The Doorknob Study

[Raysfan16 5]

I found this article on the internet. It's really interesting if you real though it all. Buffalo is another one of those rust-belt cities that declined from deindustrialization and suburbanization. Pretty sad story. Meanwhile, Boston was also considered one of those cities, just not on the rust belt. It turned itself around by many smart moves, which Buffalo can turn around (The Buffalo Skyway immediately comes to mind after you read this article.)

We developed a funny little concept for downtown called the doorknob study. We created a map of downtown simply showing red dots to represent each doorknob. It provides a very clear indicator of where there is activity along the major shopping streets. But our doorknob study also showed there are vast areas where there are only a tiny number of doorknobs, like the government center area where the tall buildings are, where they will only have one or two doorknobs. You can really tell the difference between places that function well and those that don’t. Where there are lots of doorknobs, the streets are active and full of people. Where there are few doorknobs, the streets are empty at five o’clock. They are depressing to be in — the new cleared modern parts — as opposed to the traditional parts, which have hundreds of doorknobs with people coming in and out all day long.

To see much, much more, click the link below:

http://urbandesignproject.ap.buffalo.edu/Canal/urban.htm

Note: If you want to skip to the doorknob part (Not Recommended) then go to page 5 of the article.

[Kryptowhite 9]

Interesting article. Government Center is like a giant hole in boston, but luckily they are slowly redeveloping it. There is a proposal to turn the massive landscraping brutalist parking garage into two tall towers and several smaller buildings, which will hopefully add much more density and diversity to the area. Hopefully they will continue this redevelopment throughout the area, if mayor menino's plans to relocate the government center to the water front happen, that will really allow for some redevelopment.

Hope Buffalo follows that same trend. Little projects can have a much greater impact on a city than one would think. Afterall, its the little street level details that make a city, not the 73rd floor of a large office tower. The thing that impressed me in New York was how lively,vibrant, and exciting it was down on the streets. The first thing I did there was go up to the top of the empire state building, and while impressive in its own way, being up in a sea of skyscrapers isn't what i remember. It's being down on the street in between those dense midrises and being surrounded by millions of people and all kinds of life, from vendors to taxis to whatever. Thats very similar to what he pointed out in the speech [i'm assuming that was quoted from a speech, the article] about quincy market, rowes wharf...they are all not humungous projects, but they bring people, diversity, and life to areas that you other wise wouldn't be in. Once you get enough of those landmarks spread out throughout all the skyscrapers and the bigger projects, the crowds start to flow throughout the city. Boston's downtown is very dense as previously stated, so because of crowds generated at places like rowes wharf, quincy market, the public common, to name a few, other areas of the city are going to benefit because the people at quincy market are going to see a restaurant down the street in the financial district and want to eat there.

Another good example of small projects having big outcomes [brace yourself, raysfan] is fenway park. When fenway hosted that memorable all star game in 1999, it was considered perhaps the worst, oldest, most dreadful ballpark in america. There were plans to demolish it and move to the waterfront. When the new ownership group came in, they made small additions every year, until ultimately the park was completely different after about 10 years [thats about how long its been now]. Nowadays Fenway is considered one of the best ballparks in America, and is one of the liveliest areas in Boston. Not only have they made small projects throughout the ballpark, but in the adjacent streets it seems every year there is a new club, store, or restaurant. It really is another great example of how small projects added up can make a huge difference. i'm suprised it wasn't mentioned in the article. Great article thanks for posting.

just in case anyone is curious:

1999: http://www.baseball-statistics.com/Ballparks/Bos/Fenway-picture.jpg

now: [okay its a painting but its the best i could find ]

[Muck308 55]

I didn't know the public had been so dissatisfied with Fenway, Kryptowhite. But I think having a good team is a big part of the revitalization. As you may know, I live in Pittsburgh. The Pirates haven't had a winning season in nearly 2 decades, but they have a spectacular park. It is known as the bobble-head and fireworks park to many, because they have to give away tons of stuff to get asses in seats. (There are at least 3 free concerts after games per year, and they give out tons of bobbleheads and other really nice memorabilia.) ( Which, BTW, is all available at the following year's fanfest. I go every year b/c they have a dart toss to win the excess that wasn't given away... because PNC Park hardly ever sells out... I clean up every year at fanfest) Anyway, There are restauraunts and bars right by the stadium that have closed due to low business. It's a shame. Why? Because the Pirates suck. I hate to say it b/c I'm a long time fan who grew up watching a great team in the early 90's. Best record in baseball throughout most of 90-92. ( and yes, I despise the Atlanta Braves) Now they are a mess. Having a great park and atmosphere isn't enough. At least in Western PA it's not. But come to think of it, there aren't too many doorknobs in that neighborhood.

Thank goodness for the Pens and Steelers... but I still believe in my Buccos.

Thanks for bringing this to my attention, Raysfan!

[RedImperator 16]

Speaking of ballparks, Philadelphia really blew a golden opportunity by building Citizens Bank Park (the Phillies' home stadium) in the Sports Complex in South Philly rather than downtown. The South Philly location has highway access and parking, but the stadium sits in a sea of parking lots in a neighborhood of industrial warehouses--an hour after the game, the area is stone dead. If they'd put it in Center City, you'd have 40,000 potential customers for bars and restaurants 82 nights a year.

The Phillies wanted to be downtown, too. But the Street administration screwed everything up, like they did almost everything else.

[Muck308 55]

Yeah, and when I lived in Philly, Rendell wanted to tear down all of Chinatown to build a new park. It was never gonna happen. BUt then they ended up expanding the convention center anyway didn't they? I agree that a stadium would have been great in downtown Philly, but it was unrealistic proposal. Philly is too dense, especially around center city. Pittsburgh had the room to build PNC Park with minimal demolition of nearby buildings. There was a snior citizen assisted living center that was torn down, and I think less than 50 people were relocated. In Philly that number would have been much much higher. Nice park though.

[Raysfan16 5]

Speaking of ballparks, let's talk about the Trop.

Philly's Citizen's Bank Park is in a sea of parking as is Tropicana Field. It too is surrounded by highways. And the difference is, the Trop is a ballpark that some hate and more disgust. Recently, the Rays unveiled a new plan to put their new stadium (which is a SICK design by the way) on the waterfront at the current site of Al Lang Field, while redeveloping the Tropicana Field site and its parking to retail and high-end apartments. The Rays have recently taken down their site which described this in greater detail, because they are searching for new sites in St. Pete. It appears that they are gonna most likely build it on the Carillon office park location due to parking and the fact that it is the closest plausible site to Tampa and Clearwater. (Note: That is roughly in between St-Pete/Clearwater Intl Airport and I-275) And then, it will also be just like Citizens Bank Park as you could hear a pin drop an hour after the game.

Which brings me to the doorknob thing again. Most modern stadiums are located on the fringe of Downtown, offering good views, and located on old warehouse districts or places where there was surface parking anyway. But think of the old stadiums. Fenway Park and Wrigley Field are built in the middle of the city in a dense part of town. That means lots of doorknobs. And by some weird coincidence, those places are the liveliest after games. Tiger Stadium was built in Detroit's Corktown neighborhood, and was in a dense, thriving district. Now after the stadium is gone, the numerous bars and clubs have gone, and now Corktown is just like the rest of Detroit. Tropicana Field is completely surrounded by parking. I think there is one bar only surrounding the stadium. And the only nightlife is people leaving for the Interstate and the occasional person ringing their cowbell out the window AFTER THE RAYS OWN THE LIVING CRAP OUT OF THE RED SOX IN THE ALCS.

That is one thing the leaders of Tampa need to learn. Downtown is very nice and clean, but if it is after 5pm, you get a strange empty feeling when walking through there. I bet even the criminals feel weird when they walk through there. They need more doorknobs.

[Kryptowhite 9]

^ That's funny. There are other rays fans? Your the first one i've met .

[not bitter /sarcasm]. Raysfan you did a good job of tieing in this whole stadium discussion back into the article. A ballpark can define a neighborhood, but it can't create one. The only way your going to have a neighborhood succeed is if you have residents. You have to mix everything in order to have a lively city. You need offices, homes, hotels, restaurants, bars, and maybe even a few industries [i know downtown boston, baltimore, and even manhatten have a few factories and warehouses] in order for your city to mantain life. We used to build our cities like that, and it was like throwing all the ingredients in a pan and cooking them to make a city. But in the late 1900's we started to take each ingredient and seperate it. It doesn't really work that way.

That eeiry downtown feeling...i know that one. I went to dunkin donuts at 3am in the morning once in my town...not a human being in sight. Only car on the road. and thats because we have this large commercial shopping area in between two swamps and then the homes are all in the woods. Boston is pretty lively during the night though. Nothing like driving through the big dig at 75 mph at 3 am in the morning

[Raysfan16 5]

lol, Nice job with the speeding through the big dig. If you read that article it talks about what mistakes Boston made as a city, and the (former) elevated highway cutting through downtown was one of them. Did you read it all? If so I'd like an opinion from another person who lives there.

[Kryptowhite 9]

Originally posted by: Raysfan16

lol, Nice job with the speeding through the big dig. If you read that article it talks about what mistakes Boston made as a city, and the (former) elevated highway cutting through downtown was one of them. Did you read it all? If so I'd like an opinion from another person who lives there.quote>

ugh, I wish i could get you some links to a page with some great images of the evolution of that "route" but Idk if i'll be able to find it. Ahh here it is.

This is the page, it's probably one of my favorite threads ever:

http://www.cyburbia.org/forums/showthread.php?t=10814

I agree completely with the article. The Central Artery was like mixing cocaine and redbull. Not a good idea.

Just a quick diversion: The mistake mentioned in the article of demolishing haymarket, scollay squre, etc. to make the Government center was a really bad one. Those were some of the coolest areas in historic boston, and would probably have developed into a timesquare type area if left standing.

Before Urban Renewal

After Urban Renewal

We have a word for this, FAIL.

------------------------------------------

Back to the Central Artery. This is what the area looked like in 1937

This "route" used to be an el rail over a road similar to the ones chicago is famous for. Notice how dense and alive everything is, how the neighborhoods transition perfectly. This route is really the interesection of the west end, the north end, and the financial district, as well as the waterfront, but you wouldn't know it from this picture.

After the demolishment of the El in 1942. Still a beautiful classic american street. In 2009, had this been kept in tact, wouldn't this look beautiful with all the skyscrapers surrounding it? And look at all the different shops and services....that=doorknobs.

1946. Looks like Europe.

That's funny...I thought the blitz was in London?

The Berlin Wall couldn't do a better job of seperating neighborhoods. This project plus the west end renewal destroyed over 1000 buildings. Thats probably like 10000 doorknobs. Classic American Neighborhoods...lively streets and tight knit neighborhoods...gone for possibly the ugliest most awkward highway ever. Obama be aware....This is what large amounts of government money can do to a city.

If you want my opinion on the central artery, here it is: It is the second dumbest thing they've ever done in boston, after demolishing the westend for a dozen towers-in-a-park. It was big and awkward. Ugly as hell. Completely ruined all views of boston from the air. Seperated 4-5 area's of boston from eachother, and even now with the greenway, things are still kind of awkward, but at least now it looks warm and inviting to go from one end of the street to the other.

The Central Artery days before it's death. Look at how ugly that is? Did they have to make it match the color of all the ugly tan concrete buildings? This picture just reeks of ugly. I remember the first time I was on the central artery when i was like 5. My expression was something like this: 

It just makes the whole area seem awkward and uninviting,when buildings are wrapped around in offramps and what not. It makes it look like the city is saying "we don't want you to be here".

So then that brings us to the big dig. Say what you want about the project. Yea, it was poorly planned and poorly executed. But it was like amputating the leg to save the body. The artery needed to go. So, yes, it was necessary to spend 25 billion or whatever dollars to build a few parks and tunnels. The greenway takes boston away from the cars and returns it to the people. The greenway feels like a gateway, a pedestrian highway, to the city. Right now its a bit too much open space, it doesn't get used enough [the area is still developing some of the attractions] but it makes traveling throughout that area of the city much easier. You can get from the Gaaaahhden to the north end to quincy market to rowes wharf and the financial district in a quick walk now. After they build the museums and the YMCA's and what not, this is going to be perhaps the best spot in the city. Look at whats happening in Boston on greenway. None of this would have happened with the central artery, because who want's to develop in the ugliest part of town?

- A new pretty midrise hotel/resedential building

-A mixed use [Doorknobs!] hotel, residential, and office tower complex.

-Addiions to the Aquarium, which lies on the greenway, and i think the imax theater there is new too.

-The Zakim Bridge, quickly becoming Boston's newest landmark

-Proposals for what would be boston's tallest tower and a national landmark: The Boston Arch [not official name, but thats what its being called at archboston]. This would be two twin towers with a base. This project is consistant with the doorknob theory, as it will have a mall at the base, residential and office towers, and a hotel. But most importantly, this tower is not big and bulky, but sleek, and the base has a pedestrian mall running through it [open air] to invite people to the waterfront. This would be the biggest project in boston since the prudential center, and it wouldn't happen without the big dig.

-Excellent proposals to redevelop the massive landscraper garage at government square into two 40 and 50 story towers, as well as several smaller buildings [Doorknobs!]. It will return some of the traditional boston street feel to an area of the city that desperately needs it.

Thats just the beginning. There are a number of mesuems and entertainment things lined up for the greenway. Right now there is a terrific fountain near fanuel hall that has become a popular photo spot.

AFTER:

Rowes Wharf, mentioned in the article, has the green dome.

To summarize: Urban Renewal is the biggest mistake you can make. It's better for your city to have a working class neighborhood thats vibrant and lively with all kinds of diversity than a few towers-in-a-park. Cities evolve over time, you can't change the face of your city with one big project. That only destroys the unique character of your city and makes it look like every other city in america.

But just because Urban Renewal has already happened, doesn't mean its too late. It's relatively easy to fix, and just because Boston's recovery from the central artery was a disaster because of the pricetag and the failing cieling incident, it was well worth it. The Big Dig is beautiful and now it takes less than 2 minutes to get across downtown boston. Other cities shouldn't shy away from undergoing similar projects, because if they learn from the mistakes made during the big dig, they won't have a price tag nearly as expensive. Renewing Urban Renewal opens up a bevy of oppurtunities for the area.

With the whole fiasco of the big dig over, things are looking up in Boston. Hopefully other cities will be able to recover from their urban renewal mistakes as well. And there is still work to be done, I'm hoping that a tornado hits the government center and forces them to redevelop the area.

[Raysfan16 5]

Wow, I couldn't have asked for a more detailed response. It kills me to look at those pics of what was there before the highway went up. Besides all of the people displaced, think of the neighbors that used to just walk over to the corner store, talk to the locals, and make friends with the owner. Now the freeway comes in and they are forced to either drive there or drive to the store that was an automobile-oriented development that has much more vareity.

Tampa has an almost similar issue. The Crosstown Expressway connects Downtown to Tampa's eastern suburb (Brandon) and it's western rich disctrict (Hyde Park). In exchange for that, the waterfront is completely cut off, and what is now bordering the Crosstown in downtown is the Convention Center, the hockey arena, the Port of Tampa, Channelside's entertainment stuff, and on the other side is surface parking lots.

[Kryptowhite 9]

^Been waiting to pull out that midieval boston thread

The Crosstown Expressway might even be worse. Its acting like a vaccine or something against development. Theres basically nothing urban for a block or two on both sides until you get to the convention center. Tampa should really get some development around that eyesore [it looks like there is some stuff u/c].

[Raysfan16 5]

What is also bad is that it severs lots of other links. It cuts off any pedestrian traffic from the islands, especially the dense Harbour Island, which was obviously developed due to its proximity to downtown. My mom's friend has lived in Boston for ten years, and did perfectly fine without a car until they finally bought one a little while ago. What frustrates me about the Crosstown is that it completely robs the chance to have a vibrant downtown. The St. Pete Times Forum is a really nice arena, especially outside. Before games, everything is lively, There are only a few doorknobs, but in exchange there is a little bar, contests, raffles, and live music every time. And it is always nice, and there are always people. But after the game is a different story. Everyone walks to their cars, which are located in surface parking lots. Besides the Andreychuk Grille right next to the stadium and Channelside, the city is a ghost town within a four block radius. In fact, most of the downtown core of Tampa is a ghost town besides between 9 to 5. Thank goodness for the SoHo district and Ybor City.

[Kryptowhite 9]

Well, most cities don't have much life in their financial districts/cbd's after 9 pm. Boston is just an exception because the city happens to be so small and dense that the financial center is bordered by quincy market, the TD banknorth garden, the theater district, chinatown, the public garden, the greenway, the aquarium...etc. etc. Everything is really in one spot, which probably explains why boston was voted the most walkable city in america. My uncle had 3 cars before moving into the heart of the city, after a few months he sold 2 of them because he only drove once.

[RedImperator 16]

Originally posted by: Muck308

Yeah, and when I lived in Philly, Rendell wanted to tear down all of Chinatown to build a new park. It was never gonna happen. BUt then they ended up expanding the convention center anyway didn't they? I agree that a stadium would have been great in downtown Philly, but it was unrealistic proposal. Philly is too dense, especially around center city. Pittsburgh had the room to build PNC Park with minimal demolition of nearby buildings. There was a snior citizen assisted living center that was torn down, and I think less than 50 people were relocated. In Philly that number would have been much much higher. Nice park though.quote>

The Chinatown proposal was dumb, but there are abandoned industrial sites along the waterfront just north of Center City which were large enough and would have had both highway and pedestrian access.  Or if we're talking pie-in-the-sky, they could have decked over the open parts of I-95 in the Penn's Landing area and built it right over top of the highway and reconnected Old City to the waterfront at the same time. 

Speaking of interesting Philadelphia projects and the convention center, I wonder if anyone is thinking about a possible High Line park on the Reading Viaduct.  It could be an interesting way to get foot traffic over the Vine Street Expressway into north Center City.

[Raysfan16 5]

Way to kill the conversation.... >_>

About the financial districts being active, I don't expect the financial parts to be active. But what's wrong with Tampa's downtown is that it has SIX major amenities, and none of them are connected well, and the areas in between are bone dry unless an event just got out. (all but one of those six major venues are 100% indoors, the other one is just an outdoor mall). I think something is wrong....even though I don't expect one bit for the areas around the tall financial corporate buildings to be lively ever. Where have all the department stores gone? What about all the shops? It's strange to fina as many small businesses in a 375k city's center than in a small town's center.