Noe Valley Town Square
Community Meeting #2
Townsquare Design Discussion
October 28, 2010
Meeting Agenda
- Project Overview and Next Steps including discussion of property value and appraisal.
- Summary of trends and findings from the 1st Community Meeting.
- Town Square Inspiration and Best Practices Presentation by CMG landscape architecture.
- Table Discussion and Town Square Design Exercise
- Group Report and Conclusion
Meeting Summary
Todd David provided an overview of the Town Square project, the recently completed appraisal of the property value, and potential for the City to acquire the property with funding from the City’s Open Space Fund. Meredith Thomas from the Neighborhood Parks Council elaborated on the Open Space Fund and the process for city acquisition of open space. The Noe Valley Town Square concept is consistent with the intent of the Open Space Fund. Residents for Noe Valley Town Square will continue to work with the NPC and the City to build support for acquisition.
Prior to breaking into groups, Chris Guillard of CMG landscape architecture gave a brief presentation including trends and findings from the 1st Community Meeting. CMG also presented inspirations and best practices for the design of town squares similar in scale and function. Following the presentation, participants broke into groups to discuss specifics of the town square design and address the following questions.
1. Flexibility: How much of the town square space should be dedicated to flexible uses such as community events vs. fixed uses like gardens or children’ s play areas? Note that the Farmers Market currently occupies 3/4 of the area. Discuss the best location for fixed vs. flexible uses.
2. Security: Should the Town Square include a fence and/or garden structure to control access?
3. Structures:
a. Should restrooms be provided? If so where should they be located?
b. Stage/Pavilion: Should a stage or pavilion be included and if so where is the best location.
c. Storage: Discuss storage needs and the best location for storage.
4. Children’s Play Area: Discuss the appropriate size and location of a children’s play area or areas.
5. General Ideas and Inspirations
Building Consensus: Key Themes from the Table Discussions
1. Flexibility and simplicity were consistently recommended.
2. Groups generally agreed that a fence and gate were not amenable to the program or atmosphere of the town square. Security should be addressed during the design process with visibility, lighting, and park rules.
3. Groups were mixed on need for restrooms and a stage. There was general consensus on the need for storage with the understanding that it not be oversized.
4. There was consensus on the idea that the town square should be designed for adults and children alike. There were consistent suggestions for informal play and seating features that could be sculptural and appealing to adults as well as children. Groups also identified flexible play such as hop scotch or other activities with movable and storable equipment as a good approach.
5. There was consensus on a need for a buffer and/or sound barrier along the back edge of the site, along with the idea of shifting seating and garden areas to the edges.
6. Many groups suggested water features as a way to add atmosphere and ‘white sound’ to the space.
Summary of Table Discussion’s by Group
Group 1
1. Flexible and Simple
2. Arrange seating areas around the edge
3. Provide a fence at the edge of the sidewalk
4. Children’s play area along back edge.
Group 2
1. Flexibility is essential
2. Buffer and tree planting along the back edge
3. Include water feature/sculpture
4. Include Restroom at front NE corner of site.
5. Provide limited amount of storage.
6. No permanent stage or pavilion structure.
7. No fence or gate, provide bollards along back of sidewalk to define space and provide lighting.
8. No permanent play areas, prefer flexible and open play environment.
Group 3
1. Open Flexible Design
2. Curvilinear floor design
3. Restrooms at Front corner combined with storage area.
4. Include community stage
5. No Fence
6. Garden and seating areas around the edge.
7. Water Feature
Group 4
1. Open Flexible Design with U shaped circulation and a small central planting area
2. Water feature or landmark at center of space.
3. Garden and seating areas around the edge.
4. Stage at center of back edge facing 24th St. Storage under stage. Stage doubles as seating area.
5. Moveable café seating if possible.
6. No restrooms
7. Flexible Play/Children’s art space. Hopscotch etc. Not too large
8. Electronic community board or kiosk
9. Peoples Wall – Vox Populii
Group 5
1. Open flexible paving area at center.
2. Include Restrooms
3. Include Bike Parking
4. Water Feature or Fountain at center
5. Storage included with Restrooms
6. Portable stage to be stored on site.
Group 6
1. Simple design with a lot of flexibility
2. Restroom for farmers market, not sure that it is public?
3. Planting buffer for adjacent neighbors and to provide wind screen for space.
4. Include noise restrictions in rules and management of space.
5. No pavilion or other structures.
Group 7
1. Simple design with a lot of flexibility
2. Include Restroom
3. No Fence or Gate, maintain visibility into an out of space
4. Combination water wall feature, sound wall, and movie wall located at back of space facing 24th street.
5. Stage and play area at back of site.
6. Ample lighting for security
7. Consider water jet fountain in paving for children’s play and flexible use.
8. Seating around edge
9. Consider retaining existing park area at corner.
Group 8
1. Consider a bulb-out sidewalk extension along 24th street.
2. Open and flexible design
3. Seating/climbing sculpture around edge.
4. Not just for kids or just for adults
5. Children’s play area at back of site as large as possible.
6. No fence or gate
7. Include restroom, stage, and pavilion
