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The transformations presented here — and included in The Imagining Livability Design Collection — show real locations as they appeared during visits by AARP Livable Communities and the WALC

Institute between 2010 and 2015. WALC helped each community develop a vision for the future, and it created photovisions to reflect those changes and how each place could be made better.

1. Creating a Festival Street

ChallengesPowell Avenue occupies most of an extremely wide right-of-way that has relatively low traffic volumes.The conditions encourage vehicle speeding and expose pedestrians to harsh,

unsheltered conditions.A sidewalk is available on only one side of the street, which leads to pedestrians walking in the street or crossing the street twice to get where they’re going.

Powell Avenue Photo by the WALC Institute The PossibilitiesPowell Avenue becomes a festival street and destination.A gateway entrance creates a sense of arrival.The roadway accommodates the

traffic flow and provides parking during work hours on weekdays, but it can be closed to vehicle traffic in the evenings, on weekends and during special events.The bold markings in the lane

remind drivers to proceed slowly.The street entrance is drastically narrowed with curb extensions, which help calm traffic as it enters the street and makes for shorter pedestrian

crossings.Seating and bike racks are abundant.New businesses and buildings enliven the area. What Powell Avenue could become Photovision by the WALC Institute and TDC Design Studio 2.

Bringing an Alley to Life

BROWNSVILLE, TEXAS

Like similar spaces throughout the country, Brownsville's downtown alleys are used only for parking and deliveries. Due to its location, this particular alley can connect the city's downtown

to the University of Texas Brownsville.

underused location. An alley in Brownsville Photo by the WALC Institute The Possibilities     The alley is an inviting linear plaza.The buildings are brought to life by property owners who

see the potential for the space and, as a result, repair the backsides of their buildings.Exterior walls are transformed into murals featuring the work of local artists and young people.The

fenced parking lot redevelops into a people-focused cafe and plaza.The impact of removing the off-street parking is offset by converting extra width in existing rights-of-way to provide

on-street parking.Pedestrian-scaled lighting and shade help people feel welcome and watched over. (In the short term, a friendly police presence on foot or bicycle helps too.)As more people

use the area, new private and public ventures emerge, such as a bicycle-share kiosk.Over time, building owners create new entrances and storefronts that turn toward the alley.Building

transparency is high, with 70 to 90 percent of the ground-floor, outward-facing walls filled with windows.The surrounding area is primed for redevelopment, mixed-use buildings and a

revitalized and more livable downtown. How the alley could be transformed Photovision by the WALC Institute and TDC Design Studio 3. Connecting the Community to a Key Asset

YORK, PENNSYLVANIA

Dormant spaces like this one in York can be redeveloped with a mix of land uses such as apartments, retail shops, a movie theater, cafes and offices. Improving conditions in this downtown

location and maximizing the value of its creek will require long-term solutions. In the short-term, though, some simple changes can lay the foundation for long-term success.

ChallengesLittle has been done to make people feel welcome or to capitalize on the placemaking and economic value of the creek.By failing to provide a vista or view, this side of the creek

is making the other side of the creek less appealing, too. A waterfront location in York Photo by the WALC Institute The PossibilitiesWhile awaiting more significant redevelopment, such as a

mixed-use development that celebrates and maximizes the value of the creek, work begins to build gathering places and a quality public space.The creek features a public walkway.The parking

lot is replaced by a park.Extra width in surrounding streets is used as on-street parking to offset the removal of the parking lot.Placeless walls become murals featuring the work of local

artists.A city-operated bicycle stand enlivens the space and makes people feel welcome and watched over.Public restrooms and wayfinding signage are provided. How the waterfront could be

transformed Photovision by the WALC Institute and TDC Design Studio 4. Creating a Trail for Recreation and Evacuation

ORANGE BEACH, ALABAMA

By partnering with adjacent towns, the state government and federal agencies, the Orange Beach community has an opportunity to develop a national model for evacuation routes that are

eco-friendly and support active living when not being used for an emergency evacuation.

expressway that is a key evacuation route during emergencies.The desire is to keep the trail’s use restricted to pedestrians and bicyclists while also having it be suitable for vehicles when

needed. A field leading to Orange Beach Photo by the WALC Institute The PossibilitiesThe trail is 14 feet wide and built to support heavy loads.Most of the time, the trail is only for

pedestrians and bicyclists and vehicles are prohibited.In times of emergency, the bollards preventing vehicle access are removed and the trail becomes a one-way route for vehicles during an

emergency evacuation (as depicted in the photovision, below).As many as 14,000 vehicles can pass through the space in a 10-hour period.Once the evacuation is complete, the trail is used as a

route to bring emergency supplies and goods back to the coastal area.After the disaster or period of emergency has passed, the bollards are reinstalled and the trail is once again used for

recreation and active (non-motorized) transportation.To support this "Eco-Evac" trail, its termination point at the nearby intersection is a gateway with a single-lane roundabout that

expands to two lanes during a disaster evacuation. How the field can be transformed into a pathway to the beach Photovision by the WALC Institute and TDC Design Studio

Editor's Note: The Imagining Livability Design Collection was published in Spring 2015 by AARP Livable Communities and the WALC (Walkable and Livable Communities) Institute. The institute

has since closed shop, but the 40-page publication it helped develop remains a valuable resource for communities and local leaders.

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