"Strengthening the City's Civic Spine: The Future of Court Avenue," is the final presentation of the American Institute of Architects Sustainable Design Assessment Team to the community of Jeffersonville, Indiana. A national team of volunteer professionals worked with the community through a 3-day public process to produce a community-driven strategy for the area.

1. Court Avenue Corridor AIA SDAT
City of Jeffersonville, IN
Strengthening the City’s Civic Spine

2. AIA SDAT Process
• We came
– 3 days with 6 professionals from across the country
– June (New York), Judie (Phoenix), Paula (Seattle), Pat (Los
Angeles), Marc (Brooklyn), and Taryn (Tampa)
• We saw
– Toured Court Avenue, from I-65 to Graham St.
• We listened
– 1 day of stakeholder meetings & community workshop
• We planned
– 2 days of intensive brainstorming, research, diagramming &
sketching
• Complete report to follow

3. We saw… touring Court Avenue
Cracked sidewalks
Poor crosswalks
Historic buildings
Lovely homes
Assets & Opportunities for Improvement

4. We saw… touring Court Avenue
And a side trip
to Schimpff’s
Candy!

Also, Café on Meigs,
Adrienne’s, Pearl St.
Game & Coffee, etc.

5. We listened… stakeholder sessions

6. We listened… community workshops

7. What we heard
• Court Ave. Feels Neglected and Unloved (“Bleak”)
– Unsafe for all users: drivers, parkers, and walkers
– And bicyclists? Forget about it...
• Parking, Parking, Parking!
• Corridor Turns into a Ghost Town after 5 pm
– You love your homes and businesses, but downtown lacks
conveniences and amenities, such as a grocery store
– The public/civic realm is tired and under-activated
• Desire to Strengthen the Downtown District
– Capitalize on ped/bike visitors from Big Four Pedestrian Bridge
– Improve experience of driver entry points from highways
– Realize potential of underutilized and vacant land parcels

8. Presentation Outline
• Context of Court Avenue within City of Jeff
– Why Does it Matter?
• Growth Opportunities Along the Corridor
– The Economic Big Picture
– Urban Design Analysis
• Healthy Corridor Re-Design
– Best Practices for Health and Mobility
– Streetscape Elements
• Programming the Public Realm

9. Context of Court Avenue
Why Does it Matter?

10. Context: City of Jeff
Metro Louisville’s
second downtown,
now linked up
closer than ever by
the Big Four
Pedestrian Bridge

11. Locating the Downtown
Court Ave forms a
central spine
through the
downtown, distinct
in character &
potential from 10th
St and Spring St

12. Civic Anchors
Many of the city’s
major civic
institutions are
anchored along, or
nearby, the corridor

13. Court Avenue Corridor
Currently disjointed and
in flux; with thoughtful
planning, the segments
can be redesigned to
work together

14. Court Ave: Why Does it Matter?
• The Big Four Bridge, a million crossings a year
into downtown Jeff, on foot and by bicycle;
• The new school will anchor a residential
neighborhood, ready to thrive for all ages;
• A major point of entry off the highways –first
impressions matter;
• Court Ave’s been relatively neglected – it’s due
for sprucing up – guiding new development;
• Upgrades will complement – not compete with
– plans for 10th St. and Spring St.

15. Growth Opportunities Along the
Corridor:
The Economic Big Picture

16. Big Picture – What are the Factors that
Influence Economic Development?
• Demographics of the area
• Historical and projected population and
employment growth
• Availability of skilled and unskilled
workforce
• Availability of sites and buildings
• Access to suppliers
• Proximity to competition

17. Jeffersonville City Key Demographics
• 2018-2028
Projected Growth
Rate - 4.2%
• Higher educational
attainment lags the
state (22.7% vs.
24.6%)
• White collar workers
comprise 55.1%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Esri forecasts for 2018

18. Demographic Comparison
Jeffersonville 1 mile 3 mile 5 mile
Total Population 47,803 7,797 79,349 237,716
Total Households 19,833 3,655 36,005 104,014
Median Household
Income
$54,144 $38,824 $38,206 $41,516
Vacant Housing Units 6.9% 11.6% 11.3% 12.2%
Number of Businesses 1,569 730 5,748 10,833
Number of Employees 23,279 10,445 131,142 201,638
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Esri forecasts for 2018

19. One Mile Radius Compared to
Jeffersonville City
Within the 1 Mile Radius
• Contains 16% of
Jeffersonville’s population
• 47% of total business
establishments
• 45% of total employment
• Daytime population is
double the resident
population

20. Key Employment Sectors within One
Mile Radius
Jeffersonville
1 Mile
Radius
Retail Trade 11.3% 10.1%
Finance & Insurance 6.1% 6.3%
Professional, Scientific & Tech Services 8.2% 11.2%
Health Care & Social Assistance 11.2% 15.2%
Other Services (except Public
Administration)
13.3% 11.9%
Public Administration 5.7% 9.0%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Esri forecasts for 2018

21. Where People Live and Work
• Employed in Jeffersonville but live elsewhere - 24,627
• Employed and living in Jeffersonville – 6,503
• Total employed in Jeffersonville - 31,130
Source: LEHD On the Map, 2015

22. Jeffersonville Assets
• Civic center uses for all of Jeffersonville (government,
courts, library)
• New elementary school
• Growing visitor destination
• Concentration of professional and health services

23. Opportunities
• Redevelop vacant and underutilized properties
(Opportunity Sites)
• Increase the number of people living downtown
• Growing visitor industry facilitated by the Big Four Bridge
• Attract a food market
• Arts and Cultural district that includes Vintage Fire
Museum and the Clark County Museum
• Build upon downtown renaissance

24. Growth Opportunities Along the
Corridor:
Urban Design Analysis

25. Existing Character

26. Underutilized Lots

27. Growth Character

28. New Growth

29. Growth Opportunities

31. Mixed-use/ Multifamily

32. New Institutions
Affordable Infill Housing

33. Growth Cycle
Want local
commercial
• Grocery
• Personal
Services
• Bank
Local Retail
Requires:
• More
residential
households
to support
businesses
Residential
Requires:
• Active areas
Spring Street
• Good Parks
• Walkable Street
• Jobs

34. Temporary Street Retrofit

35. Low Cost, Fast Implementation

36. Parking
Surface Parking
Estimated
1400 spaces

37. Parking
Parking Structure Study

38. Parking Structure Study
Simple Parking Structure
• Adds 118 spaces per level
• Estimated cost $20-30k per space
• $2.5M-3.5M, without property acquistion
Former Bank

39. Healthy Corridor Re-Design:
Best Practices for Health + Mobility

40. HEALTHY CORRIDOR Re-DESIGN
Rendering Courtesy of Tumwater, WA

41. Why plan for more than just cars on Court?
• Health - Portland, Oregon's regional trail network saves the city
approximately $115 million per year in healthcare costs.
Beil, K., 2011 - Physical Activity and the Intertwine: A Public Health Method of Reducing Obesity and Healthcare Costs
• Economics- The Indianapolis Cultural Trail - $62.5 million to build and
yielded a $1.01 billion increase in property values adjacent to the trail. Urban
Land Institute, 2016 – Active Transportation and Real Estate
• Climate - The transportation sector accounts for two-thirds of US oil
consumption and accounts for the majority of the greenhouse gasses that
cause climate change. US Department of Transportation, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, 2007
• Our Children - If 20% of school children living within two miles of
school were to bike or walk, it would save 4.3 million miles of driving per
day. Over a year, that saved driving would prevent 356,000 tons of CO2 and
21,500 tons of other pollutants from being emitted. Pedroso, M., 2008 - Safe Routes to School: Steps
to a Greener Future

42. Source: The Smart Math of Mixed-Use Development, Joe Minicozzi
Mixed Use Development & Infrastructure
• Asheville, NC Example:
City sees 800% higher
returns on downtown
redevelopment than
suburban big box
• 15 US Cities:
Average $360,000 more in
tax revenue generated per
acre with downtown
redevelopment

43. Most Importantly…
Transportation & housing costs are rising
faster than income
• Median Income for
Court Ave Area
Residents is $40,964
• Residents of Court
Ave spend 49% of
their income on
housing and
transportation

45. School Zone & Pedestrian Safety Treatments
Rapid Flashing
Beacon & Yellow
Green Markings
Subtle Pavement
Changes
Visible Wide
Crosswalks

46. School Zone & Pedestrian Safety Treatments
Connections Crossing Guards
Adequate Bike Parking

47. Low Cost Speed Management

48. Practical Design for Bicycle Safety -
What Do Bicyclists Need?

49. Design for Bicycle Safety

50. Most Protected – Shared Use Path

51. Protected Bike Lanes:
Raised & Curb Separated

52. Protected Bike Lanes:
At Grade, Protected with Flexible Bollards or
Other Separation

53. Low Impact Development –
Stormwater Management
School Site Improvements
Communities can realize cost savings of
30% to 60% by integrating green infrastructure
improvements in road reconstruction, utility
restoration, or roof replacements.
–Real Cost of Green Infrastructure, 2015

54. Low Impact Development (LID)
School Site Improvements

55. Low Impact Development –
Pervious Concrete

56. Low Impact Development –
In Neighborhoods

57. Re-designing Court Avenue
I heard you say…
• Crossing the street is like playing a
game of Frogger
• New School will be a challenge –
parking, more traffic, drop off
• Corridor is stuck in the 70s and
needs to be spruced up
• The area just off I-65 is terrible,
impassible, bleak
• We want a “Family Avenue” with
Mom and Pops, boutiques, galleries
and services as well as civic center

58. Corridor Phasing Rules of Thumb
1 - Establish a Gateway
2 - Create a Center
3 - Define the Edges
4 - Strengthen Connections

59. 1 2
2 Design Concepts for Court Ave
Walnut
Welcome Zone Community Services
Zone
Neighborhood Zone

60. Welcome Zone – Nearest to I-65
TRAFFIC CIRCLE CONCEPT

61. Multi-way Boulevard – 4 Travel Lanes1

62. Bedroom or Office to Window &
Car Door to Traffic Rules

63. Multi-way Boulevard Design
OPTION 1 OPTION 2

64. Multi-Way Boulevard Slip Lane –
Bothell WA
1

65. Multi-way Boulevard-2 Lanes & 2-way Bike
Lane
2

66. Civic Zone –
School Area
School Area Concept
2

67. Immediate Next Steps:
• Develop an Action Plan
• Collect current counts and more parking data
• Apply low cost safety &
speed management
• Expand the
community dialog

68. 1. Slow traffic down
2. Make it easier to cross Court Avenue
3. Consistent improvements - “trees all the way”
4. Diagonal parking is unsafe
5. Add bike lanes on one east-west street
What We Heard – CivicSpringSt.
MeigsAve.

69. travel lanetravel lane
Spring St. to Meigs St. looking east
70' roadway
100' right-of-way
0' 16'10'
14' sidewalk 16' sidewalk
angled parkingparking
5-7' 5'
park-
way
walk-
way
EXISTING
Street Cross Section
• One lane each way for 12,000
ADT (<20,000-25,000ADT)
• 32’ of “excess” roadway
• Existing mostly 14-16’ sidewalks
: Opportunities

70. Street Cross Section: Opportunities
Start by thinking of streets as places
What kind of place do you want Court Avenue to be?
"If we can develop and design streets so that they are wonderful,
fulfilling places to be,…then we will have successfully designed about
one-third of the city directly and had an immense impact on the
rest." Allan B. Jacobs

71. 2. Center Multi-Use Area
travel lanetravel lane
70' roadway
100' right-of-way
0' 16'10'
14' sidewalk 16' sidewalk
parkingparking
7' 7'
park
- way
walk-
way
Spring St. to Meigs St. looking east
CENTER MULTI-USE AREA
9'7'
Multi-use area
18' 18'34'

72. 2. Center Multi-Use Area

73. 3. Separated Bike Lanes/Median
travel lanetravel lane
Spring St. to Meigs St. looking east
66' roadway
100' right-of-way
0' 16'10'
14' sidewalk 16' sidewalk
parkingparking
7' 7'
park-
way
walk-
way
SEPARATED BIKE LANES
9'7'
Median
7'
bike
lane
3'
buf-
fer
18' 3'
buf-
fer
7'
bike
lane
14' 18'

74. 3. Separated Bike Lanes - parkway/curb

75. 3. Separated Bike Lanes - striping

76. 4. Wider Sidewalks
travel lanetravel lane
Spring St. to Meigs St. looking east 0' 10'
9'20'7'
parking
16'
park-
way
parking
7'
WIDER SIDEWALKS
walk-
way
7'20'
40' roadway
28' sidewalk
100' right-of-way
32' sidewalk
7'
park-
way
7'
walk-
way
9'7'
park-
way
walk-
way
park-
way
walk-
way

77. 4. Wider Sidewalks

78. Slow traffic/make it easier to cross – long term:
• Narrow the roadway
Pedestrian Safety – All Districts
travel lanetravel lane
Spring St. to Meigs St. looking east 0' 10'
9'20'7'
parking
16'
park-
way
parking
7'
WIDER SIDEWALKS
walk-
way
7'20'
40' roadway
28' sidewalk
100' right-of-way
32' sidewalk
7'
park-
way
7'
walk-
way
9'7'
park-
way
walk-
way
park-
way
walk-
way
travel lanetravel lane
Spring St. to Meigs St. looking east
70' roadway
100' right-of-way
0' 16'10'
14' sidewalk 16' sidewalk
angled parkingparking
5-7' 5'
park-
way
walk-
way
EXISTING

79. Pedestrian Safety – Everywhere
Slow traffic/make it easier to cross – short term:
• Strip the lanes and curb extensions

80. Standard crosswalk width and design
Pedestrian Safety

81. Consistent corner ramps
Pedestrian Safety

82. • Countdown “walk/don’t walk”
• Maintain corner radii
• Adequate crossing time
• Eliminate “pork-chop” islands
• Curb extensions
Pedestrian Safety

83. • At least one block in all directions
• 15 mph
• Design flexibility, e.g.:
- fluorescent yellow-green signs and striping
- stop signs
- speed traps
Safe Routes to Schools

84. Sidewalks – Civic & Welcome
Existing12 -15+’ width can accommodate:
7’ parkway/tree wells + 8’ walkway (generally)
ane parking
9'7'3'
buf-
7'
bike
18'

85. Okay to vary where existing conditions constrain it
Sidewalks

86. But new development should stay out of the ROW
and provide parkways and street trees
Sidewalks

87. Stormwater infiltration/treatment
Sidewalks

88. Pedestrian Lighting
Sidewalks

89. Roadway Lighting
Sidewalks

90. Bus stop & other furnishings
Sidewalks

91. Sidewalks
Adjacent buildings can change the sidewalk

92. The Future? Striping and trees only

93. 1. Clear transition from Civic to Residential
2. Slow traffic down
3. Consider parkways in residential area
4. “Trees all the way”
5. Enforcement, e.g., no parking on sidewalk
What We Heard – ResidentialMeigsAve.

94. • Curb extensions that slow cars down, create an
neighborhood gateway, & extend street trees
Transition/Traffic Calming/Landscape
• Speed humps and stop signs

95. Programming the Public Realm

96. Programming the Public Realm
Activating Court Avenue
It starts with your community, Jeffersonville
“Be honest, take care of your people, and give to your community.”

97. Build on Community Strengths
Events, Activities, and Programs
Image credit: Jeffersonville Main Street

98. Build on Community Strengths
Events, Activities, and Programs
Image credit: Jeffersonville Main Street

99. Build on Community Strengths
Events, Activities, and Programs

100. Build on Community Strengths
Events, Activities, and Programs

101. Activate the Civic Spine
Court Avenue
“We found that if you make more road space, you
get more cars. If you make more bike lanes, you
get more bikes. If you make more spaces for
people, you get more people and of course then
you get more public life.” -Jen Gehl

102. Block by Block
Welcome and Wayfinding
Include Upcoming Events + Directions

103. Block by Block
Welcome and Wayfinding
Provide ample signage to directpeople to parking, especially in heavily visited
areas.

104. Block by Block
Activation Strategies
Use the civic and Institutional buildings as wayfinding
nodes to help define where you are in downtown
Staged, inexpensive interventions can help “make-over”
undesirable spaces into cherished community places.
Often called “tactical urbanism” these interventions can
be temporary or permanent, or set the stage for long-term
infrastructure improvements.

105. Create a Pedestrian Culture
Tactical Urbanism Projects
Narrow the streets and highlight special intersections

106. Create a Pedestrian Culture
Tactical Urbanism Projects
Help people get around on foot, or bike

107. Create a Pedestrian Culture
Tactical Urbanism Projects
Downtown
Rockford, Illinois

108. Block by Block
Avenue Anchors
Institutional and Civic Sites
Warder Park
Public Library
Court House
Elementary School
Field House

109. Block Activation Plan
Shared Spaces and Connections
6th Street Corner
Close the short segment of 6th Street to create a
community gathering space

110. Block Activation Plan
Shared Spaces and Connections
Warder Park and Carnegie Library
Remove the bushes and prune up the trees for visibility of
the Carnegie Library and through the park.

111. Shared Spaces and Connections
“Path of Knowledge”
Create a painted “yellow brick path” to connect the new elementary school to
the public library
Block Activation Plan

112. Community Partnerships
Collaborate for Success
Jeffersonville Mainstreet Program
Arts Center and Public Art
Clark County School District
Neighborhood Associations
City Pride
Leadership Southern Indiana
Jeffersonville Township Public Library
Ogle Foundation

113. Community Partnerships
Programed Events
Get the community engaged in Jeff
Partner with local businesses to host small events
that require minimal set-up.
Ideas:
Civic Day: City University Game Day in the Park
Court on Court Field Day in the Park
Sidewalk Salon Botanical Garden
History Happy Hour Food Trucks on Court

114. Complete Street Demo
Experiential Learning through Tactical Urbanism

115. A Guide to Community Conversations
Urbanism on Tap (UOT) is an event series where
spaces of casual conversation become places of
civic education.
UOT brings ideas about cities to the local bar, pub,
or tavern to raise awareness, and exchange
knowledge and experience.

116. Community Partnerships
Court on Court
Host a day of basketball on Court Avenue on the block in front of the
elementary school and Field House.

117. Community Partnerships
Food Trucks on Court
Food trucks and other vendors can activate Court after 5pm during concerts
and other scheduled events, particularly if Court Avenue is closed to traffic.
Revisit the City ordinance to allow for mobile vendors. Encourage local
businesses to put out tents or carts.

118. Community Partnerships
History Happy Hour
Open Mic style Show and Tell about Jeffersonville’s
History, from historic buildings to historic happenings.

119. Summing Up

120. We planned… for the City’s Civic Spine
Events: Temporary programming to enliven the public
realm for residents and visitors;
Paint: New striping and crosswalks, bulb outs, street
trees, etc., for safety and beautification;
Funding: Apply for support to a healthy corridor redesign,
especially to support new school;
Infill development: Underutilized and vacant lots can
support desirable downtown uses;
Market: Economic indicators suggest that a revitalized
corridor will further the downtown renaissance and benefit
the city at large.

121. Questions? www.aia.org/liv_sdat
Court Avenue Corridor AIA SDAT
City of Jeffersonville, IN
Strengthening the City’s Civic Spine