In their recent article ”Legacy Report highlights a walkable public realm,” CNU’s Public Square journal highlighted the Camp Washington Legacy Project led by Street Plans, Arup, and Perkins & Will, in collaboration with Camp Washington Urban Revitalization Corporation (CWURC). Each year, the Congress for the New Urbanism pairs pro bono design teams with local municipalities and non-profit organizations in the host city for its annual gathering. This year’s project focused on Cincinnati’s Camp Washington neighborhood, a former industrial area with a vibrant arts and maker culture.
“The planners cover many issues, from zoning reform to neighborhood culture, mixed-use, missing middle housing, connectivity to other parts of the city, redesign of public spaces, and support for ongoing industry. The report particularly emphasizes strategic improvements to the public realm to improve access and walkability.
Plans for the intersection at Colerain and Monmouth avenues are a case in point. In the northern part of Camp Washington, the intersection is a key juncture: Colerain is the neighborhood’s “main street,” while Monmouth is one of the few streets crossing I-75, the highway barrier to the east. The intersection is adjacent to a public square with great potential, the underutilized Valley Park, which could become a central gathering spot for Camp Washington.
The intersection is too large and difficult to cross on foot, allowing motor vehicles to move too fast. The plan shows how to repair Colerain and Monmouth in two steps using the “Quick Build” idea developed by Street Plans. “Quick Build” is a useful innovation in retrofitting automobile-oriented places. As the name implies, Quick Build can be implemented rapidly as infrastructure projects go.”
To read the rest of the article and learn more about the project, click here.