Kasper's Pedestrian Plaza
Kasper's Pedestrian Plaza
Since the Telegraph Avenue Pedestrian Streetscape Improvements Project plan ("Streetscape Project") was adopted by the City in 2005, the TTBID has supported "Option B" of the Streetscape Project to reconfigure the intersection of 45th/Shattuck/Telegraph. This option would close Shattuck at 46th Street, redirect southbound traffic on Shattuck to a signalized perpendicular intersection at 46th and Telegraph. Northbound traffic from Telegraph to Shattuck would be unaffected and would continue to turn left onto 46th Street and then turn right onto Shattuck. (Please see attached excerpt from the Telegraph Avenue Pedestrian Streetscape Improvements Project here)
In 2017, the Temescal Telegraph Business Improvement District hired Groundworks to create a design for a pedestrian plaza located at Shattuck and 46th Street. The purpose of this pedestrian plaza is to significantly improve traffic, bike and pedestrian safety, and create a welcoming public gathering place for the Temescal community. The Temescal BID is seeking a vibrant public plaza design that will function well despite the currently inactive state of the adjacent Kasper's building, and also complement a food business that may operate in that building.
From 2016 through 2018, the Temescal BID created pilot weekly pop-ups of the pedestrian plaza, three public meetings, an online survey, and a final design.
Request for Qualifications
The TTBID sent out a request for qualifications to seven different local design firms with experience working on pedestrian plazas. Both the TTBID and Groundworks shared a common vision in adding quality to the pedestrian and streetscape network within the Temescal neighborhood and along Telegraph Avenue. See the request for qualifications here, and the complete list of Groundworks qualifications here.
To see Groundworks qualifications, their project team and prior projects, click here.
Timeline of Events
Initial Designs
There were three initial designs that were created during the process of finalizing a concept. Each design took responses and opinions from both Telegraph merchant and residents, and tried to incorporate their needs and wants as best as possible.
Design #1
The first original design included initial concepts such as a bike share station with bike racks, a transit bench with a sculptural planter, movable seating and light.
- Design #2
The second design added on to the elements from the first, with the addition of movable planters, custom wood benches, a bike line that joins Telegraph Ave., paint striping, and a sculptural play net element.
- Design #3
The third design included a stage with an 18" high wood platform, removable bollards, planter barriers and paint striping referencing Temescal watershed topography.
Survey
Groundworks put together an online survey which included 22 questions and over 500+ responses. The information gathered from the responses showed that merchants and residents wanted more landscaping/planting, shade elements and seating options, a convertible stage/storage structure, a play area, and for 46th Street to remain open. To see a summary of the survey responses below:
Public Meetings
There were three different meetings, where Groundworks presented the various concepts for the plaza, received feedback from the community and answered questions.
Meeting #1, April 3rd, 2018
The first meeting was held for business owners, which had around 30 attendees and took at place at Hawk and Pony (4210 Telegraph Ave.) A link to the flyer can be found here.
- Meeting #2, April 18th, 2018
The second meeting was focused around the neighbors of Temescal and included 70 attendees, which were made up of merchants and residents. This meeting was held at Faith Presbyterian Church (430 49th Street). A link to the flyer can be found here.
- Meeting #3, July 21st, 2018
The third meeting was held in partnership with Dan Kalb, featured 20 attendees from District 1, and focused on those. The meeting was held at Beebe Memorial Cathedral (3900 Telegraph Ave.) A link to the flyer can be found here.
Pedestrian Plaza Pilot Pop-Ups - 2016-2017
Food Truck Market
There were three different meetings, where Groundworks presented the various concepts for the plaza, received feedback from the community and answered questions.
- Fall 2016 - Off the Grid
The Temescal Telegraph Business Improvement District (TTBID) partnered with Off the Grid to enliven the Kasper's Plaza, and served as a pilot program that supported the TTBID's long term goal of creating a more permanent pedestrian plaza. See the agreement document here.
- Summer 2017, Food Truck Culture
Starting in the Summer of 2017, the Temescal Telegraph Business Improvement District (TTBID), collaborated with Food Truck Culture to bring awareness to making Kasper's Plaza a location that will significantly improve safety for cars, bikes, and pedestrians, as well as create a beautiful public plaza with engaging and diverse programming. See the agreement document here.
