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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1991-12-03-Depot Square Study Group-rpt EMERY PARK AND DEPOT SQUARE December 3, 1991 Since 1876, the townspeople of Lexington have been dealing with the problems posed by that plot of land in front of the railroad station, now known as Depot Square and Emery Park. In September of 1990, the Design Advisory Committee formed the Emery Park and Depot Square Study Group: Don Olson, chair, Kerry Brandin, Tom Coffman, Penny Hart from Lexington Council for the Arts, Barbara Hulsizer representing the Lexington Field and Garden Club, Steve Hurley, Jacqueline Olson, and Betsy Whitman. John Frey, DAC chairman, and Pauline Burke, from Lexpress, have attended some meetings. Bob Ossman and Roger Kallstrom prepared a detailed base map of Depot Square and provided interim designs for the Lexpress area. THE CHARGE: Formulate a program "to establish the park as the open space focus of the commercial area". ( From "Design Guidelines for Commercial Districts".) THE FINDINGS: These are based upon group discussion, "Design Guidelines for Commercial Districts", comments at large, and the responses to a questionnaire addressed to related committees, organizations, departments, and abutters. I. Functional requirements of the space A.Transit Hub Since trains first ran in 19th century Lexington, Depot Square has been the town's transportation center. In "Lexington, a Century of Photographs", Beverly Kelley states that, "This is believed to be the only old train shed depot left in Massachusetts." 1 . Lexpress The prime problem of the present situation is that passengers must load and offload into the flow of traffic. When the busses are required to provide for the disabled, this condition will be entirely unacceptable. Solutions suggested include reversing the direction of traffic, relocating the bus stop, or providing a loading island where presently wooden bollards exist. Additional problems concern the stone dust surface in wet weather and the bench locations. These are being addressed in a plan for temporary installation of brick paving and benches. Presently no provision is made for shelter. 2.T bus stop 1 Location of T stop seems appropriate, but no shelter is provided. A shelter in this location is a sensitive design problem. 3.Taxis At this time, waiting taxis occupy three potential parking spots. It has been suggested that taxis might wait elsewhere with a call box located in the square, or that only one taxi spot be retained. 4. Bikeway The Minuteman Bikeway, from Bedford to Cambridge, will pass through the train shed. The Depot Square plan should take this into account and provide bicycle racks. 5.Cars and parking Depot Square now functions as a rotary and channels cars to two major town parking lots. Presently, the Square provides fifteen spaces of parking, as well as the eleven private spaces of Depositor's Trust. A number of citizens have expressed a wish for this to become a more pedestrian-oriented space. There have been suggestions that the Meriam Street lot be accessible from Meriam Street only, or that other access alternatives be explored. B.Commercial Center Whereas the Battlegreen is the historic center for Lexington, Depot Square is the center for the commercial district. 1 .Social center for events sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce a)Discovery Day,in May, closes Massachusetts Avenue to traffic for sidewalk sales of merchants. A flat-bed truck, used as a bandstand, is parked on the avenue to the south side of the Park. Often, this must be parked several days in advance of the event. b)The Chamber sponsors concerts every Friday evening throughout the summer. Many people bring their own chairs. c) Oktoberfest, co-sponsored by the Lions, Masons and Rotary, uses the Massachusetts Avenue sidewalk, as well as the Park, for food booths and activities d)The flat-bed truck is again in use as a platform for Santa to turn on the holiday lights. Depot Square tends to be a backwater rather than the center of these activities. The Park should better accommodate these social events. 2. Pedestrian circulation The present situation is extremely hostile to the pedestrian. There are serious conflicts between pedestrian and vehicular traffic, particularly 2 in the northeast corner. Chains and bollards limit access into and through the Park. 3.Contribution of storefronts "Design Guidelines for Commercial Districts" says: "STOREFRONTS.... should be open and welcoming, and help establish an individual identity for the store." In Depot Square this conspicuously fails to happen. The surrounding commercial properties should be encouraged to make a visual contribution to the space by means of window displays, planter boxes, awnings, and better signage. 4. Deliveries to stores and restaurants Deliveries can be made from the alleys behind the two buildings on either side of the Square. Double parking presents a problem in some instances. U. Aesthetic requirements of the space A. Focus This public park is centrally located in the commercial district. It should be the visual jewel of the center. Some responses indicated a consistent desire for a focus - the Depot or a feature in the Park - and a more unified design. B.Vistas The view from Depot Square to the Meriam Street lot has been identified as a major eyesore. This northeast corner, where no building exists, is without definition. The pedestrian views into the Park from adjoining streets, particularly that from Muzzey Street, should be considered. With only slight screening by a few hemlocks along the Bikeway, there is now an uninterrupted sea of asphalt and a view across one parking lot to the other. Plantings scheduled to go in with the Minuteman Bikeway will eventually help the situation. C. Street furniture and fixtures The present seats are neither attractive nor comfortable, and are poorly situated. The benches should be the same as those specified for the sidewalks on Massachusetts Avenue. The lighting needs attention and should be coordinated with the Lighting Options Committee. There have been suggestions of the inclusion of a fountain or a clock. This latter seems particularly appropriate in relation to a transit hub and Depot. 3 The provision of shelter for the bus passengers is highly desirable, as well as consideration for a performance platform. There are two existing historical markers that should be included. Trash containers should be as those specified along Massachusetts Avenue. D. Grass and paving The existing sidewalk on Massachusetts Avenue is presently concrete. It should be made of brick to create continuity with adjacent sidewalks. No sidewalk exists around the rest of the perimeter of the Park. The stone dust paths within are unsatisfactory in bad weather. The present Park is essentially grass. The consensus is to keep as much grass as is consistent with the other needs. E.Planting While the existing mature trees are generally good in themselves, their somewhat random placement makes them ineffectual to the design as a whole. They fail to provide one with a sense of order and harmony. The arbitrary position of one hemlock completely obstructs the view of the axial focus of the cupola on the Depot building. A more orderly planting seems called for. Deciduous trees, which give shade in summer but allow the winter sunlight in the Park and on the commercial properties, would seem more appropriate than evergreens. The existing deciduous shrubs are of low quality and have been sheared to unsightly shapes. PRIORITIES FOR ACTION: The study group concludes that the above problems need to be addressed in a certain logical order of priority. 1. Report at DAC meeting on December 10. 2. The study group needs expert opinion (at a volunteer level) to address specific issues related to traffic and parking. Don will speak with Lance Neumann. 3. Report to DAC and LCC. 4. Report to Selectmen for project authorization. 5. Refinement of base map. The group will continue to gather base plan data. A professional topographic survey will be needed for detailed design and eventual construction. 6. Preliminary design, based on the program above. 7. Public feedback. 8. Fund raising. 4 9. Final design. 1 0. Implementation. Submitted by Kerry Brandin, Jacqueline Olson, Betsy Whitman for the Emery Park/Depot Square Study Group 5