Living Alleys Discussion

Pedestrian Advisory Committee

P&P Subcommittee
What is a A living alley is a street designed as a place
living alley? for people. It can be considered an urban
living room.

It can
reconfigure the geometry & surfacing
add low cost amenities for residents while
maintaining the traditional curbed ROW
Purpose Living alley can achieve the following:
welcome walkers into an inviting space
establish desirable amenities on foot
slow traffic speeds in shared space
facilitate sidewalk cafes, street furniture,
vegetation, and dynamic repurposing
restrict loading operations *or* exclusive
pedestrian activity to set hours
 Utilitarian
Existing conditions
Haphazard creation of alcoves by trash facilities
Largely inactive
Often sealed off from surveillance by people
Necessitates passive camera surveillance
for reactive approach to crime
What can we do?Many
commercial alleys provide an opportunity
to explore options for repurposing & redefining
public space.
Activation Many commercial alleys provide an opportunity
to explore options for repurposing & redefining
public space. This is the role of a public office,
Institution or community stakeholder.
Best practices Chinatown Living Alley Project (SF Water Power Sewer with SF Public Works)

Improving storm water conditions (rain gardens)

Enhance pedestrian conditions
Provide community recreation space
Enrich cultural traditions
Best practices SF Better Streets/Market Octavia Plan (SF Planning, Public Works, MTA

Creation of safe and actives spaces for people

Add vitality to the street and to the block
Can form part of the bicycle & pedestrian network
Improving safety by treating places 1st, roads 2nd
Best practices SF Better Streets/Market Octavia Plan (continued)

Mid-block crossings
Shared streets
Sidewalk extensions
Raised crosswalks

Other best practices modeling this plan include work

In Seattle, Austin, Portland, Los Angeles, and Chicago.
Whats next? Alleys in commercial districts in Minneapolis
are strikingly underutilized.
Warehouse District
Downtown West
Cedar-Riverside
Lake Street Corridor

Next steps can include

Coordination with CPED, Water/Sewer, communities
Take a page from the 29th Street playbook
Determine whether select sites would
facilitate better conditions via Bicycle
or Pedestrian Master Plans
Others