THE METHODOLOGY AND VISUAL ORIENTATION UTILIZED TO CONDUCT THE URBAN DESIGN ANALYSIS CONSISTED OF: • east Sunrise Framework Diagram • Strategic Areas of Focus • Existing Conditions Photo Inventory • Public Realm Review • Comprehensive Plan and Land Development Code Review • Vacant, Abandoned and Opportunity Sites Review • Parks, Open Spaces, and Community Facilities Review • Design Incentives and Programs Review THE GENERAL LOCATION OF THE CHARACTER AREAS OR DISTRICTS IDENTIFIED AND ANALYZED INCLUDE: • Village Center - Sunset Strip between Northwest 70th Avenue and Northwest 64th Avenue • Commercial Center- Sunset Strip between Sunrise Boulevard and Northwest 14th Street • Sunset Strip Gateways - Entry Points or Gateways at Sunrise Boulevard and University Drive
GENERAL URBAN DESIGN OBSERVATIONS
This part of the City is essentially built-out. Therefore, all new development will happen in the form of: • Redevelopment; completely redesigning a site of some previous or existing building • Adaptive Reuse; retrofitting/ improving an existing building and/or infrastructure • Public Spaces; retrofitting sites into community gathering spaces, i.e. plazas and pocket parks At its core the basic urban design of the study area consists mostly of single family residential, multifamily complexes, suburban strip mall commercial corridors at the edges, and small neighborhood commercial centers (along Sunset Strip) as part of the Village Center. The study area has a strong community presence and a central geographic core (along Sunset Strip between NW 68thAve and NW 64thAve) that consists of small neighborhood commercial, civic and cultural centers, public spaces, and City Park, but it lacks a sense of place and constant activity. It has great “bones” to create a comfortable, small-scale, walkable neighborhood main street serving as the community’s spinal cord and preferred gathering space. The major commercial corridors (University Drive, Sunrise Boulevard, and Oakland Park Boulevard) consist primarily of suburban style strip malls. The pedestrian experience is characterized by narrow sidewalks next to wide, high-traffic roadways, and is therefore not safe and/or inviting. The City needs to improve these major commercial corridors in ways that create a system of importance to all modes of transportation, not only vehicular, but also pedestrian, bicycle and transit. In other words, implement Complete Streets policies that prioritize the pedestrian first. Other activities should include retrofits of existing suburban strip malls into walkable outdoor malls or other reuse options, development of vacant parcels to fill the gaps, and improved walking and bicycle connections to nearby residential areas, including pathways along Sunset Strip. Good urban design and place making conditions have the following components. They: • Invite people to walk comfortably along wide sidewalks with shade trees and street furnishings • Provide an interesting pedestrian experience, where active uses are next to the sidewalk • Enhance community identity and civic pride through arts • Engage the community in small interventions, such as crosswalks or gateway enhancements • Encourage local businesses to improve building façades and to promote outdoor activities • Create a cohesive architectural style that identifies the community, e.g. Caribbean Style • Provide landscaping with street trees, low and mid-height shrubs, flowering shrubs and palm trees.
• Commercial Corridors - University Drive; Oakland Park Boulevard • Non-Commercial Neighborhoods (not visually depicted on diagram)
45 | EAST SUNRISE IMPROVEMENTS MASTER PLAN
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