V Public Realm Elements

The public realm is the most important aspect of any urban environment; it is what shapes the physical and visual experience of the place. Priority has been given to the design of the public realm at the Promenade sites so that it is more accessible, more usable and more integrated into the city. The following pages define and explain the public realm elements which are key to the success of making the Promenade sites an amenity to the entire city of Memphis.

32

The Public Realm Plan

There are four key elements in the public realm at the Promenade sites: the upper promenade, the lower promenade, the east-west connections, and Front Street. The public realm area constitutes a little more than six acres, or more than 60% of the total site area.

The integration of these four elements ensure the continuity of the public open space system in this neighborhood which then connects to a much larger system of the city including the riverfront parks to the west and Main Street to the east. The implementation of the public realm should be guided by this set guidelines to ensure the appropriate spatial dimensions and the highest quality of urban space and experience.

Lower Promenade Upper Promenade East-West Connections

Front Street

Public Realm Boundary

33

Development Parcels
Private development, constrained by city code and design guidelines is one way to initiate the plan and help fund the cost of public open

Block A

spaces. The Promenade sites offer a highly desirable real-estate location, easily developable layout, and already-in- place infrastructure which should attract private investment that in turn can pay for the public benefits. The development parcels in this concept plan constitute 4.15 acres, or

Confederate Park

just under 40% of the total site area. The implementation of the private parcels should be guided by this set of guidelines and further public input to ensure the highest quality architecture.

Block B

Block C

Development Parcels
34

The Upper Promenade

The upper promenade will be directly accessible from the sidewalk of Front Street and remain at the same level throughout. In doing so, the right-of-way and the view corridors of Union, Monroe and Court Avenues will be effectively widened.
ADAMS

Connecting to Confederate Park at the north and Union Avenue at the south, at 25ft above Riverside Drive, the upper promenade will be a continuous broad walkway along the riverfront, providing a place to linger, rest, and enjoy the view of the river and the land beyond. At the northern end, a pedestrian can linger in the park or take the grand stairway down to Riverside Drive which then leads to the Visitors Center and Jefferson Davis Park on the river. Crossing Court and Monroe Avenues, the promenade will be
FRONT ST. MADISON JEFFERSON

A civic node and connection to the park

COURT

Bridge

connected by pedestrian bridges. At the corner of Union Avenue and Riverside Drive is another opportunity to connect to Riverside Drive in a grand and civic manner.

RIVERSIDE DR.

Bridge

MONROE

Active use such as retail or restaurants The continuous walking surface of the upper promenade
35

A civic node and connection to the lower promenade

UNION

The Upper Promenade

View north to the Hernando De Soto Bridge from the Upper Promenade

Existing view north to the Hernando De Soto Bridge at the Customs House 30 40

Upper promenade at Front Street level Section of the upper and lower promenade: When completed, it will add a 30 wide pedestrian activity zone to Riverside Drive where there is not a sidewalk Lower promenade at Riverside Drive level today and 30 wide upper promenade where there is mostly parking today.
36

The Upper Promenade

View south to Harahan Bridge from the upper promenade

Existing conditions at the upper promenade

37

The Upper Promenade

View to the river from the north side of the Customs House

Existing condition at the north side of the Customs House

38

The Lower Promenade

The treatment of the eastern edge of Riverside Drive can greatly change the perception of the riverfront in this area and improve the pedestrian connections to the Jefferson Davis Park, the Visitors Center, the Cobblestone Walkway and the Cobblestones. New buildings should be setback a great distance from the trolley line to allow for a broad pedestrian walkway where the ground plane is specially paved to make a civic gesture such as Main Street. Additional trolley stops should be added at each block to better serve the larger downtown area. Connection to Upper Promenade and Confederate Park
COURT JEFFERSON ADAMS

The new buildings should have active uses such as shops, galleries, and artists live and work spaces to activate the street scene. Cafes and restaurants will spill onto the broad sidewalk. At

MADISON

FRONT ST.

RIVERSIDE DR.

Confederate Park and Union Avenue, the lower promenade connects to the upper promenade and ties into the pedestrian system at the Front Street level. Active use such as retail or restaurants Proposed Lower Promenade

MONROE

These changes to the lower promenade are critical the cohesive public realm that is already starting to take place in downtown Memphis. Active use such as retail or restaurants The specially paved area of lower promenade
39

Connection to Upper Promenade

UNION

The Lower Promenade

View south towards Harahan Bridge from the Lower Promenade

Existing condition at Riverside Drive The new and improved Riverside Drive and upper promenade

Existing Riverside Drive

Section of lower and upper promenade and Riverside Drive

Riverside Drive

Lower promenade

Upper promenade
40

The Lower Promenade

View north of Lower and Upper Promenade connection from Gayoso Street

Existing condition Gayoso Street

41

The East-West Streets

While the upper promenade brings the city to the edge of the bluff,
ADAMS

the east-west streets physically connect the city to the riverfront. Sloping down towards the river, they are part of the citys network of streets that connect to Riverside Drive.
JEFFERSON

Union, Monroe, Court, Jefferson, and Adams Avenues can all be improved to provide better pedestrian sidewalks. Landscape is especially important on Court Avenue to make the connection
COURT

from Court Square on Main Street to the riverfront parks. Parking entrances can be on these streets to provide access to the garage levels below the upper promenade. The bridges of the upper promenade at the end of the

MADISON

streets are portals announcing the arrival at the river. Properly land-

FRONT ST.

RIVERSIDE DR.

scaped, paved, and lit with street lights, these pedestrian-friendly streets are the unifying elements of the public realm.

MONROE

UNION

42

Union Avenue
The east-west avenues, such as Union and Monroe, with the setback to allow for the upper promenade, not only provide the easy access to the riverfront from Front Street, but also broaden the view to the river as is shown in the section to the right. With the proper streetscape and sidewalk improvements, the pedestrian environment will change dramatically from the existing conditions. Proposed condition at Union Avenue

New and improved Union Avenue 12 ft

20-50 ft Upper Promenade

Existing Union Ave. Upper Promenade

Existing condition at Union Avenue, note the very narrow sidewalk on the north side of the street.

Existing Union Avenue Sidewalk at the north side of the street is barely 3 wide

43

Union Avenue

View of the upper promenade from the intersection of Union and Front

View of existing conditions at Union Avenue and Front Street

44

Monroe Avenue
20 Monroe Avenue will also be widened by 20ft on either side from its existing width to allow for the upper promenade to connect to the riverfront. At the end of the view corridor, one will be able to see the bridge, connecting the upper promenade in its full length to Confederate Park. 12

New and improved Monroe Avenue Bridge connecting upper promenade 20 12

Existing Monroe Avenue Section of Monroe Avenue Upper Promenade

Existing Monroe Avenue sidewalk on the south side of the street is barely 4 wide Existing condition of Monroe Avenue

45

Monroe Avenue

View towards the river from Front Street

Existing view west of Monroe Avenue from Front Street

46

Court Avenue
New and improved Court Avenue Court Avenue is an important connector from Main Street and Court Square to the riverfront. Here it is proposed that the on-street parking be removed to allow for wide sidewalks with double rows of street trees between Front Street and Riverside Drive. Adjacent to the Customs House, the 25 ft wide upper promenade provides another pedestrian connection to the riverfront. Customs House Section of Court Avenue Existing Court Avenue Confederate Park Bridge connecting upper promenade and Confederate Park 50 25 25

Existing condition of Court Avenue

47

Front Street
Front Street is the gateway to the
ADAMS

riverfront and an important address for the Promenade sites. Improvements can be done by the following:

Mandate a sidewalk setback for buildings between Union

JEFFERSON

Avenue and the Customs House to align with the front facade of the Customs House to allow for additional street trees and a landscaped area

COURT

Change the character of the streetwall to be more consistent with the east side of the street

Improve the pedestrian environment by new sidewalks and street trees and lights

MADISON FRONT ST. RIVERSIDE DR.

MONROE

UNION

Front Street Setback Line

48

Front Street

View of setback, broad sidewalk, and street trees on Front Street

View of existing sidewalk on Front Street

49

Front Street

View south toward Union Avenue on Front Street

Existing Condition on Front Street

Front Street Width at Customs House 25 ft. Landscaped Setback Typical Front Street Width

Section of Front Street

50

51