Sustainable Beaver
Business District
May 2, 2012
Gabriela Luongo
Rosa Rendon
Elia Sorice
The importance of third places
As alternatives to the social environments of home and work,
Third Places are essential to public life,
local democracy & community vitality
2
www.playborhood.comhttp://www.pps.org
Agenda
Introduction
Sustainable Toolkit
Toolkit Implementation
Final Thoughts
3
40 miles NW from Pittsburgh
Population: 5,144
Town Amenities:
• Fort McIntosh
• Beaver Area Heritage
Museum
• Farmer’s Market
National Register of Historic
Places (1997)
Beaver in a Snapshot
4
Beaver Business District Model of
Sustainability
20%
1%
36%
34%
9%
Business District Profile
Food service Municipal Service
Retail Business Service Business
Vacant
5
With 75 businesses, the Beaver Business District has taken several steps towards a sustainable future
Downtown First Certification
Duquesne Light Grant
Street furniture maintenance
Stakeholders Analysis
6
Sustainable Beaver Business
DistrictVisitors
Residents
Town Center Associates
Business District Authority
Beaver Borough
Duquesne Light
Carnegie Mellon
Supporters
Active Stakeholders
Beneficiaries
Agenda
Introduction
Sustainable Toolkit
Toolkit Implementation
Final Thoughts
7
Sustainable Toolkit
8
Energy Efficiency
Street Furniture
StormwaterManagement
Recycling Community Engagement
Energy Efficiency
9
Light Emitting Diode
(LED) benefits:
Energy efficiency
Safety
LED Uses:
Traffic lights
Building outdoor up-lighting
Gardens and trees
Information purposes
Street Furniture
10
Bike Racks Promotes walkability and
different mean of transportation
Planters & Hanging Flowers
Manages stormwaterrunoff
Improves the public realm
Awnings Reduce energy demands
Community Identifiers Create civic pride
Stormwater Management
Bioswales / Silva Cell Provides onsite storm
water treatment
Allows growth for large trees
Rain Barrels Decreases runoff to
stormwater sewers
Captures water for landscaping & irrigation
Serves as example for homeowners
11http://www.deeproot.com/blog/blog-entries/using-pervious-pavers-with-the-silva-cell-system
Beaver Trees
Stormwater Management
Pervious Pavement
Manages stormwater
runoff
Prevents soil erosion
Filters contaminants
12http://www.morrisbeacon.com/blog/?p=185
Non-Pervious
Pervioushttp://electricalandplumbingsystems.wordpress.com/storm-water-system/
Existing Alley Conditions
Water, sediments, and pollutants are directed towards storm sewers through downspouts.
13
Impervious pavement collects
water and prevents
groundwater recharge.
Rain Barrels Implementation
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Rain barrels help reduce the
quantity of water that enters
stormwater drainage systems
Pervious pavement reduces
quantity and improves quality
of stormwater runoff, allowing
for groundwater recharge.
Recycling
Currently there is no system of
Recycling in Beaver Borough
Solar Compact Trash Bins
Reduces trash collection by 80%
Saves money by reducing fuel costs
and improving recycling
opportunities.
15
Beaver Trash Cans
Solar Compact Trash Bins
http://bostinno.com/2011/02/02/bigbelly-doubles-revenueshttp://www.phillydesignblog.com/2009/05/big-belly/
Community Engagement
Educate Through Events
Engage residents to reduce negative impact on the
environment
Experience Downtown by integrating new sustainable
practices
Educate through events & create Downtown as central community
location.
Experience
EducateEngage
Community Engagement
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Bike Lanes and Bike Racks
Create a community competition for original bike racks
Involve the whole community (not only downtown)
Organize Bike to Work and School Day
Implement programs for young population to encourage walkability
Community Engagement
Suggested Events:
Earth Day Festivities
Rain Barrels Art Exposition
Raffle Rain Barrels
First Friday in Downtown
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Agenda
Introduction
Sustainable Toolkit
Toolkit Implementation
Final Thoughts
19
Toolkit Implementation
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Phase I (0 – 1 year)
- Rain barrels
- Bike racks
- Community Identifiers
- LED retrofitting
- Awnings & Planters
- Education programs
- Recycling bins
Phase II (2 – 3 years)
- LED outdoor up-lighting
- LED crosswalks
- Bike racks
- Retractable awnings
- Bioswales / Silva cells
- Median
Phase III (3 – 5 years)
- Parallel parking
- Bike signage
Existing Conditions
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40’ Beaver Clock Tower
Phase I
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LED Retrofit Bicycle Racks
Awnings & Planters
Community Identifiers
Rain Barrels Solar Compacting Trash Bin
Education Programs
Phase II
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LED Uplighting
LED Crosswalks
Awnings & Planters
Bicycle Racks
Bioswales/ Rain Gardens
Pervious Pavement
Solar Compacting
Trash Bin
Suggested Community
Events
Phase III
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LED Uplighting
LED Crosswalks
Awnings & Planters
Bicycle Racks
Bioswales/ Rain Gardens
Parallel Parking
Solar Compacting
Trash Bin
Annual Community
Events
Existing Conditions
25
Phase I
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LED retrofitting has significant cost saving benefits
Retractable awnings reduce energy demands
Planters improve the quality of the public realm
Phase II
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Bioswales and rain gardens reduce stormwater runoff and allows for groundwater recharge
LED uplighting
improves energy
efficiency and
illuminate downtown
businesses
Phase III
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Parallel parking
Bike racks encourage alternative modes of transportation
Next steps
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1. Organize a task force
• Include all Stakeholders
2. Adopt a guiding principle or framework
• Implement “sustainable toolkit”
3. Appoint a Director of Sustainable Development
• Create accountability for success
4. Secure sources of funding and consultation
• Pennsylvania’s Main Street Program
• Coordinate with local waste management
5. Promote sustainable vision
• Encourage civic engagement and education municipality-wide
• Share best practices with surrounding communities
Sustainable Beaver
Business District
May 2, 2012
Gabriela Luongo
Rosa Rendon
Elia Sorice