SDAT Presentation for Downtown Hilo

Hilo, Hawai‘i - SDAT Team Presentation and Recommendations

May 5 – 7, 2009

The Sustainable Design Assessment Teamprogram provides broad assessments to help

frame future policies and sustainability solutions.

What is an SDAT?

SDAT principals:

•Multi-Disciplinary Team•Objective Outsiders•Community Participation

Three Elements of Sustainability

• Environmental Stewardship

• Social Equity• Economic

Development/Growth

Environment

EquityEconomics

Sense of Place

Physical Basisfor Prosperity

Demand for Products and

Services

COMMUNITY SUSTAINABILITYAll planning decisions must be

assessed based on all three elements- advances in only one, to the detriment of the others, is not sustainable.

Checklist of Issues

Social:Housing / Affordability

Public SpacesEthnic / Racial Issues

DemographicIncome Shifts

EducationSense of Community / PlacePedestrian / Bicycle Options

Access to Jobs / HousingManaging Growth

Economic:Revitalization

DiversityJobs

Public ServicesPublic Policy / Planning

Agricultural PreservationTraffic Congestion

Transportation

Environmental:Air Quality

Water Quality / QuantityOpen Spaces

Wildlife Habitat / Wetlands

Rivers / Streams / BayFlooding and Drought

Natural DisasterTransit and Land Use

Energy Efficiency

The Heart of Hilo

THERE WAS A TIME WHEN THE MOUNTAINS OF HILO WERE BANNED FROM REACHING

HILO’S SEAS

THE STREAMS THAT ONCE NOURISHED HILO’S HEART HAD NOWHERE TO GO AND AFTER MANY YEARS – THEY

DRIED UP

THE FISH WERE NOT ABLE TO REACH THE SEAS

SO THE SEA BIRDS LEFT HILO FOR THE OTHER ISLANDS IN

SEARCH OF FOOD

OVER THE YEARS HILO’S HEART - PIKO HARDENED…WHERE THERE WAS ONCE ALOHA, THERE WAS FIRE -

AHI AND SMOKE -UAHI

…ONE DAY, THEN THE MAKANI AHE AHE WINDS

BLEW INTO HILO

THE MAKANI BROUGHT ALONG WITH IT THE

FLOWERS OF THE ‘ŌHI‘A-LEHUA TREE THAT HELD THE

‘ANO‘ANO (SEEDS) OF CHANGE

THESE SEEDS FILLED THE CRACKS THAT COVERED

HILO’S HEART

…THE MAKANI ALSO BLEW IN THE AO PANOPANO RAIN

CLOUDS……AND IT RAINED FOR MANY

MANY DAYS….

…IT RAINED SO MUCH THAT THE SEEDS GREW INTO BEAUTIFUL TREES….THE RIVERS KAHAWAI

OVERFLOWED AND TORE UP HILO’S HARD COVER…THE HARD COVER FLOWED TOWARDS THE

OCEAN AND BREACHED THE BARRIERS …

…AS THE MOUNTAINS REACHED TOWARDS THE

SEAS…FISH PONDS DOTTED THE ISLAND ONCE

AGAIN…THE SEABIRDS RETURNED…AND FLOCKED

THE MANY TREES THAT NOW ADORNED HILO’S HEART

…AND ONCE AGAIN HILO’S HEART WAS FILLED WITH

ALOHA AND GRATITUDE….

Defining SustainabilityHawaiian Tradition of Subsistence

Kua‘aina: Respect the resources and the spirits of the land, forest and ocean.

Take only what is needed from the land, ocean and nature.

Defining SustainabilityHawaiian Tradition of Subsistence

Hō‘ailona: Observe the natural signs important for a sense of direction and well being.

Respect and protect knowledge and skill that has been passed down inter-generationally.

Defining SustainabilityHawaiian Tradition of Subsistence

Cultural Kīpuka: Sharing + redistribution of resources creates a social environment that cultivates community kinship ties, and support, as well as care for the elderly and prescribed roles for youth.

Defining SustainabilityHawaiian Tradition of Subsistence

Lōkahi: Unity, harmony, balance.Time spent in the natural environment develops a strong sense of environmental kinship that is the foundation of Hawaiian spirituality.

Defining SustainabilityHawaiian Tradition of Subsistence

Wahi pana: Develop stewardship and reinforce knowledge about the landscape, place-names, meanings and ancient sites.

Historic Preservation & Sustainability

• Historic Buildings tell a story of a time in Hilo when we used less energy and resources

• Ultimate in recycling• Saves embodied energy• Reduces waste stream

to landfill

Building Elements

• Tall first floors provide natural light deeper into the building

• Ventilation in upper walls provide natural ventilation

Building Elements

• Canopies protect from rain and sun• All elements create a distinctive Hilo streetscape

& promote pedestrian activity

Building Elements

• Mixed uses promote economic activity• Emotional attachments

Codes vs Revitalization • Existing codes (zoning, building,

urban design guidelines, storm management) make it difficult to restore old buildings

• Create new code(s) for downtown– Form based code(s) for new

buildings– Designate downtown an historic

landmark district – Specify alternate methods, existing

Building Code• Education

Tsunamis • Tsunamis have changed the shape of

Hilo and may do so again.• Hilo has done a good job to make

people safe.

Resiliency

“Resiliency means accepting that this is going to happen at some point in the future, and planning for it today”

Everyone wants to keep Hilo, Hilo

But, what does this mean?

But, what does this mean?

•“Old Hawai‘i”•For residents—not tourists

•A living place—for many people & activities

•Not about the chain store, but the local merchant

Many of you do not want Change.

Others of you want lots of it.

Truth is, you either get the Change you plan for, or the Change that

just comes.

The EDH 2025 Plan calls for a number of initiatives for Renewal & Growth

A few guiding suggestions.

The Place as a Brand.

Is this shoe more desirable?

Or, maybe this one?

A brand is an assortment of expectations established by the seller that, once fulfilled, forms a covenant with its buyers. A brand

covenant is an implicit guarantee that what consumers see is what they get.

What is the brand for Downtown Hilo?

scale…material….height…views…a family of styles…..culture & attitude.

First principle: That which you do not legally protect you will likely lose.

Second principle: That which you do not define as future development you will likely not get.

and

Third principle: Strong retail is inherently more sustainable

Fourth principle: Strong LOCAL brands can be sold to the world.

Fourth principle:strongLOCAL brands can be sold to the world.

Fourth principle: Strong LOCAL brands can be sold to the world.

The Goals: • Become known globally as the "True Hawai‘i", the place where Paradise is lived everyday.

• Develop portals for delivering "True Hawai‘i" to shoppers of the world.

Protecting & Projecting Downtown Hilo Through Codes

Recommendation 1: Protect history and guide development with a form-based code

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are needed to see this picture.

Recommendation 1: Protect history and guide development with a form-based code

Recommendation 1: Protect history and guide development with a form-based code

Recommendation 1: Protect history and guide development with a form-based code

View Downtown Hilo as a series of Districts

Heart of Hilo

EntertainmentDistrict

Art + Culture

MarketDistrict

Hilo Youth

Teens | College Students | Young Adults

What we heard

Center for Youth Community

Sense of Safety and Welcome

Hangouts for Teens after school

Offerings for University Students

Connecting Youth with Downtown Hilo

High School

Middle School

Elem.School

Connections

Private Schools

Private Schools

Park

Boys+GirlsClub

Housing and Economic Development

• Make downtown family/youth friendly• Restrooms• Youth zone• Sports, arts, activities• Hang outs• Safety, eyes of community• Lighting

Urban Space for Youth

• Housing and economic development• What kind• Where• How• Infill and live /work units• Downtown residents will enhance Hilo.

– People can live where there are few stores, but stores cannot exist where there are few people.

Housing Accessibility

• Mixed-use residential/other housing• Live work units and co-housing• Single small units• Mixed unit sizes• Courtyard community

Mixed Use

Housing Options

• Communal arrangements• symbiotic

• Homelessness• Type of homeless• Detox center• What do they need• Screening (for drugs, illness, or even

vision)

Social Equity

• Access for disabled– Progress has been made– Some rough areas

• Change Sidewalks to volcanic surface– Chance to unify image while reducing slick

surfaces

Universal Design

• Pedestrian friendly sidewalk design• Volcanic surfacing• Re-do rough spots• Ties in to lighting and image• Move Bayfront highway

Universal Design

• Financing and incentives• Free short term parking• Tax abatements for added value• Tax abatements for housing

Economic Incentives

Sustainable connections

FOUR PRINCIPLES

• Downtown is a Destination• The Street Network Must Connect, not

Divide• Streets are for Everybody• Distinct Parking Strategies for each User

1. Hilo’s Downtown is a Destination• It is not a place to Go To not

Pass Through• It is a place to experience• A place that revives all our

senses• A place where “Life Slows and

Community Grows”• That is Downtown Hilo

• Therefore connections to the Downtown must flow into the area not rush by

• Slow traffic is safe, good for business, and uses less energy

• Slow traffic also allows for many modes of travel – on foot, in strollers, wheelchairs, bicycles

CIVICCENTER AIRPORT

TOUNIVERSITY

TOHARBOR

EXISTINGFISH

POND

TRANSIT CENTER

POTENTIALNEW FISH

POND

POTENTIALNEW FISH

POND

POTENTIALNEW FISH

POND

REGIONALTRANSIT

LOOP

SCHOOLS REGIONALGATEWAY

REGIONALGATEWAY

DOWNTOWN

REGIONALBIKE PATH

HOTELS

2. The Street Network Must Connect - Not Divide

• Create new connections into Downtown• Embrace the waterfront where it does not• Make connections where they do not exist• Strengthen pedestrian connections where

they are weak

3. Streets for EverybodyUNIVERSAL DESIGN• Kūpuna• Children• Bicyclists• Strollers• Sampans• Transit

4. Distinct Parking Strategies• PAID VERSUS FREE• 30 MIN VERSUS ALL-

DAY• PARKING TARGETS

– Residents– Visitors / Tourists– Employees

Transit Center

Sewer and

Energy

ParkingDistrict

Long TermParking

Vision Plan for Downtown Hilo

KEAWE

PONOHAWAII

Actions to Consider• Simplify and consolidate waterfront roads• Develop a plan for parking that allows for shared parking lots,

paid parking, timed parking• Establish a close-in shuttle system (sampans?) that connects

commuter parking, and park and ride lots to downtown businesses

• Establish a larger shuttle system that connects to remote activities such as the harbor, airport, and university to Downtown

• Create a wide, safe, and well-designed bike route to Downtown

• Consider pedestrian friendly road designs such as woonerfsor ‘shared space’ roadways

• Consider returning Keawe and Kino‘ole back to a two-way system

• Relocate the Transit Center to a nearby upland location

What happens next with the SDAT?

• 2-3 Months: SDAT Report delivered to the community

• Up to 12 Months: Conference Calls• 12 Months: Visit & Assessment

AIA Center for Communities by Design: Contact Information

www.aia.org/[email protected]

AIA National ComponentCenter for Communities by Design

1735 New York Avenue NWWashington, DC 20006-5292