9 Steps to Creating a Great Waterfront

Categories: Articles, Waterfronts

1. Look First at the Public Space
In planning a waterfront development, city officials or a developer should begin by
envisioning a network of well-connected, multi-use public spaces that fit with the
community’s shared goals. By orienting waterfront revitalization around public spaces, new
construction will enhance the quality of existing destinations and result in a whole that is
greater than the sum of its parts.

While streets may be appropriate on some waterfronts, pedestrian connections should be

given top priority, making large parking lots and auto-oriented development out of the
question.

Developers of the Point Street Landing development on the Hudson River in Yonkers, N.Y. began their project by
determining what the character of the public spaces should be.
2. Make Sure Public Goals are the Primary Objective
Waterfronts everywhere are too valuable to simply allow developers to dictate what happens
there. . This is not to say that private development is unwelcome and should be discouraged
– on the contrary, it is often necessary to the future of a healthy waterfront. But the best
solutions for revamping waterfronts put public goals first, not private short-term financial
objective . As long as redevelopment plans adhere to the notion that the waterfront is an
inherently public asset, it will be relatively easy to follow the rest of the steps here.
Community engagement – and, ultimately, local ownership and pride – depend on this basic
premise.
Successful waterfront destinations reach out to entire community, as happens with Paris Plage, a month-long
celebration that creates a beach to the Seine River in Paris.
3. Build on Existing Assets & Context

Granville Island has created an abundance of user-friendly destinations while preserving the site’s industrial
character.

After establishing the public spaces and public goals, begin the public visioning process with
the existing assets and surrounding context. Start with the historical form and function of the
site to foster a locally grounded identity by channeling former vibrancy into a variety of uses.
Existing industrial uses should be preserved when compatible with human activity on the
waterfront. Surrounding neighborhoods should be integrated into the waterfront to strengthen
connectivity between destinations. And new development should embrace its waterfront
context with appropriate orientation and usages.

4. Create a Shared Community Vision

Unlike a master plan, a community visioning process does not lock a project into a
prescribed solution. It is a citizen-driven initiative that outlines a set of goals–ideals to strive
for–that set the stage for people to think boldly, make breakthroughs, and achieve new
possibilities for their waterfront. Because a vision is adaptable and can be implemented
gradually, starting with small experiments, it often becomes more powerful through time as
public enthusiasm for making bold changes gains support.
A community visioning plan for Brooklyn's Pier 6 (left). The existing design did not benefit from a community
process, and the community did not feel it reflected its needs (right).
5. Create Multiple-use Destinations by Tapping the Power of 10
Through decades of work, PPS has found that the most effective way to propel a visioning
process is to set a goal of creating ten great destinations along a waterfront, an idea we call
the “Power of Ten.” This focus on destinations, rather than “open space” or parks, enables a
genuine community-led process to take root. Residents, businesses, community
organizations and other stakeholders all join in to help identify the key destinations and then
define the uses and activities they want to see at each place.

After using the Power of 10 to create great destinations throughout a waterfront, the same
principle should be applied at each destination to come up with a list of ten activities for that
spot. A wealth of things to do broadens the appeal of the destination, encouraging round-the-
clock use.

After multiple place evaluation workshops, a variety of community stakeholders, public agencies, and private firms
produced a collective vision for a broad range of uses to draw people to Newark's waterfront.
6. Connect Destinations Along the Waterfront
Destinations should be connected to one another and incorporated into a vision for the
waterfront as a whole. A waterfront that is continuously walkable with a variety of activities
along the way will successfully link destinations, allowing the appeal of each one to
strengthen the place as a whole..

Creating these seamless connections is a fascinating challenge that involves mixing uses
(such as housing, recreation, entertainment and retail) and mixing partners (such as public
institutions and local business owners). Another key element is attracting people to the
waterfront on foot or bike, rather than just in their cars.

Parks or esplanades should not serve as the whole purpose of the entire waterfront. Too
much passive, one-dimensional open space puts a damper on the inherent vibrancy of
waterfronts, as evident in many spots throughout Toronto, New York City and Vancouver, —
cities that have relied too heavily on “greening” their waterfronts without including other
public activities that draw people for different reasons at different times. The world’s best
waterfronts use parks as connective tissue, using them to link other high-profile destinations
together. Helsinki, Stockholm, Sydney, and Baltimore have successfully employed this
strategy.

Connecting the destinations at the San Diego Embarcadero.

7. Maximize Opportunities for Public Access
It is essential that the waterfront be accessible for everyone to the greatest extent possible.
Here too, the goal of continuity is of paramount importance. Waterfronts with continuous
public access are much more popular than those where public space is interrupted. Even
small stretches where the waterfront is unavailable to people greatly diminish the
experience. California’s Balboa Island, located off the coast of Newport Beach, makes its
entire shoreline accessible to the public instead of giving waterfront property owners sole
rights of use.

Access also means that people can actually interact with the water in numerous ways–from
swimming and fishing, to picnicking dockside and feeding the ducks. If it is not possible to
actually dip their hands in the water, people should have access to another type of water
nearby–such as a fountain, spray play area or a swimming pool that floats next to the shore
(such as the pools set up in the Seine during Paris Plage).
PPS was asked to assess the strongest locations and connections for new waterfront destinations on Vancouver’s
False Creek.
8. Balance Environmental Benefits with Human Needs
While a wide variety of uses can flourish on a waterfront, many successful destinations
embrace their natural surroundings by creating a close connection between human and
natural needs. Marine biologists and environmentalists today promote the restoration of
natural shorelines — at least where marine uses do not dominate – and advocate replacing
crumbling bulkheads with natural vegetation that will improve water quality, and revive fish
and wildlife habitat. But this natural restoration should not preclude human use. Boardwalks,
interpretive displays, and even more active uses such as playgrounds and picnic areas can
be incorporated into the shoreline design without sacrificing environmental benefits.

Boardwalks, such as this one in Cleveland, provide opportunities for people to interact with wildlife along natural
shorelines.
9. Start Small to Make Big Changes
Good public spaces don’t happen overnight, and no one has all the answers about improving
a place right at the outset. Placemaking is about doing more than planning. Many great plans
get bogged down because they are too big, too expensive, and simply take too long to
happen. Short-term actions, like planting flowers, can be a good way not only to test ideas,
but to also give people the confidence that change is occurring – and that their ideas matter.

Temporary uses on Brooklyn's Pier 1 provide a successful example of how low-cost improvements can triangulate
with their surroundings to create great destinations.

10 Qualities of a Great Waterfront

Destination
Categories: Articles, Waterfronts
1. Surrounding Buildings Enhance Public Space
Any building on the waterfront should boost activity in the public spaces around it. Ideally,
there should be a mix of uses, with seamless interaction between inside and outdoors. High-
rise towers that lack any public uses on the ground floor are noticeably out of place along
rivers, lakes and ocean fronts. They usually create a wall that physically and psychologically
cuts off the waterfront from surrounding neighborhoods.

Buildings on the harbor in Auckland, New Zealand

2. Limits are Placed on Residential Development
Great waterfronts are not dominated by residential development. Why? Because these are
places that are full of people, day and night. They are the sites of festivals, markets,
fireworks displays, concerts, spontaneous celebrations and other high-energy gatherings. A
high concentration of residential development undermines the diversity of waterfront use and
creates pressure to prevent nighttime activity from flourishing.

Porto, Portugal's residential component provides reciprocal benefit for the active public life below.
3. Activities go on Round-the-Clock and Throughout the Year
Waterfronts that thrive year-round will reap substantial community and economic benefits.
Rain or cold is no reason for a waterfront to sit empty. Creative programming can take rainy
and winter weather into account, and smart use of amenities can provide protection from
inclement weather. Likewise, people enjoy being by the water at night if appropriate lighting
and special events make them feel welcome and safe.

Even on a blustery day, the seafront in Brighton, England still draws a crowd because of its flexible design and
destinations that are open all year round.
Waterfire, a pyrotechnic public art project, brings crowds to downtown Providence in the evening hours.
4. Flexible Design Fosters Adaptability
Successful waterfronts must adapt to many changes that bring different users at different
times. Programming and management are helpful in serving diverse audiences, but flexibility
must also be built into the design of the place. Instead of a permanent stage, for example,
which is well-used in the summer but not the winter, a retractable or temporary stage could
be used. Likewise, it is important to have on-site storage for movable chairs, tables,
umbrellas, and games so they can be used at a moment’s notice.

Despite minimal funding, Long Island City’s Water Taxi Beach provides a compelling example of the potential for
NYC’s waterfront by successfully layering uses.
Book and art stalls pull in curious browsers along the Seine in Paris.
5. Creative Amenities Boost Everyone’s Enjoyment
The best waterfronts feature amenities that increase people’s comfort and enjoyment. A
bench or waste receptacle in just the right location makes a surprising difference in how
people choose to use a place. Lighting strengthens a square’s identity and can draw
attention to specific activities, pathways or entrances. Public art is a great magnet for
children of all ages to come together. Whether temporary or permanent, amenities help
establish a convivial setting for social interaction.

Paris's Plage's benches comfortably accommodate social groups of various sizes.

Water features on Granville Island create an alternative connection where direct access to the water is not
possible.
6. Access Made Easy by Boat, Bike and Foot
Waterfronts flourish when they can be accessed by means other than private vehicles. In
Sydney, Stockholm, Venice, Helsinki, and Hong Kong, people head to the waterfront via boat
as much as by land. You can dramatically enhance the character and experience of a
waterfront when it is easily reached in ways other than driving. Access by foot and bike are a
crucial element of the transportation mix, which is why many of the most beloved are
crowned by pedestrian promenades and bike lanes. People feel more at ease when not
overwhelmed by traffic and parking lots, creating a climate that fosters a full breadth of
waterfront activity. Where streets are absolutely necessary for commercial deliveries, or
access to retail or marine uses, they should be designed to minimize their impact on
pedestrian safety and enjoyment, and always be closed for events and festivals.

Water-transit provides a prominent connection at Dubai Creek.

In Porto, Portugal’s Ribiera district streets are scaled for pedestrians, and motor vehicles allowed only as guests.

The harbor in Stavanger, Norway is dramatically enhanced by water-borne transit.

7. Local Identity is Showcased
The greatest waterfront destinations are found in cities that truly orient themselves to the
water. Venice and Stockholm are defined by their waterfronts, and residents and visitors
alike naturally gravitate there. Making the most of local identity, history and culture stimulates
widespread interest in the waterfront and creates a unique sense of place. Frequent
opportunities to appreciate local art, music and theatre helps draw a community together
around the waterfront.
Brooklyn's Coney Island has developed its own unique image over the years.

Brooklyn Bridge Park uses public art to offer fun lessons.

8. The Water Itself Draws Attention
The water itself is the greatest asset of any waterfront, and should become the centerpiece
for programming and activities. This can include traditional marine uses such as a ferry
terminal or fishing port, which helps preserve a place’s identity. Additional activities may
include water-taxis, boat tours, restaurants or bars on anchored boats, fishing, rock skipping,
floating pools, kayaking and swimming. Many of these activities not only attract users to
waterfront but also generate interest among onlookers. Embracing the natural uses of a
waterfront leads to thematic programming such as boat festivals, fish markets, bait and
tackle shops, and performances on floating stages.
Waterfront fish markets contribute to the identity of Oslo’s Aker Brygge Waterfront.

Water polo matches played in kayaks has emerged as an intriguing attraction at New York's Frying Pan Bar and
Restaurant on the Hudson River in Manhattan.
9. Iconic Buildings Serve a Variety of Functions
Iconic, attention-grabbing buildings that reflect a human scale and do not detract from the
surrounding context can be a boon to the waterfront, so long as they serve a variety of
functions. On a recent weekend morning in Stockholm, the busiest building along the
waterfront was, surprisingly, the City Hall. Surrounded by a plaza, park, and courtyards, this
landmark shares its slice of the waterfront with a pier where boats embark on waterfront
tours. Clearly, this City Hall (where the Nobel Prize banquet is held each December) is more
than a one-dimensional icon, it is also a good neighbor exhibiting a strong sense of place.
Today’s iconic buildings should strive to achieve the same flexibility and public-spirited
presence.
Stockholm's City Hall is not just the 'seat' of local government...
10. Good Management Maintains Community Vision
Management is essential to ensure that a successful waterfront stays that way. Cities could
adopt the model of the Business Improvement Districts (BID) that have been successful in
restoring and maintaining the vitality of many downtowns and commercial districts. A “WID”
could forge partnerships between city agencies, property owners, waterfront businesses and
community organizations in the surrounding district, so that waterfront programming–such as
temporary exhibits of local artists or music performances– gives the place a unique
character. Such an organization would be very helpful in sustaining a diverse variety of
activities and events throughout the year and implementing programs that can be used to
generate revenue that benefits the waterfront as a whole.

Stavanger, Norway’s waterfront features active programming on and off the water.
Active and evolving programming, as seen here in San Francisco, is essential to waterfront success and may also
be used to generate revenues.
email | print | share | View Comments