoo
d id
entit
y an
d sig
nage
thro
ugh
alle
y su
rfac
e tr
eatm
ent,
incl
udin
g m
arke
d fit
ness
loop
th
roug
h n'
hood
Net
wor
k of
alle
ys, l
ink
of d
estin
atio
ns, c
omm
eric
al,
civi
c, h
ome,
lack
of o
pen
spac
e, e
xerc
ise lo
op
The
drai
nage
of t
he A
valo
n G
reen
Alle
y N
etw
ork
is a
loca
lized
sub-
catc
hmen
t are
a of
a la
rger
nei
ghbo
rhoo
d
WAT
ER: I
nfilt
rate
stor
mw
ater
usin
g pe
rmea
ble
pavi
ng a
nd
dryw
ells
(sub
surf
ace
infil
trat
ion
galle
ries)
- 3
to 4
acr
e ft
per
year
; im
prov
e w
ater
qua
lity
ACTI
VE T
RAN
SPO
RT: A
dd im
prov
ed a
ltern
ativ
e pa
thw
ays f
or
bike
s and
ped
estr
ians
that
are
"sh
ared
spac
es" w
ith v
ehic
les
ENER
GY:
Low
-alb
edo
mat
eria
ls an
d ad
ded
vine
s and
tree
s re
duce
urb
an h
eat i
sland
HAB
ITAT
: 150
new
stre
et tr
ees t
o im
prov
e ca
nopy
and
co
nnec
tivity
COM
MU
NIT
Y: A
dd n
ew g
reen
spac
e an
d co
mm
unity
gar
deni
ng
spac
es to
nei
gbho
rhoo
d; c
omm
unity
edu
catio
n on
wat
ersh
ed
and
tree
s
Gre
en A
lley
Gre
en T
eam
Hig
h Sc
hool
s
Elem
enta
ry S
choo
l
Mon
thly
Gre
en T
eam
Mee
ting
and
Nei
ghbo
rhoo
d W
atch
Alle
y Da
ys o
f Ser
vice
Chris
tmas
Pos
ada
and
end-
of-s
choo
l-ye
ar A
rt W
alk
Com
mun
ity T
ree-
Plan
ting,
Tre
e Ca
re
and
Frui
t Tre
e Di
strib
utio
n
CA S
tate
Nat
ural
Res
ourc
es
LA C
ity /
Bure
au o
f San
itatio
n / L
A Pr
op O
Loca
l Ele
cted
s: C
ity C
ounc
ilman
Pric
e an
d Co
unty
Sup
ervi
sor R
idle
y-Th
omas
Los A
ngel
es P
olic
e De
part
men
t
Loca
l Hig
h Sc
hool
and
Ele
men
tary
Sch
ool
NG
Os:
Cou
ncil
for W
ater
shed
Hea
lth,
Tree
Peop
le, L
os A
ngel
es C
onse
rvat
ion
Corp
s,
Coal
ition
for R
espo
nsib
le C
omm
unity
De
velo
pmen
t
SALT
Lan
dsca
pe A
rchi
tect
s / B
reen
En
gine
erin
g, In
c.
Priv
ate
foun
datio
ns a
nd c
orpo
rate
par
tner
s
Fram
e th
e va
lue
of th
e pr
ojec
t on
com
mun
ities
' to
p pr
iorit
ies.
Not
hing
mat
ters
mor
e th
an
neig
hbor
hood
safe
ty.
Wat
er q
ualit
y an
d gr
ound
wat
er re
char
ge d
o no
t co
mpe
te w
ith a
50-
hour
wor
k w
eek.
Cus
tom
-fit
com
mun
ity d
esig
n st
rate
gies
to th
e re
aliti
es o
f the
co
mm
unity
.
It m
ight
take
tim
e be
fore
peo
ple
and
agen
cies
take
yo
u se
rious
ly. D
IY e
ffort
s and
smal
l, co
nsist
ent
succ
esse
s on
the
grou
nd b
uild
mom
entu
m a
nd a
tr
ack
reco
rd.
Part
ner +
Eng
age
the
Com
mun
ity +
Dem
onst
rate
+
Mon
itor +
Rep
eat.
Prep
are
the
com
mun
ity fo
r thi
s tim
elin
e an
d bu
ild in
eve
nts a
nd sm
all s
ucce
ss
alon
g th
e w
ay (s
ee a
bove
).
Elm
er P
aseo
St
orm
wat
er
Impr
ovem
ents
Los
Ange
les,
CA
Elm
er A
ve. N
eigh
borh
ood
of N
orth
Lo
s Ang
eles
Sun
Valle
y W
ater
shed
, a su
b ba
sin o
f th
e Lo
s Ang
eles
Riv
er W
ater
shed
Com
plem
ents
Elm
er A
ve N
'hoo
d Re
trof
it Pr
ojec
t. Pr
ior
to re
trof
it, th
e al
leyw
ay w
as b
light
ed, a
ttra
cted
un
desir
able
act
ivity
, and
floo
ded
in sm
all s
torm
eve
nts
Redu
ces f
lood
ing,
cap
ture
s, c
lean
s, a
nd in
filtr
ates
st
orm
wat
er ru
noff
from
10
acre
s of a
60
acre
loca
lized
su
b-ca
tchm
ent a
rea
Prov
ides
add
ition
al n
eigh
borh
ood
gree
n sp
ace
and
safe
r ped
estr
ian
pass
age
to g
oods
and
serv
ices
Desig
ned
to a
ccom
odat
e fu
ture
am
men
ties i
f des
ired
by re
siden
ts. U
sed
for n
eigh
borh
ood
wat
ch m
eetin
gs
and
activ
ities
; use
d as
out
door
cla
ssro
om fo
r car
e an
d m
aint
enan
ce w
orks
hops
Prov
ides
a la
bora
tory
for m
onito
ring
perf
orm
ance
of
gree
n in
fras
truc
ture
stra
tegi
es, n
ativ
e pl
ants
, and
ha
bita
t for
flor
a an
d fa
una
WAT
ER: C
olle
ct, c
lean
, and
Infil
trat
e 4-
6 ac
re ft
/yr o
f st
orm
wat
er ru
noff
via
perv
ious
con
cret
e pa
thw
ay, i
nfilt
ratio
n tr
ench
, bio
-sw
ale
of n
ativ
e gr
asse
s.
ACTI
VE T
RAN
SPO
RT: S
afer
ped
estr
ian
conn
ectio
n to
scho
ols,
go
ods a
nd se
rvic
es, p
ublic
tran
spor
tatio
n.
ENER
GY:
Tre
es, v
ines
, veg
etat
ion
prov
ide
mic
ro-c
limat
e fo
r ad
jace
nt re
siden
ces a
nd re
duce
urb
an h
eat i
sland
effe
ct. U
se o
f na
tive
plan
ts re
duce
s wat
er u
se a
nd re
lianc
e on
impo
rted
po
tabl
e w
ater
supp
ly a
nd a
ssoc
iate
d en
ergy
use
for t
rans
port
of
impo
rted
wat
er.
HAB
ITAT
: 100
% lo
cal n
ativ
e pl
ants
to a
ttra
ct p
ollin
ator
s and
na
tive/
mig
ratin
g bi
rds.
COM
MU
NIT
Y: A
dded
new
com
mun
ity g
reen
spac
e. In
terp
retiv
e sig
nage
eng
ages
com
mun
ity in
mon
itorin
g pe
rfor
man
ce a
nd
wat
ersh
ed st
ewar
dshi
p.
Nei
ghbo
rhoo
d W
atch
Gro
up M
eetin
gs
Annu
al n
eigh
boho
od c
eleb
ratio
n
Com
mun
ity in
stal
latio
n of
inte
rpre
tive
signa
ge
Stew
ards
hip
prog
ram
with
com
mun
ity,
loca
l sch
ools,
City
staf
f/N
GO
s
Lear
ning
Lab
orat
ory
for o
ngoi
ng W
ater
Au
gmen
tatio
n St
udy
Citiz
en m
onito
ring
proj
ect w
ith lo
cal
mid
dle
scho
ol
Resid
ents
of K
esw
ick
and
Lull
Sts,
Elm
er A
ve.
Stat
e of
Cal
iforn
ia S
trat
egic
Gro
wth
Co
unci
l/Urb
an G
reen
ing
Proj
ect
Stat
e of
Cal
iforn
ia S
anta
Mon
ica
Mou
ntai
ns
Cons
erva
ncy
LA B
urea
u of
San
itatio
nLA
Dep
t of W
ater
& P
ower
LA B
urea
u of
Eng
inee
ring
LA P
rop
O -
Clea
n W
ater
Bon
dCo
unci
l Dist
rict 6
Gra
ffiti
Bust
ers
NG
Os:
Ran
cho
Sant
a An
a Bo
tani
c G
arde
n,
Theo
dore
Pay
ne, T
reeP
eopl
e
Cons
truc
tion
Proj
ect T
eam
: City
, Te
tra
Tech
, In
c., A
mer
ican
Lan
dsca
pe, I
nc.
Achi
evin
g m
ultip
le g
oals
from
mul
tiple
pro
ject
pa
rtne
rs/f
unde
rs re
quire
d a
colla
bora
tive
proj
ect
appr
oach
.
Desig
ning
alle
ys th
at a
re a
djac
ent t
o pr
ivat
e re
siden
ces r
equi
res b
alan
cing
com
petin
g de
sires
fo
r use
s.
Crea
tive
inte
rpre
tive
signa
ge c
an b
e us
ed to
en
gage
stud
ents
and
resid
ents
in c
itize
n st
ewar
dshi
p ac
tiviti
es a
nd p
erfo
rman
ce
mon
itorin
g.
Care
and
mai
nten
ance
act
ivite
s can
be
colla
bora
tive
oppo
rtun
ities
with
pub
lic a
genc
ies,
N
GO
s, th
e co
mm
unity
.
Nor
d Al
ley
(and
mor
e!)
Seat
tle, W
A
Hist
oric
Pio
neer
Squ
are
Nei
ghbo
rhoo
d (N
ord
Alle
y) + H
istor
ic In
tern
atio
nal D
istric
t N
eigh
borh
ood
(Can
ton
Alle
y)
Serv
ice
alle
y tr
ansf
orm
ed to
pro
vide
com
mun
ity sp
ace
and
cohe
sion.
Alle
y ev
ent p
rogr
amm
ing
and
tem
pora
ry in
stal
latio
ns
prec
ede
alle
y re
nova
tion.
Daily
tras
h re
mov
al a
llow
s alle
y to
func
tion
as sa
fe a
nd
activ
e pu
blic
spac
e.
Alle
y ac
tivat
ion
serv
es to
revi
taliz
e hi
stor
ic u
rban
ne
ighb
orho
ods.
Alle
ys p
rovi
de a
bund
ant p
ublic
spac
e in
urb
anize
d n'
hood
, fun
ctio
ning
as c
omm
ons t
hat b
uild
and
ex
pres
s life
, rel
atio
nshi
ps, c
omm
unity
.
Gra
ssro
ots n
eigh
borh
ood
alle
y ac
tivat
ion
is sp
read
ing
to o
ther
alle
ys a
nd i
nflu
enci
ng C
ity p
olic
ies t
o pe
rmit
alle
y ac
tivat
ion.
WAT
ER: C
olle
ct a
nd D
ispla
y ro
of a
nd a
lley
runo
ff (c
an't
infil
trat
e)
ACTI
VE T
RAN
SPO
RT: E
nhan
ced
pede
stria
n an
d bi
cyle
rout
es.
Repa
ving
stra
tegi
es.
ENER
GY:
LED
ligh
ting
plan
ned.
HAB
ITAT
: Pla
nter
box
es, m
oss (
ever
y lit
tle b
it he
lps)
.
COM
MU
NIT
Y: S
pons
or, i
nspi
re a
nd h
ost c
omm
unity
art
s,
cultu
ral,
soci
al, a
nd e
nter
tain
men
t eve
nts.
Alle
y pl
anni
ng a
nd
stew
ards
hip
brin
gs c
omm
unity
toge
ther
.
Gre
en A
lley
Com
petit
ion
Alle
y Pa
rtie
s and
Eve
nts @
Firs
t Th
ursd
ay A
rt W
alk:
Art
Ope
ning
s, F
ood,
M
usic
, Dan
cers
, Aer
ialis
ts, L
ight
ing
Inst
alla
tions
, Poe
try
Carn
ival
, "Al
ley
Cat"
Pe
t Ado
ptio
n, D
ogs o
n Pa
rade
, Hol
iday
Ca
rolin
g, F
ilm S
cree
ning
s, A
lley
Reno
vatio
n Di
spla
ys,
etc.
Wor
ld C
up a
nd T
our d
e Fr
ance
Vie
win
g,
daily
in su
mm
er
Mon
thly
Art
Inst
alla
tions
Ope
ning
faca
des o
n al
ley,
new
bu
sines
ses
Ligh
ting,
wal
ls an
d ov
erhe
ad
"Alle
yPal
ooza
" Ev
ent t
hrou
ghou
t Alle
y N
etw
ork
Inte
rnat
iona
l Sus
tain
abili
ty In
stitu
te
Alle
y N
etw
ork
Proj
ect
UW
Gre
en F
utur
es L
ab
Loca
l Arc
hite
ctur
e an
d La
ndsc
ape
Arch
itect
ure
Firm
s
Allia
nce
for P
ione
er S
quar
e
Feet
Firs
t
Seat
tle P
arks
Fou
ndat
ion
Seat
tle D
epar
tmen
t of T
rans
port
atio
n
Prat
t Fin
e Ar
ts In
stitu
te
The
r'shi
p b/
t pro
gram
min
g an
d ph
ysic
al d
esig
n in
terv
entio
ns a
re "v
irtuo
us c
ycle
," re
cipr
ocal
ly-
actin
g, m
utua
lly re
info
rcin
g.
Alle
y ac
tivat
ion
requ
ires a
loca
l cha
mpi
on w
ho
invi
tes c
olla
bora
tion
and
expa
nded
ow
ners
hip.
Al
ley
activ
atio
n ca
n be
con
tagi
ous!
Tem
pora
l var
iatio
n --
e.g.
des
igna
ting
tim
es fo
r se
rvic
e ac
cess
vs
even
ts, a
nd h
oldi
ng te
mpo
rary
pu
blic
eve
nts -
- can
be
an e
ffect
ive
way
to a
ddre
ss
mul
tiple
-nee
d c
halle
nges
.
Crea
tivel
y ad
dres
sing
tras
h st
orag
e an
d re
mov
al
met
hods
and
oth
er se
rvic
e fu
nctio
ns is
ess
entia
l an
d po
ssib
le.
Mak
e al
leys
inte
rest
ing,
fun,
act
ive,
soci
al, a
rtfu
l;
give
peo
ple
reas
ons t
o pl
ay a
nd st
ay i
n th
em!
Project Details
3 Alleys P/2
The Tale of Three AlleysINTEGRATING GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE IN DIVERSE NEIGHBORHOODS
PresentersLaura Ballock, ASLA, The Trust for Public LandEileen Alduenda, ASLA, Council for Watershed HealthNancy Rottle, RLA, ASLA, University of Washington
ModeratorMaraLee Olson, PLA, ASLA, ZDA & University of Wisconsin - Madison
What is an alley?
1 a garden or park walk bordered by trees or bushes
2 a) a grassed enclosure for bowling or skittles; a hardwood lane for bowling; a room or building housing a group of such lanes
b) the space on each side of a tennis doubles court between the sideline and the service sideline
c) an area in a baseball outfield between two outfielders when they are in normal positions
3 a narrow street; especially: a thoroughfare through the middle of a block giving access to the rear of lots or buildings
Source: Merriam-Webster Dictionary
MaraLee Olson, RLA, ASLA
Are they a place of opportunities?
• Chicago• Los Angeles• Seattle• San Francisco • Detroit• Montreal• Melbourne
8 principles of green alley projects
1 Launch from the bottom up or the top down, but success requires the input of both, at some point.
2 Demonstrate and inspire paradigm shifts. Small projects catalyze big changes; talk leads to action.
3 Provide many multiple benefits: open space, stormwatermanagement, community building, local ownership, economic growth, wildlife habitat…
4 Allow endless creativity for green infrastructure. Stormwatermanagement is just one of many tools to work with.
5 Move a community beyond neighborhood buy-in – people become vested, become stewards.
6 Re-establish public space as a forum – inviting participation, ideas, creativity, sustainability, resiliency.
7 Produce an iterative planning process – there’s no need to completely reinvent the wheel. The great news: anybody can do this!
8 Offer/supply measurable results: property values, stormwatermanagement, popularity, foot traffic, crime rates…
GREEN ALLEY PROJECTS …
1: Launch from either the bottom up or the top down 2: Demonstrate and inspire paradigm shifts
3 Alleys P/3
Select Slides : Overview
3: Provide many multiple benefits
Photo credits: Nancy Rottle
4: Allow endless creativity for green infrastructure
Photo credit: Nancy Rottle
5: Move a community beyond neighborhood buy-in
Photo credit: Nancy Rottle
6: Re-establish public space as a forum
Photo credits: Nancy Rottle
7: Produce an iterative planning process
Photo credit: Nancy Rottle
8: Offer / supply measurable results
3 Alleys P/4
Select Slides : Overview
Avalon Green Alley NetworkSouth Los Angeles
Map: Cal Poly PomonaPhoto: The Trust for Public Land
Laura Ballock, ASLA
The Trust for Public Land – Los Angeles
Map: The Trust for Public Land
Regional conditions
Photos: (1) Los Angeles / Wikimedia Commons; (2) Downtowngal /Wikimedia Commons; (3) The Trust for Public Land
Map Source: ParkScore
Photos: SALT Landscape Architects
POOR DRAINAGE
GRAFFITI
ALLEY LIGHTING
ILLEGAL DUMPING
1 South Los Angeles Master Plan
2 Avalon Green Alley Network Demonstration Project
*
Regional Opportunity
Source: Cal Poly Pomona; ParkScore
Design: Avalon Green Alley Network
Plan: The Trust for Public Land and SALT Landscape Architects
3 Alleys P/5
Select Slides : Avalon
Plan: The Trust for Public Land and SALT Landscape Architects
Avalon Green Alley - South
Plan: The Trust for Public Land and SALT Landscape Architects
Avalon Green Alley - North
Make green infrastructure matter
Photos: The Trust for Public Land
Custom-fit and site-specific community design
Image + photo: SALTLandscape Architects
DIY efforts build momentum and a track record
Photos: The Trust for Public Land
Partner + Engage + Demonstrate + Monitor + Repeat
Mural: Dr. Maya Angelou Community HS
Dr. Maya Angelou Community High SchoolMain Street Elementary SchoolJefferson High SchoolCalifornia State Polytechnic University, Pomona
SALT Landscape ArchitectsBreen Engineering, Inc.Coalition for Responsible Community Development
3 Alleys P/6
Select Slides : Avalon
Eileen Alduenda, ASLA
Elmer Paseo Stormwater Improvements ProjectSun Valley - Los Angeles
Why we do what we do
The region’s hub for watershed research and analysis • Working at the intersection of research and policy • Driving applied research to improve policy and practice • Connecting diverse perspectives to address timely issues
Sun Valley Watershed Elmer Avenue Neighborhood
20 acres drain toElmer Paseo
40 acres drain to Elmer Avenue
Elmer Paseo Goals
Reduce flooding & infiltrate stormwater
Create safer pedestrian passage
Add green space & habitat
Updated Concept Design
3 Alleys P/7
Select Slides : Elmer Paseo
Community engagement Elmer Paseo - October 2012
Elmer Paseo – December 2012
Capture, Clean, Infiltrate
SaferPassage
Community Green Space
Habitat
Collaboration
Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy
Residents of Elmer Avenue, Keswick St. Lull St.
Performance Monitoring
What effect do the BMPs have on
water quality?
What are the
additional benefits of
the project?
How has the project
affected resident’s
relationship to
watershed health?
What are the O&M needs of BMPs?
What effect do the BMPs have on
water supply?
Creative interpretive signage
3 Alleys P/8
Select Slides : Elmer Paseo
Image courtesy Alley Network Project
Growing a Movement: Activating Seattle’s Urban Alleys Nancy D. Rottle, RLA, ASLA
Alleys as Downtown Seattle’s green lungs.
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Gehl Architects’ Seattle DowntownPedestrian Study: Activate Alleys
Pioneer Square Neighborhood
Nord Alley, Pioneer Square. Alley parties!
alleynetworkproject.com
UW Green Futures Lab Intern Project: Alley Guidegreenfutures.washington.edu/publications.php
Organizing: Alley Network Projectalleynetworkproject.com
Programming: Pioneer Square Alleys
All images: alleynetworkproject.com
3 Alleys P/9
Select Slides : Nord
Guide: Alley event handbookalleynetworkproject.com/
Permanent Edge Activation: Back Alley Bikes
Image courtesy Alley Network Project
Design: Alley Corridor ProjectPaving, Stormwater and Lighting Standards
Image courtesy Alley Network Project
Alley activation spreading…Pioneer Passage
Alley activation spreading…Canton Alley Lesson: Make alleys interesting, fun, active, social, artful!
Image courtesy Alley Network Project
3 Alleys P/10
Select Slides : Nord