Eco Monterey

Rethinking SLO one corner at a time.

Role: Planner and Designer

Context: Repurpose and Rezoning

Period: Beginning of 2021

The Vision

By Gabrielle DeLavallade, Vidusha Srivatsan, Benjamin Chu, Bouthaina Belayad.

To develop and implement creative community space to enhance economic opportunity, build strong neighborhoods, and ensure a dynamic framework for quality growth in the project area. The main objectives would be the exploration and consideration of Aesthetic, Circulation, and Sustainability.

SITE ANALYSIS & MAP DIAGRAMS

Project Area

Some contexts of the site

The site extends from the parking lot on the corner of Monterey and Pepper street, and goes through Monterey Street, ending at Johnson Avenue or the 7-eleven Parking Lot. In addition to the street section, a portion of the track would be considered for a light rail station. It should be noted that existing trees, regardless of their color coating, are to remain.

Surrounding Amenities

The solid lines represent one way streets and the dashed lines indicate a two way street. It should be noted that the thicker the lines, the higher traffic intensity is present.

Such indicators would explain the design of major streets like California or Monterey Street, in which they are purposed for holding large volumes of vehicular traffic due to their adjacency towards commercial areas and centers through their size and two way lane, allowing mass numbers of drivers to move back and forth.

Class 2 Bike Lane

Class 3 Bike Lane

Sharrow

1A: Johnson / Tank Farm/ Airport

SITE PLAN AND PERSPECTIVE VIEWS

Final Design

Rendered Site Plan

Rendered Site Plan

1B: Broad/ Airport/ Johnson

3A: Promenade/ LOVR/ Madonna

3B: Cal Poly/ LOVR/ Amtrak

4A: Foothill/ Cal Poly/ Monterey

4B: Monterey/ Cal Poly/ Ramona Drive

Bus Stop

Legend

Existing Buildings

SWOT Analysis

The following analysis provides a summary of the site’s perceived strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. The strengths and weaknesses refer to existing conditions of the site or the internal factors that are already present. Weaknesses are perceived as unfavorable aspects of the site, strengths refer to the potential benefits of the site. Opportunities and strengths , on the other hand, deal with external conditions, referring to the both the future and aspects outside the site that cannot be changed but can be responded to.

  • Adjacent parking
    Bike lanes
    Near bus stops
    Proximity to downtown
    Size
    Variety of commodities/uses adjacent
    Walkable on main axis (Monterey)

  • Abundance of mature trees
    Development could lead to loss of parking
    Lack of protected bike lanes
    Lack of sidewalk on eastern side of Pepper
    Proximity to train tracks (noise)
    Site inconsistencies
    Site is separated by Monterey

  • Density bonuses for affordable homes
    Mixed Use
    Nearby public transit
    Rooftop use
    Space for outdoor seating
    Walkability

  • Adjacent residential buildings = reduced noise
    COVID= Economic Downturn
    Customer base depletion
    Expansion of measures and regulations
    Proximity to train tracks

PRECEDENT ANALYSIS & LESSONS

Case Study

Bill Sorro Community

Architects: Kennerly Architecture and Planning, 2017
Location: 1009 Howard St, San Francisco, CA 94103
Uses: Mixed Use- Retail/Community Space

Different components from the built environment create a better  community, like the roof garden, facades, and rear yard, increasing overall social interactions and fostering a neighborhood.
Walkability is encouraged through the adjacency of amenities, the minimal size of the building, plentiful amount of greenspace and trees, and the presence of alternative modes of transportation outside of cars.
Noise is bound to be an issue due to the adjacency to the highway, demonstrating a need for mitigation measures, like barriers.

CONCEPT DESIGN OBJECTIVES, DEVELOPMENTS, & NARRATIVE

Conceptual Development

Designed Ideation 

Design aesthetically pleasing parking structure
Increase emphasis on surrounding greenspace
Seamless transition from outdoor to indoor spaces
Connectivity between mixed use spaces
Increase circulation
Emphasize the street corners
Access to the light rail station
Increase design for sustainability
community space

Design Objectives

Sustainability

The project will strive for sustainability. Such a process would include the usage of renewable energy through rooftop solar panels and increased greenspace. Increased greenspace will be found throughout the site as rooftop gardens, and native plants as a form of décor.

Aesthetics

Due to deteriorated conditions of the roads and buildings within the site, beautification should be considered throughout the project. The addition of greenspace, murals, and a modern aesthetic will increase both foot and general traffic to the area. In addition to the visual appeal, functionality and precedents should be considered through the use of mixed-use zoning, connectivity, and height restrictions , maintaining the character of Monterey Street.

Circulation

Through the coordination of mixed use, hardscape, and open spaces, a sense of community is promoted and linkages and continuity is established. Active modes of transportation will be highlighted and emphasized.

Land Use & Development

The perspective provided demonstrates a view of the mixed use structures along the end of Monterey Street, in which it displays a more rendered idea of the implemented residential buildings and a specified scene during the day. This image was created using a base from SketchUp and was further rendered in Photoshop, in which the sky, building and road material, trees, people, and numerous shadows were implemented from Photoshop.

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Gilroy 1st