Design Charrette

A design charrette is a short, collaborative meeting during which a member or client can share their work with members of their team. They can talk through, collaborate, and sketch designs to explore and share a broad diversity of design ideas. The idea for design charrettes (from the French word charrette meaning “chariot” or “cart”) is believed to have derived from stories of architectural students in Paris in the 1800s. As the story goes, students’ exams were collected in a charrette, and some of these students continued to sketch together as their designs were being gathered after evaluation. [Iconica] Charrette, École nationale supérieure des beaux-arts, by Alexis Lemaistre

East 13th Avenue (Alder to Kincaid Street) Design Charrette

Tourism Streetscape Recommendations (Draft)

  1. Activity Node – Change area outside of Taylors to be an inclusive space for everyone.
  2. Alley – Use the alley as part of the street.
  3. Alley Closure – Block off the alley to cars.
  4. Alleys – Utilize alley spaces.
  5. Alleyway – Convert the alleyway into a little gemstone with art or extra greenery.
  6. Architecture – Break up architecture to allow more shade.
  7. Architecture – Change siding on Noodlehead/Red Rooster building (something funky or similar to yogurt place across the street.
  8. Art Installations – Rotate students/community members’ artwork to add beauty and social aspects.
  9. Awning – Provide an awning to add space for social distancing.
  10. Awnings – Replace eaves with awnings.
  11. Awnings and Umbrellas – Hang tarps to keep the rain away.
  12. Banners – Provide banners on period lamp posts (lighting/advertisement/holiday theming).
  13. Bike Corral – Place a bike corral along the widened sidewalk, replacing one of the old parking spaces.
  14. Bike Lane – Extend the bike lane currently on Alder down 13th to allow easier and safer bike travel.
  15. Bike Lane – Increase bike lane size (taking space from the parking spots on 13th Avenue).
  16. Bike Rack – Construct an aesthetically pleasing bike rack design along 13th Avenue (e.g. bike racks shaped like ducks).
  17. Bike Racks – Incorporate more bike racks for easier accessibility to promote biking instead of driving.
  18. Bike Repair Station – Create a bike repair station for repairs and tune-ups.
  19. Bike Share Station – Implement a bike share station somewhere along with the new sidewalk space (preferably closer to campus).
  20. Bike Share Station – Locate a bike share station in front of the Duck Store. Provide the bike share station along with new sidewalk space.
  21. Biosolar Roofs – Incentivize biosolar roofs.
  22. Bioswales – Add bioswales on the edge of sidewalks to improve irrigation and add a more natural feel.
  23. Bollards – Build retractable bollards at Kincaid and Alder intersections.
  24. Bollards – Install bollards (decorative yet functional) on either end of the street segment.
  25. Bollards – Place bollards on both ends of the street.
  26. Bulbouts – Extended curbs at certain sections along street for benches.
  27. Bus Lane – Make the bus lane safer by putting it down further the street and adding in clear bus lane indicators.
  28. Bus Transit – Improve bus transit in the area to decrease traffic.
  29. Canopy – Put in a covered canopy attached to the buildings so that there is protection from the elements.
  30. Community Garden – Create a community garden in the alleyway.
  31. Community Fridge – Install a Community Fridge in partnership with the Eugene Community Fridge. A Community Fridge is a refrigerator located in a public space. The fridges, sometimes called “freedges” are a type of mutual aid project which enables food to be shared within a community.
  32. Composting Bins – Add public composting bins (next to public trash cans for example) so we can collect organic materials and put the compost back into our public parks
  33. Concert – Conduct a concert to donate to environmental agencies to help the environment.
  34. Cookies / Easter Eggs – Provide cookies/Easter eggs such as hidden rubber ducks, diorama from Animal House (movie), etc.
  35. Drinking Fountain – Provide an easily accessible drinking fountain with a touchless design for water bottles.
  36. Duck Pond – Build a duck pond to bring ducks and local wildlife to campus.
  37. Easter Eggs – Add more University of Oregon specific Easter Eggs–small, hidden, features (e.g. UO ducks) designed to be discovered by visitors. Eugene/ Oregon Geologic Foundation has tons of fossil rocks. Include fossils in the pavement or seating.
  38. Entertainment – Design small spaces or parklets for entertainment.
  39. Entry Statement – Design an arch to go over/across the beginning of that section of 13th.
  40. Entryway – Construct an entryway so you know when you have arrived.
  41. Event Planning – Form a “town-gown” partnership to plan periodic and seasonal events.
  42. Event Planning – Organize monthly events, themed events, or events associated with holidays.
  43. Event Planning – Create a program arrangement for the festival street that allows for event planning and communication to visitors.
  44. Event Planning – Invest in food-cart/truck events.
  45. Events, Bike – Incorporate some sort of bike event with the peace health bikes that starts and ends at 13th Avenue.
  46. Events, Bike – Organize bike events using PeaceHealth bikes and the alley as the start and finish.
  47. Events, Catered – Organize catered events from the restaurants on this street or food trucks.
  48. Events, Charity – Open the street for a charity event to have games and make a difference.
  49. Events, Street – Hold block parties and invite local vendors to sell their products once a month.
  50. Farmers’ Market – Add communal space and organize a monthly farmers’ market.
  51. Flags/Banners – Add flags/banners related to the University (e.g. Denver/Larimer Square).
  52. Food Carts – Remove parking on 13th Avenue and add more greenery and seating areas and food carts.
  53. Food Trucks – Create an area for food trucks behind buildings on the south side of 13th Avenue.
  54. Food Options – Provide a community fridge, market/grocery.
  55. Gateway – Gateway/ green entryway at 13th and Alder intersection.
  56. Greenroofs – Incentivize building green roofs.
  57. Greenspace – Add greenspace like a mini-park.
  58. Greenspace – Add more greenspace to look more like campus.
  59. Greenwalls and Murals – Add green walls and murals.
  60. Herb Garden – Construct an herb garden for everyone to use.
  61. Kiosk / Central Event Board – Construct Central event board– posting events around the community, similar to the board outside Columbia Hall.
  62. Landscaping – Add flower/ herb walls down alleyways. Super easy to grow and adds great aroma.
  63. Landscaping – Add flowers or “accessories” around the bases of trees that give a bit of a garden feel – maybe plants for attracting bees and/or butterflies.
  64. Landscaping – Add greenery alongside streets native bushes and shrubbery more appealing to eyes.
  65. Landscaping – Build garden boxes – roughly 3.5 x 9ft. Keep existing trees.
  66. Landscaping, Edible – Add more greenery and plants to break up all the grey of the cement along 13th Specifically, add edible plants (such as local berries) that are native to the Eugene climate.
  67. Landscaping, Edible – Plant edible shrubbery out the fronts of restaurants, such as blueberries, huckleberries strawberries, thyme, lavender, and rosemary. Herbs and particular berries grow very well in Eugene, and with proper maintenance (perhaps make it a work-study program? Or volunteer/internship opportunity?) could be a charming addition to Eugene. Grow fruit trees down the middle (apple pear and sour cherry grow well in oregon) with tree guards to prevent people from climbing them. As well as using empty pavement space to plant edible in-ground plants
  68. Landscaping, Floral – Plant floral and edible tree species along the sidewalk.
  69. Landscaping, Floral – Provide flower boxes/green walls/hanging pots.
  70. Landscaping, Native Plants – Provide native plant exhibit (show off Eugene) planters down the center with placards for education.
  71. Landscaping, Rain Gardens – Add rain gardens (artificial micro-wetlands) for decorative landscaping, irrigation, and filtration.
  72. Landscaping, Street Trees – Plant more trees for shelter from the rain going down the middle of the block.
  73. Lighting – Add more lighting on both sides of 13th, maybe investing in solar panel string lights.
  74. Lighting – Change street lighting to address light pollution.
  75. Lighting – Provide uplighting under the trees.
  76. Lighting – Provide better lighting throughout the street to increase safety and an atmosphere that can be remembered rather than a dark street with lots of restaurants. Consider cobra street lighting and solar panels, 6 lights about 20 feet from each other.
  77. Lighting, Bistro – Put up bistro lighting in front of restaurants.
  78. Lighting, Festival – Add lighting that supports a festive atmosphere! We should use solar light with photovoltaic power generation, utilizing the tops of buildings.
  79. Lighting, Hanging Lights – Hang string lights (LED or solar-powered) to add to the aesthetics of the street and encourage people to sit and stay.
  80. Lighting, Paver Lights – Add Solar lights on pavement that light up at night, lighting up art designs on the sidewalk.
  81. Lighting, Street – Add better street lights for better ambiance.
  82. Lighting, Street – Put up more street lights along sidewalks to make the street more inviting at night.
  83. Lighting, String Lights – Provide patio string lights.
  84. Little Free Library – Build a Little Free Library Book Sharing Box–possibly with textbooks or novels for classes, able to meet other students within major or in classes.
  85. Loud Speakers – Add speakers onto the buildings to play synchronized music down the whole street.
  86. Mixed-Use Development – Build Two- and Three-story mixed-use development with 1st-floor retail/restaurant, 2nd-floor office/studio, and 3rd-floor residential.
  87. Murals – Add murals to alley walls.
  88. Murals – Paint murals on the end caps or crosswalks.
  89. Murals – Provide murals and art spaces to create a sense of place emphasizing campus history.
  90. Music – Design small spaces for live outdoor music.
  91. Music – Having live street music or street performers to encourage people to sit, stay, and enjoy a social scene in the area to bring the community together.
  92. Music Art – Paint music notes around 13th (designated spots for musicians to spontaneously play music if they so desire).
  93. Music/Dancing – Play music! Broadcast local musicians, or play general tunes that make people want to dance in the street.
  94. Outdoor Dining – Add more dining space that can be used year-round.
  95. Outdoor Dining – Improve the outdoor dining space by putting parklets in front of restaurants.
  96. Parking Design – Remove parking and replace it with interim sidewalk widening with added safety measures like bollards and flower beds. You could get creative with it and add amenities or art! Back in diagonal parking takes a long time to pull in front of and then back in perfectly which adds traffic and adds stress to drivers. Stopping in the middle of the street with cars behind you, and then proceeding to back up is stressful and nonintuitive, especially for tourists.
  97. Parking Management – Reduce the number of days and times you can park on the street (around school hours maybe).
  98. Parklets – Improve outdoor dining space by putting parklets in front of restaurants.
  99. Parklets – Take away one or two parking lots to make room for greenspace.
  100. Pedestrian Spaces – Add pedestrian spaces like bike corals or green spaces in front of the restaurants.
  101. Permeable Surfaces – Construct permeable surfaces (outward planters), grassy areas to bring vegetation to the street.
  102. Place Name – Model the street after University Street in Arizona. University street is full of shopping, food, outdoor dining, and it is atmospheric with good lighting and music. This is the college aesthetic 13th Avenue must strive for. When tourists or newcomers to the college come to town, “University Street” can be the area that is always recommended for food, shopping, and community within a university aesthetic and atmosphere.
  103. Place Name – Rename the street a new (more personal) name to add to the sense of place. Create a name for the space to make it a “place to be.”
  104. Planter Beds and Bollards – Use planter beds or bollards as dividers between the pedestrian walkway and the road (makes a gateway at the mouth of the intersection of 13th and Alder).
  105. Public Art – Add more art so this place is pleasing to the eye, on the street and in the alleys—even on the buildings would be cool.
  106. Public Art – Add native art. Install Kalapuya touch stones/Kalapuya street art.
  107. Public Art – Add UO-related cultural elements including plaques, photos, and posters.
  108. Public Art – Provide art/nonadvertising related (contracting members of the community).
  109. Public Art – Provide chalk to outdoor restaurant patrons.
  110. Public Art, Dreamwall – Enhance the sense of place with a dreamwall.
  111. Public Art, Greenwalls – Use wall space for street art or green walls.
  112. Public Restroom – Provide a public restroom in ex-Jimmy Johns/JerseyMike’s nook.
  113. Public Restroom – Public restroom (make an accessible space to all visitors, not just patrons).
  114. Retail Space – Incentivize retail space for a thrift store to target Eugene and UO students.
  115. Scooters – Add a scooter rental station for micro-mobility.
  116. Sculpture – Add more sculptures. Currently, there is one sculpture on one end of the sidewalks. Add three more so each end of each sidewalk has its sculpture to create a sense of place and entry.
  117. Seating – Add more outdoor seating. Right now there are 3 places to sit outdoors but they are all at a restaurant. There needs to be more communal seating for people to congregate from all different restaurants or people can just come to sit from wherever they came from. Add benches and round tables throughout the sidewalk.
  118. Seating – Change the parking spaces into outdoor seating. Incorporate benches and tables for student eating that would encourage students to buy from restaurants on the avenue.
  119. Seating – Convert sidewalks into an outdoor seating area for restaurants. Turn the current car lane and parking area into walking paths.
  120. Shared Space – Adopt shared street policies and appropriate signage.
  121. Shared Space – Create pedestrian zone/shared space to allow people not eating to relax outside.
  122. Shared Space – Design as a commercial shared street focused on pedestrians.
  123. Sidewalk – Remove street parking and replace it with interim sidewalk widening.
  124. Sidewalks – Expand sidewalks and raise crosswalks.
  125. Signage/Wayfinding – Add more welcoming and educational signs.
  126. Signage/Wayfinding – Increase decorative/informational signage and school spirit by the Duck Store.
  127. Signage/Wayfinding – Increase safety signage (i.e. crosswalks and speed signs).
  128. Signage/Wayfinding – Install reflectors to increase safety in poor weather visibility and night time.
  129. Signage/Wayfinding – Place plaques next to landscaping to provide the name and short background with information about Eugene.
  130. Signage/Wayfinding – Place signposts outside buildings with QR codes that you can scan with your camera that perhaps points out the wildlife or natural features of the area.
  131. Solar Energy – Incorporate solar power into the building walls and roofs.
  132. Sound System – Provide a sound system down the whole street to create a cohesive environment.
  133. Street Art – Allow pavement art as a permanent feature, temporary design, or special events.
  134. Street Closure – Close off the street to automobiles (only for pedestrians and bikers). Make street bikes and pedestrians only. Remove diagonal parking strips to give more space. Add bollards at each end to block cars.
  135. Street Closure – Reroute the bus system that goes through 13th so as to redevelop the area to be a community space with less vehicle use.
  136. Street Decoration – Decorate the street for holidays and special events.
  137. Street Furniture – Add benches to the new alley.
  138. Street Furniture – Add benches with design or artwork that contributes to the sense of place.
  139. Street Furniture – Add street furniture: including but not limited to a service desk, rest area, broadcast, security personnel, and self-service drinking water area.
  140. Street furniture – Provide a variety of seating types.
  141. Street Furniture – Provide more trashcans.
  142. Street Surface – Repave street surface (cobblestone) to discourage cars and encourage pedestrian use.
  143. Street Surface – Extend street texturing / brickwork.
  144. Traffic Calming – Install speed humps to incentivize safety with increased foot traffic.
  145. Traffic Calming – Provide more speed cameras to increase safety.
  146. Traffic Calming – Provide speed humps to incentivize safety with increased foot traffic.
  147. Traffic Calming – Take traffic calming measures to slow the speed of traffic on 13th Avenue to favor foot traffic and bikes – ped- and bike-friendly.
  148. Traffic Lights – Add traffic light on 13th Avenue and Kincaid Street intersection or some kind of light with a crosswalk because students are constantly walking and cars turning left and right onto Kincaid get stuck waiting, adds traffic, adds stress, and is dangerous for walkers and bikers.
  149. Traffic Lights – Provide traffic lights for cyclists.
  150. Urban Farming – Create an urban farm class as part of edible landscaping and/or a community garden.
  151. Urban Wildlife – Incorporate more urban wildlife (i.e. songbirds, squirrels) by providing landscaping that offers food and/or shelter.
  152. Water Feature – Add a water feature similar to the water feature on campus.
  153. Water Feature – Construct a water feature representing the Willamette River.
  154. Wi-Fi – Add accessible Wi-Fi to the area! Provide WiFi for free, and set the Wi-Fi name as the theme name of a festival, and when verifying the wifi, provide some festival activities and advertisements to tourists. This way, tourists can selectively experience some activities or visit some specific places they are interested in.
  155. Youth Hub – Design the street to encompass a broader youth spectrum beyond University students.

Neighborhood Charrette Handbook

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Community Planning Events Manual

[embeddoc url=”https://blogs.uoregon.edu/tourismplanning/files/2020/10/Community-Planning-Event-Manual.pdf” height=”700px” download=”all” viewer=”google”]

Festival Street Elements (case study)

  • architecture
  • bike lanes
  • bike rental
  • bike station
  • biophilic design
  • bioretention / rainwater gardens
  • bio-solar design – roofs, walls
  • bioswales
  • bollards / barriers
  • “cookies”
  • “Easter eggs”
  • entry statement / treatment
  • event programming
  • experiential design – visual, acoustical, tactile, olfactory, taste
  • flowers – boxes, wall-mounted, hanging, pots
  • food
  • gateway
  • graphic design
  • green roofs, street, walls
  • hardscape
  • identity / branding
  • kiosk – information, vending, multi-purpose
  • landscape design – aromatic, edible, habitat, seasonal color
  • lighting – (see infographic below)
  • music
  • outdoor dining/dancing
  • parking – autos, bikes, motocycles, scooters
  • parklets
  • public art (see infographic below)
  • public space
  • public toilets
  • public transit – turnout, shelter
  • rainwater harvesting
  • scooter rental
  • sense of place
  • shared space / woonerf
  • sidewalk chalk art
  • sidewalks
  • signage (many techniques)
  • solar design – active, passive
  • street art
  • street furniture – drinking fountains (“bubblers”), mailboxes, seating, vending machines, waste containers…
  • street painting
  • street trees
  • surface treatments – colored, pavers, permeable, textured/stamped
  • thematic design
  • traffic calming measures (see infographic below)
  • travel lanes
  • urban wildlife
  • water features
  • wayfinding – cyclist, pedestrian, vehicle,
  • WiFi hotspot
  • others…