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4b. Chapter 1 - The VisionCHAPTER 1 - THE VISION To accomplish great things, we must not only act but also dream. Not only plan but also believe. Anatole France, French critic, writer Vision Statement The vision of Kalispell's revitalized Core Area is to transform from an industrially -oriented center into a vibrant, pedestrian friendly, mixed -use neighborhood, focusing upon retail, residential, entertainment, and cultural amenities designed to proudly and consistently complement the existing historic Kalispell downtown area. Conceptual site plan of the Core Area New development encouraged on an east -west axis New northern development and en - along Montano Street. complimenting the Historic try to the Kalispell Center Mall, with Opportunity for higher density Kalispell downtown. The Intended churacter would an outdoor refoil. 'downtown' locus. residential, with great views and be a free -lined. pedeshlon•focused, 2.4 story mixed Ideas include a new outdoor pe- '1 access to the hall and park use development with ample opportunity for upper- destrlon plots along the new troll New bridge'gotewaY level residential unite. system to downtown. and link New western 'Focal Point': to opoltk5nal Halls Could un a conventionr.etc center. c community center. etc The funcriaj� would be supported by now hearb7f --.Y 1 l+ park � % f '{�pCi44� i ; "' Y. 1) L111i1 1.1 � j �jI1 tt r rt t13� 3r' 9. 12r, l:i -]Lj. 4 f l t li u 1,1.= h" New higher density Ila 0 This eonceptcleans upthe residential orea. f J _ aW+ pam sl between the waY 1 ti. and flee park, creating a new Mae sheets cross the new pedestrian r outdoor amphitheater and a pathway, to ease kahiic. t�t direct connection between .-, lh* pork and downtown. Center Street Is given sidewalks n and boulevards, and because New Eastern Focal Point: now the prope dies open to the ThIs could be a new fine cuts center, a sheet and to the new predestdan xa ,i rs new library, etc, located near Wood- - palhwoy. they become much land Park and close to current east• more deslreable Properties. side museums and gallerks. The character of Main Sheet Is u Propert[ei in this area would complemented and maintained. '' - 'd have access to Center Streel The Courthouse, our existing historic southern and the new pathway, making Focal Point, becomes the Inspiration behind.- r'ju them much more desirable the new east and west focal points along �} Montano Sheet Draft - 4 How might the City of Kalispell look in the next 50 years? More importantly, how SHOULD it look? This plan seeks to provide that vision for the Core Area of Kalispell as we chart a new course for this part of our community. A course that is respectful to the character and scale of the existing city and that builds upon the existing uniqueness of both the community and the region. One that encourages density and pedestrian activity, takes advantage of underutilized areas, and transforms them into amenities. Finally we envision a course that adopts a new pedestrian -friendly route of circulation, and connects existing parks and trails together, actively joining them with the downtown area. Using downtown Kalispell's charming historic character and the centrally - located Flathead County Courthouse as site design influences, the new design of downtown Kalispell's Core Area is intended to be a vibrant and lively continuation of historic downtown Kalispell, extending east -to -west along what is now West Montana Street, one block north of the Kalispell Center Mall - currently a tremendously underutilized and underdeveloped area. As an organizational principle and to provide architectural `endpoints' or `focal points' to this east -west axis, attractive, civic -oriented buildings (library, arts center,. convention center, etc.) are intended to be positioned in the center of these street views, harkening to the design and central location exhibited by the existing historic courthouse. This centralized organizing concept would allow the city to build upon its historically unique urban planning scheme in a consistent and attractive manner. All along this new east -west corridor, there would be mixed -use buildings consisting of retail and office uses on the first floor; office, residential, or hotel uses on the second floor; and generally residential on the upper floors. Instead of numerous land -absorbing surface parking lots, which tend to take away from the density and charm of a downtown, second and third floor parking structures or underground parking would be the norm. Parking would exist within well -designed vertical parking structures that mimic the downtown character. Such structures would maintain a first floor retail presence so as not to introduce blank spots or dead zones in the pedestrian framework of this area. Where possible, underground parking would be promoted as well. The character and scale would be influenced by the existing downtown of Kalispell, using a similar palette of materials and creating a very strong pedestrian -scaled atmosphere with shops and markets, lower -scale lighting, ample trees and landscape, and other various downtown attractions. Near the Draft - 5 intersection of Main and Montana Street, building heights could be encouraged to extend several stories above the surrounding architecture, to further create higher density in the core of Kalispell, which ultimately leads to self- perpetuating vibrancy and activity in the downtown of Kalispell. The transformation of the railroad bed and the creation of a new pedestrian and bike trail system in its place is intended to be a dynamic and lively method of pedestrian activity in and around town. This new pathway is intended to be more than a simple sidewalk; the intent is to create what is often referred to as a "linear park system", where the path touches areas of activity and interest all along its entire length, occasionally widening into expansive green spaces, passing through residential neighborhoods, or drawing alongside retail areas. The new downtown trail would link seamlessly to the existing trail system that heads to the west of town, linking also into the path that accesses Lone Pine Park. On the east side, the trail is intended to become an attractive new gateway to Woodland Park; it is also intended to be the catalyst for a new trail that eventually links to other parks and trails to the east and north of downtown. Additionally, it's understood that the railroad through the downtown core area has traditionally been a severe barrier to north -south traveling vehicles, with only a handful of streets currently linking the entirety of the northern and southern halves of town. The concept plan creates the opportunity to develop several new street connections all along the pathway, allowing vehicles to cross the path from north to south much more frequently, loosening current bottlenecks and allowing transportation to `breathe' a bit easier throughout town. The following pages try to capture the vision for the Kalispell Core Area in words using 10 scenes of key locations in the Core Area. Each scene or view shows the current situation counterbalanced by renderings of what could be. Draft - 6 East Side - Rail Bridge East Side - Rail Bridge The existing rail bridge that spans Highway 2 to the east would no longer be needed if the railway system is removed from downtown. But rather than demolition, it would exist as an opportunity to allow the new pedestrian trail system to safely cross Highway 2 and head north toward Lawrence Park and other trails. And because the existing bridge would need new guardrails and other details, the intent is to design the bridge as an attractive `gateway' into downtown Kalispell from the east, welcoming travelers as they pass beneath it and into the revitalized downtown area. Draft - 7 Railroad Tracks Above Woodland Park East Side - Railroad Tracks Above Woodland Park The area above Woodland Park along the existing railroad tracks is among the best -kept secrets in the downtown area; a short walk up along the railroad embankment rewards a person with panoramic views in all directions spanning from Lone Pine Park, Woodland Park, the Swan Range to the east and a peek into Glacier National Park through the gap in the northeastern range. Turning the tracks into a trail would create a marvelous opportunity to convert the surrounding steeply -graded areas into higher density residential apartments and condominiums, built gracefully into the hillside, allowing immediate walk- out access to the trail system linking them to the retail and entertainment amenities offered downtown while turning Woodland Park into the occupant's immediate "front lawn". The sloped and treed area along the western and northern border of Woodland Park as it rises to meet the railroad is currently overgrown with dense, scrubby Draft - 8 vegetation. It is an unsafe environment for pedestrians and more conducive for transients. The plan speaks to cleaning up and thinning out the vegetation on this slope allowing it to be a new, safe and inviting gateway from downtown to the Woodland area, via the new trail system. It is envisioned that a new outdoor amphitheater could be built within the existing slope in the northwest corner of the park providing a new venue for outdoor music, plays, and other attractions, with Woodland Park and the distant Swan lunge as a backdrop to the stage. The current underutilized Flathead Electric Cooperative (FEC) substation at the corner of Woodland Avenue and Center Street could be converted into a temporary or permanent trailhead, parking facility for the amphitheater and new gateway into Woodland Park. Intersection of Main Street and Montana Street (looking south) View 3: Main Street and Montana Street (looking south) The existing view southward on Main Street is that of a busy 7-lane highway, with narrow sidewalks, industrial light fixtures, and nary a tree in sight. The Draft - 9 current environment is not inviting for pedestrians and not conducive for outdoor seating associated with restaurants and cafes. The long-range vision for this area is to make it an attractive destination for pedestrians by widening sidewalks, planting trees, adding benches and lower -scaled light fixtures, reducing the number of drive lanes and adding convenient angular parking stalls. All of these measures serve to slow vehicular traffic and enhance the role and experience of the pedestrian, thereby attracting businesses to invest in the downtown core. These same design principles are also envisioned in the existing downtown area, to again enhance the vital role and experience of the pedestrian. Additionally, as architecture is encouraged northward into this area surrounding the new trail system, the intent is to influence the designs to be complimentary and respectful of the existing historic architecture of downtown Kalispell through the use of appropriate materials, scale, and character. Main Street and pedestrian trail (looking west) Draft - 10 View 4: Main Street and Pedestrian Trail (looking west) With the railroad tracks removed and a linear trail in their place, the trail will need to cross Main Street. The likely crossing would be the current location of the railroad tracks at the intersection of Main Street and Market Street. This intersection is situated between Center Street to the south and Montana Street to the north making the crossing at this location a convenient walking distance between the two streets. This crossing would be at the nexus of north - south sidewalks leading downtown and the new east - west trail system, increasing its importance in terms of the overall trail system and requiring that the method of crossing Main Street is comfortable, interesting, and above all safe. The new design concept, as mentioned in the text from View 3, seeks to narrow Main Street to a more comfortable walking distance, add trees, and very likely include both crosswalk -marked pavement and a new stoplight or pedestrian light. In this manner, the new flow of bikes and people along the new east - west trail system can integrate with Main Street and downtown Kalispell in a dynamic and safe way. Mall Plaza and the Pedestrian Trail C Draft -11 View 5: Mall Plaza and the Pedestrian Trail The area north of the Kalispell Center Mall is an example of the unfortunate blight that is created when an otherwise centrally -located and theoretically valuable portion of land is cut off from everyday pedestrian and vehicular circulation (due to the existence of the railroad tracks), thereby rendering it undesirable for development due to inaccessibility and non -visibility. Of course, this all changes dramatically when the tracks, once a barrier, are removed and a popular new, well -traveled trail system is introduced directly through this area. The result is literally a night -and -day comparison; what was a barrier is now an attraction; what was blight is now in high demand. In this case, the opportunity for the mall to expand northward is entirely possible. However, the expansion needn't be a physical connection to the mall's current indoor -oriented architecture; rather, expansion could take place in the form of what is often referred to as a `lifestyle center', a method of essentially turning the interior mall inside out, allowing people to walk along outdoor streetscapes from shop to shop. This concept of street front shop design is identical to the intent of the architecture envisioned in the new Core Area (as described in the site plan narrative), and would create a new and lively pedestrian -focused shopping area to the north of the mall. It is envisioned that a new main entry to the existing mall would be located on this new north fagade, visually attracting visitors from the busy Highway 2 to the north. Even more exciting is the potential to create a large new outdoor plaza/gathering space at this new north entry to the mall, which would serve as a new venue in the downtown area for farmers markets, attractions, and festivities of all kinds while linking directly to the new east -west trail system. Draft - 12 2nd Avenue West North and Idaho Street (looking south) g,_ "1--r , . ;h VIEW b View 6: 2nd Avenue West North and Idaho Street (looking south) As mentioned in the narrative for View 5, this street is envisioned to be a new `front door' view corridor to the Kalispell Center Mall and its front pedestrian plaza. Retail, office, and residential spaces would grow along this street, and the mall has the opportunity to celebrate this new entry area with an iconic clock tower or some other such attraction, drawing attention directly to its front door. This view also encourages roof top access for living and dining to expand use and to create a more human scale. It also encourages wider sidewalks and abundant landscaping combined with reductions in street width at key pedestrian crossings. Draft -13 Center Street and 71h Avenue West (looking east) LI VIEw 7 View 7: Center Street and Th Avenue West (looking east) This is an area that, because of its industrial rail history, over time, has developed in a series of Quonsets, similar warehouses, gravel parking and single -story service buildings along Center Street. In addition there is also a confusing network of unlinked roads just north of the tracks, and a surprising amount of hidden open space along the current railroad right-of-way. Center Street is also a well -used travel route as traffic is funneled to Meridian Road to head north on one of the few streets that currently allows passage over the tracks. The removal of the tracks once again breathes life into an area that was once choked -off from vehicular and pedestrian travel, allowing the new trail system to cleverly weave through areas that are envisioned to be townhouse -style walk-up homes, light retail areas along Center Street, and a large new city park for west -side residents. Additionally, throughout this area streets would be reconnected across what was previously the railroad track, thereby freeing up traffic along Center Street and giving this part of Kalispell some much -needed traffic flow permeability from north to south. Draft -14 West Side Railroad at 5th Avenue West North (looking east) VIEW 8 View 8: West Side Railroad at 51h Avenue West North (looking east) Similar to the area noted in View 7, the area west of the mall is another "no man's land" that's been created as a result of the existence of the railway throughout its long history. Roads don't connect, and a surprising amount of unused open space exists around the tracks in this location. The opportunity that arises with the transformation of the rails -to -trail system is one of newly - organized and aligned streets, and a walking trail that leads people between the retail opportunities and pedestrian plaza areas surrounding the mall, and the new parks, townhouse residences, and existing trail system to the west. Along the way, it is envisioned that quaint and interesting retail opportunities will arise directly along the pathway, where folks can stop off of the trail and have a snack, buy a book, meet an old friend, or find other interesting diversions. These are the random encounters and experiences that make life interesting in a properly designed cityscape. Draft -15 Montana Street (looking east towards the Main Street) View 9: Montana Street (looking east toward Main Street) The design intent of this area is to be a vibrant and lively continuation of the historic downtown of Kalispell, extending east -to -west along the entirety of Montana Street. As an organizational principle and to provide architectural `endpoints' or `focal points' to this east -west axis, attractive, civic -oriented (library, arts center, convention center, etc) buildings are intended in the center of these street views, paying homage to the "centralized" location exhibited by the existing historic courthouse at the southern end of Main Street. The idea is to build upon this very unique aspect of Kalispell's historic urban design history, carrying it forward into the new vision for Kalispell's future development. Note the building shown at the end of the street in this sketch, which is intended to represent a new arts center, library, or some other major civic function. All along this new east -west corridor, there would be mixed -use buildings consisting of retail and office uses on the first floor; office, residential, Draft - 16 or hotel uses on the second floor; and generally residential on the upper floors. The character and scale would be influenced by the existing downtown of Kalispell, using a similar palette of materials and creating a very strong pedestrian -scaled atmosphere with shops and markets, lower -scale lighting, ample trees and landscape, and other various downtown attractions. Montana Street at the intersection of Montana Street and Main Street (aerial view looking east) View 10: Montana Street at the intersection of Montana Street and Main Street (aerial view looking east) This is the same viewpoint as described in View 9, just elevated to an aerial view to further describe the potential character and density that would be encouraged along Montana Street over many years of development. Note the design intent of once again focusing upon the pedestrian experience by providing widened sidewalks, trees, plants and benches, attractive light fixtures, shops with awnings, and the like. Vehicles would be well accommodated with angular parking and well -designed parking structures in Draft - 17 strategic locations. Pedestrian crossing areas would be well -marked with accent paving. Art and sculpture could be introduced in key locations to add additional interest and beauty. The intent of this new neighborhood would be to encourage a higher density of full-time residents who live, work, and shop in this area, people who will happily call this neighborhood their home, and will come to care for it, keep it safe, clean, and vibrant in a manner that becomes self-perpetuating. Architecture would be encouraged to be thoughtful and consistent with that of the historic downtown, but certainly appropriate to the technology of the age of its construction, with emphasis placed upon smart design that takes advantage of natural light, the region's dramatic views, and ample access to the outdoors. Draft -18