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Bloomfield Mixed Use Center

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Bloomfield Community Vision Plan_Fall 2013

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Page 1: Converging Bloomfield

Bloomfield Mixed Use Center

Page 2: Converging Bloomfield
Page 3: Converging Bloomfield

Celebrating BloomfieldShravi Sharma Zharfa RanjbarZi Yuan

Converging BloomfieldBradley SherburneChuan He

Bloomfield Market PlaceDeepika BanerjeeJialing Sun

Page 4: Converging Bloomfield

AcknowledgmentsBloomfield Development CorporationDave Feehan, Acting Executive DirectorShelly Majcen, Executive Director

Department of City Planning of the City of Pittsburgh Patrick Roberts, Senior Transportation Planner,

Carnegie Mellon FacultyStefani DanesDon CarterBecky MingoSteve QuickJonathan KlineRami El-SamahyHal HayesSteve LeeDoug Cooper

Page 5: Converging Bloomfield

Table of ContentsAnalysisLocation ........................................................................................................................... 5Site Extent ...................................................................................................................... 9Transportation ............................................................................................................... 13Census Data .................................................................................................................. 19Housing Density ............................................................................................................ 27Sunlight ............................................................................................................................ 33Water ................................................................................................................................ 42Precedents ..................................................................................................................... 43Conclusions .................................................................................................................... 53Program ........................................................................................................................... 60

Celebrating Bloomfield............................................................................................ 63

Converging Bloomfield ........................................................................................... 99

Bloomfield Market Place ......................................................................................... 145

Page 6: Converging Bloomfield

The project statement for Master of Urban Design studio program this semester is to design a new mixed-use center for one of the most high-visibility sites in Pittsburgh: the area at the foot of the Bloomfield Bridge. The intersection of the bridge, Liberty Avenue, and Main Street creates a major place of arrival in the city, since the bridge is linked by major arterials from Downtown, Oakland, and the regional highway system. It serves not only the Bloomfield neighborhood, but West Penn and Children’s Hospitals, and destinations throughout the East End. The area also anchors the western end of the Bloomfield Business District. All around it, the fabric of dense working-class neighborhoods is largely intact, which situates the site within a highly walkable and potentially sustainable urban com-munity. From an urban design perspective, it serves three key functions simultaneously: gateway, crossroads, and primary destina-tion. Its significance and potential are extraordinary.

For over thirty years, however, the blocks surrounding this key intersection have had no major investment, and the buildings and open spaces are banal and minimally maintained. Instead of a place of welcome and pride, the site conveys a sense of neglect andplacelessness.The property facing the bridge has been primarily used as a parking lot for a suburban-type grocery store. In addition to the grocery store, the block has a small warehouse and four residential properties. On adjacent blocks are other “small box” buil ings—a drug store, auto sales and repair, warehouses, and a windowless restaurant. These are disconnected from each other and from their surroundings, often by parking lots. The five-point intersection itself is a hybrid of streets and highway ramps that driv-ers would avoid if they could, that cyclists dread, and all but the most intrepid pedestrians bypass. The public realm here, despite a couple planting beds, is dismal and unfriendly. From an ecological perspective, the development of the site has seriously impeded the functioning of natural systems and is dependent on an unsustainable level of public utility services and maintenance. This project fo-cuses on an issue that is emerging in post-industrial cities throughout the United States. Urban neighborhoods built in the nineteenth century offer the density and connectivity that would make them attractive and sustainable communities for the future. However, in the automobile era in the United States, suburbs have drawn away those who have the affluence to make choices. All neighborhoods need to attract residents and investment in order to stay viable. In terms of urban ecology, every successful neighborhood establish-es a “niche” for itself in the city by creating a distinctive sense of place that attracts and sustains certain types of residents, organi-zations, and business owners and patrons (its “market”). Even if a neighborhood has a wonderful physical environment that looks stable, it is constantly changing—people, money and other resources are flowing in or out all the time. To continue to be stable, there must be continuous investment. In cities throughout the world, the choices that younger generations are making determine their via-bility for the future. Pittsburgh, having lost such a large proportion of its younger population in the 1980’s, is on the front wave of this trend. Neighborhoods like Bloomfield are viable today but show many effects of a fifty-year population drain and a notable tendency of its older residents to look backward rather than toward the future. Today, younger people are interested in the urban lifestyles, amenities, and convenience that urban neighborhoods can provide. The premise we will explore in the studio is that it is only by attracting new younger residents--meaning, today, the millennials-- that the vitality of Bloomfield can be enhanced and its viability for the future assured.

Project Statement

Page 7: Converging Bloomfield

The site is located at the intersection of the Bloomfield Bridge, Liberty Avenue and Main Street. Facing the Bloomfield Bridge which is the main entrance of Bloomfield Neighborhood, this site is the gateway to the whole neighborhood.

Location

Bloomfield Mixed Use Center │ Site Location │ CMU Masters of Urban Design │ Fall 2013 │7

Page 8: Converging Bloomfield

Location

There are many public resources around the site, such as Children’s Hospital, West Penn Hospital, Friendship Park, Allegheny Cemetery and the Bloomfield Recreation Center.

Allegheny Cemetery

8 │ Bloomfield Mixed Use Center │ Site Location │ CMU Masters of Urban Design │ Fall 2013 │

Page 9: Converging Bloomfield

Location

Penn Ave.

Penn Ave.

Friendship Ave..

Bigelow Blvd

Liberty Ave. Shopping District

Liberty Ave.

Liberty Ave.

Liberty Ave.

Bloom

�eld

Brid

geWest Penn Hospital

Friendship Neighborhood

Lower Lawrenceville

Path

Node

Edge

District

Landmark

Children’s HospitalAllegheny Cemetery

St Maria

Arsenal Park

Bloom�eld Recreation Center

Site

Penn Ave.

Penn Ave.

Friendship Ave..

Bigelow Blvd

Liberty Ave. Shopping District

Liberty Ave.

Liberty Ave.

Liberty Ave.

Bloom

�eld

Brid

ge

West Penn Hospital

Friendship Neighborhood

Lower Lawrenceville

Path

Node

Edge

District

Landmark

Children’s HospitalAllegheny Cemetery

St Maria

Arsenal Park

Bloom�eld Recreation Center

Site

By analyzing the basic spatial elements around our site, we see that our site is a important node of this neighborhood.

Bloomfield Mixed Use Center │ Site Location │ CMU Masters of Urban Design │ Fall 2013 │9

Page 10: Converging Bloomfield

Our site is an important node in the Bloomfield Area. The key buildings on site are: Suresave Grocery store, Rite aid, Bloomfield Tavern, Bloomfield intersection.

10 │ Bloomfield Mixed Use Center │ Site Extent│ CMU Masters of Urban Design │ Fall 2013 │

Page 11: Converging Bloomfield

Bloomfield consists of a grand junction which is its biggest potential

The Site consists of a large junction of 5 roads that meet at a square that acts as an entrance to Bloom-field which is seen from the Bloomfield bridge and Liberty Avenue.

Howley Street

Ella Str

eet

Liberty Ave.Liberty Ave.

Bloomfield Brid

ge

Main Street

Gangwish Street

Bloomfield Mixed Use Center │Site Extent│ CMU Masters of Urban Design │ Fall 2013 │11

Page 12: Converging Bloomfield

ShurSave Grocery to be retained or replaced.

ShurSave Grocery is located at the back of a parking lot which is barely used due to its primarily pedestri-an users and hence the plot fails to generate an urban street.

12 │ Bloomfield Mixed Use Center │ Site Extent│ CMU Masters of Urban Design │ Fall 2013 │

Page 13: Converging Bloomfield

Rite Aid Pharmacy to be removed and replaced

The property behind right aid backs up to the site which needs to be considered while placing blocks on the back edge.

Bloomfield Mixed Use Center │Site Extent│ CMU Masters of Urban Design │ Fall 2013 │13

Page 14: Converging Bloomfield

Highways and major streets connect Bloomfield to the rest of the city Pittsburgh.

HighwayMajor St.Minor St.

Source: pittsburghpa.gov

Penn Avenue

Liberty Avenue

Bigelow Boulevard

14 │ Bloomfield Mixed Use Center │ Transportation│ CMU Masters of Urban Design │ Fall 2013 │

Page 15: Converging Bloomfield

Bloomfield has easy access to all surrounding neighborhoods.

Source: pittsburghpa.gov

Highway

Secondary Street

Primary Street

Tertiary Street

Penn Avenue

Penn Avenue

Gro

ss S

treet

To Friendship

To Shadyside

To Downtown & Oakland

To Downtown

To Downtown

To Garfield

Bloo

mfield

Bridg

e

Friendship Avenue

Liberty Avenue

To Central Lawrenceville

Bloomfield Mixed Use Center │Transportation│ CMU Masters of Urban Design │ Fall 2013 │15

Page 16: Converging Bloomfield

Bloomfield is a bike friendly neighborhood.

Liberty Avenue

Friendship Avenue

Liberty Avenue

Bloomfie

ld Brid

ge

Source: pittsburghpa.gov & walkscore.com

Pittsburgh Bike Score: 39Bloomfield Bike Score: 71

16 │ Bloomfield Mixed Use Center │ Transportation│ CMU Masters of Urban Design │ Fall 2013 │

Page 17: Converging Bloomfield

Bloomfield is the 4th most walkable neighborhood in Pittsburgh.

Source: pittsburghpa.gov & walkscore.com

Pittsburgh Walk Score: 60

Bloomfield Walk Score: 88

Bloomfield Mixed Use Center │Transportation│ CMU Masters of Urban Design │ Fall 2013 │17

Page 18: Converging Bloomfield

Bloomfield has access to public transportation.

There are six Port Authority bus lines which connect Bloomfield to the other neighborhoods like Shadyside, Squirell Hill, South Side.... Source: pittsburghpa.gov

Bloomfie

ld Brid

ge

Liberty Avenue

Liberty Avenue

Penn Avenue

Friendship Avenue

& walkscore.com

Pittsburgh Transit Score: 52

Bloomfield Transit Score: 62

18 │ Bloomfield Mixed Use Center │ Transportation│ CMU Masters of Urban Design │ Fall 2013 │

Page 19: Converging Bloomfield

Bloomfield has access to public transportation. Burt Hill Traffic Study was used in our design process as a source to make the Bloomfield Bridge intersection a safer place for pedestrian.

Some of these tactics are:- Removing the island which separates traffic from bridge to Liberty Avenue.- Combining the existing central island with the sidewalk along the Liberty Avenue to reduce confusion and probability of accidents.- Keeping Bloomfield Bridge & liberty avenue consistent with 3 lines of traffic.- Adding new signs, pavement and furniture.

Bloomfield Mixed Use Center │Transportation│ CMU Masters of Urban Design │ Fall 2013 │19

Page 20: Converging Bloomfield

Demographics

0

20

40

60

80

100

Shadyside PittsburghPolish HillNorth Oakland

Lower Lawrenceville

Gar�eldFriendshipCentral Lawrenceville

Bloom�eld

Bloomfield is a predominantly white neighborhood, with a much lower ethnic density when compared to the rest of Pittsburgh.

Caucasian

African American

Asian

20 │ Bloomfield Mixed Use Center │Census Data │ CMU Masters of Urban Design │ Fall 2013 │

Page 21: Converging Bloomfield

English Polish GermanIrish ItalianBloomfield: 87 Pittsburgh: 117

Bloomfield: 175 Pittsburgh: 169

Bloomfield: 471 Pittsburgh: 461

Bloomfield: 399 Pittsburgh: 361

Bloomfield: 468 Pittsburgh: 306

Bloomfield is a culturally rich neighborhood with many clusters of ethnic diversity scattered throughout it.

Ancestry

Bloomfield Mixed Use Center │ Census Data │ CMU Masters of Urban Design │ Fall 2013 │21

Page 22: Converging Bloomfield

Homes without Mortgage

The majority of owner owned houses do not have a mortgage, indicating a lack of new construction.

22 │ Bloomfield Mixed Use Center │Census Data │ CMU Masters of Urban Design │ Fall 2013 │

Page 23: Converging Bloomfield

Homes with Mortgage

Bloomfield Mixed Use Center │ Census Data │ CMU Masters of Urban Design │ Fall 2013 │23

Page 24: Converging Bloomfield

Renters

Bloomfield is very closer to an area with a very high percentage of renters, and high rental rates.

24 │ Bloomfield Mixed Use Center │Census Data │ CMU Masters of Urban Design │ Fall 2013 │

Page 25: Converging Bloomfield

Median Rent

Bloomfield Mixed Use Center │ Census Data │ CMU Masters of Urban Design │ Fall 2013 │25

Page 26: Converging Bloomfield

Average Income

Bloomfield income is comparable, if not higher than these high rental areas.

26 │ Bloomfield Mixed Use Center │Census Data │ CMU Masters of Urban Design │ Fall 2013 │

Page 27: Converging Bloomfield

Median Age

Many of the home owner and rental trends seem to be correlated with the median age of both Bloomfield, and the surrounding neighborhoods.

Bloomfield Mixed Use Center │ Census Data │ CMU Masters of Urban Design │ Fall 2013 │27

Page 28: Converging Bloomfield

Development initiated around 1870 in Bloomfield after its annexation by the city in 1868.

Pittsburgh Historical Map 1872

28 │ Bloomfield Mixed Use Center │ Housing Density│ CMU Masters of Urban Design │ Fall 2013 │

Page 29: Converging Bloomfield

Development along Liberty Avenue started mainly as commercial in 1900.

Pittsburgh Historical Map 1900

Bloomfield Mixed Use Center │ Housing Density│ CMU Masters of Urban Design │ Fall 2013 │29

Page 30: Converging Bloomfield

The later half of the 1900’s witnessed construction of significant buildings like the West Penn hospital.

Pittsburgh Historical Map 1972

30 │ Bloomfield Mixed Use Center │ Housing Density│ CMU Masters of Urban Design │ Fall 2013 │

Page 31: Converging Bloomfield

Over 115 years the residential density of the neighborhood has continued to grow.

Pittsburgh City Map 2013

Bloomfield Mixed Use Center │ Housing Density│ CMU Masters of Urban Design │ Fall 2013 │31

Page 32: Converging Bloomfield

Bloomfield has on an average narrow parcel size of 25 feet width and most housing is three stories or less.

Parcel Map, Bloomfield

32 │ Bloomfield Mixed Use Center │ Housing Density│ CMU Masters of Urban Design │ Fall 2013 │

Page 33: Converging Bloomfield

Parcel Map, Bloomfield

The overall density of the neighborhood is 31.5 housing units per acre.

Areas Most Suited for medium to high-density development- Areas with existing infrastructure- Areas where existing public infrastructure can be easily extended- Areas where development will not adversely impact significant natural systems- Areas where existing community character will not be adversely impacted

Total number of households = 14139

Bloomfield Mixed Use Center │ Housing Density│ CMU Masters of Urban Design │ Fall 2013 │33

Page 34: Converging Bloomfield

NORTH

SOUTHWEST

SUMMER

WINTER

The sun path diagram shows that the highest noon sun angle in the year is 82 degrees and the lowest one is 26 degrees.

Sun Path Diagram

34 │ Bloomfield Mixed Use Center │ Sunlight Analysis │ CMU Masters of Urban Design │ Fall 2013 │

Page 35: Converging Bloomfield

Shadow (June 21) 9:00 am

During summer time, our site is not affected by the shadow of the surrounding buildings.

N Bloomfield Mixed Use Center │ Sunlight Analysis │ CMU Masters of Urban Design │ Fall 2013 │35

Page 36: Converging Bloomfield

Shadow (June 21) 12:00 pm

N36 │ Bloomfield Mixed Use Center │ Sunlight Analysis │ CMU Masters of Urban Design │ Fall 2013 │

Page 37: Converging Bloomfield

Shadow (June 21) 5:00 pm

N Bloomfield Mixed Use Center │ Sunlight Analysis │ CMU Masters of Urban Design │ Fall 2013 │37

Page 38: Converging Bloomfield

Shadow (December 21) 9:00 am

During the winter, the southeast part of our site will be affected by the shadow of the surrounding buildings in the morning.

N38 │ Bloomfield Mixed Use Center │ Sunlight Analysis │ CMU Masters of Urban Design │ Fall 2013 │

Page 39: Converging Bloomfield

Shadow (December 21) 12:00 pm

N Bloomfield Mixed Use Center │ Sunlight Analysis │ CMU Masters of Urban Design │ Fall 2013 │39

Page 40: Converging Bloomfield

In the afternoon during the winter, the west part of our site will be affected by the shadow of the surrounding buildings, and the north part of our site will affect the surrounding buildings

Shadow (December 21) 12:00 pm

N40 │ Bloomfield Mixed Use Center │ Sunlight Analysis │ CMU Masters of Urban Design │ Fall 2013 │

Page 41: Converging Bloomfield

Horizontal Shading Strategy

External horizontal shading can help to prevent the sunlight from heating the room in summer and let the sunshine into the room in winter.

Bloomfield Mixed Use Center │ Sunlight Analysis │ CMU Masters of Urban Design │ Fall 2013 │41

Page 42: Converging Bloomfield

In the morning and afternoon, vertical shading can help to prevent the sunlight from going directly into the room.

Vertical Shading Strategy

42 │ Bloomfield Mixed Use Center │ Sunlight Analysis │ CMU Masters of Urban Design │ Fall 2013 │

Page 43: Converging Bloomfield

Site: Bloomfield

Historically, a stream used to flow through Bloomfield into the Allegheny River.

The dried up streambed can be used to collect the stormwater from North side down to the valley in the south side. At the same time, the stream can be daylighted in the stormwater gardens.

Bloomfield Mixed Use Center │ Water│ CMU Masters of Urban Design │ Fall 2013 │43

Page 44: Converging Bloomfield

The Tactics• Generate a space for community-serving and redevelopment.• Create third places that can bring more people to Bloomfield through community interaction.• Create mixed use development.• Revitalise and regreen the existing flaura and fauna to create a green development.• Genearte an urban room that will create a better sense of place through public activity spaces.

Designing an urban future is the key factor that will help shape Bloomfield and make it a self sustaining development.

Re-Inhabitation Re-Development Re-Greening

44 │ Bloomfield Mixed Use Center │ Precedents│ CMU Masters of Urban Design │ Fall 2013 │

Page 45: Converging Bloomfield

Respond to existing site conditions, creating a green and sustainable environment through mixed ues development.

Thornton Place, Seattle

A town centre for North Seattle that features over 50,000 square feet of retail and commercial space. Thornton place is LEED-ND® registered, targettingSilver certification.

Thornton Place is a mixed use redevelopment of a parking lot which consists of Retail Appartments, Condominiums, A cinema Hall and other Retail Shops and a large public plazza. The site also rejuvinated its existing creek generating a re-greened zone which sustainabily responded to its surroundings.

Bloomfield Mixed Use Center │ Precedents│ CMU Masters of Urban Design │ Fall 2013 │45

Page 46: Converging Bloomfield

Revitalizing open spaces to green zones with proper consideration helps with the pedestrian flow.

Mizner Park, FloridaMizner Park is an upscale lifestyle centre in downtown Boca Raton, Florida. Besides upscale shops, Mizher is also composed of rental apartments and offices. The Centre for the Arts at Mizner Park is a cultural centre on the north end of the development which is embodied by an amphitheater and the Boca Raton Museum of Art.

46 │ Bloomfield Mixed Use Center │ Precedents│ CMU Masters of Urban Design │ Fall 2013 │

Page 47: Converging Bloomfield

Creating an urban room that acts as an anchor for the community helps grow the community through planned phasing.

Street CornerThe retail owners of Belmar have been able to turn their fortunes around by launching massive remodeling programs, adding new features, tweaking their tenant mix, and altering their marketing strategies. Belmar offers its guests a stronger sense of place, a sense of community as well as an identity for the City of Lakewood and the entire west side of the Denver metropolitan area.

Bloomfield Mixed Use Center │ Precedents│ CMU Masters of Urban Design │ Fall 2013 │47

Page 48: Converging Bloomfield

There is a local grocery store building which is a big box in our site.

Reuse the Big Box

source: googlemaps

48 │ Bloomfield Mixed Use Center │ Precedents│ CMU Masters of Urban Design │ Fall 2013 │

Page 49: Converging Bloomfield

The original grocery store building has big blank wall and the structure of the building is very simple.The neighborhood wants a grocery store here, but the physical building is negative to the neighborhood.

The Local Grocery Store

Bloomfield Mixed Use Center │ Precedents│ CMU Masters of Urban Design │ Fall 2013 │49

Page 50: Converging Bloomfield

North Branch Public Library located in Denton, Texas is built from a grocery store building. The project puts a new function in the old building which works well in this case.

Precedent 1

source: http://www.panoramio.com/photo/46952632

50 │ Bloomfield Mixed Use Center │ Precedents│ CMU Masters of Urban Design │ Fall 2013 │

Page 51: Converging Bloomfield

source: http://www.panoramio.com/photo/46952632

With a glass addition and a new front door, the big box is turning into a building that the community can be proud of.

Bloomfield Mixed Use Center │ Precedents│ CMU Masters of Urban Design │ Fall 2013 │51

Page 52: Converging Bloomfield

Precedent 2

Bridge 8 is a Creative Industry Park which located in Shanghai. It was developed from an old factory, the old buildings were redecorated and the big boxes were converted to offices, exhibition space and so on.

source:http://www.dianping.com/photos/5269405/photocenter

52 │ Bloomfield Mixed Use Center │ Precedents│ CMU Masters of Urban Design │ Fall 2013 │

Page 53: Converging Bloomfield

The additional outer wall made the buildings an asset to the city. Now it is a popular creative industry Park in Shanghai and people in this community are proud of Bridge 8.

source:http://www.dianping.com/photos/5269405/photocenter Bloomfield Mixed Use Center │ Precedents│ CMU Masters of Urban Design │ Fall 2013 │53

Page 54: Converging Bloomfield

The Bloomfield Community Vision Plan 2011-16 provides specific set of goals and objectives for improving the intersection area.

The Bloomfield Neighborhood Vision Plan lays down clearly the goals and objectives for the development of the neighborhood.

These specific goals give a good basis to work on and help us understand the needs of the neighborhood better.

The first objective of the vision plan that we base our design on includes enhancing the uniformity of streetscape along main business district on Liberty Avenue. The second objective is to increase public open space, green space and trees along the neighborhood. The third objective is to increase presence and importanct of bicycle community.

54 │ Bloomfield Mixed Use Center │ Site Conclusions│ CMU Masters of Urban Design │ Fall 2013 │

Page 55: Converging Bloomfield

Bloomfield lacks an inviting entrance gateway to the neighborhood!

Gateway to BloomfieldOur site, the entryway for many into Bloomfield, has a series of interconnected and complex problems that make it not an accurate or desirable entryway into what is otherwise a very beautiful, thriving, and pleasant neighborhood.

The parking lot in front of the Shur Save is nearly always empty, or near empty. This area does not need nearly this much parking, and creating this much parking at the entry to Bloomfield does not communicate a positive message about an otherwise positive area.

Bloomfield Mixed Use Center │Site Conclusions│ CMU Masters of Urban Design │ Fall 2013 │55

Page 56: Converging Bloomfield

One of the oldest neighborhood of the city, Bloomfield has an individualistic built character and building typology.

The buildings in the neighborhood are predominantly constructed of bricks. The age of Bloomfield is apparent in some of detailing on the older brick buildings. Some of the details on these buildings date back to many decades

56 │ Bloomfield Mixed Use Center │ Site Conclusions│ CMU Masters of Urban Design │ Fall 2013 │

Page 57: Converging Bloomfield

There is lack of usable green space in the neighborhood.

Green SpaceAround the area of the Bloomfield Bridge, there is little usable green space. Made even more evident by the existence of Friendship Park nearby, this area is devoid of any areas for people to stop and rest, especially the many elderly or ill residents.

Friendship Park & Allegheny CemeteryFriendship Park and Allegheny Cemetery function green buffers that work very well in both a passive and active sense. This buffer create very pleasant conditions on the sidewalk. These provide opportunities for recreation if integrated well with the residential neighborhood.

Bloomfield Mixed Use Center │Site Conclusions│ CMU Masters of Urban Design │ Fall 2013 │57

Page 58: Converging Bloomfield

The wide sidewalks of the neighborhood have potential for vibrant street activity.

Street Activity

Bloomfield filled with variety of colors, materials & street art has a lively texture to it which is filled with energy. This, if exploited well can give a distinct character to the neighborhood streets and corners. The wide sidewalks allow for much activity besides circulation. This space is being capitalized on by a few business, creating the beginning of what could become a very vibrant street culture in the area.

58 │ Bloomfield Mixed Use Center │ Site Conclusions│ CMU Masters of Urban Design │ Fall 2013 │

Page 59: Converging Bloomfield

There is a disparity in the urban fabric that diminishes the character of the otherwise active and thrivingneighborhood.

Street CornerThe street corners of Bloomfield are very weak relative to the rest of the area. These valuable spots, both economically and in terms of identity, are generally inhabited by business that can afford to occupy them, such as chains or predatory lending agencies.

Urban FabricNear the Bloomfield Bridge the continuity of the urban fabric becomes more and more disrupted. Due to vacant lots, side porches, and abandoned buildings, the compact Liberty Avenue becomes an empty region as it nears the bridge. The only dense part of the intersection lies in the chaotic signage with the variety in scale and color creating an overwhelming street front.

Bloomfield Mixed Use Center │Site Conclusions│ CMU Masters of Urban Design │ Fall 2013 │59

Page 60: Converging Bloomfield

The existing conditions create an unsafe environment near the intersection.

Unsafe bike lanes

The piloted bike lane near the Bloomfield Bridge intersection is not a very cost effective ($20,000 for sparkling green paint) or functional solution. It is being used by more cars at present instead of the intended bicycle users. This creates an environment for bikers that is both scary and unsafe.

Accident prone intersection

The wide intersection with edges not defined by any built forms result in high speed vehicular traffic. The four lane intersection with the island separations creates ramps for vehicular traffic that further leads to high speed. This creates a very unsafe environment and makes the intersection an accident prone area.

60 │ Bloomfield Mixed Use Center │ Site Conclusions│ CMU Masters of Urban Design │ Fall 2013 │

Page 61: Converging Bloomfield

Bloomfield Mixed-use Center │ Program│ CMU Masters of Urban Design │ Fall 2013 │

Retail and Entertainment Child Care: 6,000 sf indoor space, 1,500 sf outdoor space

Library: 20,000 sf

Fitness Center: 10,000 sf

Senior Rental Apartment: 1-bedroom units: 50; 2-bedroom units: 25

Renting Apartment: 2-bedroom units: 50; 3-bedroom units: 25

Parking: Commercial: 1 per 500 sf + 15 residential visitor spaces; Residential: 150

Loading/service: two truck parking spaces 1,500 sf trash/recycling space 400 sftransformer/mechanical equipment 600 sf

Program

Bloomfield Mixed Use Center │Program│ CMU Masters of Urban Design │ Fall 2013 │61

Page 62: Converging Bloomfield

98 │ Bloomfield Mixed Use Center │ Bradley Sherburne and Peter He │ CMU Masters of Urban Design │ Fall 2013 │

Page 63: Converging Bloomfield

ConvergingBLOOMFIELD

Bloomfield Mixed Use Center │ Bradley Sherburne and Peter He │ CMU Masters of Urban Design │ Fall 2013 │99

Page 64: Converging Bloomfield

100 │ Bloomfield Mixed Use Center │ Bradley Sherburne and Peter He │ CMU Masters of Urban Design │ Fall 2013 │

Page 65: Converging Bloomfield

1900 1957 2012Site Conditions

The Bloomfield Bridge Intersection has doubled in size over the past century, creating a growing hole in the urban fabric.

Bloomfield Mixed Use Center │ Bradley Sherburne and Peter He │ CMU Masters of Urban Design │ Fall 2013 │101

Page 66: Converging Bloomfield

Site Conditions

Bloomfield is a tightly-knit neighborhood with a rich history of working class residentswho possess a strong cultural heritage, located very close to Downtown.

102 │ Bloomfield Mixed Use Center │ Bradley Sherburne and Peter He │ CMU Masters of Urban Design │ Fall 2013 │

Page 67: Converging Bloomfield

Site Conditions

Bloomfield is a tightly-knit neighborhood with a rich history of working class residentswho possess a strong cultural heritage, located very close to Downtown.

Bloomfield Mixed Use Center │ Bradley Sherburne and Peter He │ CMU Masters of Urban Design │ Fall 2013 │103

Page 68: Converging Bloomfield

Site Conditions

Bloomfield is a tightly-knit neighborhood with a rich history of working class residentswho possess a strong cultural heritage, located very close to Downtown.

104 │ Bloomfield Mixed Use Center │ Bradley Sherburne and Peter He │ CMU Masters of Urban Design │ Fall 2013 │

Page 69: Converging Bloomfield

Tree Canopy Percentage

0 10 20 30 40 50Pittsburgh Average

Bloomfield

Lower Lawrenceville

Strip District

Central BusinessDistrict

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8Pittsburgh Average

Greenfield

Strip District

Crafton Heights

Homewood

Fairywood

Bloomfield

Park Space Percentage

Bloomfield ranks among the lowest in Pittsburgh in tree canopy and park space.

Site Conditions

Bloomfield Mixed Use Center │ Bradley Sherburne and Peter He │ CMU Masters of Urban Design │ Fall 2013 │105

ucsur.pitt.edu

Page 70: Converging Bloomfield

Bloomfield is host to many celebrations year round, but lacks an appropriate outdoor space for community gatherings.

Site Conditions

106 │ Bloomfield Mixed Use Center │ Bradley Sherburne and Peter He │ CMU Masters of Urban Design │ Fall 2013 │

Page 71: Converging Bloomfield

Bloomfield is host to many celebrations year round, but lacks an appropriate outdoor space for community gatherings.

Site Conditions

Bloomfield Mixed Use Center │ Bradley Sherburne and Peter He │ CMU Masters of Urban Design │ Fall 2013 │107

Page 72: Converging Bloomfield

With this additional research, the design goals of the project are:• To create a gathering place that represents all of

the community of Bloomfield• Increase the amount of green in the neighborhood,

both grass and trees• Reclaim the highly automobile oriented Bloomfield

Bridge intersection to reconnect Liberty Avenue, and create street activity

Design Goals

108 │ Bloomfield Mixed Use Center │ Bradley Sherburne and Peter He │ CMU Masters of Urban Design │ Fall 2013 │

Page 73: Converging Bloomfield

Uses

SE View

The new buildings reconnect Liberty Avenue, and create a sense of enclosure within the public plaza at the center.

Bloomfield Mixed Use Center │ Bradley Sherburne and Peter He │ CMU Masters of Urban Design │ Fall 2013 │109

Page 74: Converging Bloomfield

Uses

NE View

The back side of the project connects to the neighborhood with parks and a green house.

110 │ Bloomfield Mixed Use Center │ Bradley Sherburne and Peter He │ CMU Masters of Urban Design │ Fall 2013 │

Page 75: Converging Bloomfield

Uses

NW View

Along Main Street are the institutional uses which reconnect the project with neighborhood.

Bloomfield Mixed Use Center │ Bradley Sherburne and Peter He │ CMU Masters of Urban Design │ Fall 2013 │111

Page 76: Converging Bloomfield

Uses

SW View

Creating a unique space experience along the Bloomfield Bridge provides a sense of arrival.

112 │ Bloomfield Mixed Use Center │ Bradley Sherburne and Peter He │ CMU Masters of Urban Design │ Fall 2013 │

Page 77: Converging Bloomfield

Neighborhood Context

N

This center will serve, with the West Penn Hospital, as the other anchor to the commercial district of Liberty Avenue.

Bloomfield Mixed Use Center │ Bradley Sherburne and Peter He │ CMU Masters of Urban Design │ Fall 2013 │113

Page 78: Converging Bloomfield

Residential

N

The project contains three separate apartment complexes, two market rate, and one senior rental.

114 │ Bloomfield Mixed Use Center │ Bradley Sherburne and Peter He │ CMU Masters of Urban Design │ Fall 2013 │

The project contains senior housing, located to the north, and two market rate apartment buildings that line Liberty Avenue.

Page 79: Converging Bloomfield

Commercial

The project continues the strong commercial district of the Liberty Avenue up to the bridge.

N Bloomfield Mixed Use Center │ Bradley Sherburne and Peter He │ CMU Masters of Urban Design │ Fall 2013 │115

To the north, connected to the library, is the gym, the retail is along Liberty Avenue, with a restaurant to the south.

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Instituional

Integrated back into the neighborhood fabric, there is a library and a child care center.

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In the north of the project is a library directly adjacent to the main public space, with a child care center further along Main Street

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Circulation

Except for the intersection, most of the existing streets are preserved.

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The project uses the Burt Hill recommended changes, along with a lane reduction for Howley, and a direction change for Ella.

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Parking

The project seeks to move parking off of the intersection, and into the middles of blocks or underground.

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The three structured parking locations each support parking for the uses directly adjacent to them.

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Parking Access

122

81

23

N

The project has a total of 226 parking spaces that can be used either by retail, tenants, or both.

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Parking to CommercialN

The project has a total of 226 parking spaces that can be used either by retail, tenants, or both.

Vertical CirculationVertical CirculationVertical Circulation

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Parking to Residential

N

The project has a total of 226 parking spaces that can be used either by retail, tenants, or both.

Vertical CirculationVertical CirculationVertical Circulation

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Bike Share

N

Creating bike rental within the neighborhood, allows for reduced on-site parking.

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Outdoor Space

Linking the project together are a series of community spaces, of various characters.

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The project has a variety of both hardscape and softscape open areas spread throughout for a variety of uses.

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Community Square

D

The central public space is a grand civic room at the bottom of the Bloomfield Bridge.

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Community Square

This space would be an appropriate ending space for Bloomfield’s many parades, as well as a location for the residents to gather, creating a new third place.

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Community Garden

D

A pedestrian bridge and green space connect the two sides of the bridge.

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Community Garden

This pedestrian bridge makes crossing the Bloomfield Bridge an easier, even exciting experience.

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Community Green

D

D

The courtyard of the library and senior housing is an enclosed public space.

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Community Green

This space is further removed from the street, creating a calmer, safer space for communityactivities such as a Christmas Market.

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Sections

Main Street

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Main Street

Sections

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Sections

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Sections

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Sections

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N

18' Plan

BLOOMFIELD BRIDGE

LIBE

RTY

AVEN

UE

MAIN STREET

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27' PlanN

BLOOMFIELD BRIDGE

LIBE

RTY

AVEN

UE

MAIN STREET

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N

51' Plan

BLOOMFIELD BRIDGE

LIBE

RTY

AVEN

UE

MAIN STREET

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Liberty Avenue Elevation

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Liberty Avenue Elevation

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Main Street Elevation

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Main Street Elevation

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PhasingN142 │ Bloomfield Mixed Use Center │ Bradley Sherburne and Peter He │ CMU Masters of Urban Design │ Fall 2013 │

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