Take Me to the River: Streetscape Guidelines
Location: West Harlem & Washington Heights, NY
Clients: City of New York, Office of Manhattan Borough President
and NYS Department of State, Division of Coastal Resources
Subconsultant: EDAW, Inc.
While this multi-cultural, 22-block area already has a vibrant street life, coordinated streetscape guidelines were needed to help improve the quality of connections between economic, cultural, and open space resources and enhance the sense of place, as well as to stimulate the retail environment on Broadway.
Based on the community's consensus to "Start the Park at Broadway," the guidelines call for creating park-like environments along the Broadway spine, major crosstown streets, and side streets that provide Waterfront Access Study and view corridors to the waterfront. Key recommendations include upgrading to achieve current New York City and Broadway Mall Association standards and defining a local identify through contextual urban design, landscape elements, a public art program, and an environmental graphics system for wayfinding.
Nautilus led a community-based planning process working with public agencies and over 25 local organizations, businesses, and residents. Coordinating ten subconsulting firms, we developed streetscape guidelines to enrich the existing street life, optimize the pedestrian environment, reduce car dependency, and help residents find and enjoy their many cultural and recreational assets.
Related Projects:
- Take Me to the River: Transportation Plan
- Take Me to the River: Cultural Guidelines
- Take Me to the River: Concept Plan - Economic Development & Waterfront Access Study
