Getting Cores Right! Principles Show How

prin-ci-ple:

1. A basic truth, law or assumption.

2. A rule or standard.

3. A fixed or predetermined policy or mode of action.

4. A basic or essential quality or element determining intrinsic nature or characteristic behavior.

5. A rule or law concerning the functioning of natural phenomena or mechanical processes.

Good cores aren’t created by accident. The only way to be successful is for everyone involved to understand and closely follow proven principles in their development and maintenance and management¹. These principles should be based on guidelines proven to be successful at many levels, in many locations and over many years.

Briefly, each may be stated in one or two descriptive words:

• Mixed Use

• Compactness

• Access

• Internal Circulation

• Amenities / Image

• Supporting Uses

Each principle should be provided with supporting guidelines to amplify their meaning.

Why Principles

To produce good cores, every principle must be fulfilled in some degree. Every one is required for their success. Despite this fact, they are not widely known, well understood or closely followed. When effectively used, they benefit decision makers, planners and designers in many ways and greatly increase chances for success. For example, they:

• Identify operational, physical and functional requirements essential to good cores, helping to assure that they are provided.

• State goals clearly and strong enough to keep development and operation on track both in initial development and over time through distractions and confusion that emerge through changes in leadership and economic, social and environmental conditions.

• Provide clear but flexible guidance to detailed planning and design.

• Provide clear criteria with which to test and evaluate proposals and results.

History of Principles

The pioneering statement of goals and principles prepared by the Chicago Central Area in the 1950's was followed by one prepared by the Minneapolis Planning Commission in 1959. This was built on work done in Chicago by Ted Aschman. This, in turn, provided a basis for much of the report, Central Business District Goals, published by The American Society of Planning Officials the same year . Principles for planning of downtown Minneapolis have been republished, expanded and restated several times over the years.

Diagrams used to illustrate some of these are shown here.

(Show series across page or down left margin?) Images: page 6: downtown diagram, downtown diagram 4, downtown diagram 2, Housing Districts

Several other statements of principles for core development followed. These include those developed in Toronto and Vancouver. One of the most recent is discussed in “Transforming Suburban Shopping Centers” by Geoffrey Booth².

All of these principles are important; none can be ignored. As stated in guidelines for nodal (core) development in Toronto, “None of these guidelines can really stand alone. The successful node combines all of the qualities set out above.”

It is extremely important that a good understanding of principles be widespread among planners, public officials, developers, and others in positions to make key decisions, provide financing and otherwise influence basic development plans. This is the only way that a plan can survive over time in the competition between agendas and objectives and through changes in leadership. These principles should be the basic test against which every plan or proposal is measured.

Principles Overview

As stated above, principles for the planning of downtowns or cores fall into the following the six areas. Experience has shown that most of these conditions must exist to a large degree if cores or downtowns are to be successful. Occasionally some very strong anchor will have an attraction that will overcome deficiencies in other areas.

Mixed Uses

A good mix of compatible land uses and activities. Mixes that work will depend largely on the dominant activities (shopping, office, recreation, tourism, etc.) However, since important roles of cores are to create identity and community and promote interaction, as many uses as possible which do this should be included. (link to PDF)

Mixed use includes a number of related land uses such as this.

Compactness

Compact arrangement, overall and for any subareas or support land uses. What constitutes “compactness” depends on the overall size of the core as well as modes and effectiveness of internal circulation, especially pedestrian facilities. (link to PDF)

Access

Good access by several modes, including especially transit. Good access not only provides safe and readily understood access to cores but minimizes congestion in surrounding areas as well as in cores, themselves. Wherever possible, it should include good pedestrian access from nearby communities within walking distance. (link to PDF)

(image: down 827, caption: page 5 pic, no number) “Light rail is increasingly being built in many communities. However, express lane bus and auto pedestrian and cycle access should also be considered good access by public transit is important in any core or center.”

(Image: , caption:) “In larger centers various types of transit should be available to meet internal circulation needs as well.”

Internal Circulation

Internal circulation that is extensive, fine grained and comfortable by pedestrian and other means. Good internal circulation will also help overcome problems created by lack of compactness (possibly allowing the core to be larger) , promote contact and interaction within a core and immediate surroundings and help make transit and peripheral parking more effective. (link to PDF)

(Image: 26) (caption: Walks that are closely spaced and sometimes elevated, moving sidewalks, special transit and small shuttle buses such as this are all useful in improving internal circulation.)

Amenities and Image

Effective images and amenities, providing “public,” community or cultural elements, open space, orientation, a sense of history and aesthetic satisfaction. These are becoming more essential and are often the “spice” that makes the difference between ordinary or dull and exciting, attractive and capable of generating identity, loyalty and support. (link to PDF)

 

(Image: 4 chi light 479 p30.., 470) (Image caption) “Well designed street furniture is a major part of the image, character and amenity of a downtown or center”

 

(Image 15) (caption:” Amenities can be almost anything one can imagine from landscaping and lighting to this pedal-powered merry-go-round operated in downtown Grenada, Spain.)

Supporting Uses

Good supporting uses and activities, both within cores and in surrounding areas. This is often thought to be mainly housing. However, it could also include major public, medical, educational, institutional, recreational and other uses that are so extensive or demanding of space that they cannot be comfortably located within a core (such as a stadium, hospital, zoo or botanical garden) but would be mutually supporting with core activities. (link to PDF)

Of course, a seventh "principle” is that good management¹ must be provided to make it all happen. And specifics for each principle should be provided are needed as well. And see link 6. Management and Support..

See more information about principles in such links such as those identified above as well as “Quick View,” under “Why Cores” and “Needs-Opportunities” and statements that expand and explain these principles and found in other pages and links noted herein.

¹Because it is so important to implementation, “Good Management” is also some times listed as a goal or principle. However, it is considered more of a force or factor in implementation than a factor in planning.

²Booth, Goeffrey, Tranforming Suburban Shopping Centers, Urban Land Institute, 2001.