Alley Activation

El Paso Alley Activation & Revitalization

 
  • Alleys can contribute additional public space to the city creating a new network for pedestrians. Alleys are often forgotten spaces in the urban environment, although they hold great potential. Understanding how they are used, what their potentials are, and what challenges they hold will help to determine what is possible for the future. With some work and care, alleys can be an important layer in El Paso’s public realm.

  • Alleys are public amenities and can provide space for residents to influence their neighborhoods. By taking a role in alley improvements, you can enhance the type of activities available and the quality of your neighborhood, making it a more positive space to live, work, and play.

  • 1. Enhance public health by offering a safe and pleasant pedestrian pathway opportunity.

    2. Promote a sense of place for the community.

    3. Beautify the alley by adding amenities such as decorative resurfacing, lighting, sidewalks, bulb-outs, and artwork.

    4. Thoughtfully and strategically incorporate design elements that reduce the negative connotation of an alley and address safety/drainage challenges.

 

"Caminito" Alley Activation

Conceptual Only

Segundo Barrio has a dense urban fabric with traditional alley spaces that are perfect for revitalization, to provide much needed public open space to be used for pedestrian circulation, as well as activating a second storefront for businesses, providing additional opportunities for business development and beautification. This alley extends on both sides of the streetcar route, and can become an easily accessible destination for visitors and residents alike.

Mills Downtown Alley Activation

Conceptual Only

Alley Activation Downtown

 

KEY PROJECT OBJECTIVES:

Provide pedestrian design elements and ADA compliance in order to create an activated pedestrian network utilizing the existing street that can enhance the entry to Downtown and enable pedestrian connectivity between neighboring facilities.

In coordination with the Tax Increment Reinvestments Zone Number 5 (TIRZ 5) Board, the project consists of enhancing the existing alley to create an activated pedestrian network through the installation of amenities such as, but not limited to sidewalks, bulb-outs, lighting, landscaping, artistic components and ADA ramps.

Uptown Cincinnati Alley Activation

Uptown Alley Activation

KEY PROJECT OBJECTIVES:

In coordination with the Uptown Parking Benefit District Advisory Committee (UPBDAC), the project consists of enhancing the existing alley to create an activated pedestrian network through the installation of amenities such as, but not limited to sidewalks, bulb-outs, lighting, landscaping and ADA ramps. These are to be designed and installed in phases in order to create a cohesive project and network as well. As a first phase, initial improvements may consist primarily of resurfacing in order to address existing safety and drainage issues.

This phase would be to design improvements to beautify this alley to make it more inviting and walkable space for pedestrians, but also maintain adequate space for vehicular travel for those who still need access through the alley (i.e. utility/emergency vehicles, trash-pickup, general access, etc.). Since the alley is still existing right-of-way, the intent of this phase of alley activation is to allow for safe pedestrian movement through this pathway, while also allowing for vehicular movement as well, and to create an overall enhanced pedestrian circulation network that can be improved through phases over time.