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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 03 Plaza and Entry Upgrades at Springfield City Hall AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY Meeting Date: 5/13/2013 Meeting Type: Work Session Staff Contact/Dept.: Jim Polston, DPW Staff Phone No: Ext. 3652 Estimated Time: 20 Minutes S P R I N G F I E L D C I T Y C O U N C I L Council Goals: Promote and Enhance our Hometown Feel while Focusing on Livability and Environmental Quality ITEM TITLE: PLAZA AND ENTRY UPGRADES AT SPRINGFIELD CITY HALL ACTION REQUESTED: Approve concepts and direct staff to proceed with design. ISSUE STATEMENT: Development and Public Works has identified a project to upgrade the appearance and functionality of the entry plaza at Springfield City Hall sometimes known as Centennial Fountain Square. There are a number of issues that we plan to address with this project including: • Updating the appearance of City Hall’s aging plaza • Repair or replace damaged infrastructure and/or unsafe conditions • Improve and enhance the usability of this existing public space • Create a more prominent and identifiable entry to City Hall • Be a part of the revitalization of Springfield’s downtown core ATTACHMENTS: Attachment 1: Council Briefing Memorandum Attachment 2: Plaza and City Hall Entry Concept Drawings DISCUSSION/ FINANCIAL IMPACT: The City Hall plaza was constructed as a part of the Springfield Civic Center project in 1980 with the Centennial Fountain added in 1985 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the founding of Springfield. However, the plaza has fallen into disrepair that does not reflect the high standards of the City of Springfield or our Citizens. The plaza and entry stairs need to be upgraded to create a more attractive, vibrant and usable City Center. This is important because it is open and available, day and night, to our diverse population and is available to be utilized by all. There are several aspects to the project that should be considered including landscaping, paving upgrades, improving functionality, creation of a better sense of space, and enhancing the main entry to City Hall. Currently this project has three routes toward success. All lead in the same direction but require different amounts of time and money to complete in an attempt to reach the same location, a vital, vibrant Civic Center. First involves authorizing Staff to move forward on our currently funded project which involves improving the plaza using a creative mix of new elements laid in with much of the existing elements to create a more useable, vibrant plaza. Second is for Council to earmark additional funding for the existing project that will be used to install additional site furnishings, new electrical and water hookups around the plaza, and installing pedestrian scale lighting that matches what is currently planned for A Street. These improvements offer more flexibility for attracting and maintaining activities. Third involves additional planning and consideration but in essence involves coordinating the existing plaza project into a much larger downtown/government civic center. This should include coordination of the City Hall with a new public library complex on the Carter Building site, as well as with the Justice Center and Sprout. Recommendation: Staff is recommending City Council authorize staff to proceed with the currently funded project as illustrated in the attached concept drawings. At the same time staff will continue to research, evaluate and estimate costs for additional designs and options incorporating a larger civic center approach that takes into account a new Springfield Public Library and other civic and government facilities in this area. The costs and timeline of this project could vary greatly due to a number of factors. One major factor would be the timing of a new Library and the sequencing of construction (which comes first a plaza or a library). M E M O R A N D U M City of Springfield Date: 5/13/2013 To: Gino Grimaldi COUNCIL From: Len Goodwin, DPW Director Jim Polston, Associate Project Manager BRIEFING Subject: Plaza and Entry Upgrades at Springfield City Hall MEMORANDUM ISSUE: Development and Public works has identified a project to upgrade the appearance and functionality of the entry plaza at Springfield City Hall sometimes known as Centennial Fountain Square. There are a number of issues that we plan to address with this project including: • Updating the appearance of City Hall’s aging plaza • Repair or replace damaged infrastructure and/or unsafe conditions • Improve and enhance the usability of this existing public space • Create a more prominent and identifiable entry to City Hall • Be a part of the revitalization of Springfield’s downtown core COUNCIL GOALS/ MANDATE: Promote and Enhance our Hometown Feel While Focusing on Livability and Environmental Quality The plaza was constructed as a part of the Springfield Civic Center project in 1980 with the Centennial Fountain added in 1985 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the founding of Springfield. However, the plaza and stairs have fallen into disrepair and does not reflect the high standards of the City of Springfield or our Citizens. The plaza and entry stairs need to be upgraded to create a more attractive, vibrant and usable City Center. This is important because it is open and available, day and night, to our diverse population and is available to be utilized by all. There are several aspects to the project that should be considered including landscaping, paving upgrades, improving functionality, creation of a better sense of space, and enhancing the main entry to City Hall. BACKGROUND: There is much interest in downtown Springfield and much activity is taking place. In just the last few years Springfield has adopted several plans and formed committees that are working together to promote and sustain: • vibrant retail blocks, • inviting pedestrian-friendly streets, • downtown housing, • an enhanced civic center and public spaces, • cultural destinations such as the Springfield Library and • connections to Island Park and the surrounding neighborhoods. Staff understands and agrees with Council that it is important to take some action quickly to act as a catalyst in realizing these goals. To that end staff prepared concepts for improving the plaza and entryway at Springfield City Hall. Using $30,000 earmarked from the City’s Building Preservation fund and a $30,000 grant received from CDBG we plan to improve the plaza using a creative mix of new elements laid in with much of the existing elements to create a more useable, vibrant public space. New surface materials, redesigned plantings, a place for recognizing important citizens, along with a more prominent to entry to City Hall will have an immediate, positive impact on the downtown. Attachment 1-1 However, with some additional funding this project could have an even greater impact and yet remain a cost effective way to attract more activity downtown. By introducing new site furnishings, adding electrical and water hookups around the plaza, and installing pedestrian scale lighting that matches what is currently planned for A Street; Centennial Fountain plaza would be a much more flexible and desirable location for attracting and holding public events and activities. Past and present events like the farmers market, library youth events and the Nick Symmonds Straight 800 have all been successfully held on the existing plaza. However, implementing our currently planned project, along with the additional improvements mentioned above, these existing activities, and many others, would be much easier to attract, host and maintain. Imagine art and cultural events, food carts, street vendors, concerts and the like filling the plaza, both during the business day and after-hours, enlivening this currently underutilized community asset. This concept does not have to stop with the City Hall plaza. It could and should be coordinated with plans for the public property just across the street to the west, currently occupied by the Carter Building and its parking lot. This property is highlighted in the Downtown District Urban Design Plan as the location of a new Springfield Public Library complex. Creating connections between this site both visually and functionally with City Hall, Sprout and the Justice Center is a fantastic concept that must be considered and coordinated to truly have a vital, vibrant Civic Center. RECOMMENDED ACTION: Staff is recommending City Council authorize staff to proceed with the currently funded project as illustrated in the attached concept drawings. At the same time staff will continue to research, evaluate and estimate costs for additional designs and options incorporating a larger civic center approach that takes into account a new Springfield Public Library and other civic and government facilities in this area. The costs and timeline of this project could vary greatly due to a number of factors. One major factor would be the timing of a new Library and the sequencing of construction (which comes first a plaza or a library). Attachment 1-2 Library Parking Lot CITY HALL A Street 5th Street Library Entrance Recognition Plaza Synthetic Turf Centennial Fountain Decking Main Entry Stairs Elev. New Trees and Landscape New Trees and Landscape Existing Landscape This concept reflects:  Repaired and renovated Main entry stairs  Expansive concrete supplemented with alternative materials such as synthetic turf, pavers and/or decking material to provide a variety of surface choices and visual interest to the plaza.  Upgraded and additional landscaping to provide a better sense of entry to City Hall, enhance curb appeal, and replace unhealthy plants. These improvements are intended to make modest alterations to the existing space to create a more usable, vibrant public space providing and immediate positive impact to downtown. North Not to Scale Attachment 2-1 Library Parking Lot CITY HALL A Street 5th Street Library Entrance Recognition Plaza Synthetic Turf Centennial Fountain Permeable Pavers Main Entry Stairs Elev. New Trees and Landscape New Trees and Landscape Existing Landscape This concept reflects:  Repaired and renovated Main entry stairs  Expansive concrete supplemented with alternative materials such as synthetic turf, pavers and/or decking material to provide a variety of surface choices and visual interest to the plaza.  Upgraded and additional landscaping to provide a better sense of entry to City Hall, enhance curb appeal, and replace unhealthy plants. These improvements are intended to make modest alterations to the existing space to create a more usable, vibrant public space providing and immediate positive impact to downtown. North Not to Scale Attachment 2-2 Recognition Plaza Area Library Entrance Elevator Tower Main Entry Stairs Plaza Flag Poles Relocated to the Front Façade of City Hall Possible Accent Planters North Not to Scale Full Color Logo Entry Signage Book Drop Area Attachment 2-3