Community Research
Welcome to the East Lewiston Revitalization Master Plan and Focus Design project presentation by .  (click on the icons for a larger image)

Goals

 1. Design a community that encourages pedestrian use.

2. Increase population to support a light rail system and neighborhood businesses.

3. Create a lively community that supports local business with residents and visitors.

4.  Develop spaces as both active and passive.

5.  Bring the outdoor environment to urban an urban setting.

 
   

Program

 The revitalization of East Lewiston is to produce a community within a community.  A place where people can feel that they belong to a neighborhood, both working and playing near their home.

Within a comfortable walking radius should be schools, medical and professional buildings, and retail shops making them accessible to all who live nearby.  These shops should encourage shoppers from Lewiston to take the ride over on the light rail and spend the day in this new community.

Green space will be provided for each individual housing unit.  This will allow residents who live in multifamily housing developments to easily access the outdoors.  Public green space will also be available for use all along the waterfront.
   
Master Plan The master plan for the revitalization of East Lewiston stresses the need for high density living weaved within as much green space as possible.  Shopping districts, restaurant rows, and parks have all been integrated into a community that has also put their young people in the spotlight. Youth districts, recreation fields, and skate parks are important pieces of the whole.  Walking or biking in the community is encouraged through a riverfront trail that connects to the existing path on the west side of Highway 12 and goes all through the length East Lewiston.  A north-south axis is set in the middle of the community that allows easy, walkable, access to the river for those who live on the southern end of the site.

 Community

Numbers
Type Retail Floors Total #of Housing Floors in Town #of Units per Floor Total Units Average Dwellers Total Number of People
60x60 94 512 4 2048 2.5 5120
Rectangle 24 201 6 1206 2.5 3015
Downtown 14 37 8 296 2.5 740
Condo 34 204 5 1020 2.5 2550
Courtyard 6 12 32 384 2.5 960
Cutout 4 8 24 192 2.5 480
Townhouse 0 * * 80 2.5 200
  East Lewiston Renovation averages 26 people per acre
  *Townhouses have private parking on the first floor and two floors of living space.  Each floor is 50x25.  Each unit holds two townhouses.

Parking

 Total parking area=2,881,572.25 square feet

One parking stall=162 square feet

Total parking for residents and visitors=17,787

Retail Space

 Total retail floors=176

Average floor size=1,000 square feet

Detail

 The northern end of the main axis of the community goes directly through a multiuse neighborhood that is full of street side cafes and higher end retail shops.  The central core of the axis is a tree lined street with generous sidewalks on either side.  An atmosphere here is such that a pedestrian could be swept away to the streets of Paris while he/she window shops and sips the perfect latte.

Continuing north on this axis, directly across the cross street is the public park adjacent to the river.  South of this development is the community square, which is easily reached through a public park.
   

Detail

 The community square is the central core of the north-south axis.  It is the connection point of the northern and southern neighborhoods, and this is celebrated by the Solstice Fountain. 

Flanked on both sides of the public square are three-floor, multiuse buildings filled with cafes, retail shops, and coffeehouses.  The second and third flours are housing units, 16 total in each building.  Each building has gated parking in the rear and personal garden plots for use by the tenants.  These plots allow tenants to keep their green thumbs while living in an urban environment.

This neighborhood is easily reached by residents in other parts of the city by the convenient light rail station that sits directly in the middle of the square.

Walking south through a small public park the pedestrian would reach the south tip of the community.
   

Detail

 Residents of the southern end of the community live in low income houses, but are not deprived of anything the community has to offer.  By being the terminus of the north-south axis, these residents can easily walk to the river, the community square, and the tram station. 

Every fourth building here has retail/cafes on the bottom floor so residents can conveniently stop by get the morning paper and cup of coffee, drop of dry cleaning or grab that carton of milk forgotten at the supermarket.
   

Detail

 Apartment style living is not the only housing style available in East Lewiston.  Townhomes that have two units per building sit above the river on the west side of the development.  With garage parking on the first level of each unit, the streets look similar to a single family housing neighborhood, but the density is twice as much.  A large central park anchors the neighborhood and allows space for pick-up baseball games a barbeques.
   

Focus Area

 Welcome to the heart of East Lewiston.  This focus area was chosen because it includes a variety of spaces within a small area; a quality of the multiuse design. The community square, major light rail station, retail shops, and private garden space for residents are all shown here.

Focus Area Goals

  1. Create a community center that is useable, in both active and passive ways
  2. Create an atmosphere that is friendly and encouraging to the people who live around the square
  3. Provide an interest for users of the light rail system as they wait, or encourage them to get off
  4. Provide each tenant of downtown buildings access to nature
 

Schematic Design

 The design is developed around primary and secondary axes. The two axes that run north-south and east-west connect all the major features of the sight and give a sense of direction to the pedestrian.  This concept became the first trace layer.  Over-laid on this idea was the need for a tram station, public gathering area and intimate space.  These major spots became features directly on the north-south axis.
   

Detail

 The primary and secondary axes meet in the center of the plaza and are celebrated with a magnificent water feature. The extension of the circle is a jet powered fountain that comes out of the pavement. Starting on the southern tip of the circle, small jets start and as one moves through the space the jets get higher and higher, until climaxing at the northern end. Children can play in the fountain on hot days while their caregivers can look on from the grass planted in the center.  This water feature gives the plaza an active sense of space.
   

Detail

 Inside their private garden, tenants and/or owners of the downtown apartments have their own unit garden plot. These plots can be used for anything from growing fresh vegetables to planting a butterfly garden. Users must follow rules saying that nothing illegal will be grown in these plots and that they will be maintained if in use.
   

Detail

 A nicely paved sidewalk 20’ wide sits out front of shops and cafes. This generous size allows both pedestrians and bicyclists to use the right of way. Planters maintained by the City line the storefronts and street trees create a nice buffer between the pedestrian and the cars parked along the street. Every other storefront is cut back 10’ to provide extra display room or tables and chairs. This also breaks up the monotony of the scenery. The one way street includes an inlaid light rail track that continues into the station.
   

Detail

 The light rail station is literally the middle circle of the plaza, it is connected to the fountain in the north end of the plaza by a paver pathway. Made of glass, the station sparkles in the light of day and provides night lighting to the center of the plaza. Grass fills the circle, giving light rail users an alternative to waiting in the station.
   

Three Dimensional Studies

 To help understand the experiences one would have using this space, a three-dimensional model was made.

This aerial model view shows the variety of spaces in the downtown area.  Tenants have  immediate access to a public plaza, light rail station, private garden space, and local shopping and dining.  Workers have a close light rail station and places for lunch, while visitors have it all.

 
   

Detail

 Captured here is the essence of the entire space. Paving patterns identify the primary and secondary axes. Large open areas are available for town festivals, concerts, and markets. Families can gather in the center as the children play in the fountains, and professionals can gather around the courtyards and sip coffee as they enjoy breaks from their work day.
   

Detail

 The resident garden plots are raised garden beds along the southern end of the private gardens.  These plots allow urban residents to experience rural life in a small scale, but important way.
   

Detail

 The private gardens contain much more than just the resident garden plots. The rest of the garden is open to use for all residents. There is picnic areas, play fields, and a formal gathering area in the center for events. The resident plots are flanked by four community garden plots that are tended to by community gardeners. Fruits and vegetables are grown here for the residents use and are sold to the community periodically at the Farmer’s Market in the Plaza.
   

Detail

 Sunken courtyards sit on both the east and west sides of the courtyard. The eastern courtyard is designed for summer use, with a fountain to cool the air. The upper terrace has tables that are shaded by the hot afternoon sun. This courtyard is easily accessible to those who would like to rest or socialize but, who do not want to walk out to the middle of the plaza.

The western courtyard is designed to create a winter microclimate. It is open to the morning sun and the tables are nestled between the buildings and the solarium. The solarium contains a coffee house that creates a wonderful, warm winter atmosphere, and can be opened to the outside in the summer. Nestled between the pergola and plantings is a wonderful gathering spot for families, friends and coworkers.
   

Detail

 As one looks south through the plaza the commanding presence of the fountain is unavoidable. This view also helps depict the different heights of the fountain jets.
   

Detail

 As one crosses the plaza to continue to the shopping on the west side, you do so in a covered pergola. This pergola provides a sightline for those using the downtown shopping district. It also creates a shady spot to wait for the light rail.
   

Detail

 The parking lot is screened from view from tenants of the apartments and retail stores. A visual buffer made of shrubs separates the building from the parking lot and large trees planted in the center of the lot help block it from view out of apartment windows.
   

Detail

 Even as the water jets into the sky, pedestrians can safely use the space because the fountain is grading to drain direction back into the center of the fountain. Uplights are embedded into the fountain to designate the space at night and create interest on the fountain into the evening.