At the March 27-28th Design Rodeo workshop, attendees saw the planning process at work and weighed in on this topic as it continues to come together. The information and questions below seek to continue this community dialogue. Add your thoughts, by Friday, May 31st.
What Makes a Main Street
A Main Street beckons visitors. It looks like the place where something is going on. Or should go on. Or will.
Often the street paving itself has a different treatment like special pavers. It's a well-lit street, and specialty signage may adorn light posts or banner posts.
Often though, it's the businesses and buildings that line the street that keep people walking & shopping, to the end and back again. And back next week.
It's good for businesses to get tourism dollars, sure, but a Main Street functions best when it works well for the residents. If Paris Street had a little more of what already makes it special, it could be an even more vibrant spine of Downtown Castroville. Here are a few ideas.
Leave your thoughts and comments below. Open for comment through May 31st.
Sketch & Ideas for Paris St
Click to enlarge. Once enlarged, use the functions at the top right of the screen to zoom in, zoom out, etc.
The sketch above includes images of various elements that could make Paris St more of a downtown spine. To the east, at Alamo, the complex intersection could be made into a roundabout, slowing traffic and making a safer pedestrian environment, while also creating an opportunity for a terminal vista in the center. A bell tower, sculptural art, or iconic water tower could reinforce the culture of Castroville. As a terminal vista, it would become the one thing visible all the way down to Mexico Street, where another opportunity for a terminal vista could be created. A terminal vista draws your attention almost unconsciously, signaling that there's more to see down the street, enticing everyone to continue toward it, a great bookend for a small, vibrant Downtown.
In the sketch, grey buildings depict the existing buildings while the red buildings depict the potential for new buildings to add to the consistent frontage of businesses along Paris St, all the way to Mexico St and Hwy 90. This idea of Paris emphasized as the Main Street aligns with the idea of sprucing up Houston Square as well as other nearby properties. In the assessment of this potential, city staff revealed that the Public Works department will need more room soon, and there could be the potential for the Public Works Yard to be redesigned.
More about these ideas on the links below.
What do you think about this sketch of Paris Street and the ideas and images on the poster? Share comments & feedback below.
Designing the Public Right of Way
The Unified Development Ordinance will include aligning street standards. When thinking outside the box for a pedestrian-friendly town center, a shared street may be an appropriate fit.
Click to enlarge. Once enlarged, use the functions at the top right of the screen to zoom in, zoom out, etc.
The cross-section above demonstrates how limited right-of-way can be shared to provide space for cars to drive and park, with trees delineating between some parking spaces, creating a narrower street for pedestrians to cross and a wider sidewalk for people, businesses, and residents to utilize. At the bottom is an example of the stypes of street standards used to regulate this type of street design.
Imagining the Sketch in Real Life
Below is a rendering of how this plan might look in the real world.
Click to enlarge.
Thoughts & Recommendations
After reviewing the ideas for Paris Street and the standards for a Shared Street, what are your thoughts?
Open for comment through May 31st.
