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In 2005, a group of community activists in San Francisco commandeered a parking spot, covered it with turf, added a potted plant and the “parklet” was born.
These “streetside spots” — which can also be a patio or a retail vending stall, as well as a tiny park — are no longer guerrilla affairs. They have popped up in parking spots all over North America and are governed by municipal bylaws. Fans say they add vibrancy to the urban landscape, free up sidewalks and tempt pedestrians to linger and shop.
On Wednesday, Ottawa transportation committee is to consider a pilot project that would add 25 of these spots to the city in 2016. The matter is to be decided by city council on Sept. 9.
The city’s rights-of-way account for about 40 per cent of city-owned land. The pilot project is expected to generate benefits for the city and business, including “re-envisioning existing space for dynamic public realm use” and “decreasing the open space deficit in the urban core.”
Some business owners say streetside spots are an intriguing idea. Peter Harris owns Second Avenue Sweets, a bakery less than a block from Bank Street.
Peter and Ellen Harris, owners of Second Avenue Sweets.
“I guess the only drawback would be climate. It was be an awesome thing in the summer,” says Harris, who has heard about the concept in California. “We do infill. This is like infill for business.”
Harris has only a little space for customers to eat his baked good in the store. A streetside spot would extend that space, and he could even offer a broader range of products such as sandwiches.
Victoria Jones manages The French Baker only a few blocks away on Bank Street. She also likes the idea, but points out that Bank Street is probably has too much traffic to lend itself to this use.
“But I think it would definitely add to the Glebe.”
Victoria Jones, manger of The French Bakery in the Glebe likes the idea of turning parking spots into “streetwise spots” but says Bank Street is too busy.
The idea has its downside. Opponents say parking is hard enough to find downtown, and removing spots will discourage visitors. However, a report for Ottawa’s transportation committee said a study in Los Angeles found that using four out of 17 parking spaces for parklets did not alter parking vacancy rates and business either improved or remained the same.
Peter Elgar, manage of Mags & Fags on Elgin Street says setting up benches on the street might encourage people to buy a magazine, sit down and read. However, Elgin Street’s parking spots become traffic lanes during rush hour, so it would be impossible to create a semi-permanent seating area in a parking spot. Some of his customers drive to the store from the suburbs and losing parking spots would also be an issue for the business.
“I don’t think it would work for Elgin Street. But I think it would be a great idea to reclaim some spots,” he says.
The transportation committee report mentions a number of concerns, including the danger of putting people close to moving traffic. The Ottawa pilot will be limited to streets with a speed limit of 50 km an hour or less. While the concept is relatively new, there have been very few documented injuries in other cities, according to the report.
Studies in New York and Los Angeles said there were initial concerns about noise, public intoxication and vandalism, but these nuisances were either minimal or not observed or reported.
Q & A: The Streetside Spots projects
Q: What is a “streetside spot”?
A: It’s an on-street parking space used for public or commercial use during fair weather. There are three kinds of spots: a parklet (a public place. Possible uses include seating, shade, bike parking or a games table); a patio (used by the patrons of a restaurant or bar) and a retail vending stall.
Q: What’s the size of a spot?
A: Typically, it would extend the length of the applicant’s street frontage.
Q: When would a spot be open?
A: The pilot project spots will be installed from April 1 to October 31 next year, although this may be delayed until April 15 if weather and winter cleanup doesn’t permit.
Q: Can any business have a streetside spot?
A: Some businesses don’t have parking spaces, so they don’t qualify. Others — those on Elgin Street are an example — have parking spaces that become traffic lanes during rush hour. Also, locations that already have a ground floor outdoor patio don’t qualify.
Q: How much would have a spot cost the business ?
A: The applicant is responsible for obtaining the necessary permits, building and installing the spot, and ensuring that it is maintained and operated according to regulations. For patios and retail stalls, the business owner would pay $1.18 a day per square metre, plus processing and application fees, including $305 for a first-time review fee and $56 for a permit processing fee. Businesses with parklets would pay the same as they would for a cafe seating permit, a $156 annual fee and a $56 permit processing fee.
Q: Will the city lose much in parking revenue?
A: The city calculated a scenario for 10 parking spots in a high demand area from April through October. The maximum loss in parking revenue for those would be a $30,600, while the permit fees for patios or vending stalls would generate $50,000. Parklets would generate $1,500 in fees.
Q: What are the design requirements?
A: The spots must be designed by a certified designer, contractor or architect. They must be sturdy, easily removed, and can’t be fastened to the sidewalk or street or impede drainage. Furniture must be removable at night and all spots must have live plants to soften the streetscape. There are also safety requirements, including soft “hit posts” and wheel stops, as well as vertical barriers at least 1.06 metres high in the traffic lane. They must also be accessible to people with disabilities.
Q: What are the other requirements?
A: The spots must conform with city bylaws and other provincial and federal regulations. They must be removed between Nov. 31 and April 1.
Q: Where will they be located?
A: So far, the city doesn’t know how much interest there will be. It’s likely there will more proposals from businesses in restaurant and tourist districts, but the project is city-wide, including rural areas.
查看原文...
These “streetside spots” — which can also be a patio or a retail vending stall, as well as a tiny park — are no longer guerrilla affairs. They have popped up in parking spots all over North America and are governed by municipal bylaws. Fans say they add vibrancy to the urban landscape, free up sidewalks and tempt pedestrians to linger and shop.
On Wednesday, Ottawa transportation committee is to consider a pilot project that would add 25 of these spots to the city in 2016. The matter is to be decided by city council on Sept. 9.
The city’s rights-of-way account for about 40 per cent of city-owned land. The pilot project is expected to generate benefits for the city and business, including “re-envisioning existing space for dynamic public realm use” and “decreasing the open space deficit in the urban core.”
Some business owners say streetside spots are an intriguing idea. Peter Harris owns Second Avenue Sweets, a bakery less than a block from Bank Street.
Peter and Ellen Harris, owners of Second Avenue Sweets.
“I guess the only drawback would be climate. It was be an awesome thing in the summer,” says Harris, who has heard about the concept in California. “We do infill. This is like infill for business.”
Harris has only a little space for customers to eat his baked good in the store. A streetside spot would extend that space, and he could even offer a broader range of products such as sandwiches.
Victoria Jones manages The French Baker only a few blocks away on Bank Street. She also likes the idea, but points out that Bank Street is probably has too much traffic to lend itself to this use.
“But I think it would definitely add to the Glebe.”
Victoria Jones, manger of The French Bakery in the Glebe likes the idea of turning parking spots into “streetwise spots” but says Bank Street is too busy.
The idea has its downside. Opponents say parking is hard enough to find downtown, and removing spots will discourage visitors. However, a report for Ottawa’s transportation committee said a study in Los Angeles found that using four out of 17 parking spaces for parklets did not alter parking vacancy rates and business either improved or remained the same.
Peter Elgar, manage of Mags & Fags on Elgin Street says setting up benches on the street might encourage people to buy a magazine, sit down and read. However, Elgin Street’s parking spots become traffic lanes during rush hour, so it would be impossible to create a semi-permanent seating area in a parking spot. Some of his customers drive to the store from the suburbs and losing parking spots would also be an issue for the business.
“I don’t think it would work for Elgin Street. But I think it would be a great idea to reclaim some spots,” he says.
The transportation committee report mentions a number of concerns, including the danger of putting people close to moving traffic. The Ottawa pilot will be limited to streets with a speed limit of 50 km an hour or less. While the concept is relatively new, there have been very few documented injuries in other cities, according to the report.
Studies in New York and Los Angeles said there were initial concerns about noise, public intoxication and vandalism, but these nuisances were either minimal or not observed or reported.
Q & A: The Streetside Spots projects
Q: What is a “streetside spot”?
A: It’s an on-street parking space used for public or commercial use during fair weather. There are three kinds of spots: a parklet (a public place. Possible uses include seating, shade, bike parking or a games table); a patio (used by the patrons of a restaurant or bar) and a retail vending stall.
Q: What’s the size of a spot?
A: Typically, it would extend the length of the applicant’s street frontage.
Q: When would a spot be open?
A: The pilot project spots will be installed from April 1 to October 31 next year, although this may be delayed until April 15 if weather and winter cleanup doesn’t permit.
Q: Can any business have a streetside spot?
A: Some businesses don’t have parking spaces, so they don’t qualify. Others — those on Elgin Street are an example — have parking spaces that become traffic lanes during rush hour. Also, locations that already have a ground floor outdoor patio don’t qualify.
Q: How much would have a spot cost the business ?
A: The applicant is responsible for obtaining the necessary permits, building and installing the spot, and ensuring that it is maintained and operated according to regulations. For patios and retail stalls, the business owner would pay $1.18 a day per square metre, plus processing and application fees, including $305 for a first-time review fee and $56 for a permit processing fee. Businesses with parklets would pay the same as they would for a cafe seating permit, a $156 annual fee and a $56 permit processing fee.
Q: Will the city lose much in parking revenue?
A: The city calculated a scenario for 10 parking spots in a high demand area from April through October. The maximum loss in parking revenue for those would be a $30,600, while the permit fees for patios or vending stalls would generate $50,000. Parklets would generate $1,500 in fees.
Q: What are the design requirements?
A: The spots must be designed by a certified designer, contractor or architect. They must be sturdy, easily removed, and can’t be fastened to the sidewalk or street or impede drainage. Furniture must be removable at night and all spots must have live plants to soften the streetscape. There are also safety requirements, including soft “hit posts” and wheel stops, as well as vertical barriers at least 1.06 metres high in the traffic lane. They must also be accessible to people with disabilities.
Q: What are the other requirements?
A: The spots must conform with city bylaws and other provincial and federal regulations. They must be removed between Nov. 31 and April 1.
Q: Where will they be located?
A: So far, the city doesn’t know how much interest there will be. It’s likely there will more proposals from businesses in restaurant and tourist districts, but the project is city-wide, including rural areas.
查看原文...
