A study we did to generate new business from existing disused space behind downtown's thriving bar district

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Seattle
Passages and Alleyways
Lincoln, Nebraska
Pasadena
New York City
Vancouver
Los Angeles
Concept Study
Pasadena
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The City of Lincoln and the Downtown Lincoln Association
have expressed interest in enhancing existing alleyways and
creating green back courtyards to enliven and enhance
downtown Lincoln.
Alleys and Passages
Lincoln, Nebraska
There are many US cities- such as Seattle, Fort Collins, and
Pasadena- that are recognizing the potential of alleys as
inviting public spaces and pedestrian connections capable of
attracting activity that is good for the local economy and
neighborhood safety. Internationally, cities like Melbourne
and Vancouver are ahead of the US in creating new
economic activity from formerly neglected alleys.
Although alleys take up a significant portion of space within
most cities (streets and alleys combined take up around 30%
of city land on average) they are often neglected as many
buildings turn their backs to alleys. By activating existing
utility streets and designing buildings that are sensitive to the
street level, alleys present great opportunities to create a more
vibrant public realm, improve pedestrian connections, and
generate new business opportunities. Some cities are
including “green” designs which include permeable
pavements and landscaping to aid storm water management.
In Lincoln, there are several opportunities for alley
enhancement. Examples include the alley between the Grand
Manse and Old City Hall, enhancing the existing
Barrymore’s alley between from 13th to 14th, and possibly a
new alley and courtyard system in the block between 14th and
15th between P and O Streets.
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3. Typical Alley Challenges
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Alleys and Passages
Lincoln, Nebraska
Alleyways are characteristically narrow, which discourages or at least slows motor vehicle traffic. Despite this,
alleys have a number of disadvantages that need to be overcome to provide a safe and comfortable experience
including:
•Security: Usually the biggest concern for using alleys is security. Most alleys provide little surveillance with
few “eyes on the street” given their location at the rear of buildings and obscurity from well trafficked
streets. Lighting is often poor and the penetration of natural light is less effective.
•Economic Vitality: The lack of visibility is also a concern for potential economic activity. This must be
overcome by encouraging active storefronts on the alleyway.
•“Back-of-Building”: Unsightly services such as refuse collection, utilities, etc. are often located in alleys.
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4. Hallmarks of a Successful Alley
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Alleys and Passages
Lincoln, Nebraska
•Proximity to multiple established participating commercial establishments.
•Potential for multiple business fronts to face the alley.
•Ability to fill a need in the existing pedestrian circulation network.
•Light and low-speed traffic conditions in the alley right of way.
•Plentiful street lighting and potential “eyes on the street”.
•Safe and well delineated street crossings at entrance/exit.
•Ongoing funding program to ensure cleanliness.
•Good pavement quality and effective drainage.
•Potential for inclusion of new amenities such as landscaping, graphics, public art, etc.
•Few existing obstacles such as utility poles or trash receptacles blocking right of way.
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5. Hallmarks of a Successful Alley
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Alleys and Passages
Lincoln, Nebraska
A close look at each of the case studies that follow suggests that there are certain elements that should be
present in an alleyway project. A partial list includes:
•Pedestrian amenities such as trash receptacles, prominent street lighting, and public seating that increase
comfort and safety.
•Public art, media, or graphics program or similar visual element that helps to uniquely define the space
and provide visual interest
•Closure, partial closure, or calming of the through-way to motor vehicle traffic. This makes the space
comfortable for pedestrians and bicyclists and provides opportunities to use the space for activities such
as dining and street performance.
•Actively encourage the use of alleyway for commercial uses such as boutiques, restaurants, and bars.
This serves the dual purpose of improving the local economy by providing small shop space- a critical
need in Downtown Lincoln- as well as creating an interesting environment where people will choose to
visit and spend time.
•Use environmentally conscious and sustainable design techniques, such as permeable pavers, natural
landscaping, and recycled building materials that can effectively manage storm-water runoff.
•Entrance features that clearly differentiate it from the rest of the rest of the city streets, serve as
identifiers and attract customers.
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6. Case Study #1
Pasadena, California
One Colorado
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Alleys and Passages
Lincoln, Nebraska
One Colorado is a mixed use development at
the heart of Old Pasadena that unifies 19thcentury architecture through the reuse of
former alleyways and service courts for
shopping, alfresco dining and entertainment.
Designed after a European town center, One
Colorado’s main courtyard is Old Pasadena’s
leading venue for free kids’ activities, concerts
and performances, art markets, outdoor film
screenings and site-specific art installations.
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7. Case Study #2
EaCa Alley
Hollywood, California
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Alleys and Passages
Lincoln, Nebraska
Originally a locked up trash dump before the city
took it on in 2008, the alley received landscaping
work, lighting and paving, and features a Street
Market for artists to sell their wares during the
adjacent Hollywood Farmers' Market every
Sunday. Phase I of the alley focused on the
southern portion where three restaurants set up
outdoor dining areas. The northern part of the
alley features also restaurants using the space.
The East Cahuenga Corridor Alley Association
runs the alley and gates are open from 9AM to 2
AM. The overhaul project cost about $790,000,
and was funded by the former Community
Redevelopment Agency, the adjacent businesses
(covering landscaping and lighting), and the
Hollywood Property Owners Alliance (security and
maintenance).
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8. Case Study #3
Seattle, Washington
Alley Network Project,
Pioneer Square
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Alleys and Passages
Lincoln, Nebraska
The International Sustainability Institute, a not-forprofit organization based in Pioneer Square, has
been leading an effort with residents, businesses,
and community groups to transform Pioneer
Square’s alleys to boost healthy activity on its
streets, feed its growing arts culture, and draw
people to local businesses.
A study conducted by the City identified Seattle
alleys as having the potential to be great pedestrian
spaces, due to the scale of the buildings, the narrow
alley passageways and architecture. Since the first
Nord Alley project in 2008, numerous alley
activation efforts have sprouted up in Pioneer
Square. Nord Alley has held nearly 100 events with
more than 5,000 people.
By leveraging funds from government, private
foundations, and local businesses, and tying
together a wide variety of people- public space
experts, community organizers, marketing
professionals and students- Pioneer Square is
working to transform forgotten alleys in to usable
public spaces.
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9. Case Study #4
Melbourne, Australia
Melbourne Lanes
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Alleys and Passages
Lincoln, Nebraska
I
n Melbourne, Australia, 'laneways' that date back to
the Victorian era have been successfully revitalized
following a study undertaken in 1994. The city of
Melbourne encourages and provides grants to local
businesses and artists to enhance the character and
diversity of these intimate city streets.
Melbourne’s laneways are narrow enclaves where
mainstream culture takes a back seat to allow for
one-off boutiques, unique galleries, tiny cafés and
hidden bars. There are over 180 of these small, tiny
and miniscule streets that are often overlooked by
tourists, but they contain an interesting mix of shops,
bars, restaurants and cafes.
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10. Case Study #5
Fort Collins, Colorado
Trimble and Tenney Courts
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Alleys and Passages
Lincoln, Nebraska
I
n 2004, the Fort Collins Downtown
Plan identified the alleys in the Downtown
area as an untapped opportunity for
enhanced pedestrian connections.
A couple of years later, the UniverCity
Connections report reinforced this notion
and suggested the alley network between
CSU and Downtown could establish a
unique physical link between CSU, Old
Town Square and the River District.
In 2006, the Downtown Development
Authority initiated a pilot project which
included improving the pedestrian-only
Trimble Court (connecting College and
Old Town Square) and Tenney Court
(connecting Mountain Avenue with the
Civic Center Parking Structure).
The goal in initiating the project was to
enhance the alleys aesthetically and to
stimulate increased economic vitality and
use of the spaces.
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11. Case Study #6
San Francisco, California
Linden Alley
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Alleys and Passages
Lincoln, Nebraska
 San Francisco, the 'Linden Living Alley',
In
has become a successful city pilot project
for the development of a network of green
streets, particularly in areas under-served by
public parks. Linden serves a mix of light
industrial, office and residential uses. The
limited width of the six foot wide sidewalks
leave little space for pedestrians or
landscaping.
By removing three car parking spaces and
narrowing the road way, the street was reorganized to accommodate wider
landscaped sidewalks with seating areas.
The road was raised to the same level as the
sidewalk to blur the distinction between the
pedestrian and automobile realms and to
create a unified space.
Planters, benches, and recycled granite
curbstones are arranged to function as
barriers yet create the illusion of a
continuous “outdoor living room”.

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12. Case Study #7
Long Beach, California
Alta Way, East Village
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Alleys and Passages
Lincoln, Nebraska
In the East Village of Long Beach
between Linden and Elm Avenue on
Alta Way (an east-west alley that runs
between Broadway and First Street).
The project involved converting a section
of Alta Way from vehicular use to
pedestrian space. Landscaping, and large
stone tables and chairs and public art in
the form of a large mural complete the
space.
The project was a community initiative,
with financial support from the City’s
Neighborhood Services Bureau
and Downtown Long Beach Association,
along with sweat equity.
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13. P Street Master Plan
Barrymore’ s Alley Upgrade
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Alleys and Passages
Lincoln, Nebraska
Illustration by Josh Brooks Design Workshop
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14. Courtyard #2
N
Lincoln, Nebraska
Centennial Mall
Lincoln, Nebraska
Proposed Project
Alleys and Passages
Post &
Nickel
Zoo Bar
Duffy’s
Courtyard #1
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15. N
More Resources:
Fort Collins:
http://www.downtownfortcollins.org/docs/alley-plan.pdf
San Francisco:
http://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/Linden-Alleyplanners-in-S-F-went-extra-mile-3248697.php
Melbourne:
http://www.thatsmelbourne.com.au/placestogo/LanewaysandArcad
es/Pages/LanewaysandArcades.aspx
Seattle:
http://www.seattle.gov/dpd/cms/groups/pan/@pan/@plan/@proj/do
cuments/web_informational/dpdp020498.pdf
http://alleynetworkproject.com/
Vancouver:
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https://www.facebook.com/LivableLaneways