In designing for the 21st century parks and boulevards, our studio took several months to analyze and gather meaningful information. This gave us a well rounded insight into many of the strengths and weaknesses of the historic system.
My design intervention occurs at the intersection of J.C. Nichols Parkway and 43rd street. This ‘hot spot’ is the confluence of two highly trafficked districts in Kansas City. With the shopping area of the plaza to the south, Westport entertainment district to the north, and the Saint Luke’s Hospital complex at its epicenter; the area has a history of morphing land use’s and transportation distributions.
In order to resolve the lack of connectivity and density in the area, I envisioned a plan to break through the current edges of the site and extend Mill Creek Park into Westport. This coupled with an increase of mixed use sites and the extension of the street car could rejuvenate the current desolation that one feels when walking through the area.
The plan seeks to remove the current parking lots and add green space that encompasses a new street car route that will connect to the main street line. It also incorporates 3 underground parking facilities that will increase parking 3 fold.
The proposed extension of the street car route from Union Station towards UMKC is set at about 3.5 miles. The added length that would extend the line into Westport would only add less than a 1/4 of a mile and could provide a large increase in ridership as well as a great option for commuting between midtown and downtown.
Here is an example of the changes in the built environment that I designed to maintain the typo-morphology of Westport.
Another part of our studio design project requirements was cost estimates and phasing. I used RM Mean calculation books and the internet to find out current estimates for demolition and construction of buildings and infrastructure.
- This semester pushed myself and my classmates to not only understand different methods of analysis but to use them to be able to ask the right questions.
- The site that I chose began to feel like an overwhelming endeavor of bottomless problems yet there were also some very clear solutions that seemed to resonate not only with myself but with the judges during the critique.
- Bridge for pedestrians.
