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CHAPTER 6
<br /> Local property owners have noted that there are maintenance and safety
<br /> [What is most important to a plaza's success concerns associated with such open spaces. Action 0-6 includes
<br /> is]the location of the space and its relation- measures to address these concerns which should diminish as downtown
<br /> ship to the street. The real estate people are
<br /> right about location, location, location. For a intensifies with active uses and a larger residential population. It may be
<br /> space to function truly well it must be central that open space maintenance and management as well as auxiliary
<br /> to the constituency it is to serve—and if not streetscape cleaning would most efficiently be addressed through a BIA
<br /> in physical distance, in visual accessibility. program, in conjunction with City maintenance efforts.
<br /> William Whyte:
<br /> The City 0-3 Create a focal park or plaza near the center of downtown.
<br /> � x As noted above, a thriving downtown needs an identifiable space that can
<br /> .. :. iiki ave, '. ;',0 r , +
<br /> ,.,A . . -, r 'e 1.,, l. 1. be used for a variety of civic functions as well as general day-to day use.
<br /> .,-2--1 �a 6Fa Iyi..,;',1,..,t° X \i1'/,;, ',. There are at least two ways this need can be accommodated in
<br /> 'i"i ,2"` �,(7�_4.•4 0 lilt. .�d 4 downtown Everett.
<br /> 3P146A 31i y
<br /> i �yit �'� RN APO
<br /> F y7fJ i q ir i
<br /> IN Y N,� Iti :4 , ,4"i i•,:, One way might be to make the Plaza in front of the County Buildings
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<br /> AV �4 �4,. � � "`' �i.':'' more accessible. The plaza sits approximately 6-10 feet above the
<br /> „ " $ n,,t. a� rri 4 ,' ' .! sidewalk and surrounded on most sides by landscaped banks and walls.
<br /> r A:' ' Vr1 " "t,. i A "cascading" stairwayand accessible rampfrom the sidewalk at
<br /> tu'F,� i tki,,, s .i° ,"#„,� t , 4,!/ Wetmore Avenue and Wall Street up into the plaza would open up the
<br /> ") M ; rx s r. A,: h r'I E�{ plaza visually and make it more accessible from the street and near-by
<br /> $ buildings. The stairs themselves could be designed to provide alcove
<br /> Figure 80. The County plaza could be greatly
<br /> seating and locations for art or entry features.
<br /> enhanced to increase access and accommodate There is a second opportunity, identified by the Committee to Establish
<br /> greater use Downtown Public Spaces, at the south-east corner of Colby Avenue and
<br /> '�s",�* r
<br /> ifir,,.:,',Zg'i.; x � � � " , '��+ Wall Street. This City-owned property currently provides below grade
<br /> w e, r, G �ti , � e g4 �•qoP#f `� ` ' . �" ` t "` ;rw`"'i' '" parking. A lid could be built over this parking lot that might include
<br /> ' pedestrian oriented mixed use development with an ample open space
<br /> ° „ t" °t1Wt facing the intersection (see Figure 83 for an example). The pedestrian
<br /> ,iti3 ,, N
<br /> V. i ..,,i.,,,l,„
<br /> 1 EJ•gum s w „r , .y oriented businesses in the new development would keep this space
<br /> ,,�, ,,� ,. >;-1 . V'.,,,,, PO;4‘p.!,'., active and the open space itself would build on and add to Colby
<br /> ``, 7 `'� , I, ,f u!"+1� t', " ",��;�,,4 i 7 Avenue's pedestrian activities. For large events such s a street fair or
<br /> yhA •
<br /> r 10 'i �,0**` >.. parade, portions of Colby Avenue could be closed to traffic to -4,
<br /> Figure 81. The City parking lot at Colby andaccommodate the activities. M
<br /> Wall could be lidded with new development and *"''
<br /> complementary open space.
<br /> Cr
<br /> 92 MAKERS architecture and urban design
<br /> 0509_rpt_.tralt.aoc-6/29/06
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