Washington Street Mall Improvements

1
Washington Street MallImprovements
Consider the Possibilities!

• April 12, 2007
• City of Cape May

2
The Purpose of Tonights Meeting

• Communicate Mall Subcommittees ideas
• Hear feedback from public
• Discuss next steps

3
Mall Subcommittee Members

• Hilary Pritchard, Chairperson
• Tom Carroll
• Christine Miller
• Jim Moffatt
• Hugh McCauley

• Jinny Hesel
• Jim Wyatt
• Skip Loughlin
• Cindy Huf
• Lou Corea

4
Why Is The Mall Important?

• Shopping/Restaurants
• History/Architecture
• People Watching
• Town Centerpiece

5
History of the Mall

• Constructed in 1970-71
• Stimulated the rebirth of Cape May
• Visited by tens of thousands each year

6
What are the Concerns?

• General disrepair
• Lack of uniform design
• Obstructions to pedestrian traffic
• Safety issues
• Underground utilities

7
What Has Already Been Addressed?

• Replace water and sewer
• Cost Approximately 400K
• Funding already approved by Bond Ordinance 62-2006

8
Revitalization ProcessA Tale of 2 Years

• 2006
• Learning experience
• Too fast
• Need for community involvement
• 2007
• More community involvement
• Formation of Mall Subcommittee
• Open access to meetings
• Mall merchant involvement
• Result compromise plan better suited to our
  needs

9
Committees Goals

• Committee agreed on these goals
• Preserve streetscape
• Enhance experience of walking
• Better design
• Fewer obstacles
• Smoother, safer surface
• Beautification and landscaping
• Retain historic flavor

10
Specific Concerns Addressed by Mall Sub-Committee

• Overall design
• Surface material
• Trees and plants
• Site furnishings
• Transformers

11
Surface Material

• Too many types of materials clutter the scene
• Currently lacks a unified look throughout

12
Trees and Plants

• Many trees in poor health
• Planting areas are too small
• Pavement heaving (tripping lawsuits and ADA
  access)

13
Site Furnishings

• Too many styles clutter the scene
• Currently lacks a unified look throughout

14
Three Transformers

• Block pedestrian traffic
• Not attractive
• Expensive to relocate or modify

15
Committees New Directions in 2007
16
Cost-Effective Measures

• Committee agreed to cut costs
• 1. Use less expensive materials than originally
  planned
• Less granite and stone
• More use brick
• 2. Eliminate controversial elements
• No widening of area in front of church

17
New Ideas (2007)

• Provide better connections to Rotary Park to
  become the focus of activity for public
  gatherings
• Possibility of extending mall surface down side
  streets (Ocean, Decatur, Jackson and Perry)

18
New Ideas (2007)

• Possibility of including Carpenter and Lyle Lane
• Possibility of coordinating material across Ocean
  St.

19
Working Concepts to Consider

• Remington Vernick prepared two concepts based
  on the committees findings
• Similar costs
• Two-tone design to demarcate street versus
  sidewalk
• Committee voted to recommend Concept 2
• Better visual features

20
Working Concept 1
21
Detail of Working Concept 1

• Bluestone can get hot in full sun
• Price is 3x as much as brick

22
Working Concept 2
23
Detail of Working Concept 2

• All clay brick
• Colors to be determined, but mostly red

24
Working Concept 2
25
Can We Keep Existing Trees?

• Retain vs. survive vs. thrive
• Excavation and utility work cause damage
• Shade Tree Commissions Report

26
Improved Planting Areas

• Trenches to permit extra growing space
• Improved types of trees
• Structural soil

27
(No Transcript)
28
Committee Recommendations
29
Brick

• Attractiveness and beauty
• Historic feeling
• Longevity
• Cleanable
• Repairable without being patched up
• Minimal ongoing maintenance cost
• Affordability
• Cool, non-glare

30
Another Citys Solution

• Winnetka, IL

31
Other Surface Options

• Ideas that were considered and rejected
• High-end natural materials (granite and stone)
• Too expensive
• Aggregate or stamped concrete
• Cant be easily repaired without visible scar
• Not historic
• More costly to maintain long-term

32
Fountains

• Previous designs offered 3 possible locations for
  fountains
• One at each end
• Middle
• Fountains offer
• Strong visual focus
• Place to congregate
• Cooling effect
• Cost 25,000 each
• Question How many?
• If one, we recommend center location

33
Transformers

• Three Options
• 1. Move
• Approximately 1 million
• 2. Downsize
• Approximately 500K
• Leaving transformers but reduce footprint
• Transforming exterior into stand for flowers,
  etc.
• 3. Keep with New Façade Treatment
• Could be made more attractive
• Least expensive option

34
Keep Existing Benches

• Memorials should be retained
• Good condition

35
Keep the Clock as is

• Clock is in a good location
• Good condition

36
Costs

• The type of paving materials will impact the
  overall cost of the project.
• If brick and blue stone, cost 3.0 million
• If just brick, cost 2.75 million

37
Costs

• Cost estimates include
• Hardscape
• Lighting/Fountains/Trash Receptacles
• Landscaping and irrigation

38
Options

• Move transformers 1 million
• Downsize transformers 500,000
• Complete side streets 190,000
• Complete Carpenter and Lyle Lane 500,000

39
Next Steps

• Council introduces bond ordinance at next regular
  meeting Monday, April 16
• Public comment at work session, Tuesday, May 1
• Bond ordinance final passage May 15, 2007
• Reminder Bond must be adequate for unforeseen
  surprises
• Dollars not spent until authorized by council